mcours2006

That's close to a three hour marathon pace and quite impressive, if one could manage it.

You need much longer to recover from a long run, of say 20 miles, than you do from doing a long ride, say 100 miles. The stress put on your body's ligaments, tendons, muscles, bones are so much greater than riding.

At my current fitness level I could probably manage to do a 5.5-6hr century without much difficulty, and I haven't been riding all that long. No way I would even attempt a marathon, even having been running 40-50 miles/week for the past ten years.

milkbaby

^This. OP should have a good aerobic engine from cycling, but isn't adapted to the requirements for running.

Running is a high impact, weight bearing activity which can make for a nice complement to cycling. Add in a little strength/weight training and you will feel in pretty good shape, though not necessarily in shape for other specific athletic activities due to the specific adaptation principle. You need to build up the muscles and tendons involved in running, that will also help protect the ligaments involved; however, this takes longer than it takes to develop only the muscular aspect of running, therefore you need to build up slowly enough that you don't get injured.

I'm a real life example as I ran over 100 miles last week, and three of those runs were of 20 miles or more. Simply repeat it enough that it's like second nature, but recognize that is a LOT of times!

jrossbeck

Agreed - the variables are many, and everyone will have different ratios. My main point was running - due to it's impact effect - has two different ratios - one to compare the exercise/fitness/calorie benefits, and another ratio entirely for how much recovery is needed (i.e. how much it beats up the body).

StanSeven

I've posted here several times that a three hour marathon is equal in efforts and intensity as a five hour century (solo effort with moderate hills and continuous time). Since then lots of people here felt the 5 hour century is easier.

That led me to realize that comparison really depends a lot on the individual. Some people finding running much easier than cycling and vice versa.

I'm surprised though with that much milage (40-50 a week for ten years) that you couldn't knock out a fast marathon. Do you do intervals/speed work?

Nachoman

Running is evil.

Sullalto

That would be a very respectable marathon pace. As in, Boston Qualifying. Also, not a workout you'd do more than once a week, at most.

Edit: Ignore @milkbaby , he's a freak. With years and tons of miles in his legs to manage that. I'm seriously jealous of the ability to do 100 mile weeks though-I miss those days. Maybe when I lose another 30 lbs I'll work towards that again.

deacon mark

A 3 hour marathon is way more difficult that a 5 hour century. A 3 hour marathon is way up there for athletic achievment. A solo 5 hr century is also a huge athletic achievement but not to the level of the marathon. Try walking down a flight of stairs after a marathon and then you will know.

mcours2006

I could probably complete a marathon with some minimal preparation in the 3:40-3:50 range based on some of my runs. But what's the point? The toll it would take on my body is not worth it for me. If I trained seriously, like doing biweekly long runs, tempo runs and some longer intervals, perhaps I might get close to a BQ cutoff time of 3:25, but I wouldn't enjoy the training. I run and ride because I enjoy it.

I've spoken to a few guys who've done marathons and centuries, and unequivocally they all say that the centuries are much, much easier than the marathon. This is not to say that they are 'easy', but comparatively speaking of course.

merlinextraligh

it does vary significantly by individual. I have a good friend that runs right at a 3 hour marathon (last I knew his PR was 3:06) has run Boston, and usually finishes well up in his age group. Even when he rode a lot, he was never a strong rider, never finished a Cat5 race in the lead group, and couldn't do a 5 hour solo century.

Me, 5 hour solo century would not be a big deal. If I ever ran a marathon, you'd need a calendar to time my progress.

Leinster

I would certainly be in that group. I can see myself maintaining a steady 20mph solo on level-ish terrain for quite a while, I've done it for over an hour in the past, but a 3hr marathon is 6.50 mile pace and I can't maintain that outside of track speed workouts. A 3.30 marathon is 8min pace, and that sounds a lot more reasonable (but still pretty tough).

bigdo13

just jumping into running can be a bad thing and lead to injury if you're overweight or you haven't done it in awhile....

best to go on a few "brisk" jogs before you try and hold a competitive pace running...

usually, in my experience, cyclists transition well into running, but like ANYONE doing any new sport, if you just dive in head first and go too hard you'll blow up... and yes, I've seen avid runners, weightlifters and gym bunnies get on the bike with me and do the exact same--they want to jump out in front of me or fly off the front of the group and mash the big gear for all of 3 minutes and then they get winded, and get dropped...

don't get too frisky with any new sporting endeavor or you'll pay for it.. take it slow and easy to begin and for a long enough time and then gradually increase your intensity...

StanSeven

I've done several marathons including sub three so I know how it feels

merlinextraligh

What kind of time would it take you to do a 100 mile TT?

