How important is running?

[New England]

do you guys think odlanier solis would blow his knee out in one round against klitschko if he weren't 50 lbs overweight and he ran a couple of miles every day?

of course he wouldn't.

[Danny Gunz]

My personal preference is different types of HIIT over running. It has always seemed to benefit me more and translate over well for boxing.

But like I said my personal preference I know people with a different opinion and that is fine to me I wouldn't say they are wrong if they tried both and decided what works better for themselves.

[Funky_Monk]

It's all about intensity, whatever the distance is it should be hard work.
Miles for miles sake is worthless.
I think a majorly underestimated element of long runs is the mental strength it builds.
I dont know if they are in the states but over here in the UK we have parkrun, they are free 5km races usually saturday morning and are timed. Good way to race and increase your speed and fitness.

[frosty-g]

Nonito Donaire found running extremely useful in round 12 against Rigondeaux, saved him getting KTFO

[Sugarj]

It's all about intensity, whatever the distance is it should be hard work.
Miles for miles sake is worthless.I think a majorly underestimated element of long runs is the mental strength it builds.
I dont know if they are in the states but over here in the UK we have parkrun, they are free 5km races usually saturday morning and are timed. Good way to race and increase your speed and fitness.

So very wrong what I have outlined in bold!

I'm a local competing runner and race regularly. I've read many books and publications on the subject. The importance of the long weekly runs at low intensity and lower heartrates is what builds your aerobic system and forms the base of endurance. It is the long slow runs that really help lower your resting heart rate and improve general fitness and endurance.

A runner will not benefit from a constant diet of hard work day after day. It will drive them to fatigue and injury. A runner will get better times on a diet of two or three quality sessions a week (at high intensity) and the rest at an easy aerobic base.

Well then, what is the relevance to boxing? Who cares what benefits a runner?

As we know most professional boxers run. Many do sprint routines (David Haye) but you will see many going out on their long slow runs. Hatton, Pac, Jones jnr, Mosley, Calzaghe are just a few I've seen in documentaries running at a pace that many would consider slow to a professional athlete. But they are doing this to benefit their aerobic / cardio vascular system and to help build endurance at an effort which isn't exhausting.

It isn't just running at low intensity that can help build this capacity. Low intensity cycling, swimming, skipping rope and shadow boxing are excellent substitutes; but lets face it who wants to skip rope with the same view for more than 60 mins or swim? It can be argued that the down hills in cycling near as dammit stop activity on a longer ride.....so running really is the best exercise and most closely atuned to the boxer who might need to use their legs for most of a 12 round fight.

Those who do their HIIT routines will seriously be missing out on a vital fitness edge without low intensity endurance building exercise.

I do agree that the 5K park runs are a great idea for boxers. The odd race is a good workout and a mentally toughening exercise. A boxer who can crack 18 mins in a park run will likely be at a good level for 3 rounds of amateur competition. But be warned; unprepared boxers who have neglected running or good cardio exercise in their training will be pulverised by middle aged ladies on a park run!!! Ha ha

[Alanbrad]

I believe in a good strategy.Running tall with a slight lean forward to let the gravity help pull you forward.

[raf727]

Post

Solid advice.

It is also important for the mental conditioning aspect, visualize the fight while you run, your strategy, what you need to improve, etc etc.


Then again rumor has it James Toney didn't run, he did 10 rounds of sparring 6 days per week. To each his own.

[Funky_Monk]

So very wrong what I have outlined in bold!

I'm a local competing runner and race regularly. I've read many books and publications on the subject. The importance of the long weekly runs at low intensity and lower heartrates is what builds your aerobic system and forms the base of endurance. It is the long slow runs that really help lower your resting heart rate and improve general fitness and endurance.

A runner will not benefit from a constant diet of hard work day after day. It will drive them to fatigue and injury. A runner will get better times on a diet of two or three quality sessions a week (at high intensity) and the rest at an easy aerobic base.

Well then, what is the relevance to boxing? Who cares what benefits a runner?

