Biking
176
Member
201 days
GGehrke posted 10 weeks ago.
From what I have read, cross training on the bike for a runner has relatively little benefit, so it's not going to help your times on the track. (Though from what I understand, cyclists who cross train with a little running see more improvement in their riding. Not sure why it's asymmetrical like that. The one exception is that cycling is "non-impact," so it can be beneficial to get an aerobic workout without thrashing your joints and whatnot)
You'll probably want to be sure to keep your cycling cadence high because it more closely mimics the turnover rate of a runner, just to avoid picking up any bad habits, and a high cadence cycling style is generally considered a positive trait for a triathlete anyways.
Finally, I presume you're on a team, and presumably you have a coach, so just be sure your extra workouts don't piss off your coach. Best to be up front about your intentions if he/she isn't already aware.
88
Member
287 days
burnman posted 10 weeks ago.
It seems to me that running recruits more stabilizing muscles that aren't necessarily improved through cycling. Perhaps these stabilizers improve your overall strength and stability on the bike - thus explaining why cyclists benefit from running, but not vice versa. I've done a lot of hip/stabilizer work to correct some running issues, and (placebo or not) my efforts feel more sustainable on the bike. It's almost as though these 'minor' muscles are supplementing the major muscles to reduce the onset of fatigue.
If you keep up the consistent running, cycling probably won't hurt you at all. Since cycling is so linear, I would suggest comprehensive stretching to prevent the less-active muscles from tightening up.
I'm pretty new to triathlons; only done two. This summer, however, I'm looking to change that. I'll probably be doing sprint triathlons. I run cross country and track and consider myself pretty decent (currently run 5:10 for the mile, 11:09 for the two mile). I was thinking of adding some biking and swimming on top of running 50-60 mpw. I'm speaking of base mileage for the biking, nothing too serious. Any ideas on how this would affect my running?