Trail running good for cyclists?

[cadenceblur]

Hi

 

I recall reading a while ago that running ,in particular trail running is beneficial to cyclists. Can anybody shed some light on your experience.? I am looking to get into this during the wet weather season and also not too keen on road running due to the unforgiving road surface.

[Agteros]

Hi

 

I recall reading a while ago that running ,in particular trail running is beneficial to cyclists. Can anybody shed some light on your experience.? I am looking to get into this during the wet weather season and also not too keen on road running due to the unforgiving road surface.

Trail running is even MORE unforgiving. The earth is hard, face up to it. Off-road is uneven and as a cyclist the proprioception in your ankles are not what it is meant to be, so be careful not to twist an ankle!

[Jaco-fiets]

I reckon any kind of cross training is beneficial. Rumour has it running is the best cross training for cyclist but i do not know if there is scientific back up for this. I know the Europeans do cyclo cross or cross country skiing during off season

[seven]

Simply put: Cycling is the best training for cycling. If you cannot cycle, then anything that will work the cardiovascular system, and the same muscle groups would be great.

 

It keeps the fitness up, and keeps the muscles used to the effort.

 

Cross training is great to prevent overuse injuries as you try and increase training hours, as you can load the body differently.

[jannosmit]

If its raining or you don't have that much time for cycling (trail)running is a great substitute. I saw a video on youtube of Kevin Evans the other day, he runs 10km a day, after he has done his 6hours on the bike.

 

In my personal experience running before breakfast and mountainbiking in the afternoon is great. It surely helps with fitness and weightloss.

[GLuvsMtb]

I've been running 2 to 3 times a week to cross train. The reasons it works well for me is the following:

- A 10km run takes about 1 hour for me. That is about what I can spare in the mornings before work. An hour cycle would not be nearly as effective as an hour run

- Using my calves, thighs and hamstrings while running helps my cycling as I tend to overuse my quads

- Running is much better for weight loss than cycling and weight loss is good for cycling

- Hike-a-bike sections on the mountain bike becomes an area where you can overtake other riders and even build a gap on them

Here is what you need to be careful of:

- Wrong shoes will cause permanent damage

- The line between proper training and over training is very thin with running

- Stretching with running is even more important than with cycling, and so is warming up and down

 

Good luck if you do decide to take it up. I find the running scene quite refreshing.

[cadenceblur]

thanks for the input. i think I'm definitely going to give it a shot.

[Seeker911]

I've been running 2 to 3 times a week to cross train. The reasons it works well for me is the following:

- A 10km run takes about 1 hour for me. That is about what I can spare in the mornings before work. An hour cycle would not be nearly as effective as an hour run

- Using my calves, thighs and hamstrings while running helps my cycling as I tend to overuse my quads

- Running is much better for weight loss than cycling and weight loss is good for cycling

- Hike-a-bike sections on the mountain bike becomes an area where you can overtake other riders and even build a gap on them

Here is what you need to be careful of:

- Wrong shoes will cause permanent damage

- The line between proper training and over training is very thin with running

- Stretching with running is even more important than with cycling, and so is warming up and down

 

Good luck if you do decide to take it up. I find the running scene quite refreshing.

 

+1 dont foget a bit of gym work during winter to build that muscle tone

[Andymann]

Just a word of warning though - you'll appreciate it. I started running a year ago, after cycling for 15 years. All was great until about 6 months back when I developed a case of Sciatica like you won't believe - for 6 months I bounced from Chiro to Physio to Specialist, all with varying opinions ranging from slipped discs to unequal length legs...

Turns out, Cycling had shortend my hip flexors to such a state that when I ran, while my cardio was up to the running, my body wasn't, and the hip flexors pulled all the muscles in my pelvis skew, almost ruining my season. 3 weeks of intensive stretching and core later I still have issues, but slowly getting better. So make sure you stretch, believe me!

[nuge]

my 2 cents:

 

firstly, i don't run. i was offered an entry for the 2 oceans half (substitution) about 3 weeks before the event and got out my trainers and started, well, training. after a couple of 12-15km training runs and some knee pain after running (which a colleague put down to a combination of not enough stretching, innappropriate insoles and my joints not being used to the impacts of running) i got bored with being on the road and tried my hand at running on the mountain.

 

i noticed a couple of things:

 

1) my knees didn't hurt so much afterwards compared to a road run (btw being a cautious descender i took it very easy downhill which probably also helped)

2) due to the gradients involved in running up some of the trails i found i was using my quads at slightly greater extension which was closer to cycling

3) i found i was using alternate muscle groups due to having to sometimes jump over rocks and sideways to avoid the fynbos

4) i had more fun exploring the mountain instead of avoiding pedestrians and their pets which meant i spent more time up there training

 

more seriously, take andymann's advice on the streching - both before and after a run.

Edited April 10, 2012 by nuge

[cadenceblur]

thanks guys will take it easy in the beginning to give the tendons etc a chance to adjust. admittedly i am not a great stretcher but will have to change this behaviour when running.

[Agteros]

thanks guys will take it easy in the beginning to give the tendons etc a chance to adjust. admittedly i am not a great stretcher but will have to change this behaviour when running.

"Stretching is about lengthening. Do it cautiously and stop once you have reached the desired length. An overstretched muscle can only function with muscle spasm which results in cramping, a feeling of tightness and injury."

The Lyno Method » How long should I hold the stretch?

[tunariaan]

I dont fuly agree with streching too much before i run, rather runthe first km at a slower pace and the speed up

streching afterwards is great though

[cadenceblur]

was thinking about that! saw somewhere that one should never stretch a "cold " muscle?

[cadenceblur]

So, I did my first trail run/walk this morning! felt great. feeling a bit "battered " but will hopefully not be too sore tomorrow.

[Bike Lore]

"Trail running good for cyclists?" not much of a bother on the way up a single track, but a dam irritation down. I use a bell for that.

 

 

Ok here is my 2c. I use to do triathlons, all the short sprint type. Then I started running more than i cycled to train for a few half marathons and the ironman. I was training for a ironman and the plan as to build over a 1 and a half. 6 months before the iron man I entered a marathon on road and it was really painful after words. I could not walk and i felt like some one pulled my body to peaces. It took me 3 months to get running again. So I stopped the training for the ironman. Then a year later did much less training but all of it off road and then did the Otter marathon. 42km of hiking trails. Did not feel pain the next day at all. it help to grow in to the sport but I don't think I will ever do a road marathon again. if you train off road your body will be ok with the oneven train but build up slow over a few years. Enjoy the fresh air man and Night trail running is even more amazing!!!