AIBU to run with weights?

[YellowPolkaDotBikini1980]

Is this a bad idea?

I want to run less like a dying walrus, that has been taught to walk on two legs and more like a tireless gazelle, and look like those cool people who run like the terminator? Or, if that's not possible, how can I run fast, and not plodding?

Ok, so I know that some of you are ultra marathoners and whatever, so don't laugh, but I'm really proud of myself that I finished couch to 5k. I'm in my 40s and was quite sedentary so it's a big deal for me.

The thing is, while I could keep going for 30mins, I couldn't actually run 5k. More like 3.5 or 4.

So what I did was restart couch to 5k, but this time I had a weighted vest (I can't remember the weight, something like 3kg or something). Weighted gloves/wrist weight (500g or something). And weighted ankle weights (2kg each).

Well, by the end of that run (by run here, I mean a couch to 5k session where they guide you between running and walking)I was sweating buckets, so that's good, right? But then, after a few runs, I read that weights on your feet mess up your gait.

So I put them on my arms instead.

Now, after a couple more runs my back hurts.

So should I remove some of the weights? Like the arm ones maybe?

I admire your efforts but if you are finding running a challenge I'm not sure making it more challenging with weights will help? Your pace will improve with practice but it takes time. Maybe leave the weights off but do a strength workout once or twice a week to supplement your running?

This makes no sense, aren’t you trying to run faster? Weights will not help you run faster. You might burn more calories if your trying to lose some weight but no wearing weights to run won’t help you run faster. In fact it will slow you down at first.

If you want to run faster you have to just keep practising, push yourself alittle bit harder each time. Run at maximum effort, then reduce as your lungs start burning, then push yourself again and run at max effort. It will take time and practice but you can be running a sub 30 5k if you keep pushing.

Personally I do 5k in 33 mins and I’m happy with that, I’m not a fast runner and never will be. I enjoy a steady pace myself.

There are some much easier ways to increase your speed!

1. Add strength training into your workout plan - it really does wonders.
2. Incorporate interval training into your plan as well. This is where you have a session where you run faster for a shorter amount of time, then slow down to recover, then fast again etc.

Just running more and more won’t make you faster - take it from a slow marathoner! But if you do want to increase your speed, you need to effectively work out your “speed muscles”, hence strength and interval training.

You might find it helps to have a specific goal, eg an event that you want to train for, rather than just trying to go faster each time.

Join some running groups and/or have a session with a PT in order to make sure you’re training safely.

Well done for completing couch to 5k! Such a great achievement!

Ditch the running weights, do your strength training in the gym, for your running focus start incorporating interval training like with the 5k but you do jogging and then a faster one for the interval instead of walk/jog, hill sprints and the like.

runners world have a faster 5k plan at the bottom of this article, adapt it to what you can do and then keep working on it https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/a41039401/how-to-run-faster/

Weights when running are a bad idea. It’s just more pressure on your joints.

to get faster at running and to run longer you just need to keep running regularly! In your shoes I wouldn’t restart couch to 5k id just run 5k, even if its really slow and you need to walk bits of it. You can’t be far of that in ability if you can already run 4k. It sounds like a mental challenge not physical inability at this point.

Once you can run 5k just doing that 3/4 times a week until you can run the whole thing without stopping even if the running pace is really slow.

then once you can do that work out what your average pace is and work on improving that to get your time down.

You need to do weights classes at the gym. Try a body max, body pump or a personal trainer.

Yes, I'm trying to get faster. It's a common thing proper athletes do (but obviously with guidance from coaches). Add extra weight when training, then when you do the activity without the weights, you are much faster than before.

This sounds like a fast-track ticket to an injury to me!

P.S. I recommend the Nike Run Club app for a new challenge after Couch to 5k. They've got so many guided runs on there to choose from, the coaches are great and you can plan your runs to focus on different things, e.g. increasing endurance one day and speed another day.

You’re still a fairly beginner runner if you’ve just finished c25k, so it’s going to take time to get faster, don’t try and rush it with weights as others have said you’re going to end up with an injury.
really focus on some basics like jog/sprint alternating, hill work, lengthening your distance to build up that speed. In the gym do strength work for your legs. Don’t be adding weights.

It's a common thing proper athletes do (but obviously with guidance from coaches).
Is it?? I know a lot of good runners and many club runners and coaches and have never heard of anyone training wearing weights!! You're just asking for injuries.

Is it? Maybe not a good idea for you though since your a newbie runner and not a proper athlete under guidance from a coach.

Is this for weight loss?

I’ve found doing kettle bell and dumbbells at home to you tube vids helped the weight fall off.

keep up the normal running for fitness

Thanks. I've read all the comments. I will try the suggestions.

The running is not for weight loss, just for general health and mood.

I ran today without the weights and I feel like they really helped, because I feel so much lighter, and it's easier to run. But you're right. I think the weights would have caused an injury and I won't use them anymore. (I'm surprised some of you haven't heard of them. They're not free standing weight. They velcro round your arm/ankle. And I've seen lots of runners with the vest one.

Since I'm on week 3 of the repeated couch to 5k. I'm now using it as a sprint-run thing. I do the warm up walk and warm down walk but, when they say run, I run fast, and when she says 'you can walk now' I do my normal plod jog.

Reminds me of poor friend training with full burgen in the army and running in boots