As we know most professional boxers run. Many do sprint routines (David Haye) but you will see many going out on their long slow runs. Hatton, Pac, Jones jnr, Mosley, Calzaghe are just a few I've seen in documentaries running at a pace that many would consider slow to a professional athlete. But they are doing this to benefit their aerobic / cardio vascular system and to help build endurance at an effort which isn't exhausting.

It isn't just running at low intensity that can help build this capacity. Low intensity cycling, swimming, skipping rope and shadow boxing are excellent substitutes; but lets face it who wants to skip rope with the same view for more than 60 mins or swim? It can be argued that the down hills in cycling near as dammit stop activity on a longer ride.....so running really is the best exercise and most closely atuned to the boxer who might need to use their legs for most of a 12 round fight.

Those who do their HIIT routines will seriously be missing out on a vital fitness edge without low intensity endurance building exercise.

I do agree that the 5K park runs are a great idea for boxers. The odd race is a good workout and a mentally toughening exercise. A boxer who can crack 18 mins in a park run will likely be at a good level for 3 rounds of amateur competition. But be warned; unprepared boxers who have neglected running or good cardio exercise in their training will be pulverised by middle aged ladies on a park run!!! Ha ha

Hey Sugarj been awhile.... what sorta times you runnign atthe moment?
We have disagreed on things before but i think this is more a misunderstanding.
I'd agree runners should run low intensity runs for base miles I'd disagree with boxers having the same need due to lower mileage and other excercises.

I can't comment on those boxers you mention but you'd be hard pressed to run any distance in Newbridge without finding a pretty steep hill which might accoutn for JC's slower pace ;o)
I'd say 18 mins for a 5 k would be pretty handy.

Besides running quicker will have other advantages, providing you have good form of course.

[Sugarj]

Solid advice.

It is also important for the mental conditioning aspect, visualize the fight while you run, your strategy, what you need to improve, etc etc.


Then again rumor has it James Toney didn't run, he did 10 rounds of sparring 6 days per week. To each his own.

Absolutely. The sparring would have been James Toney's substitute for low heart rate / aerobic running. Any form of exercise can substitute for as long as you are in that lower heart rate zone for long enough.

When most of us non professionals spar our heart rate goes through the roof and we tire and blow up quite quickly compared to a 12 round pro such as Toney who to the eyes might be an inferior athlete. Nerves and pacing obviously play a part too.

I'd imagine that of the six days a week sparring, three or four would be at a lower intensity for James Toney. Even if his sparring partners were going all out I could see Toney, cool as a cucumber, unhurried, breathing calmly through his nose giving himself all the benefits of aerobic exercise.

10 rounds a day of hard paced, exhausting sparring doesn't sound very James Toney to me. ha ha

[Sugarj]

Hey Sugarj been awhile.... what sorta times you runnign atthe moment?
We have disagreed on things before but i think this is more a misunderstanding.
I'd agree runners should run low intensity runs for base miles I'd disagree with boxers having the same need due to lower mileage and other excercises.

I can't comment on those boxers you mention but you'd be hard pressed to run any distance in Newbridge without finding a pretty steep hill which might accoutn for JC's slower pace ;o)
I'd say 18 mins for a 5 k would be pretty handy.

Besides running quicker will have other advantages, providing you have good form of course.

Hi matey,

No hard feelings, I just want to see people benefit fully from their training.

As I said in my post, shadow boxing, skipping, swimming or whatever can substitute for the aerobic benefits of lower heart rate training for boxers. Mayweather's light hitting bagwork or padwork would probably fit this mould. Many if not most professional boxers still seem to do their long runs in addition. Granted hill work and sprints often form part of a boxer's training too.

As for quality work, whether it be fast paced sparring, sprints, hill work, rapid punch drills or floor work. This will usually be considered at an anaerobic level.

As for my running times this spring and summer. Last week I did a 35:28 10K. I've done a 4:49 mile and a 59:06 10 miler. I did a 5K in April at 17:32 (very windy). But have since been 17 min dead at the 5K point enroute to 10Ks. Nothing special next to the elites......but I'm no spring chicken either!! Ha ha