I'm wondering if a program with alternating days of strength training and long distance running could be effective or if it would just be counter-productive. I know weight lifters tend to prefer high protein/lower carb diets while runners tend to eat more carbs. Also, the goal of strength training is generally to bulk up while efficient runners are usually more slender. Do these differences make it too difficult to have both elements in the same exercise routine? Also, would running on the same day as lifting be detrimental by not allowing your body enough time to rest and recover?

The reason weight lifters eat higher protein is to bulk up muscles, runners need carbs for long term energy. Now, if you wanted to run on the same day as lifting it might hamper your optimal muscle growth but it's not horrible.

Just make sure if you're running that you give yourself enough time to get over the initial recovery from the weight lifting. I would take it slow to start though, just to make sure you don't kill yourself.

So if I were to alternate days of weight training and long distance running, and do little or no running on my resistance days, should my diet greatly differ between running and lifting days (i.e. higher protein for lifting, higher carbs for running) or should I find a diet that's more of a compromise between the two and stick to that every day?

For long term energy fats are used, carbs are used more in the first 15-25 min.

Long runner in aerobic sports like cycling, rowing or running are using a special nutritional preparation for their body 10 days before event, they actualy dont need much carbs (exept some short periods)but this is not the theme now.


What is your goal ? loose weight ?


Aerobic work and strength training are not the best friends. Its not counterproductive just the results in strenght slow a lot down, because long distance running is a Slow-Twicth muscle fiber activity, there the IIa (fast witch type) fibers when doing aerobic work too often start acting like they're slow twich fibers too.

Training and nutrition depends on your goal, First set the goal, then reps and then the rest

Thanks for the info. I've actually replaced my lower body resistance training and other cardio workouts with running, so I'm only alternating upper body resistance exercises with the running. In that case, will the running still interfere with upper body muscle building?

Curious to know this as well, as I'll be training for a half-maraton taking place in Sept.