Can lifting and long distance running mix?

[kjtolman]

I have been lurking on this site for a while now. Everyone on here is such a huge inspiration and the posts are incredibly informative. This site has led me to make some life changes. I have been lifting for over three weeks and to my utter amazement, I am already seeing bigger changes than I saw after two years of long distance running (40-50 miles a week). I'm hooked. I follow the diet plans on the site to the letter, dropped the alcohol, dropped cardio way, way down to no more than 30 mins at a time, lift heavy and wow...what a difference.

But....

There is one last challenge on the ole bucket list that I'd love to scratch off first before I hang my running shoes up. There is an ultra marathon in July. I will be through the 12 wk plan I am currently following by the time I would need to start picking my distance training up in May. Now the question - how badly will it set me back if I keep doing what I am doing until May and then start running 40 miles every weekend? I desperately want to do this - it's a 60K that starts at night, in South Texas heat in the middle of summer, and on dirt trails (come on, what sane person wouldn't want to do that, lol?) but I am so scared of sabotaging all the gains I hope to have by then.

So please tell me...is there anything I can do to (nutrition, etc) to be able to do this race without taking too many steps back?

[gbullock32]

As long as you eat enough and rest enough then you should be just fine.

[kaylerae]

The past 4 marathons I have ran I did with hardly any cardio training.. and felt great throughout races. I'm all for weights and endurance sports are all in your head anyways, at least I'm convinced.

[ms_mac]

Here's a good article on this:

http://worldfitnessnetwork.com/the-r...ilder-85-tips/

[kjtolman]

Thank you all for your responses. I read the article and feel much better about it. I will keep the calories up when I start building the miles up. Looking forward to the challenge. Thank you all again.

[discdoggie]

If running is something you love, you shouldn't stop doing it. That's silly. I still run. If I was running for fat loss, that's one thing. But it's my therapy. And one-on-one time on wooded trails with my dog. The tragedy would be stopping, not continuing.

[sbo1490]

The past 4 marathons I have ran I did with hardly any cardio training.. and felt great throughout races. I'm all for weights and endurance sports are all in your head anyways, at least I'm convinced.

hi
did you manage to do the marathon and preserve muscle? i have done a marathon before but now want to do it again in sub 4 (cutting 20mins off time) but ive done well to build muscle since my last marathon and i really would not want to lose it- can i just make sure im not in calorie deficit and eat back my runs/ ++ carbs ? then on race days keep on top of the gels?
thanks !!