Leg Mass and Cardio

[runlift22]

I am trying to put on leg mass (actually, MASS in general, but especially in my legs!) and am looking for some advice regarding which cardio I can/cannot do. I have ?heard? that you can do no running whatsoever because it is catabolic to the leg muscles, but that you can walk on an incline and not inhibit leg growth, or do the stairmaster/stepmill machine and not inhibit leg growth. What are your opinions on this? Even if in a calorie surplus, why is running supposedly so much more catabolic and bad for leg development?

I?m currently training my legs very heavy and hard twice a week (Monday and Thursdays), and would like to continue to run or do some sort of cardiovascular activity everyday or at least four or five times a week. As long as I take in plenty of cals, would a schedule like this be too detrimental for leg development/ mass growth in general?
Mon- am- 20 minute light jog, 20 min walk.
Quads/shoulders in the gym
Tues- am- 20 minute light jog, 20 min walk.
Back/abs/calves in the gym
Wed- am- 20 min stairmaster, 20 min incline walk
Heavy chest/light arms in the gym
Thurs- am- 20 minute light jog, 20 min walk
Legs in the gym
Fri- am- 20 minute light jog, 20 min walk
Back/abs/light shoulders in the gym
Sat- am- 20 min stairmaster, 20 min incline walk
Light chest/heavy arms in the gym
Sun- Rest completely.

Now I know some will say that is way too much cardio, but as long as I eat enough for it, can?t I still put on mass? A 20 minute light jog 4 times a week, and then the stairmaster/walk twice a week really isn?t all that excessive, is it? Is this amount of jogging going to hinder leg development- because if it is, I will nix the jogging, because I really want mass in my legs? any advice/opinions on this subject matter?

[BFIT]

Just a quick reply.......as far as runnning...........I had this same debate with my trainer because I was a runner who was looking to put on some mass....and she said," It's either one or the other....if you want to build your legs(for fitness competition) you CANNOT be a long distance runner...you will
never build the type of mass you want".....it was so DIFFICULT for me to accept that.....but now I do sprints and have never looked back....I have developed mass that I could never get no matter how hard I was training because of my addiction to running................

[runlift22]

But see I worry that doing HIIT will not allow my legs to recover... I don't think I could do it with my schedule... maybe on Wednesday and Saturdays. But will the 20 minutes of light jogging be ok on leg days/the day after leg days. Might it help with recovery, or am I fooling myself?

[ShannonC_77]

I'd hardly call 20 minutes long distance though. I personally think you will be fine, although the extra 20 minutes of walking might be excessive. Just make sure you are eating enough calories to support the activity though.