The combination of strength and endurance training

Most bodybuilders and serious recreational athletes combine strength and endurance training. Each type of training promotes important types of fitness that are only developed through this form of training. Furthermore, many sports require a combination of strength and endurance. Scientists have long recognized that endurance training can impair strength gains.

An interesting study led by Julien Robineau of the French Federation of Rugby Union found that athletes can train for strength and endurance simultaneously if they recover adequately between training sessions. The athletes trained in parallel for strength and endurance with either 0, six or 24 hours rest between training sessions. The longer recovery periods resulted in the greatest training gains.

(Journal Strength and Conditioning Research, published online in January 2015)