how to run faster? (Page 5)

Seriously, this is IMO the main reason why people keep on believing/spreading the myth that more muscle = more power for our sport. Triathlon is an endurance sport and the training adaptations between endurance and strength training (mainly weight lifting) are different. That is not to say that strength training can’t be beneficial for all athletes for many reasons (performance is not one of them although plyometrics might help running economy) and that it can’t be achieved via sport specific exercises (swim 4 strokes, drills, hills, etc). Some athletes just lack the muscular metabolic fitness to be able to swim 2000 yds non-stop ride 1 hr at threshold or run a marathon; however the lack of strength as it is defined is not a limiter.

It is quiet normal for beginners working on their fitness level to perform a training session and ‘feel’ that strength is limiting them to go faster/longer. How many times do you hear someone say: I was swimming but my arms felt heavy and like I couldn’t pull hard anymore after 500 yds? I was riding but as soon as I hit a hill I can barely get to the top, it is like I have no leg strength or I was running but after 1 hr I felt like I could have gone farther but my legs felt like made out of stone. The 1^st thing it is assume is that performance is been hampered due to a lack of strength when all it is missing is proper training adaptation to ibecome fitter. That’s why those who do not hit the gym and pump some iron still can get to swim 3, 4, 5K yards, ride 1 hr at threshold or run a marathon under 3 hrs.