Would adding cycling to my routine improve my running fitness?

It would make you a better cyclist

I really do not think so.

Swimming might help. It's more aerobically challenging than cycling and so easy on the body that it can actually help with running recovery.

dorian concept wrote:

I really do not think so.

Swimming might help. It's more aerobically challenging than cycling and so easy on the body that it can actually help with running recovery.

Ok swimming it is. I just thought pumping my heart a 3rd time in a day at night would benefit it no matter the exercise. Is the elliptical is better?

cycling8 wrote:

dorian concept wrote:

I really do not think so.

Swimming might help. It's more aerobically challenging than cycling and so easy on the body that it can actually help with running recovery.

Ok swimming it is. I just thought pumping my heart a 3rd time in a day at night would benefit it no matter the exercise. Is the elliptical is better?

This elliptical is also better than cycling, yes. I think swimming is better still for the recovery/core benefits.

The elliptical is worse than having your balls wrapped in barbed wire which is being gradually tightened.

Running will make you a better runner. Cycling won't do any harm.

Now a Coach wrote:

The elliptical is worse than having your balls wrapped in barbed wire which is being gradually tightened.

Running will make you a better runner. Cycling won't do any harm.

You can only run so much so soon until you get a stress fracture of injury. Thats why cross training kicks arse in the meantime to building to 100+ mpw!!

cycling8 wrote:

Would adding a nighttime spin after a day of doubles help stimulate aerobic growth and improve my running?

discus/

If the object is to elevate your heart rate through a non-running activity, try a Concept 2.

Try adding jumping jacks to your routine. The kind where you clap loudly at the top of each rep. Couple it with HGH, anabolic steroids, and EPO - you will improve your running fitness easily.

Now a Coach wrote:

The elliptical is worse than having your balls wrapped in barbed wire which is being gradually tightened.

I think cycling could help your cardio, but it'll also make your legs bigger.

I wouldn't put much faith in it. I might cycle for 30-45 mins @ 70% max HR once or twice a week as a recovery workout in order to spare the legs a bit from the pounding. But don't expect to run great times off of cycling. Its a recovery workout which is better than doing nothing when you're bushed from running.

20 minute bike spin is a perfect compliment, no pounding, elevates heart rate, raises body temps, clears legs of metabolites.

do it in the basement, on/off in 25 minutes.

spin, don't grind 90 rpm's HR in the 130's is perfect.

If you're already running twice a day but are still looking to do more, try adding in some general strength routines so that you can build more miles without getting injured.

Doing something that will help you eventually run more miles is far more beneficial than adding cycling.

Wait, are you running or throwing discus? I'm confused

Lukas Verzbicas, arguably the best high school distance runner in American history (Jim Ryun was an 800/mile runner in high school, so I'm not counting him), was an outstanding triathlete when he was in high school, too. He still holds the American high school two-mile record. I think the cycling supplemented his running very well.

Totally anecdotal, but I started running as a way to supplement cycling in the winter, and ended up liking running more. The first couple years, I was still riding 100 per week, running around 20 miles per week. My shorter distance PRs were set then.

In mid 2010, I quit cycling and ran exclusively, but never could sustain more than 40 mpw. While I set PRs at half marathon several times, I never got within 30 seconds of my 5k PR from earlier. I just never felt "powerful" enough to run sub 6 comfortably.

I have rationalized this to the fact that my legs started to loose muscle mass that developed cycling. I'm "only" 40 now, yet 7/mi pace is already starting to feel hard.

It may have a indirect effect by aiding in recovery which may help your training. Looking at it as training, it will not help your running other than recovery from workouts.

I began cycling while somewhat injured. I visited several PTs that indicated I had a number of muscle imbalances from running only. Cycling has helped in this area, as it tends to hit muscle groups that running only does not. I ride twice a week, but still run as much as I did previously. I also feel better.

Doubting Thomas wrote:

I wouldn't put much faith in it. I might cycle for 30-45 mins @ 70% max HR once or twice a week as a recovery workout in order to spare the legs a bit from the pounding. But don't expect to run great times off of cycling. Its a recovery workout which is better than doing nothing when you're bushed from running.

I use it this way. If everything's going well and I'm getting in all the runs I want, I don't touch the bike. It's when the legs are feeling trashed that I'll spin easy for a bit.

One other use for the bike I've found is in marathon training. A few times in training I'll do maybe an 18 miler at 95% of MP, then hop on the bike and ride for a few hours without taking any carbohydrate. If you want to really scrape the bottom of the glycogen barrel, this will do it!