Strength Training For Distance Runners

Many endurance athletes avoid the weight room for fear of gaining muscle mass. They believe the extra body weight might hold back their performance during long-distance running. A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research attempts to set the record straight on what this type of athlete has to gain from strength training.
 
Eleven competitive distance runners added 40 weeks of strength training to their regular routine. Compared to a control group of 9 runners who continued with their regular training, the extra strength work improved running economy, maximal oxygen uptake and maximal strength with no significant changes in body composition.