Guys, I fell into an L-hole yesterday (“L” for Laundry!) and completely spaced blogging. What is wrong with me? Anyway, bygones. I’m back!
It’s no secret that I love a good lift. When I was 13, Obi-wan introduced me to my first Fitness Icon, Kiana Tom.
Kiana had a show on FitTV and I learned form and basic exercise technique from her and from Obi-wan himself. Well, them and Ah-nald. I love this book.
At that point in my athletic career I was running cross-country, playing basketball, cheerleading, running track and playing softball in the Summers. I was all over the place with my training, which was probably the primary reason that I didn’t suffer from overuse injuries, ummm, EVER.
When I got to college, I realized that I was unique in my knowledge of proper exercise techniques. I continued to cross-train throughout my marathon career and have only had to take off one month to strengthen a bum glute medius. I ran my best marathon that Fall.
Point is, I credit strength training for keeping me healthy and strong.
Physiologically, muscles need to be strengthened before they can be beat up by the mileage required to train for a marathon. Muscles build faster than tendons and ligaments because they have a better blood supply. That’s why long-term, sustained weight-training is the way to go so that the tendons and ligaments have a chance to catch up and get stronger, too.

Excuse me while I grab my 85 pound dumbbells and do some bicep curls (juuuuust kidding, those are Obi-wans' bad boys)
Awesome benefits of weight training:
- Builds muscle which can increase the body’s metabolic rate and burn more calories in everyday life.
- Stronger body = fewer overuse injuries.
- Works the anaerobic capacity of our cardiovascular system to increase the body’s VO2 max )which makes distance running easier).
- Helps to increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis.
- Cut arms. Perky butt. Hot legs. Seriously, you need more convincing?
So, grab a friend and head to the weight room or a strength-training class. Your body will thank you.
Now go out and run!
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