Mariner;
Absolutely stop carrying the weight for this basic aerobic work. In the early stages if training, either in the Transition period or Base, build the individual components that make up the whole package separately. Train aerobic capacity on its own and train basic strength on its own. Don’t mix the strength and endurance work in these early periods, as which ever is weakest will impair the development of the other. Think of the Base (Fundamental) period as when you want to elevate the capacity of each of the Fundamental parts of whatever your event is made up of. And you can best do this is you train these fundamental components independently.
Scott