Triathlon - marathon training + bike commuting

Ok, I hope this is not out of line, but I thought I'd post it here because you guys - also being runners, right? - might have better knowledge than the general biker public. I'm training for my first marathon in October - the Portland marathon. So on average I run 30-40 mpw. Last week I started commuting to school on my bike, a round-trip distance of 30 miles. I think the cycling is good, it seems to be strengthening muscles that running doesn't hit. After a week, my long run today (15 mi) felt stronger and more balanced than before. What I mainly want to know is, do you think I'm overdoing it with my training? Am I setting myself up? Can I safely do this? My general method in questions of training is to "try and see", but considering as that marathon is getting rapidly closer, I didn't want to play games if I didn't have to. Thanks!

Are you commuting everyday? You might want to drop a short recovery day from your running. The cycling will take its place. After a few weeks you will be able to see how your body is responding.

As long as you treat the cycling as you would any other activity you should be ok. You wouldn't build a barn on a recovery day, right ? On the other hand you probably don't avoid normal walking and stairclimbing either.

As long as you keep your easy days easy everything will work out ok. You probably will want to increase the amount of sleep you get though.

If you continue this into the fall, then time becomes more of an issue than recovery or calories burned. There are only so many daylight hours and you are giving two of them away daily to cycling, so you will be running in the dark more.

Dan

if you're looking for the best possible result in your marathon, you should proably quit the cycling a few weeks before it....maybe.....i dunno?? anyone else agree??

if you're looking for the best possible result in your marathon, you should proably quit the cycling a few weeks before it....maybe.....i dunno?? anyone else agree??

I wouldn't quit the commuting cold turkey, but look at what your taper is for the marathon and taper the cycling at approximately the same rate. Or look up a 1/2 ironman training program, look at the taper for that for ideas.

Afer my first marathon, I developed a tendinitis. For my second, I did 90% of my training by bike commuting. The second was much better. Make sure you push it on the bike and pick a route that minimizes stops at lights. Also, do some long runs on teh weekends.

as someone who does both (plus swimming), i would make sure in the last week that you rest your legs, drink tons of water, and make sure you stretch to keep your muscles flexible (a massage or 2 is a great idea as well). it's a good sign that your running is better since you started commuting by bike. if you have to ride the last week before the race, do it slow and easy. just make sure you stay hydrated, rested, and relaxed. if you start to feel tired, worn out, or your runs are difficult, these may be signs of overtraining.

d

Agree with TriBob that you can probably drop a recovery run. Especially if that's on Monday, assuming that your long run is Sunday. Just make sure you're not hammering the commute. If you're not doing this already, consider using a heart rate monitor on the commute to make sure you don't get above your aerobic zone.

I'm on the fence about doing the Cal Int'l Marathon in December. I told myself that I need to make up my mind by Labor Day.

I'm doing the Portland Marathon too, and since I normally do Tri's (Inclduing one this weekend and one next weekend) I am still riding quite a bit. I have no basis for my advice other than it is what I am doing, but so far it has been fine for me. I basically do one or two moderate rides per week (30 miles or so) and skip running those days. I also just swim once per week. That leaves me 3 days to run, plus at least one day off. I haven't had any problems running (knock on wood) so I plan to keep ridding, but I will probably stop a couple of weeks before the marathon and just focus on running. Plus, keep in mind that people do Ironman's, which incorporates a marathon and a 112 mile bike, so training on a bike can't be too bad.

Oh, and I forgot to add: don't skip any long runs. In my experience, that can be the difference between a grimace and a grin at the finish line.

Oh, and I forgot to add: don't skip any long runs. In my experience, that can be the difference between a grimace and a grin at the finish line.

I agree with you.....don't skip the long runs.....but you shouldn't be grinning at the finish line!!!