Maintaining running fitness during Biking focus and visa versa. Which is harder?

Triathlon Forum
1

Is it harder to run well during/after a big biking block or is harder to ride well during/after a big running block?

My intuition tells me that running tears your legs up more and leaves less for biking, but this winter I’m focusing on biking and it seems that my running has really taken back seat…more so than this past summer when I was running a lot more and my biking, while not getting stronger, was at least maintaining.

2

After a run focus from mid-Sept thru Nov, I am now 6 weeks into a bike focus. I didn’t have any bike races/TT’s in the fall, but I didn’t notice any loss of bike power during the run focus.
However, during this bike focus, I’m having trouble with my running. Heavy legs, slow cadence, etc. I’m in good shape, but I just can’t get any speed going. (17K run yesterday was quite a slog…)

So for this n=1 sample, I feel that a bike focus is more detrimental to running than a run focus is to cycling…

Brad

3

Even if I am doing a bike focus I still attempt to log 20-40 miles a week running (I have that kind of time on my hands (: I’m lucky). But I feel like running fitness disappears quicker then any of the the three sports.

-----------edit--------------
When i do run those 20-40 miles a week during a bike focus, I am not doing speed work or anything special. I just throw on my shoes, start the watch and never look at it until I finish. Just enjoy the run rather.

4

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=3029724

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=1951234;

And finally right here someone asked that very same question.

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=943094;

I randomly selected three threads about this very question

Not to be a dick, but if you, actually if most people, used the search function, you’d/they’d get a more in depth answer then what they are going to get in response to their question.

5

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=3029724

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...um.cgi?post=1951234;

And finally right here someone asked that very same question.

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=943094;

I randomly selected three threads about this very question

Not to be a dick, but if you, actually if most people, used the search function, you’d/they’d get a more in depth answer then what they are going to get in response to their question.

Brian,
I respect and always look for you input on these boards but in this case, did you even read my question?

I didn’t ask about how to construct a run or bike block of training…I asked "Is it harder to run well during/after a big biking block or is harder to ride well during/after a big running block?

6

why do any “focus”? if you are even admitting you know the sport you are not focusing on will suffer

7

why do any “focus”? if you are even admitting you know the sport you are not focusing on will suffer

That really is a good question…In my case, compared to other guys I compete against, I consistantly finish higher on the run than I do the bike. I’m betting that a bike focus this winter will help me move up in the standings on the bike. I may be risking my run form but if I don’t place a focus on the bike, I’ll never know.

Folks do it all the time on the swim…

8

Having raced both Track/XC and Cycling in college; keeping running fitness while biking is definitely harder (the body loses the adaptation to impact).

The exception would be longer bike races, where running simply can’t prepare you for 4-6hr. races and their nutrition/hydration issues.

9

Thanks to all who replied
.