Why Runners Should Not Strength Train episode artwork

EPISODE · May 2, 2026 · 58 MIN

Why Runners Should Not Strength Train

from Born on the Trail: Going Longer · host Niki Micallef

We are often told that strength training is a “non-negotiable” for longevity and performance. But for the self-coached trail runner who is balancing 40+ hour work weeks with a high-volume training block, nothing is free. Every hour spent in the gym is an hour not spent on the trails, and more importantly, it is an hour of recovery you are actively spending.In this episode of the podcast, we look at the science proving, or disproving, the injury prevention and performance benefits of strength training, what determines performance in marathon and ultramarathon events, and what elite coaches tell us about performance.This episode discusses why adding a stimulus isn’t just an addition, but a replacement of time or energy, when the aerobic benefit of a run outweighs the benefits of strength training while identifying who should double down on running and who should look towards strength training.Looking for coaching or guidance? Read more at https://bornonthetrail.substack.com/p/coachingRELATED BORN ON THE TRAIL CONTENTWhy Runners Should Not Strength Train: https://bornonthetrail.substack.com/p/why-you-should-not-strength-train?r=39kjk2A Scientific Guide to Strength Training for Endurance Athletes: https://bornonthetrail.substack.com/p/a-scientific-guide-to-strength-training-for-runners?r=39kjk2WATCH THIS SHOW ON OTHER PLATFORMSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bornonthetrailSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o5yHthUidO0No4VA3xdVbApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/born-on-the-trail-going-longer/id1857231629YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvFOih1rUBA2F_3Bi7Ii-cAqieAQSumU_FOLLOW BORN ON THE TRAIL ON SOCIAL MEDIASubstack: https://bornonthetrail.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bornonthetrail/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bornonthetrailFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bornonthetrail/ Get full access to Born on the Trail at bornonthetrail.substack.com/subscribe

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Why Runners Should Not Strength Train

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