Respectfully Disagree Runner's World

​Recently 𝘙𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 put out an article recommending a 5 x 5 plan to help runners get stronger. ⁣
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𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗜’𝗺 𝗽𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝙍𝙒 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀. ⁣
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That being said, I don’t believe that a 5 x 5 plan is the best strength program for runners. ⁣
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Specifically, the Strong Lifts 5x5 plan.⁣
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Why?⁣
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Because the goal of SL5x5 is to improve maximal strength, without the considerations of other training… aka your running.⁣
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Even if you take out your harder running workouts and just focus on a 5x5 plan and continuing good foundation of easy running mileage… 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿.⁣
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Especially if you follow the 5x5 to a T, bc that requires you to add 5+lbs to the lifts each training session.⁣
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And the article mentioned testing a 1 rep max, which I don’t recommend for pretty much anyone except for powerlifters since the risk/ reward is not in anyone else’s favor.⁣
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𝗗𝗼 𝗜 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝟱𝘅𝟱 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻?⁣
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𝗔𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆.⁣
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But it is balanced with other exercises that give their nervous system a break, increase single leg strength, and include stability and explosiveness.⁣
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And while I do appreciate the full body exercises represented in the 5 x 5 program, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱.⁣
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