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1. mcboo - Member

   Am doing a big stage race by mtb in July, am going to try and get fit and skinny.....lot of climbing. Am not much of a fan of running (and not much of a runner) but plod 5 miles into work now and then. Is always a good way for me to lose weight, am finding as I get older (am 41) the fat just doesnt drop off like it used to. So, I ran in today, might do it a couple of times a week.

   Question.....once I've got my weight down a bit, should I persevere with the running? Does the general fitness you get from it help you on the bike or is it a whole different ball game?

   Posted 4 months ago #
2. lardman - Member

   I reckon running was the way i got to my fittest on the bike level ever. I lost loads of weight, (18-15st in three months) and my bike fitness went right up. A combination of lighter weight and better all round strength was the reason.

   I'm 42 and as the weight tends to go up, running would be the best way to reign this in. Or eat less which sounds like a bad plan.

   I really didn't like running at first, until i got a bit lighter, and also ran off-road. This made it much more interesting. I also used to go trail running at night when it was cooler, to avoid overheating. Made use of my night lights too, and had them mounted on the hydro pack i wear when running.

   wish i had the time to run lots again.

   do it.

   Posted 4 months ago #
3. joao3v16 - Member

   I found running complemented my cycling very well - I've assumed it's because running is a more constant effort, whereas on a bike you're exerted a lot less on the flat or going downhill.

   Whatever the reason, my riding fitness improves when I combine it with running.

   Don't substitute too much cycling time with running though - different muscle groups & muscles used differently. I had a friend who did a lot of running - he was very fit, but put him on a bike and being 'running fit' doesn't transfer to 'cycle fit' ...

   Posted 4 months ago #
4. mcboo - Member

   Most days I commute by bike and at the weekends I will do one long endurance ride on road or mtb, will try and get a second shorter ride in in the evening when the nights get longer.

   If you guys think running can help build base fitness maybe I should press on with it.

   Posted 4 months ago #
5. TurnerGuy - Member

   If you guys think running can help build base fitness maybe I should press on with it.

   I am like you (except a little older ) and think that there is not getting away from the fact that running does bring you stuff that cycling might not.

   Also do interval running - painful but I find this brings the best results for increasing your cv health.

   Posted 4 months ago #
6. littledoughall - Member

   Don't substitute too much cycling time with running though - different muscle groups & muscles used differently. I had a friend who did a lot of running - he was very fit, but put him on a bike and being 'running fit' doesn't transfer to 'cycle fit' ...

   If you're worried about the above happening, run on hilly routes, the more frequent and steeper the hills the better. Uphill running recruits the same muscle groups as cycling. Quads, Glutes, etc..

   Posted 4 months ago #
7. dangerousdan - Member

   I'm training for an off-road duathlon in March and running/cycling together works great - though you definitely need to do both (ie running alone won't help your cycling and vice-versa).

   Mix it up on the bike and off - long and slow, fast and hard and short, hills, stair sprints (maybe not on the bike actually...). The biggest blocker to effective training is mind-numbing boredom.

   Must say that whenever I'm training hard I find it impossible to lose weight. I need to diet hard to drop the pounds - when I'm training I get overwhelmed with hunger 24/7!

   Posted 4 months ago #
8. mtbmatt - Member

   Which stage race? The running might be a benefit depending on the event.

   Posted 4 months ago #
9. mcboo - Member

   Transpyr......8 days on the mtb, lot of up so want to be good and slim but no getting away from hill work.

   We're filling up the calender in Apr/May/Jun with lots of road sportives, endurance MTB like HONC and Bucks Off-Road. Am going to race at Beastway too (1hr of utter MTB purgatory) in an effort to mix things up.

   Posted 4 months ago #
10. redfordrider - Member

    I've just done the Short Glentress Duathlon. Pretty pleased with my placing in the mid 30s - made up 13 places (I think) on the bike stage after having finished about 50ish in the run. For me, cycling improves my running, but my running doesn't seem to improve my cycling. I think it's much easier to spend hours on a bike at a steady state HR than to run for the same length of time. I can cycle for 2 hrs a day, every day, but can barely walk the day after a 2hr run. It's much harder to recover from a hard run. However, running is still important to keep the right muscles in condition - If you need to run. Also remember that cycling makes your muscles tighter so don't forget to stretch.

    .

    Posted 4 months ago #
11. MSP - Member

    I have really been working on my running technique the past few weeks, and already I feel far less beat up the day after a run. I have always been an awful runner, and its one of those things where I used to think that its nothing but putting one foot in front of the other, but I do now wonder if someone had taught me proper technique when I was younger then I might only have been a moderately bad runner.

