Running and lifting possible?

[stryped]

I run allot. (Started last year) With allot of you guy's help, I competed in a 5k race and placed 5th in my age group with a time of 21:38 which is the fastest I have ever ran.

To make a long story short, I have an opportunity to join a gym. I will only be able to work out during my lunch. My originally thought was to left weights Mon/Wed/Fri and run ont he treadmill Tue/Thur. The main reason for lifting is to gain some muscle as everyone says I look skinny. (I am 6 feet tall and about 169. I’d like to be ripped for swimming season if possible!

But the thing is, I am already thinking about running that race again in October. But I am very competitive, and would want to do even better. I ran my heart out over the summer preparing and did not lift or anything.

So, is it possible to maybe lift Mon/Wed/ Friday at lunch, run on the treadmill Tue/Thur at lunch as well as run outside and additionally 2-3 days a week when I get home and accomplish:

Gaining upper body muscle and looking better with shirt off in summer
Beating my time in the 5k in October?

Logically you would think I would have to pick one goal and stick with that but is it possible to have both?

Any advice from you guys as always is appreciated!

 

[ZGzaZ]

Your logical thinking was correct. It would be INCREDIBLY tough with all that running to gain much if any muscle without throwing down a TON of extra calories. Remember to gain whether it be muscle of fat, you must be over your daily maintenace in calories each day....

With all that running, and keeping your diet, you'll just be burning more than you are now. Even adding a bunch right now will just probably keep you at the weight you are.

You may be able to gain some strength during this time, but I don't see much muscle growth coming in unless you cut out most of the cardio during this time.

 

[silver_shadow]

these are 2 very different goals - gaining muscle as opposed to being quick over a longer distance. you will have to choose between the 2 else you'll botch up both. if you want to lift for improved running performance (while keeping cals low enough so you don't gain weight) then that's a different matter.