Running has long been a go-to exercise for those looking to improve their health and fitness. It’s accessible, requires little equipment, and provides incredible cardiovascular benefits. But is running healthy on its own? The answer depends on what you’re looking to achieve and how well-balanced your overall fitness routine is.
The Benefits of Running
There’s no doubt that running is great for cardiovascular endurance. It strengthens the heart, improves lung capacity, and helps regulate blood pressure. Additionally, it’s a great way to manage stress, boost mood, and even support fat loss when combined with proper nutrition. It’s easy to consume extra garbage calories if your appetite increases from running. Many people also enjoy the mental clarity that comes with a good run.
The Downside of Running Without Strength Training
While running has its benefits, it has some drawbacks when done in isolation. Running is a repetitive, high-impact activity that can lead to overuse injuries, especially if strength and mobility are neglected. Common issues include knee pain, shin splints, and hip tightness, which often result from muscular imbalances and lack of overall strength. Without proper resistance training, runners may also struggle with posture, joint stability, and long-term injury prevention. These issues tend to rear their head more or less depending on the volume that you’re running. Running a half marathon is not the same as preparing for a 5 or 10 km run.
The CrossFit Actus Approach: Strength + Endurance
At CrossFit Actus, we believe that a well-rounded fitness program should combine both strength training and endurance work. That’s why our group classes are designed to be 50% strength and 50% endurance, ensuring you get the best of both worlds.
- Strength Training for Injury Prevention – Building strength in key muscle groups (such as the core, glutes, and posterior chain) helps runners stay injury-free and improves overall movement efficiency.
- Cardiovascular Benefits Without the Overuse – Our workouts incorporate running alongside other endurance exercises like rowing, biking, and jump rope to provide variety and reduce repetitive impact. Rowing and biking in particular are lower impact.
- Better Performance in Everyday Life – Strength and endurance together create a balanced body, capable of handling daily tasks, sports, and other physical activities with ease. A great example of this is a story from a member. She was telling me about how she could not bring in all her groceries in one go instead of having to only grab 2 bags at a time. Another client recently mentioned how she no longer needed two hands to pour water from a heavy hug. These are the things that really matter.
The Verdict
Running is absolutely healthy—but it’s even better when combined with strength training. If you want to build endurance, protect your joints, and maximize overall fitness, a combination of running and resistance training is the way to go. At CrossFit Actus, we ensure you get both in every class, so you don’t have to choose between strength and endurance—you get be well rounded
Ready to train smarter? Join us for a class and experience the difference!