Forums >Cross Training>Running or bikeing
XC Runner
Define "fitness".
It all depends on what you think... I can run, but I can't lift weights to save my life, but I still consider myself fit
SMART Approach
For myself, I monitor effort through heart rates. A comfortable run on treadmill and my heart rate is 70-75% of my max HR or around 130-138. This pace is around 2 min slower than my 5K race pace.
When I hop on a bike, my comfortable pace gets my HR to 95 with 80 RPMs. Even when I crank RPMs, I can get only to 105-110. When I start cranking the resistance, I can get my HR up to 130 but I am cranking very hard and my quads are burning (an I have strong quads). Effort wise, to me, there is no comparison. On a stationary bike, I simply cannot get my HR up without pain. Outside, with the wind resistance, it does go up more but still not like running even at comfortable pace.
All your weight is supported on a bike while the bouncing and jarring of running through space provides a greater stimulus to me. It takes me 60 min of biking to equal 30 min of running from a conditioning standpoint.
With that being said, for me biking is fine for a cross training day but I personally would not substitute it for running if I wanted to get an aerobic work out, or if I had a choice for 30-40 min, running would win out and give me a better work out.
Run Coach. Recovery Coach. Founder of SMART Approach Training, Coaching & Recovery
Structured Marathon Adaptive Recovery Training
Safe Muscle Activation Recovery Technique
www.smartapproachtraining.com
I look my best blurry!
Whatever gets us off our a#*!
A cold beer in the fridge will do that sometimes. Will that make me fit?
rectumdamnnearkilledem
12oz curls?
Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to
remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.
~ Sarah Kay
Runners run
Running is better for running fitness, biking is better for biking fitness.
...and just when I thought they "promoted synergy" to, you know, turn into a jet and stuff.
Thanks for all the opinons I guess it still in up to what everybody prefers, running or biking. Like it was said
what ever it takes to get off your A$$. I will still discuss it with my sister in law tho.
Turning back the clock one mile at a time
Swim , Bike, and Run A LOT
Running requires the least amount of equipment, cycling the most. Swimming requires a pool or warm weather for OW swims.
Granted start-up costs for cycling are high but, what do folks around here spend on shoes and races yearly? How about that gym with pool membership? I've spent $5-600 on just shoes and race registrations (excluding hotels, food, & gas) in the last year and I'm a relativity low mileage runner who averages barely a race per month. It cost me just $12 to sign up for this spring century. My bike shoes have thousands of miles - the bike even more.
For myself, I monitor effort through heart rates. A comfortable run on treadmill and my heart rate is 70-75% of my max HR or around 130-138. This pace is around 2 min slower than my 5K race pace. When I hop on a bike, my comfortable pace gets my HR to 95 with 80 RPMs. Even when I crank RPMs, I can get only to 105-110. When I start cranking the resistance, I can get my HR up to 130 but I am cranking very hard and my quads are burning (an I have strong quads). Effort wise, to me, there is no comparison. On a stationary bike, I simply cannot get my HR up without pain. Outside, with the wind resistance, it does go up more but still not like running even at comfortable pace. All your weight is supported on a bike while the bouncing and jarring of running through space provides a greater stimulus to me. It takes me 60 min of biking to equal 30 min of running from a conditioning standpoint. With that being said, for me biking is fine for a cross training day but I personally would not substitute it for running if I wanted to get an aerobic work out, or if I had a choice for 30-40 min, running would win out and give me a better work out.
POD on this subject, but apparently overlooked. That's how you hit the nail on the head!
*mta: On the point that running and cycling are equally beneficial to fitness if the variables of time spent and effort (HR,etc.) put forth are equivalent.
Ricky —our ability to perform up to our physiological potential in a race is determined by whether or not we truly psychologically believe that what we are attempting is realistic. Anton Krupicka