Running to the gym to lift?

Mrs.Handy

Does anyone do this?

I'm doing the HH Spring Training Plan to prep me for starting Marathon training in June. 

I'm trying to integrate some strength training into my workouts and I want to run to the gym about an 1 mile and a half, lift for 30-40 minutes, then run back home the mile and half.

The only problems I can see is that there is a huge hill on the route back home which will kind of suck on the way back. Also, I won't be getting a full 3-mile run in. I guess the alternative would be to drive to the gym and then run on the TM or a nearby loop, but that will suck even more time out of my evening.

I was planning on running to the gym 3 miles and then lifting and walking home, but the gym closest to me doesn't have an Olympic barbell, which eliminates some of the lifts from NROLFW.

 

doglove

I did this a few times, my gym is about 3.5 miles away. By the time I had run up there (one giant hill all the way to the gym) and done weights, I felt like I was done and the run home was rough. It was mostly downhill though, which was nice. I had to bring a gu/snack with me and stay hydrated with water and electrolytes to get through the entire workout.

JW28

Sounds like a great idea to me! The run there can serve as most of your warmup for lifting, so it's very efficient. If you're supposed to be running longer than 3 miles, you can just take a detour to make either the way there or the way back longer, no need to drive anywhere. Walking for some of the way home (up that hill) would also work. The running/walking after lifting will serve as a good cool down so you don't tighten up. If my gym were this close, I would run to it.

grja

I used to do this, but it was fairly flat and the gym was only 2 miles away. The run was pretty easy. DH and I used to do it together. We used the run there as a warmup, then workout, and then use the run home again at a faster pace.

The nice part was that if we were too tired, we just walked or jogged home. It wasn't that far.

AGsWife

My gym is about 1.25 miles from my house and I do this on Sunday mornings, since there's a bootcamp class I like to take there. Sometimes, after class, my legs feel like jello, so I will bum a ride from a friend, ha. (We usually end up running at least 2 miles during each bootcamp class.)

jillybean222

I love that idea.  I used to run 3 miles to the the gym, workout, then run home.  Sometimes, I drove to the gym, ran from there, worked out, then drove home.  The nice thing about that was I was able to run different routes and I could shower after my workout and go home clean! 

moshi's paw

I did this last summer for HM training. I called these workouts BBC Thursdays, with BBC standing for BitchBeCrazy It's mostly uphill to my gym, and then there's still an uphill portion back to my house. On days where I wasn't feeling the run home, I'd run either on the treadmill or the track and then walk home.

taratru

I used to do that all the time when I needed a 3 mile run.  I liked it. 

daisysle

I've done this a few times.  I really enjoy running before I lift so it works out well for me.  Weather permitting, I plan to do this on Friday. 

psyri

My gym was 3/4 mile from my house. I'd run first on my regular route but plan it so that I finished at the gym. I carried my lifting gloves in my Spibelt. Then I'd lift and then walk or run-walk (run a block, walk, repeat, or whatever I felt like doing) home.

Mrs.Handy

Thanks for all the feedback! I think I will give it a shot.

I'm looking forward to spicing up my routine.

Breezy8407

I did this a lot when I was still a member of the gym. It was exactly 3 miles there and was fairly flat. I usually went light on the legs on those days.  

beachbum1980

i do this sometimes. i like doing it, instead of running on the treadmill or bike for a warmup.

gl!