10/11/2025
Last Friday I tested myself with an approximate 1RM on the Trapbar.
Now as much as I enjoyed lifting heavy again, I didn’t take myself to a true 1RM on the day for two reasons.
1. I still had 100km to complete between running outdoors and the Row, Ski and Bike Erg indoors (Half Marathon, 60km Bike, 10km Row, 10km Ski).
2. It had been a while since I’d done any maximal lifting and the juice isn’t always worth the squeeze. (Sometimes I can be sensible 😆)
Which begs the question, should you be doing a 1RM test this winter as an Endurance Athlete?
Everyone loves the idea of testing a 1RM but for most you it just isn’t worth it.
Here’s why. A true 1RM requires skill, experience and the ability to stay as technically sharp as you can be whilst under heavy load.
Most cyclists and runners don’t spend enough time under a barbell to make that test both safe and accurate.
The risk to reward just isn’t there. One small lapse in form under maximal load can cause an injury that puts you off the bike or out of training for weeks.
And that’s not the goal.
The goal of strength training for endurance is to become stronger, more resilient, and more efficient.
As much as it’s nice to see your strength go up, it’s not always about chasing numbers and you can make incredible progress without ever hitting a true 1RM.
You can be smarter about how to go about things by using 3RM’s, tracking sub maximal loads at different rep ranges, tracking bar speed, or monitoring how much easier your usual working weights feel over time.
Because strength for endurance isn’t about ego. It’s about performance, longevity, and being able to do what you love for longer.
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. If you blindly chase 1RM’s in the gym but your performance in sport doesn’t improve, or worse you get injured, is it really worth it?
If you’d like a programme to follow that will see you get stronger and perform better in your sport without having put yourself at any undue risk, comment or DM me UNSTOPPABLE and let’s ensure you have your best season to date.
