Frankgt2

Hello everyone,
I've been cycling from a time ago 4 times a week (some times 3) and each ride is 36 miles long aprox. I was wondering if adding running will get me better in endurance and fitness. The things is that I didnt wanted to change my cycling routine, just to running but I dont know if it is better to run after the ride or the days I dont ride. Sorry for my English.

purefreedom

honestly, it has been the other way for me... cycling has helped me run better...I guess its because the bike requires more mental toughness and pain /fatigue control than running does for me...so after riding, the pain associated with running was alot easier to deal with!

rpeterson

Cycling has helped my running as well, plus running is an impact activity, so your bones will thank you.

aeiadart

I plan to start running again, Ive always ran in the wrong shoes and without a proper warm up and have paid the price for it. Cant wait to try it the right way and hopefully find something else i love to do to burn those nasty calories.

Tall Cool One

I think cycling helps running more than running helps cycling. When I run and get to a hill, my legs get the same sensation as I get when I climb a hill on the bike. It feels kind of wierd.

Frankgt2

So maybe increasing miles in each ride is a better option??

mike868y

Honestly, a few weeks ago I was all gung ** about running 1-2 times a week to build some supporting muscles and tax my cardio system in different ways. However, after a few weeks of my fall/early winter training plan I rarely ever actually do my run. I have found that a 45' ride of SST (sweet spot training) takes just as much out of me as running for 45 minutes and I have gotten considerably stronger with some structured intervals in my training. The key though is that when you ride you have to be riding hard. For a long time I would see benefits because of running, however, this was just because I wasn't pushing myself enough when I rode and running forced me to push myself because I am just not that good at it.


Because of this, I wouldn't necessarily recommend upping the miles alone. You need to up the intensity as well. I only do about 100-150 miles a week (consisting of 20-25 mile rides Monday-Friday and 1-2 long rides on the weekends) and I am stronger than I was when I was riding 200-250 miles in the spring. Back then I would just JRA for 3 hours a day and I thought I was doing great things for my fitness. But by riding at higher intensities with structured intervals I have greatly increased my cycling fitness.

To summarize: don't run, ride harder and do intervals.

nitropowered

Running is good for the offseason so you can get some impact workout in and also running lets you get in a harder cardio workout for the shorter duration of time. Especially useful when its snowing out and you don't want to ride for 3 hours. Run for an hour and you'll get a good cardio workout. However, don't just go out and run an hour if you've never ran, you'll hate yourself for a few weeks. Gradually increase your running duration. Also go to a running store and get fitted for a good pair of shoes for your feet and running type. Taper your running out come spring

JacoKierkegaard

Be careful, you're getting dangerously close to becoming a triathlete. I recommend avoiding water entirely on days when you perform both activities, lest you find yourself looking like this:

Garfield Cat

Some riders where runners first. The cycling helps in running because of the aerobics. There are different muscle groups used between the two activities. One really good thing about cycling is that the interval training will allow you to transfer those benefits to the track. I mean doing a 400 meter run. That time will come down.

Interval training on the track really hurts the joints. Interval training on the bike just hurts because of the suffering. But the benefits on the bike intervals gets transferred onto the track. If you are not really a track runner, quarter miler, half miler, then it won't be a big thing.

StanSeven

You must be taking it easy running. Hard running is much more difficult than hard cycling. I can also get my max heart rate 10 beats higher than I can on a bike.