Every single book or magazine I read tells me that lifting weights is a must for good triathlon performance. I think they've got it completely wrong.
I'm 6', 175 pounds, and my background is in rowing and kayaking, so I'm naturally a bit top-heavy. I've run eight marathons, and my best times have come during a three to four month training cycle when I ran so much that I didn't have time to lift weights. My shoulders and chest became scrawny, I lost weight down to 168, and felt scrawny and fast (like most pro marathoners look like).
Well, since every book says to lift, I've tried it. I lift every day I swim, right before I go in the pool. Three sets of 10 reps, three days a week or squats, calf raises, bench press, dumbell raises, and pull-ups (with weight added). I've got proper form, and it hasn't caused my any injuries, but I feel like the added bulk is making me a bit slower on the bike, and a lot slower on the run. I'm up to 178 pounds now, and slowing down every day.
I have a background of lifting weights, so I'm much stronger than your average 5'9", 135 pound marathoner. It may just be the summer heat, but I feel like every time I've spent months in the weight room, I slow down until I figure it out, then once I stop lifting weights, I get a lot faster.
How many of you have this same problem? Could lifting weights be detrimental to triathlon success?
Should I maybe keep the squats in the routine, and do away with everything else? Ironman is in about three months.
I'm 6', 175 pounds, and my background is in rowing and kayaking, so I'm naturally a bit top-heavy. I've run eight marathons, and my best times have come during a three to four month training cycle when I ran so much that I didn't have time to lift weights. My shoulders and chest became scrawny, I lost weight down to 168, and felt scrawny and fast (like most pro marathoners look like).
Well, since every book says to lift, I've tried it. I lift every day I swim, right before I go in the pool. Three sets of 10 reps, three days a week or squats, calf raises, bench press, dumbell raises, and pull-ups (with weight added). I've got proper form, and it hasn't caused my any injuries, but I feel like the added bulk is making me a bit slower on the bike, and a lot slower on the run. I'm up to 178 pounds now, and slowing down every day.
I have a background of lifting weights, so I'm much stronger than your average 5'9", 135 pound marathoner. It may just be the summer heat, but I feel like every time I've spent months in the weight room, I slow down until I figure it out, then once I stop lifting weights, I get a lot faster.
How many of you have this same problem? Could lifting weights be detrimental to triathlon success?
Should I maybe keep the squats in the routine, and do away with everything else? Ironman is in about three months.