Richard Miller wrote:
>
> Dot
>
> I was thinking that if you do a Cardiovascular workout 6 days a week, (Example: running on
> M-W-F, Biking on Tu - Th - Sa), that would be a bit much. Wouldn't it be better to run and
> bike 3 times a week. Bike or run in the morning and bike or run in the evening 3 days a week
> (6 workout) and rest the other 3 days or do something easy?
>
> Richard
>
It's mental relaxation for me as much as anything - wind down after work
And that's why at least
one of the bikes will be easy. Six days is a little much for me on a steady basis (at least right
now), but 5 days works out well - or 4 if I do harder efforts (=hills). I prefer doing one workout
after work to unwind, then doing at least one long something on the weekend preferably involving
trails for more than an hour (running, biking, xc skiiing, etc) to rejuvenate - frequently referred
to as playing in the woods
I'm also doing some rehab exercises most of these days - more on the
days I do less outside.
If I run my usual 3 days, I usually bike 2 - one during the week and one on weekend - as long as
it's not snowy or icy. Sat night is lap swim (least crowded time), although I may do that on Sun if
the pool is open and I wanted to do something longer on Sat. If I'm recovering, I'll bike 3, run
short and few. Some years I'll cross-train at the fitness center for 1 or 2 months in the winter -
usually M-W-F; then run on T-R-Sat or Sun. Then I'll pick up the biking again when the roads /
trails clear. I did a 2-hr cross-training session this winter on Sunday afternoons, and that really
messed up my usual scheduling. While it was more intense than I usually workout (hence easy day
before, nothing day after), my endurance really sucked this spring so I'm emphasizing bike now until
I get feet and legs back on decent running schedule. Mentally, I *have* to get outside for longer
periods of time, and I just can't get the feet to be that cooperative just yet.
I also periodize my training, usually by season. I'll commute by bike on snow as long as not too
icy, but I don't deliberately go out and bike in it for fun, unless I'm training for a winter tri.
I'm out in the field during much of summer, so it's not like any one of these snow-free training
seasons lasts very long for me (until I retire), and I try to max what I can.
I also tend to do better with less rigid schedules. If I start feeling like I'm in a straight
jacket, then I adjust the schedule appropriately. I got tired of the swimming for awhile this
winter (possibly because I was doing too many other things), dropped it for a few weeks, then
picked it up again. The running, biking, hiking, xc skiing, snowshoeing, etc I enjoy enough that
they are part of my life so I'm not worried about neglecting them. I alter my schedule to what my
body feels it can handle that week. When it's ready to push, I push. When it complains, I backoff.
If I have a race in mind, I *do* set up an approximate schedule, but maintain flexibility as to
what gets done on which days.
But yeah, if running and biking on the same day works for you, then by all means. Something I have
considered biking (about 30 min road, 30 min trail) to our lab in the morning then doing some
running on trails after work, but I haven't figured out reasonable logistics for it without me
overdoing things.
Dot
--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope
