🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1993Jan09.014221.41016@watson.ibm.com>, dvfreese@freese.aix.kingston.ibm.com (Doug Freese) writes:
|> In article <8JAN199315000684@vax2.concordia.ca> wes@vax2.concordia.ca (Wes Schyngera) writes:
|> >How good of an idea is it to use small hand weights on runs? Would
|> >they not be good for speed training? After all, swimmers use similar            strategies to make them go faster on race days. Anyone out there
|> >use this technique?
|> NO NO and NO! The act of running all by its lonesome puts enough stress 
|> on your joints, specifically the knees.  This will only lead to        
|> big time problems. The last person I knew that ran with weights
|> wore all the cartilege from his knees and can't run a step.  
|> >
|> >-----
|> >Wes Schyngera
|> >Concordia University
|> >wes@vax2.concordia.ca
|> 
|> 
|> -- 
|> --------The race is not to the swift but to those who keep on running -----
|> Doug Freese                 (The views expressed here are entirely mine)     
|> I.B.M. Corp.                email: dvfreese@donald.aix.kingston.ibm.com 
|> Neighborhood Rd. Kingston N.Y. 12401 


I tend to differ with this opinion.  Sure additional weights will add
stress (via weight) to your body.  However it is not much different than
aunt dorthy's fruit cake... :)  I know that food weight will not all
position itself on your hands - however 1-3 lbs is insignificant in
relation to your overall weight.

I have used weights to assist with arm endurance - prior to this my arms
would tire before my legs....  However, one must be careful and use weights
in a limited fashion.  I would actually use small bricks (so that I could
stash them at various locations on a run).  I never carried them for more
than 3 miles (easy distance only).  I used them more extensively on the
track or doing pace workouts.  I would carry the brick for a few laps and
then drop them for the remainder.  This will also point out any
inefficiency in your arm swing.  One good point about using a throw-away
weight is that if you tire or something begins to hurt - simply toss them. 
Oh yes - cars (among others) seem to have a new found respect for someone
carrying bricks.  People are likely still finding my bricks in the town
where I grew up...

Also when running with slower friends - using hand weights is a good way to
get a workout while running a slower pace.

I would say NEVER use weights on your ankles - this will cause much stress
to the knees as the weight is at the end of a lever - your leg...

Stephen.