Dirty little running secrets

Funny you mention this now, as I've just started running with a friend of mine. I used to ride with them after work some weekdays, but now that daylight saving has ended and it's dark early, I guess it was a perfect excuse to try something different.

I've adapted to it pretty quickly, I have to say .. I was expecting it to be death, but it's not as depleting as I thought. Warming up and stretching really is essential though, I've learnt that very quickly!

I still much prefer cycling because it's less stressful on the body, can easily vary your exertion, and above all it's a practical "exercise you can use" -- I can't see myself running the 24km commute to work! :p

Ah, I knew I wouldn't be the only one.

You say you adapted to it quickly, but how many times/how long were you running at first? My legs seem to have toughened up from biking, but the sheer energy expenditure sometimes seems overwhelming... at which point, I walk a while.

I'll try more warming up, really I've just been going, then stretching afterwards. Maybe if I warm up I'll be able to do a little better.

You're certainly right that it can't replace cycling, but it's a good additional activity. I like to have it as an option, maybe a couple of times a week. I feel like it's a quicker cardio workout. But jogging is not a form of transportation, which is one of the most wonderful qualities of bikes.

So is this like cross-training? It's a big word, can we use it here?
😕

Based on what I've heard about bone loss and cycling, running is a great cross-training alternative.

I was purely a runner until I started cycling at the beggining of the winter to keep up my activity during the snowy months. Now that summer is coming I'll be mixing my training.

I, too, _came from_ the dark side (running). Been doing it pretty consistently for 25yrs. Used to MTB aggressively about 10yrs ago, but put that one in the closet for a while. Just joined the ranks of the road biker about 18 months ago.

Observations?

1) In my case, the legs had much better definition when running was the main gig. Road biking has added some girth to the ol' wheels (up a pants size!), but just not as cut. No matter....

2) Originally, moved to cycling because work was just absorbing all of my former running time. Figured cycle commuting would kill two birds;

3) Though I've run for a quarter of a century without a running injury, I _was_ starting to feel my knees while running. Cycling has not only proved to be a good rest for the joints, it seems that--when I do go for a relatively long run now--my knees have been strengthened by the riding;

4) Also pulled the MTB out of dead storage a few months ago, threw some new cables on it, cleaned it and tuned it, and started hooking up with a few dirt friends. I miss it! Definitely does work different muscles, force concentration on different aspects of technique, and get you pretty good at getting quickly out of your pedals 😉

5) Always been partial to running on the trails. Aside from the scenery (deer, bunnies, occasional coyote), it's infinitely easier on the joints. Also seems to do a better job of 'finely calibrating' muscles as you run on uneven surfaces.

I sat down with the running shoes, the trail running shoes, and the SIDI's a few months ago, letting each know that they were loved equally, and hoping to minimize the in-fighting. They seem to have made peace with it 😄

As a MTB racer, one of the main training techniques is to run up hill and to walk down hill (to protect the joints from excessive stress), so, running definitively is a excellent complement for a biker.

My main problem with running is that I have flat feet (I don’t know how it must be named, it’s when your feet don’t have a bridge silhouette from a side) and I get tired very fast when running.

My second problem it’s a cost/benefit situation where the effort while running it’s much bigger than biking for the same distance, so I choose the more efficient way to exercise and enjoy.

Regards

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Blackberry
Based on what I've heard about bone loss and cycling ...

😕

Haven’t hear something like this before, can you explain it a little bit more?

Maybe it will be a good thread subject, don’t you think?

Regards

Mmm.. I walk for the bone density thing. Can't run--knees won't let me.

The gist is, you need some kind of load-bearing exercise or your bone density goes down. Major issue for sending people to Mars, low gravity and it taking a minimum of 3 years for a round trip. But experiments supposedly show that sheep placed on a vibrating platform for some short duration per day (like 45 minutes) were able to maintain their bone density.

And biking is supposed to be better for knees or something because it is not load bearing.... blah blah blah. Just thought I'd toss up some stuff to get the real experts talking....

Cycling--like swimming--is not a load-bearing exercise. Therefore, it does not aid in prevention of bone-density loss the way other activities (weightlifting, running, tennis, basketball, etc.) would.

You're right: it would be an interesting topic. I still imagine that there are cyclists (especially women, more prone to calcium deficiency) who assume that cycling is all they need....

A little more info: http://tinyurl.com/2gros

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cuervo
😕

Haven’t hear something like this before, can you explain it a little it more?

Maybe it will be a good thread subject, don’t you think?

Regards

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by neil0502
Cycling--like swimming--is not a load-bearing exercise. Therefore, it does not aid in prevention of bone-density loss the way other activities (weightlifting, running, tennis, basketball, etc.) would.

You're right: it would be an interesting topic. I still imagine that there are cyclists (especially women, more prone to calcium deficiency) who assume that cycling is all they need....

A little more info: http://tinyurl.com/2gros

good link! i guess i'd better do more than just walking. back to the gym...

