I Used to Be a Powerlifter—Now I Run. Here’s What Changed.

So, before I ever laced up for a long run, I was deep in the world of powerlifting.

Chalked hands. Heavy singles. Low reps. Smelling salts before deadlifts.
The whole meathead package.

I lived for PRs and big lifts—squat days that made your soul leave your body, bench press sessions that bordered on religious rituals. I trained for strength, size, and raw force. And sure, I was never elite at it (mediocre, really), but that wasn’t the point. I loved it.

But then… something shifted.

It wasn’t sudden. More like a slow burn. I started to want something different from my body—more rhythm, more movement, more time doing rather than just preparing to do. I started running.

And yes, it was humbling. My legs—built for explosive lifts—felt heavy as hell. My lungs struggled to keep up. My pride took a hit.

But I kept at it. And something clicked.

Let me be clear: I still love lifting. That fire hasn’t gone out. But I don’t train like I used to.
These days, it’s more bodyweight work, higher reps, dynamic movements. Explosive lifts. Not for ego or numbers, but to support the miles.
Strength isn’t the whole show anymore. It’s part of the toolkit.

Here’s the real surprise: I can do more now.
I run nearly every day.
I lift when I want to.
And I bounce back faster than I ever did after a heavy squat day.

There’s less destruction. Less stiffness.
More capacity. More energy.
I feel capable, not just strong.

So if you’ve ever been told—or told yourself—that you have to choose between being a lifter or a runner, don’t buy it.

You can be both.

And honestly, when you are both, you learn twice as much.
About your body.
About your grit.
And definitely about your ego.

The gym taught me how to strain.
Running taught me how to endure.
Both taught me how to listen.

I’ll never be great at either—but I’m better for having done both.