ScottBGKY

I took up biking after having knee surgery and gave up running. I'm wanting to enter a triathlon but really don't want to spend a ton of time doing the running part of the training due to the impact it has on my knees. My question to you fellow clydes I guess is have you seen enough overall improvement in fitness by cycling for it to help improve your fitness for running. I previously ran 3 days a week and I'm not willing to do that to my body again to get ready for a triathlon. I guess I could always walk the running portion.

CliftonGK1

I used to be fairly age-bracket competitive in tri's back in the early 90s. There is no substitute for training on any one aspect of the overall event. Your CV fitness will be fine from the cycling, but the muscular endurance is different enough between cycling and running that you can't slack on one and expect to shine on race-day just because you did twice as much of the other.

If you've hurt your knees to the point of needing surgery, don't run any more. If you crave the competition, pick a cycling discipline that suits you, and go after that. I busted the snot out of my legs putting in 80+ mile weeks of running when I was younger. I'll ride 250+ miles in a day now, but you won't catch me running for anything.

daffonce

I started as a runner (all be it a slow one 10 min/mi) did a half marathon. this year wanted to do tris so i got in the pool and got a bike. the biking has helped my running, however if i do not run 3 (bare minimum of twice) a week my running goes to crap. 3 is also the maximum days a week I will run to avoid overuse injuries. running as you said is impactful, half of getting up to running a half was getting used to the tiredness that comes from it, not the being out of breath, tired leg muscles, or worn down feeling; it is the fact that your hips start to get soar and what not. I have also noted that there are things that can be done to ease up impact on the joints, right shoes, right insoles/orthotics, and running on trails instead of pavement or concrete. however, you being a runner you probably already know all of these. and a note of caution if you run all the time on trails and grass then run a tri on hard surface you are going to be soar.

Long Run Nick

I love threads about running and biking. Having run consistently over the last 34 yrs (71,500 + miles) and took up biking again after more than 12 yrs due to a running related injury. I have averaged over 700 miles a month since I started riding in early May. Didn't run a step for 6 weeks, just rode. Started back running. I was amazed how "tight" kinda sore my upper legs near my hip joints were. Also I had no leg turn over speed. The cardio wasn't an issue because I was running very slow. I have gradually built back my running and gaining some leg speed. I continue on the bike. I have started doing bricks: run 7-10 miles then go bike 30-60 miles. I feel a lot stronger.

As you are aware. Most folks can get on a bike and ride 10 miles--whatever pace--w/o any training. Very few can go out and run ten miles even at 11 min pace. When I biked and ran yrs ago it helped me. I am hoping by backing off 50 mile running weeks and adding 100 mile riding weeks I can lengthen my running career. At age 67, that is my goal.

If you start a program of just walking you can strengthen your knee. Walk-- not race walk-- and gradually build up to walking for 1 hr or a little more. Then gently add some very ez jogging for a few minutes and then walk. With patience you will be surprised how well you can come back. If weight is an issue--there is a very simple formula: exercise for fitness--eat for diet. Take your time. I wish you well. Nick

ScottBGKY

My weight is getting back under control. Down to low 230's close to my weight when running last year. Looking to get back to military weight of 195. My scare with running is I had microfracture surgery. Knee feels great and I even returned to rec league basketball. Guess I'll try running a couple times per week and see how it goes. Not looking to run fast, a 9 minute mile pace is fine by me.

Thanks for the feedback.

cooleric1234

My physical therapist said bicycling contributed to my IT Band Syndrome which makes running impossible and hiking difficult at the moment. Take it for what it's worth.

Kojak

A couple years back when I was racing my bicycle exclusively, and not running (my CV fitness was probably the best it's ever been), a friend of mine cajoled me into running a 5k (how hard could it be, right?). Without having run at all in basically 9 months, I turned in a 5k in just barely over 20:00 minutes....... wrecked me for two weeks and I missed some bike races that I had been targeting...... I won't do that again. If you want to run well, and live through the experience, train for running.

Long Run Nick

Hopefully your PT is an active athelete. Did she/he show you some stretches and other things you can do to alleviate the issue? Check out some running forums. Ask what folks have done about IT Band Syndrome. Sadly, sometimes it means restricting activity for awhile--but I know very few runners who weren't able to get back to running and even biking. Nick

DieselDan

Running is EVIL!

socalrider

There are a couple of things you could do.. Power walking with a weighted vest will help bring your HR up a little when working out, but still be OK on your knees.. Walmart sells one that is adjustable up to 20lbs in 1lb increments.. You could try adding some speed work on grass, doing 50-100yard sprints to add some intensity to build up your leg strength for running.. Have your tried using a Chopat strap for your knees when running, it helps keep your knee in alignment, if I did not use these there is no way I could run..

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym...d-Vest/5481392

cooleric1234

Thanks. I was going to reply to the thread I started a few days ago on ITBS. My PT is one of the guys that works on the Avalanche pro hockey team, so he's familiar with it. He says he sees it ALL the time and felt confident we could get me going again with a few visits and my stretching. His personal opinion was stretching is the best thing I can do at home. I ask about strengthening other areas, the ITB strap, and a foam roller. He didn't discard them but found them less useful than stretching. He also did some kind of massage around the area and the knee. I don't know what it's called, one was active point release or something. The other one was more like pushing then holding for a while. Anyway, my doctor's eyes bulged when he saw/felt my IT band. He said it was very tight. He was wishing that he had an intern around that day so he could use me as a clear example of where the IT band is.

bigdaddy10028

if cycling bothers your IT BAND, running will make it 4x worse. literally

bigdaddy10028

this is some of the dumbest advice i've seen on here. not trying to offend the poster but kindly cite a source that shows this as a good idea for someone with knee issues. Bottom line is this. If your knees are as bad as your making them out to be, don't run. Lance Armstrong ran a marathon with minimal running training back when he was still the worlds greatest cyclist and ran a 2:55, 45 minutes slower than the worlds best. bottom line is if you want to be a good runner, you have to run. if you want to be a good cyclist, you have to ride. There is some carryover, but it's limited.

cooleric1234

Cycling didn't bother my IT band, it never hurt cycling. But my PT said that the motion of cycling tends to tighten the IT band and surrounding muscles, which made it so I could no longer run or hike like I did before cycling as much as I have recently.

bigdaddy10028

exactly. My point was that running is much worse for it and cycling doesn't help it any so if cycling hurt it then running would definately hurt it worse.

Rhodabike

Have you tried a foam roller for you ITB? Hurts like the dickens, but it really does loosen it.

cooleric1234

Yes, I tried the foam roller. Didn't work much at all. It hurt the first time or two I did it, but after that it didn't hurt at all. That was one of the things I asked my physical therapist about and he said I could do it if I want but in his opinion all it really did was cause pain. At least in my case he was right, it didn't help at all.

So as to not hijack the thread my original ITBS post is here.