Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

Would lifting in the morning be detrimental if we’re doing sprints in the afternoon?

Our team is starting to lift this year, but the only time we can do it is in the morning, will it be that much of a limiting factor if at all?

It shouldn’t be, might feel a little weird the first or second time you do it but as long as you give yourself maybe 5-6 hrs between the two you should be fine.  Some people can “handle” less time inbetween the two but I think 5-6 atleast is optimal.

I did it for damn near 4 months this fall and I’ve had my best season ever so far. I had around 10+ hours between sessions, lifting at 630 or 7am and running around 5pm

Josh Hurlebaus - 09 February 2010 12:30 AM

I did it for damn near 4 months this fall and I’ve had my best season ever so far. I had around 10+ hours between sessions, lifting at 630 or 7am and running around 5pm

You also don’t go crazy with your lifting.

I tried something like this last season…I found it generally depended on the intensity of the sessions.
I tried combining morning session of cleans, squats, etc. with evening sprints with some plyos….felt the quality of my speed workout suffered.

What kind of lifting are you thinking of in the morning?

I tried this for a few weeks well over a year ago. Heavy power cleans, hang cleans and atg front/back squat 3x3 in the morning. My plyo in the evening wasnt great but i still went through it. I tested a couple of things to see - stand lj was usually 3.30, did about 3.10 after weights. stand tj from 10.00m to 9.50-60. overhead shot 7.26kg 15.45 to 14.20-50.

I think if i took out the squats it would have been fine.

I think it will work fine, once you get your body used to lifting in the mornings. I personally don’t prefer it (I like to lift after my running sessions) - and felt morning lifting was harder (my weights were probably doen 5%+ when lifting in the morning) but didn’t feel like it inhibited my PM sprints and plyos that dramatically.

Matt Norquist (WashedupDec) - 10 February 2010 01:23 PM

I think it will work fine, once you get your body used to lifting in the mornings. I personally don’t prefer it (I like to lift after my running sessions) - and felt morning lifting was harder (my weights were probably doen 5%+ when lifting in the morning) but didn’t feel like it inhibited my PM sprints and plyos that dramatically.

How are you able to train soo much with a full time job, kids, wife etc?

utfootball4 - 10 February 2010 01:55 PM

Matt Norquist (WashedupDec) - 10 February 2010 01:23 PM

I think it will work fine, once you get your body used to lifting in the mornings. I personally don’t prefer it (I like to lift after my running sessions) - and felt morning lifting was harder (my weights were probably doen 5%+ when lifting in the morning) but didn’t feel like it inhibited my PM sprints and plyos that dramatically.

How are you able to train soo much with a full time job, kids, wife etc?

LOL!  It is hard - but really managing around priorities.  I’d say I train just shy of 10 hours per week - and do it all either at the begining or end of my work day (IE - 5:30-7:00 AM or 5-6:30 PM).  I try to be in the office/with clients from 7-5 on days I have evening workouts or 8-6 on days with morning workouts.

I probably sacrifice my training quality to some degree getting as much training work in as I do in such limited time.  I work through lunch.  I do a lot of early morning and late evening work from home on the weekends.  Still manage to get home for dinner whenever I’m in town, get the kids ready for and into bed, spend the weekends with the family. 

Plus my wife is awesome, and even though she rolls her eyes at me when I get ready for meets, she tolerates it.  (It’s either this or golf, you know?) And I don’t come home from track meets smelling like booze and cigars