3 Reasons To Avoid Running Training During The Cycle Season...

['Dale]

1) Running trains inappropriate movement patterns, making your cycling less efficient. With each pedal stroke your brain literally learns to more strongly activate the muscle fibres that are needed for cycling, and to relax the fibres that need to be relaxed to allow the pedals to go round.

 

The beginner unnecessarily fires a lot of muscles that retard rather than assist pedaling. Even elite riders are still improving this. Run training causes activation patterns to be strengthened that are really bad for cycling.

 

2) As everyone will tell you, running is much higher impact than cycling, causing a lot more muscle damage and requiring a lot more recovery per hour of training completed. It makes many riders feel like their legs are 'heavy and slow'.

 

3) Running takes away time that could be spent on riding.

 

The answers above explain why most people would do better to avoid running during bike racing season, and why triathletes are not often as fast on their bikes as people who do the same hours per week exclusively on a bike. Notice the use of the words 'most people' though. I'm not going to argue that running is bad for absolutely every rider. Just most of them.

['Dale]

This is the most interesting points I have read.

Find more details on the cyclingnews.com site under "Fitness".

 

May it add value, even to the tri-athletes amongst us.

Edited November 6, 2010 by AirBender

[Zeps]

As someone once told me 'the best training for cyclists is to cycle' and he was no expert

[Guest agteros]

1) Running trains inappropriate movement patterns, making your cycling less efficient. With each pedal stroke your brain literally learns to more strongly activate the muscle fibres that are needed for cycling, and to relax the fibres that need to be relaxed to allow the pedals to go round.

 

The beginner unnecessarily fires a lot of muscles that retard rather than assist pedaling. Even elite riders are still improving this. Run training causes activation patterns to be strengthened that are really bad for cycling.

 

2) As everyone will tell you, running is much higher impact than cycling, causing a lot more muscle damage and requiring a lot more recovery per hour of training completed. It makes many riders feel like their legs are 'heavy and slow'.

 

3) Running takes away time that could be spent on riding.

 

The answers above explain why most people would do better to avoid running during bike racing season, and why triathletes are not often as fast on their bikes as people who do the same hours per week exclusively on a bike. Notice the use of the words 'most people' though. I'm not going to argue that running is bad for absolutely every rider. Just most of them.

 

Ag, just admit it... Running is too tough! Yes, if you want to excel at something doing a lot of something else (except rest) is not going to help much. For general fitness based around cycling a bit of running will only do good.

 

<2 cents>

For the overall fitness results gained, I find that running beats cycling easily! never mind the lack of saddle sores, equipment prices, race entry fees, etc. A bit of running, and occasional cycling got me into the A bunch in the few races I entered this year (not the 94.7 though) . My running race times were atrocious based on this 'bit' of running, so if you do not have hours and hours to train, you can do a lot worse than to work the occasional 30 - 60 minute run into your schedule.

</2 cents>

[stewie911]

Problem comes in for guys who do road and mtb - Whole year is racing season

Road and trail running - gotta train for this

[Weight Weenie]

Well, when I'm too lazy to ride, I find that I am atleast motivated to go for a trail run, which is better than doing nothing...

Kept me in good shape so I could atleast do the previous Nissan event comfortably.

 

I guess the main thing is to not OVERDO it, moderation is needed. Otherwise the body will become leaner and loose more muscle on the legs as it thinks it must be lighter to run (so says "racing weight" anyway)

Trail running is good I feel as more muscles get a workout, versus riding where you sit and pedal (ok well mostly..)

Also running improves bone density, something cycling as a low impact sport actually destroys.

 

Ok I'm off to get a vitality meal

[eggsovereasywithteandtoast]

Running is for those who are afraid to fall

[Wyatt Earp]

Crock of pot in the opening post, only a cycling magazine or forum would make those excuses.

Yes it's high impact, no doubt.

I have found a way around this.

[Guest agteros]

Crock of pot in the opening post, only a cycling magazine or forum would make those excuses.

Yes it's high impact, no doubt.

I have found a way around this.

 

Running porn?

Actually, not sure there is something like that. Runners just do not salivate about running shoes / apparel as what cyclists do about bicycles

[eggsovereasywithteandtoast]

Your lawn looks amazing. Whats your secret?

[eggsovereasywithteandtoast]

Impact can definitely be reduced by running on grass

[mtb_Josh]

The impact isn't all bad. I've read in several places that there is a high incidence of osteoporosis amongst cyclist due to a lack on impact (which is necessary for stimulation of bone growth)

[Christie]

Running has some advantages:

Chance of getting hit by a car is less.

Equipment costs less.

Race entries are cheaper, too.

More local races to do.

For a given time, more effort required by running, meaning that jou get more out of a 30min run than a 30min cycle.

[stewie911]

Ah, was waiting for Dangle to to help out.

 

Reason to run during racing season:

1. I hurt my knee 3 weeks ago and can't cycle. Had an atempt today but still not ready. So my training for 94.7 will be running and not cycling. Now if I didn't run, it would mean that I had to start out slowly and would then be very unfit for 94.7.

 

2. Want to work your cardio system, but don't have time? Do a 30min tempo run

 

3. Broke your bike and can't find parts for 2 weeks? Go for a run

 

...

[stewie911]

Crock of pot in the opening post, only a cycling magazine or forum would make those excuses.

Yes it's high impact, no doubt.

I have found a way around this.

Dangle, have been wanting those for some time now. You run on the tar with them? What model is that?

 

I often run trails with lot's of sharp rocks and stuff and guy at the shop suggested against the vibram for technical trails

[flex]

Here is a different opinion that supports running as a good supplement to your riding:

 

http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2009/01/running-to-supplement-your-cycling-training/