    Posted 4 months ago #
12. loum - Member

    Aside from the muscular issues above^^^
    Open to correction here, but I think I recall that running and other "impact" exercises are better for maintaining bone density and strength, which can start to deteriorate with age. From that perspective, its probably worth maintaining your "running" fitness once your body's used to it.

    Posted 4 months ago #
13. brassneck - Member

    I'm 42 and as the weight tends to go up, running would be the best way to reign this in. Or eat less which sounds like a bad plan.

    Agree with this, I hate not eating!

    I'm at my fittest in every sport when I'm running regularly, or training for a run. I don't particularly enjoy it but it's the most time efficient excercise I've found, particularly if you can bear to do intervals once in the swing of things.

    Posted 4 months ago #
14. redfordrider - Member

    MSP - I avoided running longer distances for years until I read about barefoot/natural running - it has completely changed the way I run. I now run in vibram 5 finger, Newtons, and Innov8 baregrips.

    I used to think that everyone instinctively knows how to run, but I was so wrong...

    Posted 4 months ago #
15. julioflo - Member

    I find running a great supplement to Riding.
    It is the quickest way for me to loose weight. I had a period of time recently whereby I couldn't get out on the bike as much, but ran almost daily.
    I lost weight and when I got back on the bike I found my aerobic fitness greatly improved. I thought I [me and bike] felt lighter and the hills easier.

    However when I loose weight through running a large portion of it seems to drop off from my thighs and arse, which translates into less power and long distance stamina on the bike. So need to keep doing both!

    Posted 4 months ago #
16. julioflo - Member

    ah just seen redfordriders post about barefoot running.
    The running have been doing in the past year has mainly been offroad trail running with my dog. I swapped from some 'supposed to be correct for my gait' asics and nikes to some innov8 295's. They are awesome. no bells and whistles, just lower to the ground, more supply and great grip. All the aches and pains I used to associate with running are now history. Even if I do the 12k run home from work in them....however with the innov8 system, you are moving towards a more barefoot style of running, running on your toes a lot more and it took about a month for my calf muscles to forgive me!

    Posted 4 months ago #
17. julioflo - Member

    ah just seen redfordriders post about barefoot running.
    The running have been doing in the past year has mainly been offroad trail running with my dog. I swapped from some 'supposed to be correct for my gait' asics and nikes to some innov8 295's. They are awesome. no bells and whistles, just lower to the ground, more supply and great grip. All the aches and pains I used to associate with running are now history. Even if I do the 12k run home from work in them....however with the innov8 system, you are moving towards a more barefoot style of running, running on your toes a lot more and it took about a month for my calf muscles to forgive me!

    Posted 4 months ago #
18. redfordrider - Member

    julioflo - my calves were also pretty sore after a few early attempts at forefoot running. However, the results have been fantastic. I now regret the wasted decades I spent running on my heels!

    Posted 4 months ago #
19. mtbmatt - Member

    I think there will be an element of walking in TransPyr, so I would suggest that running will be beneficial.

    Posted 4 months ago #
20. emsz - Member

    Hmmm, im really thinking about going back to supported trainers after a few months of Innov8 195. I can't seem to get on with them. Make my calves ache, and I just see how they are improving my running, in fact I think I'm slower now.

    Do lots of sprints when you run, I've been doing mostly running and yesterday at Afan I was prett rubbish at 'grunty' stuff ( getting over rocks and stuff) I think I've lost a lot of power.

    Posted 4 months ago #
21. julioflo - Member

    emsz, I was recommended, when choosing my first pair of innov8's, not to dive straight into the pair with the thinnest sole. They have levels of 'shock zone' decreasing from 4 through to 0 in 3mm increments. It looks like your 195's have a 1?

    I was told that if moving from a normal supoprt shoe to go no lower than a 3 at first, unless I wanted to pull my tendons from my calfs! Even with a level 3 I had about a month of calf ache and couldn't run as often as i'd liked until they built themselves up to the task. They are fine now.

    A chap I know who runs a branding agency that deal with the outdoor market said that he is worried the barefoot running movement will end up with a lot of people in a lot of pain and not adopting it properly for this reason!

    Posted 4 months ago #
22. mcboo - Member

    Sitrep : I ran to work 2 days ago......and my legs are killing me!

    Posted 4 months ago #
23. ononeorange - Member

    I've always loved running but haven't had the time for years plus ankle surgery in 2011 took me away from it (and my bike). I have just tried to force the issue though a bit by trying to find one lunchtime a week to run in; I love it and it not only makes a massive difference in the afternoon with concentration and work output, but makes me feel much happier and I am sure that I am stronger on the bike - more resilience on the long hard climbs, less collapsing in a wheezy heap.

