Bike/Run Run/Bike Fitness translation

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2011-08-05 4:25 PM

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Subject: Bike/Run Run/Bike Fitness translation
I'm training for two races right now.  A marathon in October and Ironman CDA next June.  Since I'm running alot more now for the marathon, I haven't been spending as much time on my bike. I was telling a buddy of mine that i was worried i'd be losing a lot of bike fitness while focusing on the marathon.  He said run fitness translates to bike fitness and vice versa.  Maybe i'm just dense, but i wasn't following.  Now he's in my head because my bike and run are my two weaknesses (relative to my swim), and i'm not sure if I need to ramp up my bike to maintain fitness while training for the marathon. So, can anyone shed light on this?  Point me to some info?

2011-08-05 4:51 PM
in reply to: #3631272

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Subject: RE: Bike/Run Run/Bike Fitness translation

Theoretically they should help each other out,

but it never seems that way for me.  Doing one, always seems to leave me fatigued for the other.  I can't seem to get in my cycling mileage, and also get in my running, with a long run.  Or- if I get all the running I want to get in (30-40 mpw), then it leaves me weak and fatigued for the bike.  (or vice versa)

I've looked at a few training plans and many seem to alternate bike and running weeks.  Not totally of course, but the emphasis switches back and forth so you build the base for both, but not at the same time. 

2011-08-05 4:56 PM
in reply to: #3631272

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Subject: RE: Bike/Run Run/Bike Fitness translation
The aerobic fitness translates, but not the specific muscular strength.
2011-08-05 5:07 PM
in reply to: #3631272

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Bike/Run Run/Bike Fitness translation
In all but untrained individuals, there is essentially no crossover between run/bike and bike/run fitness. There is a great deal of anecdotal evidence to the contrary but the science does not support it.

Shane
2011-08-05 5:15 PM
in reply to: #3631272

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Subject: RE: Bike/Run Run/Bike Fitness translation
Over past few years I bought the cycling=run fitness idea.  But despite >5500mi cycling/yr with many hard miles in killer group rides, my run still sucked.  This year's early training was very run focused for PB HM in May.  Run got much better (duh!), & I kept my speed on bike up to ~25-30mi rides.  But much over that my legs faded.  That cycling endurance has come back with more miles in the saddle.  For me, run fitness comes from running not biking.  As was said, while both sports draw on same aerobic engine the muscular fitness differs significantly.
2011-08-05 5:18 PM
in reply to: #3631322

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Subject: RE: Bike/Run Run/Bike Fitness translation

briderdt - 2011-08-05 11:56 AM The aerobic fitness translates, but not the specific muscular strength.

this is how it seems to work for me.



Edited by tri808 2011-08-05 5:19 PM

2011-08-06 5:06 PM
in reply to: #3631272

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Subject: RE: Bike/Run Run/Bike Fitness translation

I think the cardio fitness helps. I started biking earlier this year while recovering from a running injury. I've biked on and off throughout my life for fun, but this has been the first time I've ever done any sort of training with it. Anyway, the first day I had my bike, I took off and did 25 miles like it was nothing. I rode with a coach and he said my running background had me far ahead of most new bikers, in speed and climbing ability and etc.

When I returned to running after two months off (during which I'd been swimming the first month, swimming and biking the second), my cardio endurance wasn't too far off at all. Even now, I don't feel like I get worn out from a cardio standpoint, my legs just give out way before the rest of me does. I especially noticed that when I was first coming back to running.

I'm a pretty solidly MOP biker (at the sprint distance, at least) with minimal experience and honestly, not a lot of practice. I attribute that to running for years.

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