Can Somebody Have Great Strength AND Aerobic Capacity?

I'm a 48 year-old female cyclist and I can positivly tell you that I can "aerobically" and cardiovascularly kick ass on any weight lifter's heart-lung capacity. You've just got to have both though... strength and aerobic capacity. That said, do you know where I can get a small, inexpensive squat rack?

I am sure that you could beat any weight lifter in an aerobic endurance test, but then you have to ask yourself why a weight lifter would require such endurance? Great aerobic endurance usually comes at the sacrifice of both muscle mass gains and more importantly high levels of strength. Many texts written in the field of strength training note that it is impossible to improve great levels of endurance and strength concurrently.

This point is important since you mentioned "you must have both." Of course every athletic person should posses some level of conditioning. That is why I wrote my "Get In Shape" series which discusses the need for a base or General Physical Preparation Phase. The key is to what level does the individual need both. Since I mentioned that a lot of endurance training will hamper strength gains then athletes such as sprinters, olympic weightlifters, powerlifters, and most field athletes need to be very aware of the amount of time they spend in such a training mode.

You must also remember that endurance is very specific to the activity. I've worked with endurance athletes from a specific sport that were absolutely horrible when it came to endurance in a separate activity. At the same time, if you are a competitive cyclist there is no need for you to be able to run like a marathon runner. I have been amazed how many endurance athletes are terrible at performing certain exercises like high rep one arm snatches, or complexes. Then again, this is not aerobic training, yet you will feel your heart want to jump out of your chest.

To answer your question though, I believe Perform Better sells some quality yet inexpensive power racks. I prefer the full cages with a chin-up attatchment. Make sure it is sturdy and has adjustable pins approximately every inch.

AAPJosh@aol.com

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