I've been consuming a lot more calories than usual over the past year or so, and I have gained about 5 pounds. Some is muscle, but most is a thin layer of fat. It would seem that carrying around extra weight would hinder distance running performances, but I seem to be recoverying more quickly from workouts, and feel more fit than I ever have.
I'm mostly curious if anyone has had a similar experience and if any of the ex phys guys out there might be able to explain this phenomenon.
Weight isn't a bad thing, despite what these anorexic people will tell you.
They just all want to be East African. Solinsky and McMullen should tell you that you don't have to be the skinnest dude in the world to be a fast runner.
It's pretty much a myth, in fact being a couple pounds heavier than the "race weight" that you'll hear around here is actually healthier.
It is not that extra weight is good for performance (unless maybe you're a shotputter).
But a lack of the energy sources you need for recovery is bad for performance. If you don't get adequate protein (or you don't get necessary carbs) your muscles don't get what is needed to recover from workouts. If you don't keep your glycogen stores topped, you can't finish workouts as well, and eventually you crash from lack of energy source. If you can't recover from your present workout in time for your next workout, either you have to do less overall training, or that next workout tears you down instead of building your fitness (after adequate recovery time).
What you end up with is a vicious cycle analogous to overtraining. Often the cycle is shortcircuited with injury before it progresses to the extent I'm outlining....and then you have to come back from the injury, as well.
Interesting you brought this up, because I've had a similar experience. In the last 4 years of running I've gained about 6-8 pounds (currently 5'10" and ~155). I have a larger frame than most runners and have never been the stereotypical "skinny runner." Most of the weight was gained when injured or taking breaks from training, but it didn't seem to hinder me when I start running again. I've certainly gotten faster over this time period, but I wonder if I would be faster if I was back around 148 or so. Hard to say...