Is Weightlifting OK on a Rest Day?

Triathlon Forum
1

I know it’s off-season, but I still can’t fit the training in.

XC skiing is fantastic now here in Ottawa, so that’s 2x a week, then there’s running 3x a week, and have to use the trainer and hit the pool also to keep a modicum of swim/bike ability. So when can the weightlifting be crammed in?

I’ve always been pretty good about taking a rest day every week, but is it OK to lift on the rest day?

2

What is this “rest day” that you speak of?

:wink:

Jodi

3

Do you feel well rested after lifting? :slight_smile:

4

I’ve never heard of that. Is that what you do 2 days before a race? If that’s the case…I would say not to do any weightlifting that day.

5

I think ideally a rest day is a day without any hard physical exertion, to rest both the body and also your mind. BUT, i have the same problem fitting in my “lifting days”. I have found that if i only do upper body and some core, I still feel refreshed. I would just stay away from any “leg work”.

6

Great idea to limit the lifting to upper body and core. Then it will be a rest day (for the legs), plus by working on the upper body will make me feel less guilty about the lack of swimming I’ve been doing lately. Sounds like a win-win!

7

Why not lift for 15 minutes after a few of your runs…set of 15-25 dumbells and you can cover everything off. Save the rest day to actually rest.

Dev

8

exactly! and its usually my legs that need the rest. Plus by doing some upper body work, you dont look "too much’ like a triathlete.

9

Great idea to limit the lifting to upper body and core. Then it will be a rest day (for the legs), plus by working on the upper body will make me feel less guilty about the lack of swimming I’ve been doing lately. Sounds like a win-win!
That would work great if your body weren’t an entire system. Your internal organs need rest too, if they’re constantly dealing with the byproducts of training, eventually that will catch up with you.

My sister used to live with an elite marathoner from Kenya, and she said on his rest days, he just rested. I don’t mean checked his e-mail, did laundry, ran errands and caught up with friends. He just flat out laid on his back and rested, he didn’t do a damn thing the whole day.