StanSeven

On a regular road bike, about five hours.

merlinextraligh

^ thats strong, but I'm way more impressed by the sub 3 hour marathon, perhaps because I can't run myself.

kevmk81

Every time I try to start running, something eventually starts hurting. Usually hips. Lots of popping and cracking post run, and even the day after. Just feels like it hurts my joints. I can ride 200 mile weeks though with no pain like that, and be fit as a fiddle. I need to start lifting weights though. I would *like* to enjoy running without pain, but apparently I'm not made for that. I've focused on form, different shoes, slooooow build, etc, but makes no difference. Pain and/or annoying pops/cracks from hips. Or, maybe it's the cycling doing that damage. Not sure. Each year I try to run, but never make it all throughout the year. I usually quit. This year I started in Septemberish, but now I'm ready to take a break for a while. Definitely frustrating. Hopefully the popping/cracking goes away after just being on the bike for a few months.

RomansFiveEight

Believe it or not, there are those out there (my Doctor is one of them) who would suggest that running isn't actually all that great of an exercise. It's high impact, inefficient, and has a higher injury potential than a lot of other sports. I mean, it's also cheap, and can be fun. But I don't think it's at all 'necessary'. A fit person can be very fit without running. One of my good friends' personal trainer preaches that "Nobody should ever run a Marathon". And when he gets sufficient eyebrow raising, he explains that it just pushed the body far beyond anything it can benefit from. A century ride, or a shorter running race, is a much more beneficial use of your energy. My Doctor was very happy with me when I got a bike; he's told me a few times "Your joints will thank you". Of course, he sees a lot more 'bad' than 'good' (not a lot of people go to the doctor feeling good!). So he has a lot of older folks who were athletic most of their life. In fantastic cardiovascular shape; but needing knee and hip replacements or having arthritis at a younger-than-normal age; which he attributes to too much running and high-impact sports. But they guys who have been cycling for decades without running are in fantastic shape without any of the bone or joint problems. At least, that's what he tells me.

That's sort of where I'm at. I gave up running in favor of cycling. No more stress on joints, plus it's a big motivator (for me) to go a lot farther. Cycling is an extremely efficient sport. Meaning it takes less work to do a LOT more (speed, distance, whatever metric you want to use). And that checks more boxes for me than running.

I know a lot of people enjoy running and I kind of did too, and certainly have nothing against it. But I also don't think there's anything wrong with just cycling and not running. Or at least, not running hard/competitively. I still go for a jog now and then, to change things up. But I no longer chase better mile times, etc. (Not that I was very fast to begin with).

Roadbikedude

Try keeping a wry little smile on your face when you ride - it releases endorphins - really it does! And who knows, maybe like me, during the summer months you might get some free protein by swallowing a bug a two! Got to have fun.....

loimpact

If it makes you feel any better, I was the reverse.

I came here after an approximately 7 year running career. (everything from 5K to Half Marathon)

Having ridden quite a bit as a teen, I figured I'd transition quite well into cycling. Well, it took about 3 months for me to get even CLOSE to what I could do running. And a good 6 months to where I could feel like I could hang with some of the "fast" guys and...just like in running...."fast" is relative.

I still run and cross train with riding.

EvilWeasel

Our unofficial bike club has an offical bar/bike shop hang out. It's 3 miles to the beach and back. Sprints for beers and 5$ bets are pretty common.

The current champ is a young, athletic, commuter. I've seen him destroy tri athletes and real racers alike. If the run was half a mile longer though he would be doomed.

Rondar

I might be least "in shape" in this forum. However in last years 7km Nike Run I ran faster than most of my "fitter" friends with 8mile/minute average pace. No idea why but I guess it is because I walk as much as I can during the day, never use elevators etc.

hueyhoolihan

sorry, i had to chuckle at the thread title. recently, i jogged for about a 3/4 mile to the market to get something. it was a nice day, and i am in the best cycling shape and aerobic condition i may have ever been in. next day my calves ached like you wouldn't believe. all that "pushing off" i guess.

Cybergrinder

I agree, why run when you can ride? I have dodgy knees (used to do some casual running many moons ago) but with my flat feet & knees running would just be refined torture. Also I think people have different "engines". Someone will be a great swimmer, but, no matter how hard they train they will not get to the same level riding or running.

Look at triathletes, they will all say what their favourite disipline is, no-one is a master of all three.

Long live the Bike!

happyscientist

I run about 25-30 mpw, and I find that I have to do some basic yoga stretches a couple times a week just to keep my hips and lower back loose. I typically lift 2-3x per week, so I just take 5 minutes at the end and stretch everything out. It helps tremendously. The cycling could be doing it, too. I know people who only ride and complain about tightness if they don't stretch regularly.

mcours2006

I have eaten a cricket or two, honey mustard flavoured though, as well as barbecue flavoured, but not free. Apparently this is going to be the food source of the future.