Re:Running as a Thinking Person’s Sport
by dspillett on Thursday December 15, 2016 @07:32AM
(#13184124)
>* It is time consuming and boring (of course this is subjective)*
Very very subjective...
> and very inefficient at improving fitness
Depends on what your fitness goals are. It is pretty effective at maintaining cardiovascular capability but doesn't do much for overall strength or, on its own, weight management. Anecdotal data point: as a regular runner, 10K in <42m, half marathon in <1h50, I have a cracking set of legs and lungs but my upper body is pretty weak, my core strength "fair-to-middling", and I still carry a little more than I might like around the waist.
The trick to overall fitness, and something I could benefit from addressing, is to not concentrate on just one thing. Mixing running with body-weight exercises (push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, dips, ...) is generally considered a good minimal-equipment combination. For "bulking" or faster muscle strength gains add in some weights. For weight loss: eat less (or, for a more nuanced approach, eat better).
Very very subjective...
> and very inefficient at improving fitness
Depends on what your fitness goals are. It is pretty effective at maintaining cardiovascular capability but doesn't do much for overall strength or, on its own, weight management. Anecdotal data point: as a regular runner, 10K in <42m, half marathon in <1h50, I have a cracking set of legs and lungs but my upper body is pretty weak, my core strength "fair-to-middling", and I still carry a little more than I might like around the waist.
The trick to overall fitness, and something I could benefit from addressing, is to not concentrate on just one thing. Mixing running with body-weight exercises (push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, dips, ...) is generally considered a good minimal-equipment combination. For "bulking" or faster muscle strength gains add in some weights. For weight loss: eat less (or, for a more nuanced approach, eat better).