Afraid I’ll lose my muscle / weight gained from lifting if I start track running again

Get off social media. Running won't impede your gains so long as your caloric intake isn't at a deficit. The muscle you've put on means your BMR is higher at rest so that coupled with the running will mean you need to eat more than you're accustomed to. Depending on your nutrition plan, this may or may not be challenging. I use this to my advantage and eat a diet with ample fat and meat coupled with whole grains and fruits/vegetables.

You'd be surprised how much muscle you retain if you were underweight before.

I was an underweight male (<140 pounds at 6'). I lifted and got up to 165 over two years. I have been increasing my mileage and only lifting 1-2 times a week for the past half year.

I am now at 160 and lean. More importantly, I feel healthy and durable. My lifts haven't gotten weaker. In fact, I am still getting stronger in my squat and deadlift. YMMV, but I think you will be fine.

Best,

RunningNoob420

Mohammed Farah has put muscle weight on over the past ten years. From 1979 to 1989 Coe put on muscle weight. Once you starting middle distance training you may have to modify your weight training but do not stop weight training.

I’m in a similar position and would love to hear others’ thoughts. I’m nervous that I’ll be slower running with 2 stone extra muscle on me but I don’t want that to trigger disordered eating again

Pretty simple. Do the training, eat the calories you need, keep lifting, and let the weight/muscle ratio fall where it may. Middle distance can carry more muscle weight than distance. Here is a thread.

https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=8691834

Just keep lifting babe and eating well. You can run too but keep lifting. You won't lose much weight and will still be strong relative to your weight.

hipster kid1092 wrote:

I’m in a similar position and would love to hear others’ thoughts. I’m nervous that I’ll be slower running with 2 stone extra muscle on me but I don’t want that to trigger disordered eating again

Two stones equals 28 pounds, correct? If you run and weight train, not likely to keep all 28 pounds, but it does not really matter. Make sure you eat a proper amount of healthy food.

If you were thin because you didn't realize the mirror or photos adds 7-10 lbs in appearance because of projecting three dimensions onto two dimensions, so you judged your appearance by your reflection, then running a lot might feed that beast again.

Why? Because you will get a little thinner, and will mistakenly think you look more attractive when looking in a mirror, or if taking a selfie, etc.

Women's physiques are narrower than they realize.

Some fashion models were so thin that people could hardly look at them, but they took great photos.

Commercial models tended to look a little wide in the face and hips, etc. However, in person they were often stunning.

If the mirror was not an issue,, and you intend to keep up your strength via weights and eating plenty, then go for it if you want. I weighed a lot for a middle-distance runner throughout my racing (170-175 lbs 6'), but I was a male and did weights as well.

Strong legs and hips will help you run better. Why not add some weekly sprints (hill or flat, or even better alternate weeks)? Ticks both boxes and makes you feel (and look) great.

Gaining or losing ACTUAL muscle mass is HARD.

Fitness of any sort is EASILY maintained.

Any large fluctuations you notice in body weight can be largely attributed to water gain/loss.

Alan