Is running a 5k inbetween 5x5 days ok?

[Insomniator]

I've been somewhat doing stronglifts 5x5 for a few months (on and off so still in the beginning stage) and just started doing cardio in between. Yesterday I ran a 5k around my neighborhood with a time of 27 minutes (bleh..) and today of course is back to squats/death.

I figure t/th/sat for 5x5 and m/w/f for cardio/5ks'... is this too hard on my legs? I don't know what my body fat is or where exactly i am in terms of fitness. 5'8'' 175 currently squatting 185 5x5 (205 on good days...). I was pretty damn tired after the 27 min 5k but I'm hoping I can do 24 tomorrow for my second try..

 

[brikis98]

What are your goals? Are you trying to get stronger? Add muscle mass? Lose fat? Training for a sport?

You need to understand that you get stronger, bigger and more fit while you rest, not while you work out. The more exercise you do, the less recovery time you have. So if your primary goal is to get as strong as possible, running a 5k in between lifting days will slow down your strength gains. Moreover, running burns a lot of calories and tends to be catabolic, so if gaining muscle mass was your goal, you'll be slowing that progress down as well. Of course, how much impact this has depends on your individual ability to recover, which is largely tied to genetics, diet and sleep.

 

[HN]

Looking back on my log, i did them about once a month. i'm no competitive runner by any means (times were between 22-25min) but that amount didn't seem too difficult.

in between those i did sprints, intervals, "medium" distances (1.5-3K, i can sense the endurance runners laughing 🙂 ). i don't think doing 5K's over and over would have helped much in overall balance of strength/endurance.

 

[Insomniator]

Not sure of my goals... I know I see kids at the gym that are similar in size but can bench and squat a lot more than freakin 185.

I think I want to get stronger and more cut/lean rather than... bigger. 5'8'' is short so I don't want to turn into one of those short stocky monster guys (not that I have to worry about that yet)

I'm happy with the way my body looks now but I just seem weak. I'd like to be able to comfortably do 225 which seems easily possible for someone my height/weight but more in shape.

any of that make sense?

 

[brikis98]

Not sure of my goals... I know I see kids at the gym that are similar in size but can bench and squat a lot more than freakin 185.

I think I want to get stronger and more cut/lean rather than... bigger. 5'8'' is short so I don't want to turn into one of those short stocky monster guys (not that I have to worry about that yet)

I'm happy with the way my body looks now but I just seem weak. I'd like to be able to comfortably do 225 which seems easily possible for someone my height/weight but more in shape.

any of that make sense?

Ok... sounds like you want to get stronger. So why are you running 5k's then?

I strongly recommend that you figure out and set some concrete, measurable goals for yourself. For example, "I want to squat X pounds by date Y" or "I want to weigh X pounds by date Y". Having goals will make it much easier to decide what to do for exercise; making them measurable lets you see how you are progressing and gives you motivation to keep going.

 

[zebano]

I'm in the same boat as you. I've got a couple of goals that conflict and I know I should take them 1 at a time but it's hard to take a day off.

Goal 1: <12&#37; body fat
Goad 2: Squat 5x5x(1.5xbodyweight) =270 I'm currently at 5x5x225
Goal 3: Run a sub 20 min 5k (long term goal, I'll settle for beating 23 min my next race)

I'm counting calories for #1 and doing stronglifts for #2. I started running directly after lifting for number 3 but I started developing leg cramps once I started running after squatting 200lbs. to make matters worse there are daily basketball games at work over lunch that I play in on days that I don't lift... That leaves only Saturday as a rest day and no real 5k training. =(

 

[Insomniator]

Ok... sounds like you want to get stronger. So why are you running 5k's then?

I strongly recommend that you figure out and set some concrete, measurable goals for yourself. For example, "I want to squat X pounds by date Y" or "I want to weigh X pounds by date Y". Having goals will make it much easier to decide what to do for exercise; making them measurable lets you see how you are progressing and gives you motivation to keep going.

well what kind of cardio should i do then? I def have some fat to get rid of... doubt I could handle HIIT right now. 5k's seem like a decent pace..

 

[brikis98]

well what kind of cardio should i do then? I def have some fat to get rid of... doubt I could handle HIIT right now. 5k's seem like a decent pace..

To lose weight, the priority is getting your diet in order. Get yourself in a caloric deficit and you'll lose weight. Cardio activities can be an efficient way to burn calories, but are not at all required for weight loss. See the fat loss sticky for more info.