I just read a post on this forum that said the general consensus is that running is taboo for fat loss because you will loose muscle too.

I want everyone who believes this MYTH to explain the below photo.

I just read a post on this forum that said the general consensus is that running is taboo for fat loss because you will loose muscle too.

I want everyone who believes this MYTH to explain the below photo.
Don't know who he is, but he has to be a sprinter! And maybe on steroids.

He works out with weights. His longest distances might be a mile for a run.

I bet some people on this board could beat those guys at a 5 mile or more run...

those guys do mainly weight training and sprints. Explosive movements.

Maybe you should post a pic of the body type of people who win marathons? (I'm too lazy to). I watched the boston marathon from mile 25 the past few years and let me tell you....the people finishing first had so little muscle if you didn't know they were world class kenyan runners, you would think they were anorexic.

His name is Maurice Greene, he won the gold medal in Sydney for the 100m. He's probably the fastest guy on the planet.

rtestes - I love how you jump to the fact that "he must be a sprinter". What does that have to do with anything? Does that make him less of a runner?

rubberbandman- Why does everyone point to the marathon runner as an example of what will happen to your body if you run? elite marathon runners put in close to 100 miles a week running. Sometimes more. And everyone thinks that if they run that they will end up looking like a marathon runner. "I bet some people on this board could beat those guys at a 5 mile or more run..." No offense but this statement is ignorant.

Still no explanation. Let me have it here.

I know who maurice greene is...He's that cocky sprinter with the GOAT tattoo on his arm standing for GREATEST OF ALL TIME. I don't like him just for that reason but that is beside the point.

He is a sprinter and sprinters do train by building massive amounts of muscle and sprinting. It's not comparable in any way to the type of running people talk about on these boards. Running probably recruits about 50% of the muscle fibers in your leg while sprinting probably as close to 100% as can be accomplished. He is overloading. Long distance running isn't overloading and that's why it's done for longer periods of time.

"I bet some people on this board could beat those guys at a 5 mile or more run..." No offense but this statement is ignorant.
I doubt I could beat him in a 5 mile run (unless he was chasing me to kick my ass) but I stand by that statement...I'm sure some people on here, especially those HIIT cardio crazies, could beat him in a longer run.

Don't know who he is, but he has to be a sprinter!
True, but wasn't HIIT said to cause muscle loss? HIIT would simulate the effects of being a sprinter.

He is a sprinter and sprinters do train by building massive amounts of muscle and sprinting. It's not comparable in any way to the type of running people talk about on these boards. Running probably recruits about 50% of the muscle fibers in your leg while sprinting probably as close to 100% as can be accomplished. He is overloading. Long distance running isn't overloading and that's why it's done for longer periods of time.

sounds like you're saying that Sprinting is not running and running is not sprinting.

What do you think a Maurice Greene track workout is like? His specialty is the 100 meters. So he probably runs 100 meters over and over again with breaks of slower running in between. Sounds a lot like HITT doesn't it.

The excuse "he's not a runner, he's a sprinter" doesn't work for me. I'm gonna need more convincing.

True, but wasn't HIIT said to cause muscle loss? HIIT would simulate the effects of being a sprinter.
don't you get your heart rate up very high during HIIT cardio? Sprinters hearts don't really start beating until the race is done with. HIIT is done over a 20 to 30 minute period right? I don't do it so I don't know, whereas sprinters run for under a minute. Seems like two totally different exercises I think? :confused:

this webpage (http://www.oztrack.com/sprint.htm) contains lots of information on the types of training sprinters perform...one choice excerpt:

"Development of Maximum Speed

The theory exists that it is better to develop maximum speed first then later in the season add endurance of that speed. Endurance work can be done but not work that involves all out efforts that could result in the athlete practising poor form. Any kind of speed endurance work can especially as it becomes more intense result in decreased efficiency and maximum speed. Every time an athlete makes maximum effort they program that exact motor pattern at that velocity as being what the brain reproduces as maximum speed..

