Running - as part of "Winter Maintenance"

[gazza285]

Dammit said:

Running up hills was the only thing I could do whilst waiting for my Soleus to heal fully - going up you absorb a lot less shock, if that makes sense.

Also you are quite right, things like intervals up stairs can be a) very intense and b) fairly low speed (due to steepness).

Does running uphill use the cycling muscles? I'm fast uphill and mediocre everywhere else.

I also suffer from DOMS, due to an inability to run to my leg's limits instead of my CV limits...

[lufbramatt]

I do a fair bit of running as I enjoy it and am hoping to do some duathlons next year. I always try to stick to offroad surfaces to limit the shock going through my joints. I'm quite lucky to have a nice area of woodland and heathland close to my house though. The uneven surfaces helps to strengthen supporting muscles in your ankles/legs/hips and is good for core strength. I occasionally go for a run from work along the sea front (concrete sea wall), the difference is staggering, destroys your legs. Try to avoid such surfaces as much as I can.

[m444ttb]

upsidedownmark said:

Dammit is kinda on the money I'm afraid..

Yes it's an accessible way to work the cardio system, but it'll take quite a while to get your legs into a shape that will match your cardio capacity if you're a decently fit cyclist; until that happens expect to hurt a lot & possibly get injured, or be very patient.

This is certainly my experience going from running to cycling. After 10 weeks cycling on a Sunday I'm only just able to put enough leg effort in up hills etc to tax my CV system!

upsidedownmark said:

General feeling in triathlon seems to be that that the bike does more for your running than running does for your bike - and that there's not that much crossover. Specificity is king (sadly, particularly as a triathlete who is not very motivated to run!)

This is my understanding too from the likes of Kinetic Revolution and the guys on Marathon Talk.

[Dammit]

If you chaps are serious about running how about joining me at this next year, I've done it for the past two years now and it's fantastic: http://www.frafjordtilfjell.com/hoved.php?val=7&am...

[Greenish]

I must say I am surprised at the overall opinion but also happy - I have always been an advocate of simply riding one's bike, and being a one trick pony if you want to really, and I mean really excel, in a particular area.

I never liked running so this thread excuses me from a winter of pointless athleticism. I will do as before, and simply wrap up, chasing segments in the denser air on the heavier bike. It's worked wonders so far!

[TheLemming]

I've started running over the last couple of months and have found some benefits, previously being solely a cyclist.

Cycling is accessible at a much lower level of fitness than running is (in my experience) and I was amazingly unfit before I started riding (lifelong couch potato and smoker) so I've never really been able to give it a go.

- It's great cardio
- I've dropped about 3kg since starting running once or twice a week for a 5k (and I'm on 10k KM for the year on the bike, it's not like I don't already get a lot of exercise)
- I've learned my max sustained heart rate is higher than I thought (If I can maintain 180+ for half an hour running I can damn well try harder on a bike).
- Great for Cross (shoulder the bike and run up the sodding hill)
- It's different - sometimes mojo dips a bit and something new helps with motivation (hence why I spend several months doing more MTB than Road riding, then switching the other way round...)

[Dammit]

Running HR will be higher for the same PE- many more muscles involved, more pumping required!