Best way to do strength and running training?

5133430 15 days ago

I want to do both running and strength training using my Forerunner 965, and I was hoping to find some kind of plan that would allow for both. Previously I did about 5 days running and 4 days working out per week (the combined days were lighter on both), so I was hoping to find something similar.

I've seen the coaching feature, but when I try to set up a strength training plan, it overwrites my suggested daily runs (the default, with no plan). I've also tried a running coach plan with workouts included, but it only suggests one workout per week, which is less than I'd like to do. It's really a shame that you can't combine two plans, a running plan and a strength training plan.

Does anyone have a solution on how to best make this work?

0 nick_nz 14 days ago

Just use the running coach plan, and add some strength extra work outs during the week. Just because it's not in the coach plan doesn't mean can throw in an extra strength workout here and there.

0 5133430 11 days ago in reply to nick_nz

Yeah, that's what I've decided to do. I was just hoping that the workout suggestions could be done to maximise my progress just like the run suggestions, which are really good.

0 NickMN 11 days ago

I am self coached pretty much, so haven't much experience with mix/match on the Garmin plans.

However, I will mention that for a good structured week with running and strength, its a bit better for progress - to make your double days, your Hard Work days... then you can get some endurance easy benefits, recovery, rest on your Easy Days. My tuesday & thursdays are setup in that way, hard AM bike workout... then a 1-2hr full body weight training session in the evening. then mon-wed-fri-Sat I do my run training, mostly all 'easy' / aerobic / zone2.

0 5133430 4 days ago in reply to NickMN

I'm also self-coached, so it's all been trial and error.

I tried doing hard runs and workouts on the same day, but I found out that I was typically dead for the second one, so I split them in my old training plan. However, unlike you I never did training in the morning, so it was trying to do two hard workouts in a single evening that perhaps made it unsuccessful.

If I can ever get myself out of bed early enough, I'd love to try running in the morning. But then my watch will say I haven't slept enough haha!

0 4493476 4 days ago

Make sure your watch is up to date.

Setup a Garmin run coach and it will allow you to include strength workouts.

I am on a Garmin run coach program and yesterday my suggested workout was 1 hour at the gym with exercises and weights.

Note. You have to be on the latest update. This ability is probably not even a month old, brand new feature.

0 5133430 2 days ago in reply to 4493476

I take it this is only with the coaching plans, not the daily suggested workouts. Hopefully Garmin can bring this to daily suggested workouts as well!