To Develop maximum speed short distances are used ( usually involving an upper limit of 3-4s at maximum speed) eg. 30-40m or up to 60m from a standing start, Flying 20-30m runs off a 25m run in or
In & Outs & In (an example follows)
25m acceleration phase breathing in slowly
10m at maximum effort breath held
20m at high cadence less effort breathout and in as final approach to next zone occurs.
10m at maximum effort breath held
Ease out

The athlete may build up to 9-12 runs in sets of 3-4 with minimum rest between being 3-5min and full recovery between sets. "

That last line, "9-12 runs in sets of 3-4" sounds shockingly like WEIGHT TRAINING and very little like "running" as the term is used here (distance running). I mean, when one of us non-sprinters goes out for a run, we don't start, stop start stop, start, stop.

rtestes - I love how you jump to the fact that "he must be a sprinter". What does that have to do with anything? Does that make him less of a runner?
.

No, in fact, I was a sprinter in high school. And I never cared to move my body over 1/4 mile. His body was one of a sprinter, not a long distance runner.

Every time an athlete makes maximum effort they program that exact motor pattern at that velocity as being what the brain reproduces as maximum speed.. So in order to run fast you need to practice running fast. This makes complete sense.


The athlete may build up to 9-12 runs in sets of 3-4 with minimum rest between being 3-5min and full recovery between sets. "

That last line, "9-12 runs in sets of 3-4" sounds shockingly like WEIGHT TRAINING and very little like "running" as the term is used here (distance running). I mean, when one of us non-sprinters goes out for a run, we don't start, stop start stop, start, stop.
It does sound a lot like weight training except for the fact that they use the word "runs".

My whole point with this is that running is not "TABOO". Running CAN work in a fitness routine and not cause muscle loss. Some people don't run because they flat out hate running and that is fine but some of those same people say that the reason they don't run is because of muscle loss. While this is true in extreme cases such as marathon runners. It IS NOT given that running = muscle loss.

His body was one of a sprinter, not a long distance runner.

I didn't say that "long distance running works, I said "running" works. And sprinting IS running.

I didn't say that "long distance running works, I said "running" works. And sprinting IS running.

I agree...

Just wouldn't want people to go around thinking that if they go for a nice jog they are gonna end up like the GOAT....cocky bastid....

I agree...

Just wouldn't want people to go around thinking that if they go for a nice jog they are gonna end up like the GOAT....cocky bastid....

I'm with you. And I don't want people to think that if they go out for a nice jog a few times a week that they will end up looking like the skinny elite marathon runners.

Just food for thought guys. Running is not evil.

I'm with you. And I don't want people to think that if they go out for a nice jog a few times a week that they will end up looking like the skinny elite marathon runners.

Just food for thought guys. Running is not evil.

Agreed,

I jog over 10 miles a week along with pushups, situps(now replaced with crunches due to bruised tailbone) pullups, body squats. If theres one thing Im naturally have a big build theres no way I can look like those long distance/marathon runners unless I become anorexic. I have been losing fat and gaining tons of muscle just through using body resistance training its pretty sweet. And running/jogging are actually fun. Fresh air sun your missing the good outdoors :) Also would like to say Its hot as heck outside here in Texas. And I do it in middle of day so I can sweat more :)

-Jeff

I didn't say that "long distance running works, I said "running" works. And sprinting IS running.

I agree but sprinting didn't build his body. I think sprints should be a part of everyone's training. 10 sec and 20 sec "runs" won't cause muscle loss.

Simple fact
Sprinter workouts i.e. 3-5 mile runs lots of sprints and hills leads to muscle buildup and fat loss because its anerobic running.

Long distance running runs in excess of 50 minutes burns fat/muscle because it leans out the body being a aerobic running.

It really depends on ur body type and what you want to do.

I do a mix of runs m/w/f sprints t/th/sat in the morning
I do a 50-70 min elipictical session every night before i lift/do pt.
When i was inshape i had the same build as the photo above i guess it really depends on your body type and what you plan on doing with ur body.

For example i plan on doing tris and marathons so......
-phil

wow sounds like we got alot of experts on this thread....

Maurice Green, awesome sprinter but not long distance. Weight trains for explosive muscle response while running. "Fast Twitch" to gain speed.

They are sprinters. You can't compare. If you want another argument look at a picture of a professional marathon runner and tell me it doesn't catabolize your muscles :)

Not to mention they're all professionals at what they do and have better access to nutrition/training/recovery programs and assistance than any of us do.

Jeez... what I'd do for a hottub somedays after a workout.

I think anybody that's been involved with competing in track & field understands that long distance running seriously catabolizes muscles. My highscool track team had a large and very competitive group of distance runners. It was easy to see over a four year period of training and competing that the distance runners developed completely different physiques than the rest of the team.