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by neil0502
Cycling--like swimming--is not a load-bearing exercise. Therefore, it does not aid in prevention of bone-density loss the way other activities (weightlifting, running, tennis, basketball, etc.) would.

You're right: it would be an interesting topic. I still imagine that there are cyclists (especially women, more prone to calcium deficiency) who assume that cycling is all they need....

A little more info: http://tinyurl.com/2gros

Thank you all, now it’s more clear.

It’s not that you lose bone mass because you are cycling, it’s more like cycling dos not prevent this to happen as other sports does, right?

I was aware that in a space flight to Mars your bone structure will decrease so much that walking in a gravity environment can be very difficult and dangerous after that long trip, but I didn’t knew that you can get to mars by bicycle!!! 😄

Regards

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by less'go
You say you adapted to it quickly, but how many times/how long were you running at first? My legs seem to have toughened up from biking, but the sheer energy expenditure sometimes seems overwhelming... at which point, I walk a while.

Hmm, well my first run ever was last Friday :p But I have always walked everywhere for quite some time, so that might have somewhat prepared the muscles also used for running.

Quoted post said:

You're certainly right that it can't replace cycling, but it's a good additional activity. I like to have it as an option, maybe a couple of times a week. I feel like it's a quicker cardio workout.

Yeah, that's exactly the same reason why I'm doing it too. Something different, and more time-efficient.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cuervo
I didn’t knew that you can get to mars by bicycle!!! 😄

ahh. you need to get out more! live a little!

i wonder what the weight of my bike would be on mars...

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by brightgarden
i wonder what the weight of my bike would be on mars...

Earth g value = 9.8 m/s2
Mars g value = 3.75 m/s2

Mars g vs. Earth g relation = 0.383

So, if your bike weight 9 kg in Earth, in Mars would be 3.44 Kg, but you must be aware that the height of the tallest mountain on Mars (Mt. Olympus, it’s a volcano) is about 29 km (18 miles) tall and 600 km across (373 miles), definitively a hard day on the bike!!!

Regards

In the winter, when there was barely any daylight, running was a great way of getting my endorphin fix. I live in a slightly traffic-ful area, so cycling in the dark is not a good idea in my book. However, I've had a bit of a history of joint trouble in the legs, causing strain in the knees and shins, so I had to restrict it to once a week to avoid getting any pain in said parts 🙁

Luckily, the sun now graces our backs until about 7.30 so I can play tennis or cycle in the evenings. Running is fairly fun as far as it goes, but I find that after about 5 miles it gets kind of dull - anyone with me on that?

less'go,

Running!?! Are you joking? Yeah, I know it's good for you and all, but riding a bike is easier. I guess I ride my bike becuase I'm too lazy to run and too cheap to drive.

Cycling is debonair.....running is, well sweaty.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by tacomee
Cycling is debonair.....running is, well sweaty.

I know, Tacomee, that's why I was so, well, secretive about it in the first place... Do you know I recenlty bought a pair of 100 $ running shoes. DO you realize I've only bought one other pair of athletic shoes in the past 20 years? And even those I only bought to look good 'adidas, black leather, high-top, wrestling soles).

You are right, there is nothing debonair about jogging - plus, as a woman, I sure don't want to look good running around because that could only cause trouble (unlike on the bike where I can get away quickly). So the frumpy-ponytail-jogging- redfaced housewife look is de rigeur - yelch.

But the thing that I'm finding fun is the way you have to drive yourself and force yourself to keep going -- it's just like in the commercials, Tac... the woman, the road, the feet, the sweat, the screaming thighs of steel (ok may be getting carried away here).

ANywho, that's where I am on this thing, but you're rigt, it's anything but debonair!

Sara

I've read a bit on the subject, and the bone density thing does influence my will to go running about causing my body great pain and looking like an idiot.

My 65 year old Mother still insists on carrying everything she can - from bags of groceries to big rocks for her garden or heavy bags of ciment - because heavy lifting also promotes bone density and counteracts osteoporosis. SHe's a smart lady.

S

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cuervo
Thank you all, now it’s more clear.

It’s not that you lose bone mass because you are cycling, it’s more like cycling dos not prevent this to happen as other sports does, right?

I was aware that in a space flight to Mars your bone structure will decrease so much that walking in a gravity environment can be very difficult and dangerous after that long trip, but I didn’t knew that you can get to mars by bicycle!!! 😄

Regards

less'go,

As far as the fitness thing goes, running is a good choice. More knee problems then cycling, but it does work. Some folks really love it

The trouble with 95% of all attempts at getting fit is that they don't work. Sure there are hardcore bikers and runners who are really in great shape, and those goons who hang out down at the health club, but most of us fail at getting fit. Almost everybody has started running at some point and quit after a few weeks.

Personally, I advise walking, cycling and gardening-- and only because I've seen them work with a way higher percentage of people than buying a health club membership. It's all about moderation and intergration-- don't burn out and try to make exercise are part of your everyday life. Otherwise you'll end up selling that $2500 bowflex machine on ebay.

I hope running becomes something you really love!