Running

[seppuku]

is running a good idea? i know it does some very nasty things to your leg muscle and joints if taken to extremes or if you're vulnerable to it. i like uphill running, well, not like, more force myself into it cos it takes less time before im really tired and i think it might be less harsh on the joints. any opinions? i think most boxers will like the idea of running, but if theres anyone here who's had problems because of it let me know

thanks

[shasan]

Originally Posted by seppuku

is running a good idea? i know it does some very nasty things to your leg muscle and joints if taken to extremes or if you're vulnerable to it. i like uphill running, well, not like, more force myself into it cos it takes less time before im really tired and i think it might be less harsh on the joints. any opinions? i think most boxers will like the idea of running, but if theres anyone here who's had problems because of it let me know

thanks

depends what you want to accomplish...


what do you want to accomplish?

[seppuku]

improved fitness for muay thai mostly, gaining leg muscle would be a good thing.
the reason im actually runing is stress relief, but i dont think thats a long term goal as such

[shasan]

In the case of Muay Thai fitness.. I'm guessing you mean endurance... honestly I'm lagging in this area too, but I would guess that in order to succeed inside the ring, you need to replicate the situation outside the ring.

So in a muay thai situation, would you go at 65% for 30 minutes? Probably not... maybe 85% for a few minutes at a time, with a lot of different muscles being used other than just the ones used while running (uphill or otherwise).

I'd invest in some sort of combat conditioning tape... Bas Rutten had a prettty good one with emphasis on stand-up stuff, and Richard Dmitri has one that's excellent by all accounts.

As far as leg muscle, think sprints not long-runs... i mean, look at long distance runners and then look at sprinters... world of difference.. ld runners are downright skinny and look starved.

Also, do some research on High Intensity Interval Training.