Marathoning and Building...

[txjump12500]

Anyone else run marathons while trying to put on mass?

This is the final month of marathon training. My 7th. Marathon running is rewarding, but also frustrating if you are also a lifter trying to put on (or at least keep) mass. Oddly enough, I have managed to put on mass while running. In 2002 I put on about 8-10 lbs while training and getting my best time in a marathon.

However, upon further reflection, this may be due to the fact I was relatively new to lifting (turned into a meathead in November 2001).

My trainer (who I trust immensly) has already told me it's going to be virtually impossible to put on more mass (especially this month being the last month of training and the marathon on the 29th of October). But I am wondering if anyone else has done the same and if I am missing any tips that may have worked for you.

Personally, I believe it's all about eating, not only upping the calories, but also timing. For instance, instead of running on a relatively empty stomach - save for a bagel or something - as most marathoners do, at least starting the race, pump some liquid calories such as gatorade in before your runs to avoid eating into muscle. You never want to smell the amonia Bad sign.

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

[ElderJefferson]

Originally Posted by txjump12500

Anyone else run marathons while trying to put on mass?

But I am wondering if anyone else has done the same and if I am missing any tips that may have worked for you.

Personally, I believe it's all about eating

Man, are you serious? Distance running and bulking go together like Bin Laden and "western society". You are literally causing your body to polarize itself - burn tons of calories (fat and muscle) while trying to put on weight (fat and muscle). I suppose you could eat like 10,000 calories per day while training. Actually, I'd be very interested in seeing what your maintenace level would be during training.

[oldmanmarley]

This is something i've been thinking about lately. Does anyone know how heavy the heaviest marathon runner was? Do you think any pro bodybuilders could finish a marathon?
In response to your post, txjump, i think distance running will limit your mass significantly, but your weight training shouldn't hinder your running. I would try to find a way to bring some protein/energy drinks with you and consume them while you run.

[ElderJefferson]

Originally Posted by oldmanmarley

This is something i've been thinking about lately. Does anyone know how heavy the heaviest marathon runner was? Do you think any pro bodybuilders could finish a marathon?

I can just see it now -

And bringing up the rear, finishing in a time of 2 days, 14 hours, and 38 minutes - Ronnie Coleman!

What if they allowed hip and shoulder checks in marathon races. That would be neat to see. No hands and no tripping, but you can plow straight into someone with your shoulder!

[dez182]

You will most likely get sick and run-down, because it's too much stress to put on your body. Do your marathon, then keep your running to a maintenance level and try to gain mass.

[txjump12500]

Um... Thanks for the comments

Seriously though, this is not my first rodeo. I kept very good records of my marathons, and yes, I did manage to put on lean mass while training and sucessfully completing the marathon. Of course, at a point in the training, gains slowed and for the last month of training, I did lose like 2 pounds. But it rebounded immediately after (like the next month).

Looking at '02, I gained about a pound a month while training except for the last month of training heading into the marathon. Lost a pound that month. And the leg exercises actually allowed me the best PR time in a marathon (knocked an hour off my best time!).

I didn't run another marathon until last November ('05), and between the '02 marathon and the beginning of training last year, I gained only like 5 lbs, but that had more to do with two things: a) I was still running like I was training for marathons in '03 and '04, but then deferred my entries and b) convinced myself I was "on a plateau" in the gym because I really didn't know what it meant to vary my routines (I now know, thanks very much to an awesome trainer).

So, my original post was this.... I began lifting seriously in 2001. I am wondering if the gains I experienced (a pound a month) even when training in 2002 for a marathon were "newby gains". I wish I had the last two years back knowing now what it was to vary my lifting, as I may already be at my goal of 185 and looking to get to 200. But I am wondering if anyone else on the site is doing or has done a marathon and kept the gains coming after the newby weight. I do not believe in plateaus anymore, but am wondering if anyone else has come across some great tips for someone in my predicament.

(And I do agree with the comments on how this is ying and yang - what I'm putting my body through. My trainer has told me as much as well. The man knows what he's talking about, but he didn't completely rule out the possibility of continuing to gain while running one.)

[jtbike2000]

When it is cycling race season I find it is very hard for me to put on muscle. A lot of it has to do with the hard training and thus an inability to go as hard as I would like in the gym day after day. I would try to pick one or the other for certain times of the year. e.g. in the winter hit the weights hard and in the summer focus on the running.