Is deadlifting actually beneficial for distance running?

We hobby joggers and elites have gotten better by improving our Barbell deadlifts.
Please tell us when you weigh over 100lbs.

But I do it because of its other benefits. I'm not kidding myself into thinking that it improves my running. We Americans would do well to admit that we like to lift because we like to look good and feel strong and not that it's a critical part of training.

closer to 200.

closer to 200.

will you explain what this is supposed to mean?

This is just silly. If you’ve never tried to run an interval workout with lower back pain, god bless you. I have to do everything possible to combat that as I’ve struggled with that especially when I’m on my feet all day.

So, if I do a rehab exercise that allows me to do a great interval workout does that count as ‘making me a better runner?’

100% in my book, but you do you.

I have concluded to my own satisfaction that deadlifting contributes to running faster. I have added weight and reps and the intensity translates to 800 times at least.

I have concluded the opposite to my satisfaction. I have concluded the slight marginal potential benefit from deadlifting is not worth the risk of injury directly correlated to deadlifting. Most likely I would agree the other weight training you do most likely contributes to faster running performances 100m to 800m. Weight training may contribute to faster running performances 1500m through 10000m. 1/2 Marathoners and Marathoners need to be strong but I don't know if I would say weight lifting and injury risk directly correlated to weight lifting is worth the risk for 1/2 Marathoners and Marathoners.

this^

It's like people are thinking, "hmmm I really want to be great at distance running... now... what can I do other than distance running to get good at it?"

jump on a trampoline- nope

lift heavy weights- nope

lift light weights- nope

xc ski- nope

swim- nope

bike- nope

play soccer- nope

you need to run, and run A LOT.. run trails, run on the track, run hills, short short stuff run long stuff but you will get more bang for your buck running than jacking around with all that other stuff.

^ Apostrophes are useful but you didn't use them above. Somehow, I suspect you are failing to use things from which you would benefit.

Jake Wightman can be seen deadlifting with a hex-/trap-bar in several of his Instagram posts, of which I provide just one here (5 March 2022):

Jake Wightman on Instagram: “Getting myself back into the swing of things after taking some time off to let my body recover post-COVID. Still taking it easy on the…

Jake Wightman on Instagram: “Getting myself back into the swing of things after taking some time off to let my body recover post-COVID. Still taking it easy on the…”

I have had far more running injuries compared to zero weightlifting injuries. probably because I started with just the bar and worked on my form.

I've had very, very few running injuries. Almost every injury I've had however has been from weaknesses and imbalances which I should have addressed through some form of strength training at a young age.

Strength training might not make you a better runner but it could help your running and overall health in the long run.

Midnitelamp did the smart thing starting with just a bar. My ego got in the way and I did too much too soon in my mid 20s. My students were more impressed with watching me lift than run.

I don't deadlift anymore but I do other hinge movements.

Don't neglect strength at any age.

As I've said countless times...trap bar is the way to for runners and most athletes. There's not anywhere close to the low back fatigue you experience with a straight bar. You can also do very effective explosive movements with a trap bar.

Alan

If I had a tip it is to hold your tongue between your teeth and if there is any danger of biting it, take some weight off the bar. Also exhale and hold your abs like you were to receive a punch or medicine ball.

Love your posts Alan. Regarding lifting, your input is a breath of fresh air on this website when there is so much terrible advice and plainly wrong information being written here.

Food for thought - the deadlift is a fundamental exercise to strength your back. Why would someone want to avoid fatiguing it when the point of the exercise is to strengthen it? (For those wondering why you'd want to strengthen your back, your back is the major part of your core - your core is not just your abs.)

Just arguing the finer points here as trap bar deadlifting is monumentally better than doing nothing. Personally, I think low back squats are the best since because of the full body muscle-mass recruitment and the greater range of motion (I know you love front squats - just differing opinions here), but ymmv and I understand the appeal. It's easier to learn than the squat and deadlift, which lowers the barriers to entry for runners/athletes/gym goers who are inexperienced with weight training or are crunched for time.

I'd say it's preferable to learn and do squats and conventional deadlifts, but if the trap bar is what you can do to strength train, then you should absolutely do it.

Excuse me, "I understand the appeal of the trap bar."

In the fifth edition of the Track and Field Omni Book, page 386 says the squat is essential to all track and field events. Other lifts that form the foundation of a program, clean, bench, and or the snatch or deadlift.

Blew out my lower back using a trap bar to lift too much weight. Just because part of the body like the quads can do a particular lift doesn’t mean the whole chain can handle it.

Light weight dumb bells and higher reps for me, and probably for any distance runner who doesn’t have an expert guiding their lifting decisions.