GYM, SWIM OR JUST RUN?

2 watchers

BurtBoy Oct 2012 1:02pm, 8 Oct 2012 30 posts	0 BurtBoy Hi all, i've been thinking... In addition to running is there any one type of additional training I could/should be doing? I have a gym close to my work and a pool just down the road - both separate. Im training for my first marathon but not sure if I should add weights sessions or Swimming (i can only really afford to do one) which would be best as an addition to my training plan?, is there something else I should be doing instead? or should i just run even more? Thank you Burtboy.
DeeGee Oct 2012 1:04pm, 8 Oct 2012 12,893 posts	0 DeeGee The best training for running is running. That said, I ran my second fastest ever marathon on a summer of triathlon.
Velociraptor Oct 2012 1:10pm, 8 Oct 2012 21,824 posts	0 Velociraptor For your first marathon, if your body is able to cope with more running then that's how you should spend your training time. Neither weights nor swimming will make you run a better marathon, though swimming can be useful for maintaining cardiovascular fitness if you develop a niggle that makes running or other on-your-feet training inadvisable.
Steve Kennaugh Oct 2012 1:13pm, 8 Oct 2012 230 posts	0 Steve Kennaugh I love my single speed MTB. but i mostly run fells.
becca7 Oct 2012 1:23pm, 8 Oct 2012 4,221 posts	0 becca7 For marathon training the sort of weights that you need are low weight high repetition and pumping iron at the gym is not necessary. There are some good exercises in the header of this thread: http://www.fetcheveryone.com/viewtopic.php?id=47833 And this is a good set that you can do at home: apbrwww5.apsu.edu But Velociraptor's advice is good for your first marathon. You are going to give your body a lot to cope with by building up the miles so concentrate on that.
Villageboy Oct 2012 11:04am, 9 Oct 2012 36 posts	0 Villageboy thanks everyone for the beed back, thank you becca7 for the thread links too
Puddington Oct 2012 11:09am, 9 Oct 2012 47,818 posts	0 Puddington Just run
runner duck Oct 2012 12:00pm, 9 Oct 2012 9,103 posts	0 runner duck if you want to cross-train i think cycling is more useful that swimming. although swimming seems to help stretch out my muscles but that might just be me
Villageboy Oct 2012 3:58pm, 11 Oct 2012 41 posts	0 Villageboy hmm, i do have a road bike, maybe thats not a bad idea, and its free too
Nick Cook Oct 2012 4:00pm, 11 Oct 2012 10,027 posts	0 Nick Cook It's not free if you catch the cycling bug and decide you need a new bike!!!