Why do squats make me run slower?

[biteme]

I've always heard that they are supposed to make you faster. But when I do them regularly and parallel, I become slower. It seems that they make me tighter.

 

[The_Eviscerator]

I've always heard that they are supposed to make you faster. But when I do them regularly and parallel, I become slower. It seems that they make me tighter.

Maybe you aren't stretching enough... also, speed comes from the hamstrings so make sure they are getting as much work as your quads.

 

[jeremys]

read the training and powerlifting board more often

 

[revexrevex]

Because of speed. YOu are moving heavy weights very slow, which does not mimick the acceleration and explosion of running strides

 

[revexrevex]

Well for athleticism 315 x 20 is useless. From what I read athletes utilize high number of sets, for low reps, with very explosive weight.. for instance 8 sets for 3 reps with 60% of your max. Youre an animal though, did you ever max out? I am guessing somewhere like 465?

 

[biteme]

Because of speed. YOu are moving heavy weights very slow, which does not mimick the acceleration and explosion of running strides

I do high reps. 315x20. I do heavyweight on the leg press. Sometimes 10 plates on each side and go down parallel, but leg presses do not slow me down. Only squats, it's in the hip, low back area that is affected.

 

[biteme]

Well for athleticism 315 x 20 is useless. From what I read athletes utilize high number of sets, for low reps, with very explosive weight.. for instance 8 sets for 3 reps with 60% of your max. Youre an animal though, did you ever max out? I am guessing somewhere like 465?

I did around 585 several years ago. Could easily do 500 or more now. I don't lift heavy on squats because of injuries and knee pain. I wouldn't say 20 rep squats are useless for athleticism, maybe not as effective. But my strong legs come into play big time, when playing basketball, and when I played football, I could mow down much bigger oppenents because of leg strength.

 

[revexrevex]

YOu only go to parallel?

 

[biteme]

YOu only go to parallel?

Jesus yes. If I went below parallel, I'd have to have a cane to walk. Knees couldn't take it.

 

[biteme]

I read an article that someone on here wrote that said going below parallel is not bad for your kness. Well, maybe not your knees.

 

[WarriorPL]

Do you do any cardio?

 

[biteme]

Do you do any cardio?

Jog 2 miles once a week and play basketball for hours on Sundays. The basketball keeps me in great shape. As long as I can run the 2 miles in 16 minutes or under, for my size, I'm know I'm in good shape. So that's all the cardio I do.

 

[WarriorPL]

Hmm... then it's odd youre getting slower. Try stretching more.

 

[biteme]

Hmm... then it's odd youre getting slower. Try stretching more.

SLower as in sprinting speed, not jogging speed. I haven't been able to jog for 3 weeks now because of a pulled muscle, but even b4 then when I was doing the squats regularly, I noticed that I couldn't run as fast on the court and track. Sometimes I sprint the straightaways at the track. At 38, I'm still a fast MF. I think my joints are falling apart though.

 

[WarriorPL]

Do you do high rep squats? Speed squats?

 

[revexrevex]

biteme is a huge inspiration. I hope Ill be saying same thing 23 years from now.

 

[biteme]

Do you do high rep squats? Speed squats?

That's all I can do man. Low rep squats would rip my groin to pieces. The price you pay for 25 years of lifting. The bad groin was not done in the gym though. It's all been worth it. I was a skinny 14 yr. old kid when I started lifting. At the end of offseason football in the 8th grade, I was the second strongest player on the team. I was hooked ever since. Couldn't have played football in college if not for my strength and back in those days weightlifting wasn't near as popular. Got a lot of fine women that I othewise would not have gotten. So overall, it's been well worth it.

 

[XBiker]

If you want to increase your speed, try Plyometics.

 

[biteme]

biteme is a huge inspiration. I hope Ill be saying same thing 23 years from now.

Thanks. You will if it's your passion.

 

[jerkbox]

make sure you work your hams....they will help you run faster.

squats will certainly help with vertical jump though, especially if done in an explosive manner

 

[XBiker]

Squats should enhance speed, I think you are doing something to your joints. Thats my guess.

Squats = more power.

 

[Testosterone boy]

Squats should enhance speed, I think you are doing something to your joints. Thats my guess.

 

[revexrevex]

baahahahha sometimes bullit shows signs of repressed genius!

 

[Bullit]

Put the bar down before you run... the extra 315 is whats slowing you down.

 

[Zander1983]

You're getting slower because you are training to get slower. Head over to the training board more often and you'll see why. By training like a bodybuilder and running those type of distances, you aren't really doing anything to positively influence your speed. Depends what you want though. From your posts I can tell you're in brilliant shape for anybody, let alone a 38 year old

 

[biteme]

Put the bar down before you run... the extra 315 is whats slowing you down.

Haha! I never thought that could be the problem. Genius. Sheer genius.

 

[Testosterone boy]

Haha! I never thought that could be the problem. Genius. Sheer genius.

Friggin brain trust in the land of the Canucks.

 

[biteme]

You're getting slower because you are training to get slower. Head over to the training board more often and you'll see why. By training like a bodybuilder and running those type of distances, you aren't really doing anything to positively influence your speed. Depends what you want though. From your posts I can tell you're in brilliant shape for anybody, let alone a 38 year old

Appreciate that. Yes, I am a neanderthal and continue to do what works for me, although there are probably better ways. I don't really care to increase my speed, since I'm a jackrabbit already, I just don't want to get slower, and my main goal is to continue to gain, lean muscular size or at least maintain what I have.

 

[XBiker]

Appreciate that. Yes, I am a neanderthal and continue to do what works for me, although there are probably better ways. I don't really care to increase my speed, since I'm a jackrabbit already, I just don't want to get slower, and my main goal is to continue to gain, lean muscular size or at least maintain what I have.

Did ya read the posts?

If you are training for speed, then you don't want to do heavy squats, you want to keep the leg muscles toned.

The plyometrics are the #1 way to get quick acceleration and explosiveness.

 

[Zander1983]

A couple of things you could change:
1. Lift explosively. For your squats, multiple submaximal sets of low reps moved as quickly as you can (obviously control the descent!).
2. Instead of your twice a week distance runs, sprint or run intervals. Maybe you could do some 400s or intervals on one day and something like 10x50m on the other day, walking back to the start. You won't lose any conditioning. In fact, I'd bet that the 400s and intervals will get you in better shape than you already are.

 

[DeepZenPill]

STRETCH. Trust me, it helps immensely. I have rowed competitively and squats have only helped me. They have helped every other rower I know as well. Leg speed/power is 90% of the the sport. Of course rowing is not the same as running, I can also tell you we do plenty of running. Squats and deads are our staple lifts. I've rowed with guys who were faster runners than our track stars.

After I stopped rowing I kept lifting and kept squatting, but I did notice a loss of speed sprinting... that is until I started stretching again.