does biking alot slow you down as a runner? (Read 775 times)

Define "a lot" of biking?  A lot of biking and improving your running are all relative to your individual take on it.

 

I can and do bike and run and not have them affect each other, but then again, I'm not attempting to run a 3:30 marathon (or a marathon at all)...

Ok a few more specifics.  I run anywhere between 60-90 mpw and generally try to keep myself in sub 3 marathon shape.  Alot of biking means 20-40miles per day of biking.  That's not alot for avid cyclists, but it's alot, IMO, for a person who doesn't have ANY biking goals whatsoever.  I just do it for fun. My concern generally is that having strong and possibly "bulky" cycling muscles don't really help when it comes to running road marathons.  I know biking helps me climb on trails, but that's not what I'm aiming for right now.

I think a person has to bike a LOT AND have the sort of physique that easily bulks-up to get bulky (mesomorphs vs. ectomorphs).  When I think of cyclists with bulky thighs I also think of the TdF dudes who are not performing under "natural" conditions (doping, etc.).  The average elite cyclocross racer or endurance mountain biker is riding hundreds of miles week-in/week-out and generally doesn't have a physique that is noticeably different than that of most really lean-muscled endurance runners.

One thing I have noticed is that there are people who find that cycling makes them a better runner, because they can spend that much more time engaged in cardio workouts without as much impact...less recovery time.  Others find the opposite to be true.  I think it's very much a YMMV deal.

Me, personally...my 5k PR was set in the first leg of a duathlon.  I am kicking myself for not finding a straight-out 5k within weeks of that race to see what I really could have done.  I certainly don't find that cycling hurts my running when I am devoting roughly equal time to each activity (this year has definitely been running-light).  They always seemed sort of symbiotic for me.

 Biking 20 - 40 miles = 1 - 2 hours / day = 7 - 14 hours / week

Running 60 - 90 miles / week = 9 - 14 hours / week

If you want to run fast, focus on running.

If you want to bike fast, focus on biking.

But, it seems like you might mean that you'd bike 20 - 40 miles per outing, and do that outing 1 - 3 times per week.  If that's what you mean, I think that may have solid value, as biking HR (at speed) is similar to an 'easy' run.  I 'think' that means that you'd get the endurance benefit without the stress.

Whether it makes you slow down running, I don't know.

Look into triathlon, and pick up swimming too! 

I took it as 20 - 40 miles x 7 days a week, but I can't imagine that's what the OP meant.

Heh, I ride a lot relative to many people (though not relative to my couple of crazy friends who ride ~10k miles, every damned year), but even I don't ride 20-40 miles 7 days/week.  My peak Summer mileage is generally around 200 miles/week (a little less since I took up mountain biking and put in fewer miles on the road).  Still pretty moderate mileage by any standard.

Zoomy, When are you going to invite our new friends to our double secret two wheeled sub groups?

Zoomy, When are you going to invite our new friends to our double secret two wheeled sub groups?

Ooooh, secret bikey forums!?!

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