Does Cycling Before Running Lead to Any Adaptations

Well, it's not going to hurt you. Ive started cycling in an attempt at a tri so I'm doing a lot of the same stuff. The great thing about cycling is the low impact. When I finish cycling I feel it in my muscles and lungs, NOT my joints like when I run. Because it is so low impact I do think it's important to really get after it on the bike, not just sit there passively peddling for 45 min. (To avoid that I've started to do a spin class 1-2x week and it's a really good aerobic workout.)

That being said IF I were training and trying for a PR or something like that, I think you need as much running specific training as you can handle.

I'm 42F and am coming off an injury (broken ankle - not running related) so have been doing something very similar since I started back to running a few weeks ago. During my time off running for this (about 3 months) I did a ton of spinning and no other cardio. I've also used spinning during other injury periods as cross training. Anecdotally, my last couple of weeks of spin then cycle most running days lead to me running a half on Saturday that wasn't too far off my PR - and I am only back to running for the last few weeks. I am a big believer in spinning translating to overall fitness. It does not do what intervals, tempos, etc. do for me in terms of getting me into PR shape, but it absolutely works to maintain my fitness at a base level.

Bricks are a staple of multisport training.

Build some fatigue on the bike, then run on tired legs. Some other benefits of having a longer, combined session.

Something similar here, I am having an achilles issue so I started indoor biking this month. Knocked out 450 miles for January.

I've run like three times this month and they have been fabulous runs where I felt great.

Doing yoga has helped as well.

One thing I really like about your program is no running warmups. I feel like the injury risk is at it's highest when you run on a cold body. By always biking first you circumvent this period. This is my experience.

There is nothing controversial posted in any of these replies, yet each one gets a down vote? What's up with that?

A couple of high-level thoughts. As EZ10 said above, you can't just ride for 45 minutes and expect similar aerobic conditioning. You might need to change gears/cadence, hills, etc. to get to the same HR you would during an 10-mile run.

That being said, riding regularly will make your legs stronger overall, and that will help with reducing the nagging stuff. And stronger legs will always help marathon performance, especially in the late miles.

Its because you suggested that its possible to improve at running by doing something that is not running.

There are a number of posters on here that simply cannot accept that running more is not the best/only way to get faster.

Personal experience - I substituted all easy runs for biking/swimming.

The point of an easy run is get the blood flowing, accelerate recovery and get some slight aerobic stimulus. As I've gotten older, I've figured out that its equally as important to let the inflammation caused while running "cool off" during recovery days. If I don't, that's when the nagging stuff starts to show up.

Cycling/swimming allows me to accomplish the goal of an easy run, without the inflammation caused by all the pounding. It also allows you to increase overall volume along with it.

Most triathletes only do one brick per week however. There is an injury risk when running after a hard bike session as your leg muscles are fried so you run with terrible form.

What I do is run first and then cycle, so maximise the aerobic benefits and reduce the pounding, but also ensures your running form will be good on fresh legs

What are you training for this year? Still 2 marathons? I think you can do really well half marathon & under with all of the swimming/biking you have on the schedule. You might feel the missing miles a bit in the marathon build but if you're transitioning back to mostly running then I don't see any major issues.

You should hop in a triathlon at the end of this block.

Re bricks -- you have to do them to get better in long course triathlon. You never get to run fresh in a race & even the best athletes are getting to the run after close to 3 hours on their feet. In your case keeping the bike easy & run easy, as a way to split things up, makes sense. Just be careful if you push the pace on the bike or run to recover from the session. There are adaptations to be made. When you cycle first, you're running on tired legs. So paces should adjust -- whether running easy or doing a tempo.

I had aching pains too and largely fixed it after 3 months in the weight room. With a good well designed program geared towards running, you only need to lift weights twice a week and you'll cut way down on injuries and nagging pain because it'll strengthen the joints, tendons, and ligaments in addition to strengthening the muscles.

I cycle and run as well. My strategy is to cycle two days per week to lighten the impact injuries but I don’t mix days. It’s either a run day or cycle day.

One challenge with doing both is the costume change following the cycling portion. I’d lose 20 minutes getting back to the house and changing just to go back out for the run.

The psychology of the downvote fascinates me as well. I don't understand why people downvote things like, "Does anyone use cycling to warm up before running?"

How can you downvote that? It is weird to me. Some people have that disorder where they like being jerks? Maybe the tiniest expression of "power" makes them feel bigger? It is weird and sad (for them).

I use cycling to warm up for rowing workouts (which are some of my hardest workouts of the week). Cycling is so easy on the body compared to running or rowing. It is also easy to move from the bike to the ERG in about two minutes (just changing shoes).

I don't mind running off the bike (I used to be a triathlete). I think running in cycling shorts feels weird so I often just swap shorts in the laundry room and head out!

From the below video:
“I have had amazing breakthroughs in my own personal performances
when I’ve added a lot of cross-training into my training program and that’s for
the simple reason that I needed to build more endurance but I’m injury prone I couldn’t
run beyond a certain mileage level without dramatically increasing my injury risk
and so I essentially padded the weekly mileage with cross training”

I appreciate all of these great replies. Yes I am definitely trying to create the feeling of running on tired legs by cycling first, and am mindful of using good form for the running portion. I also started using some of Jay Dicharry’s strength program, in terms of weight training and the concept of training running-specific movements. I do that 3x per week now. Essentially, the out-of-season goal is to exercise like 1.5-2.0 hours each day using some form of bike/runs, swim/pool runs, and/or strength training, instead of just straight up running 52 weeks per year. There will be plenty of time for running in the 12-16 week lead up to each of the marathons. But between the plantar fasciitis, hip flexor strains, and everything else, getting old is brutal so I’m trying to find other avenues to stay in shape, while still being able to hit marathon goals. I’m glad I am not alone! Best of luck to you all.