Cycling & Running

[Rolling Thunder]

I am currently doing an equal amount of running as well as cycling.

I would like to know if this cross training benefits/has a negative effect on either one?

[rudi-h]

In general cross training is great. If you are a pro / serious cyclist, you obviously need to do a lot more cycling than running and vice versa.

 

Also helps with injuries. I get chin splints often from too much running, then I'll just back off the running and swim / cycle for a week or two until I'm good again without losing any fitness.

[stewie911]

jack of all traids, master of none

 

And rudi's comment

[DRIVETRAIN]

Nothing wrong with cross training - doing one thing for me leads to total boredom ... so I combined running (especially uphills) cycling, swimming and gym ....

[Skaap]

yip , cross train is better..

 

cycling, running, swimming, gym, squash, tennis and touch rugby...

 

I wonder why my cycling dont improve....

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Nothing wrong with cross training - doing one thing for me leads to total boredom ... so I combined running (especially uphills) cycling, swimming and gym ....

 

Yeah, I am pretty much the same. If I just had to cycle I would be bored out of my bracket, so I run, go to gym, play golf, swim, hike, a variety of stuff, even do a bit of Yoga.

 

....Oh, and I also laze on the couch and watch TV.!

 

Sort of a sport isnt it.!?

[Gumpole]

the only negative effect is lack of time!

[iRob]

I used to run about 4times a week, then got quite sick for a few months and all but stopped running. After almost half a year of little to no activity I started cycling more regularly in August and since then I've lost more fat and weight then I ever did with running and now that I've started running again (basically from scratch) I can do so longer then I did when I was at my peak.

 

So cross training = LEGEND. If you can run/cycle 50/50 then I slightly envy you, my legs are still getting used to the impact again.

 

Well done and keep it up RT ;-)

[reteid]

i do not fly uphills on the mtb.i very often walk.i have found that running helps me to walk faster uphill than some people cycle uphill.at knysna this year i was running some of the uphills with my mtb and still passing some people who was in granny gear.to me crosstraining is a good thing.

[Seandmerida96]

Definitely helps with fitness. Been training for triple challenge so needed to do some running and I have seen benefits in my cycling.

[Wyatt Earp]

jack of all traids, master of none

 

And rudi's comment

Not true, there are a number of cyclists who run that will kick butt any given day of the week.

[Racingsnail]

Kevin Evans-Xterra Champ will confirm that running is good for cycling.

[blackCat]

Running gives you cardiovascular fitness that is very difficult to get on a bike, unless you regularly do interval training. I run in the mornings 25-35 min at 3min25 / km and cycle +- 50km in the evenings. Cant stand doing intervals on my bike so a 30 min run is much more bearable. I do this tuesday to friday then two long rides and no running on the weekend. I rely on races to maintain the intensity and speed on the bike. This approach keeps me fairly competitive on the bike.

['Dale]

I am currently doing an equal amount of running as well as cycling.

I would like to know if this cross training benefits/has a negative effect on either one?

I read on cyclingnews.com in the "Fitness" Section:

 

If cycling is your nr 1 sport, then avoid running in the racing season.

It is not good for the cycling musculature.

 

However, running is excellent in the off-season.

For cross-training. Like skiing, rollerblading, hiking, etc.

Good for the mind. Great mental relax away from the iron horse, etc.

 

Hmmm... interesting.

[jiggs]

I read on cyclingnews.com in the "Fitness" Section:

 

If cycling is your nr 1 sport, then avoid running in the racing season.

It is not good for the cycling musculature.

 

However, running is excellent in the off-season.

For cross-training. Like skiing, rollerblading, hiking, etc.

Good for the mind. Great mental relax away from the iron horse, etc.

 

Hmmm... interesting.

[headhunter]

I've run over 20 standard marathons; 15 ultra marathons, 2x 18-24hr circuit races,2x1000km Challenges and a couple of multiday stage races (plus too many 21kms and 10 kms to remember) in the past 4 years and IMHO they did absolutely diddly squat , nudda & nothing for my cycling... physically and cycle muscle strengthening wise.

 

Menatally; well, I believe that is where I benefitted from running the most.

 

At the Burgher this year, I will have been cycling for 1 year; I've gone from a Z to a H PPA seeding [no thanks to the PPA seeding system] and did my first Argus in 3h40 and One Tonner in 4h46m and mentally & physically i didn't find these tough at all, compared to the Comrades etc etc ...

 

IMHO there is nothing better than cycling for cycling and the longer you spend in the saddle and the better qulaity the workouts (hills & repeats) you introduce into your cycling the better you are for it. Also, ride with guys who are better and more phyisically cycling fit than you; that helps too. A Killarney track session every now and then helps too.

 

My running is down to 3 times a week and nothing more than 15kms at a single run. I agree with the comment above about weight loss, I've lost more weight on the bike than I ever did running.