2026 Strength Training Accountability Thread

[BradleyCB]

Friday upper body class and core class this morning before my run. Mentally, I find it easier to do the dreaded strength work before heading out for a run of any sort.

 

[marty3d]

Weekly check-in. I managed to squeeze my three 30 minute workouts in this week while still managing to get 5 runs in (including my 10 Mile long run tomorrow). Where I fell a little short was I had planed to increase my strength workouts from 90 minutes per week to 2 hours but this week didn't cooperate. I'm debating whether it's a good idea to try t increase both distance and strength workouts at the same time or just be happy that I've been consistent with what I've been doing so far.

 

[jmasgat]

Heading back to my PT for my final 3-pack visit. I’ve now got an upper body set and lower body set that I’ve been doing as alternating sets, alternating with running. So the final visit will probably focus on how I can chunk up the workouts. If I can do that, I think it will help me combine sets to do each 2x/week. That, for me, would be a win.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

I'm debating whether it's a good idea to try t increase both distance and strength workouts at the same time or just be happy that I've been consistent with what I've been doing so far.

I think as long as you're not pushing either hard it should be ok. If you're doing a bunch of speedwork and lifting heavy, I think that does raise the risk of something going wrong. That's definately a time committment though so I am impressed with the goal!

Edited to add that it also depends on what you're focusing the lifting on (upper vs. lower body).

 

[marty3d]

I think as long as you're not pushing either hard it should be ok. If you're doing a bunch of speedwork and lifting heavy, I think that does raise the risk of something going wrong. That's definately a time committment though so I am impressed with the goal!

Edited to add that it also depends on what you're focusing the lifting on (upper vs. lower body).

Thanks! Not a lot of lifting - my workouts are a mix of lower body/ upper body or both. Currently 1+1+1. I think 2 hours per week is my max right now while I'm actively training for a race and not travelling. I'm being careful not to overdo it because this race will be to improve my POT so certainly don't want to risk injury!

 

[avondale]

It's a mix of speed, tension, and pedal differential in conjunction with your heartrate. It's like the difference between taking a casual bike ride vs. an advanced level spinning session. The machine, by nature is lower impact on your body, but it's how you use it. I probably should shift my terminology to "high intensity" as that's more accurate.

"High intensity" makes much more sense to me, and I suspected that's what you meant. Thanks! (I'm always telling my students that word choices matter, LOL!)

 

[avondale]

Weekly check-in. I managed to squeeze my three 30 minute workouts in this week while still managing to get 5 runs in (including my 10 Mile long run tomorrow). Where I fell a little short was I had planed to increase my strength workouts from 90 minutes per week to 2 hours but this week didn't cooperate. I'm debating whether it's a good idea to try t increase both distance and strength workouts at the same time or just be happy that I've been consistent with what I've been doing so far.

Wow, 2-hour strength sessions would be a lot...unless it's just like once per week? If multiple times per week, that seems like a lot along with running. I used to be very big on strength training (before I started running, and I still do it a lot), and even then, I would be maxing out at about 90 minutes because I would be gassed. (This was back in the era I was doing things like P90X, etc., so pretty serious stuff.)

If you're looking to up your "intensity" in the strength workouts, you could think about trying to increase your weights for specific exercises and not necessarily your volume/time. I think quality over quantity here.

Another way to change things up to challenge your body is to change the reps versus sets. For example, doing things 2 x 15 with a lighter weight will work you differently than something like 4 x 6 with a heavier weight for the same exercise. But you don't necessarily have to take more time.

 

[Naomeri]

I actually got a tiny bit of actual strength training in today. My grandpa has been assigned some PT, but he's really bad at it, so I had to do some of it with him. Squats over a chair with a 5lb dumbbell (he had a 2lb one)

 

[marty3d]

Wow, 2-hour strength sessions would be a lot...unless it's just like once per week? If multiple times per week, that seems like a lot along with running. I used to be very big on strength training (before I started running, and I still do it a lot), and even then, I would be maxing out at about 90 minutes because I would be gassed. (This was back in the era I was doing things like P90X, etc., so pretty serious stuff.)

If you're looking to up your "intensity" in the strength workouts, you could think about trying to increase your weights for specific exercises and not necessarily your volume/time. I think quality over quantity here.

Another way to change things up to challenge your body is to change the reps versus sets. For example, doing things 2 x 15 with a lighter weight will work you differently than something like 4 x 6 with a heavier weight for the same exercise. But you don't necessarily have to take more time.

Thanks! But I just realized I wasn’t clear - I meant 2 hours per week - not 2hours per session. I can barely manage a 2 hour long run right now

Right now I’m doing 3 x 0.5 hour strength training. My goal was to go to 2x0.5 and 1 x 1. I’m also trying to have 1 day per week with no running or strength training. Ultimately it’s just finding the time.