    I got carried away and bought a GPS watch thing. I do find the pressure to keep improving pace etc quite hard, esepcially when I've missed a week. I wore it at the weekend on my bike and was surprised to find that bike speed is not much more than running speed!

    Not been running long (only a few weeks) and so am slow (especially compared to the bloke I run with, I'm sure he could do a sub-2 hour marathon and still chat to everyone!) and only doing short distances, but really enjoy it.

    Posted 4 months ago #
24. MSP - Member

    I got carried away and bought a GPS watch thing. I do find the pressure to keep improving pace etc quite hard, esepcially when I've missed a week.

    Does it have a heart rate monitor as well? I find it a great way to pace myself, I am running to work 3 days a week at the moment, 7.5k each way, In the morning I just take it easy and keep my HR below 75%. On the way home I do intervals, fartleks or sustained efforts just mix it up and try and push myself a bit harder.

    Posted 4 months ago #
25. ononeorange - Member

    Yes it does, not sure if I have properly worked out how to fit the "bra" yet as the first time I wore suggested that I was averaging 185bpm(!), whereas the second time which was a harder pace it was only 160.

    Posted 4 months ago #
26. paddy0091 - Member

    Cycling, IMO and IME the only way to improve is to be on the bike.

    Obviously other areas can help with core strength such as swimming/in the gym - if required.

    No decent cyclist was made from his running ability.

    If cycling on the flat or downhill requires "lot less effort" as quoted above you should change your riding buddies. A ride is as hard as you make it.

    Find a hill locally, about 30-45 seconds long > smash it up as hard as you can > recover on the downhill > repeat. If you aren't feeling sick you aren't going hard enough - that should help with any excess weight issue.

    Posted 4 months ago #
27. dangerousdan - Member

    If you aren't feeling sick you aren't going hard enough

    Arrrrrgh! That's more like it. Training isn't training unless you vomit. In fact, if you've not had a heart attack you must be a right fairy. I ruptured a kidney yesterday, puked it up, ate it and carried on. Grrrrrr!

    

    Posted 4 months ago #
28. paddy0091 - Member

    yep - smash it!

    Posted 4 months ago #
29. MSP - Member

    Yes it does, not sure if I have properly worked out how to fit the "bra" yet as the first time I wore suggested that I was averaging 185bpm(!), whereas the second time which was a harder pace it was only 160.

    I have realised that a cup of coffee in the morning before I jog in to work seems to raise my HR by 5%+, or at least I think so, I am going to compare over the next months, mornings with and without coffee to see if it does actually make such a difference or if its just a coincidence.

    Cycling, IMO and IME the only way to improve is to be on the bike.

    Load of nonsense for most people, when you have jobs and family's etc its better to mix up your training to improve overall fitness, continually targeting specific muscles without the downtime for recovery that elite athletes have just doesn't work.

    Posted 4 months ago #
30. brakes - Member

    I hate running, really hate it, but can see the benefits to fitness.
    If I ever try to get really fit (which I'm aiming to soon.... ) I use the treadmills in the gym as I find them a lot easier to use - both on the body and in terms of getting a rhythm going and maintaining a constant pace.

    Posted 4 months ago #
31. paddy0091 - Member

    @ MSP, it isn't nonsense.

    If someone does well in event, they don't put it down to 'oh I've been playing golf' or 'I've been doing a bit of jogging' to gain 'general fitness'

    The OP wants to gain fitness and lose weight for their event in July. The best approach for this (aside from nutritional changes) is to make the most out of the hours on the bike (even when limited time is available between work and family time)

    The Time Crunched Athlete *

    *friend of mine with two young children/full time job used this and set PB's in TT's and HC's.

    Posted 4 months ago #
32. GlitterGary - Member

    The best boxers run and they are tougher than cyclists.

    So there.

    Posted 4 months ago #
33. paddy0091 - Member

    until they reach old age?

    Posted 4 months ago #
34. FunkyDunc - Member

    IMO running has 2 benefits.

    1, It exercises much more of your body than cycling does, so you get more of a cardio workout and burn more calories.

    2, Because of the above you burn more energy for every minute than you do cycling so therefore its more time efficient.

    One of my mates is a very good runner, he joins our team at Mountain Mayhem etc (he one the running race the night before) he never trains on the bike though because he says it wouldn't help his running, and I would imagine that would go for any serious athlete as the muscles are used differently.

    I'm just getting back in to getting fit after a few months off with Pneumonia. I know that I can get out twice a week or so for a 40 min run that will improve my fitness big time, compared to going out on the bike for 1 hr which will not make me as fit.

    Posted 4 months ago #
35. ononeorange - Member

    GG - The boxers I bought from a well-known High Street department shop a short while ago aren't very tough - they've got holes in already. And I've never taken them running. They're turning soft.

    Posted 4 months ago #

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