does running decrease muscle mass???

[fballplayya82]

is it true that if i start running my bench will go down???

[Complete Muscle]

That depends on many variables: how much running, calories consumed, recovery time, etc. Your strength may suffer some .

Two main dangers are: (1) Calorie deficit. Try your best to keep cals above expenditure if increased strength/mass is your goal. And (2) the other real danger is the running interfering with your recovery time.

[big1day]

I don't know how much fballplayya82 runs, but I run a lot too, so I'm interested in what people say. Here's my running schedule all in the morning on an empty stomach, Monday: 2 miles, about 15 minutes, Wednesday: 3 miles, about 22 minutes, and Friday, 2 miles again. BTW, I've gained about 20 ibs, from 115 to 135 since I began lifting in Febuary. Would laying off on the running make me grow bigger faster?

[Complete Muscle]

big1day - that's great progress! (w/ running or not) It's hard to say if not running will make you grow faster... I tend to think it would cuz more energy (calories) and time would be available for recovery from weight training. If you try it take it slow and be careful you don't create too much of a calorie surplus or you'll just gain fat.

[Humungous]

You might try running sprints at top speed, rather than running for distance at low speed. Sprints are an excellent way to complement muscle growth. For instance, look at the physique of a distance runner versus that of a sprinter.