Combining Running and lifting weights

[TheSpecial1]

My cardio fitness is really bad, I smoke drink and do very little except lift weights and play 5 a side footy on a sunday. I've agreed to enter Tough Mudder Uk which is a 10 -12 mile obstacle race. In order to train for this obviously I need to start running. The event isnt until next Oct so i've got plenty of time. The problem I'm facing is combining a running plan to get me up to speed whilst still being able to train in the gym doing a 5x5 routine for 3 days per week. Does anyone here actually combine running or another cardio based activity with heavy gym work. Just looking for ways in which I should go about it.

I'm obviously going to quit the smoking and really ease back on how much I drink

[Jfern689]

You said you smoke, drink and your cardio fitness is really bad. There is your answer.

[SID]

Just do it, nothing to worry about.

[lee__d]

Smoke more and also start running.

[wisdommaster1]

run 3-4x/week with a long run on weekends

[TheSpecial1]

You said you smoke, drink and your cardio fitness is really bad. There is your answer.

that isnt an answer whatsoever, thats just reiterating what i've said. That werent even my question. My question was how to combine lifting heavy weights with running.

[yodasbrain]

that isnt an answer whatsoever, thats just reiterating what i've said. That werent even my question. My question was how to combine lifting heavy weights with running.

If I feel like running, Ill run up a hill, I don't really like cardio, but the intense short sprints up a steep hill have gotten my endurance pretty good.

[guineapig71]

In the past when I had to lift heavy then train cardio for American football. I would lift early in the morning sometime between 7-9 AM then I would train my cardio about an hour or 2 after I ate dinner so it would be around 7-9pm. It would give my body time to rest and recover from the previous workout and give me enough energy to put full effort into both.

If you are looking to do them both at the same time I would lift first then run.

[IDrinkBloodLOL]

I suggest that you lift before cardio if you do them on the same day. I never had any luck lifting after running.

Aside from that there's not really a lot to know. They're just two separate activities, combining them should be as easy as combining brushing your teeth and writing checks.

[tomsfish]

you will be fine,just eat more as you will be burning a lot more calories than you had been before.contrary to what a lot of people think,you dont automatically shrink just because you get your heart rate up and keep it up a while.