Have you ever been a successful runner while having a 'stocky' build?

*142 pounds :(

Chubby Runner wrote:

I'm have PR's of 4:57 and 17:37 (XC) but here's the embarrassing part... I'm 5'8 and 140 pounds... How much could my times drop if I dropped 15 pounds? Any experiences?

Drop 55 and we' ll talk ,barrel ass .

Extreme athlete Dane Rauschenberg toes the line at 180 pounds with a 6` 1" height and he is one the most successful runners of the past decade.

Way to answer the question jack ass. I didn't make this thread so I could listen to people like you tell me something I know.

Sid Luft wrote:

Extreme athlete Dane Rauschenberg toes the line at 180 pounds with a 6` 1" height and he is one the most successful runners of the past decade.

True, but still he's no Karnazes

The former 8k XC school record holder at my DIII college was a short guy with a stocky-strong build (he ran low 25 for 8k). He had very low body fat, but was definitely stocky/somewhat stubby looking due to his muscular build and short stature.

If you're trying to lose weight, do it slowly. Make sure you eat enough before workouts as you'll flop big time during hard workouts if you're not properly fueled. In other words, don't skimp on fueling up before important days; if you're going to cut back on food, do it on easy run days.

begin resistance training to build muscle and burn calories (push-ups, pull-ups, core, bench press, squats, lunges, seated rows, calf raises)

Are you eating extra snacks at night? Are you running at least 5 miles a day?

Are you stuffed when you finish each meal?

I've heard that diet is 80% of the battle (20% is exercising enough)...if you're running XC you're probably exercising enough, you just need to control your eating.

3 replies besides yourself .

2/10 .

Fade to black .

Fin .

You think you're stocky?

I'm 5'11 160lbs I always thought my weight would slow me down and make me more prone to injuries so I tried many different diets to keep my weight down but my times stayed the same which was exactly your pr. Then one day I just stopped worrying about my diet, weight and just trained and went from 145 at the time to 160 and ran 16:10.My pr is now15:54. Your weight is not going to slow you down, your mind is. I hope that helps.

I'm 5'10", 160 lbs. Pr's 1:53 800, 4:16 mile, 15:25 5k. I'm not sure how much skinnier I could get, my face looks pretty hollow at 160. I'm pretty cut - vascular, 6-pack, all that.

I'm also injury prone, so maybe my big build contributes to that.

Also, bear in mind that these are basically hobby jogger times, so probably don't meet your definition of "successful runner".

Those times are not hobby jogger times. I would say a hardcore hobby jogger. I don't know one hobby jogger who can do a 4:16 mile?

Henry Marsh was s world class US steeplechaser who was 5-10 and 160-165 while competing. He did not look anything like a world class track athlete, but was top 5 ranked in the world and held the AR of 8:09 for around 10 years which he set when the WR was 8:05.

Nick Symmonds is 5'10", 165 pounds. He's been pretty successful. That said, you want to be as light as possible while still maintaining health. Eating right and doing the right training usually takes care of that if you're a guy. Female runners can have eating disorders.

I was 5'10" and about 165 at my best and was faster than you. There's really no answer to your question. You'd have to do it and see. It might make you faster and it might not. It might make you more injury prone. Peter Snell was 5'10" and 175. Paul McMullen was around 190 I believe. Bill Baillie was "stocky." But here:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?board=1&id=2278769&thread=2277984#2278769

15:25 a hobby jogger? The more I read these pages, the more this term puzzles me. What is a non-hobby jogger? Is it one who is a second or two behind the WR? And does age not apply at all?

Non-hobby joggers would run the 5k fast enough to not be lapped twice in a Diamond League race. In a 13:05 race they are running 63 second laps. 15:25 - 13:05 is 2:20....

To me, unless you are in a scholastic system, earning an income, or knocking on the door of the Trials, you're a hobby jogger. Don't get me wrong, I am passionate about running, but it is a hobby.

The Olympic Trials B standard is 13:50 for 5000 meters. THAT is a serious runner. The rest of us who are worlds away from that do it for fun and fitness. You guys don't agree?

So 13:51 Is jogging?

Better yet, how about a 50-year-old running a 13:51? He is a hobby jogger, too, right?