Are my triceps weak or is it normal for them to give out first?

[dullard]

Problem:
On my upper body days, on almost all of the lifts, I have to limit the total weight because my triceps give out before any other muscle.

• Bench press (barbell): I could probably do a lot more weight, but my triceps hold me back. I barely feel it in my chest when my triceps are burning immensely.
• Seated row: I've never felt any back muscles sore or tired, I have to stop when my triceps can't take it any longer.
• Lat pull down: while I feel this more in my back and biceps than triceps, by the time I get to these, my triceps are so much jelly that they again are the reason that I can't go up in weight.
• Dips and tricep exercises: obviously these are tricep limited.
• Even some deltoid-aimed lifts sometimes are tricep limited.

I thought that over time my triceps would catch up. But after more than a year, they are still the limiting factor. Is this normal, or do I need to do something to really focus on the triceps?

Workout Goal:
I have recently started taking up tower running. I just did a 870 step building in a bit over 8 minutes with the goal to get that down to the 6.5 minute range. If I get into the limited time slots, I'll be running up the Sears tower this fall (sub-25 minute goal). I enjoy hiking mountains so I want leg strength/endurance for that too.

Sears tower run (Willis tower if you must call it that):
http://ric.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=event_information

Current routine:
I used to do two arm days per week. But due to my new workout goal, I am currently going to the gym mostly for my lower half. I do cardio, legs, core, and upper body workouts. But I focus more on the legs and cardio at the moment than my upper body. So in a week, my goal is to do this:

• Two lower body/cardio days with a few planks for cool down.
• One arm/core day.
• One cardio day.

I fear that this shift from two arm days down to one day will just make the triceps worse. Should I just throw in a tricep exercise on all days?

 

[Sukhoi]

Row and pull down should have minimal tricep components

 

[shadowman724]

Any muscle can be trained, even if it seems weak in the beginning. For example, in my early days, I could not do two clapping pushups on a row.

 

[sanufdutta]

Find a weight you think will enable you to hit the target rep range and set the pin in the stack accordingly. I prefer to use a straight bar . Keep your body straight and your core engaged as you press down; squeeze your triceps at the bottom. Keep it dead simple!!!

 

[purbeast0]

how wide is your grip on bench press? if it's too narrow, you will be using more triceps than chest.

 

[z1ggy]

If your triceps get tired during Rows... Then you're not rowing correctly.

 

[tsiunltdus]

Might want to check out this website for strengthening and endurance to your triceps

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/wotw17.htm