Iron Pol

 
Pure Evil! 02/27/2008
 

I'm going to have to channel Nytro here, for a bit, and address the sheer evil of whoever created the single leg press exercise.  An article in a recent edition of Triathlete magazine listed ten strength exercises every triathlete should include in their workouts.  While the leg press is part of my normal routine, I had yet to perform it with individual legs.

Monday, I added it to the mix.  I cut the weight I normally use by a bit more than half (90 pounds instead of 200) and did three sets of 10 reps with each leg.  After two days, I feel confident in saying that the single leg press is much better at isolating muscle groups.  And destroying them.  By muscle groups, I'm pretty much referring to anything in the butt region.

Given the response of my body to the very limited experience with the single leg press, I'll have to abandon the exercise entirely or add a great deal more of it.  Apparently I should add the writers at Triathlete (and a great many training sites) to the "evil" category, as all indications are that this is a VITAL exercise for all triathlon disciplines.

I was perfectly happy using the leg press machine to build leg strength.  But NOOOOOOO!  I was doing it "wrong."  And "right" is much more painful (pronounced "effective).

It's all evil.  With a capital EVIL.

 


Comments

Brent Buckner

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:24:35

I must do this.

 

Ryan

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:15:37

Great, Just what we need as long distance endurance athletes: something else that causes pain. I started my strength training again on Monday, and this will be in the mix. Thanks

 

John K

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:00:40

I'm a complete amateur, but I always though leg presses were bad for long distance runners. But on the other hand, back in my heavy weight training days, high weight and low reps were the name of the game. I'd assume low weight and high reps are what's needed for triathletes.

 

comm's

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:52:48

when the single leg press gets to easy or you want to progress upwards in the challenge, find a cable machine in the gym that allows you to stand on the seat, like a seated chest press or hammer strength lat machine (best), now while standing upright and holding lightly to the machine for balance, let one leg hang to the side and perform a one legged squat with the leg on the seat. Repeat on the other side.

Any exercise done on one leg, Romanian Deadlift, is preferred to stable structured machines. But just doing that one legged leg press will be better for you In Real Life than both legs. It can mimic very common movements like getting in and out of cars and support the muscles that can go out doing mundane things.

Thanks for the personal messages. You have been a big support for me this past week. Your whole family has

 



Leave a Reply