Not a happy bunny.

[d1bble]

Hi everyone,

I’m a bit cheesed off actually.

The more I cycle the worse my running gets.

I am currently knocking up on average over 150 miles a week on the racer and around 50 running, but I am slowly deteriorating.

I have energy in the legs, but a different kind of energy (more sprint than distance). My breathing has become shit as even though I shift on the bike I don’t breathe in the same way and end up trying to remember to breathe when out running.

I have my twelfth marathon coming up at the end of September and im in two minds as to knock cycling on the head (but I’m pretty much addicted)

What would you do? Or what can I do to keep cycling and have a positive effect on the running.

[PomBstard]

Make sure you're stretching properly - though I presume with the sorts of distances you're putting that this is part of your regime. Also, get a proper physio check up and massage - not a poncey, smoothe-the-skin massage - this should highlight any posture or stiffness that you can't detect, and the massage will hurt like Hell!

If you've got the lungs and the strength, then you probably need a bit of tuning. I go to the physio every month and find it helps enormously, if painfully.

[d1bble]

Cheers Lee.

I do stretch, but ive found that if im out everyday then im pretty loosened up.

As for the Physio check up…I did have a nurse look me over the other day and she ran an ECG. Turns out it was a little high (but normal ) at 438.

A friend of mine told me the last week that running helps cycling, but cycling impedes running; which is when it all started to make sense.

A massage eh?

[PomBstard]

d1bble said:

A friend of mine told me the last week that running helps cycling, but cycling impedes running; which is when it all started to make sense.

Very true - cycling doesn't stretch the legs in the same way which can lead to tight hamstrings.

I'm also sold on Pilates, or any other core-strength exercise - my balance and strength on the bike improved markedly after about two weeks of this, and it was a nice way to wind down at the end of the day.

As for the massage - definitely - many people in the fitness industry we know over here swear by having a proper physio massage once a month.

Whatever you do, just try a change in your training - it could be simply that you're bored.

[Rico]

What type of bike?

Triathlon bikes have a different geometry to road bikes purely because cycling uses muscles in different ways to running. Thus in a triathlon, you don't want to finish the bike stage and then struggle with running.

[d1bble]

Rico said:

What type of bike?

Triathlon bikes have a different geometry to road bikes purely because cycling uses muscles in different ways to running. Thus in a triathlon, you don't want to finish the bike stage and then struggle with running.

Hi Andy, Its a racer, not a triathlon bike. I'll look into them as i see your point.

[snotrag]

This is quite common I believe - People who do a lot of cycling can suffer from problems in their legs when walking or running.
After a long days riding I sometimes get bad shin splints and very tight calfs.

Mountainbikers will recognise this - on a good ride, steaming around ,if you get to a realyl steep climb that you just can't make, you jump off to push, and walking, combined with pushing your ankle down on the steep uphill, resulta in excruciatingly painful calfs which lock up.

I think the only way to avoid it is to mix up with a bit of running and swimming.

I'd also check your bike is setup properly, and your not over or under stretching on the cranks.

[Nick_F]

I find cycling helps my running - but maintaining the two together throws up problems that running alone doesn't reveal.

If you've added 150 miles of cycling per week into a an already demanding running training schedule then it may well be that you're just tired...and your total training volume has now reached the point where you need a better schedule, with light weeks for active recovery etc etc.

I'd also recommend a sports massage once evey month, or at least every second month, to 'zero' the muscle tone in your legs and get rid of that leaden feeling.

I think it's also fair to say that cycling as a 'spinner' - high cadence and low pedal effort - has less impact on your running than pushing big gears all the time, so your riding technique may need thinking about too.

On the plus side you'll soon be two-thirds of a triathlete...

[snotrag]

Nick_F said:

I think it's also fair to say that cycling as a 'spinner' - high cadence and low pedal effort - has less impact on your running than pushing big gears all the time, so your riding technique may need thinking about too.

Very valid point - I'm not trying to make out I'm Lance or anything, but I see a lot of people both cycling round town at home, and out at mountainbike centres, who have awful technique.

When working at a bike shop I wouldnt often see people complaining that they were struggling on their bike, then when watching them on their bike they would set off up a hill pushing a huuuuge gear, thigh muscles on the verge of bursting, with their ankles on the pedals.

As soon as you learn to hold a much higher cadence, in a lower gear, yuo may find it puts much less stress on your legs and body.

Another thing I would say is that the culprits are often those who are from a 'keep fit' or gym background, and have recently take up cycling, rather than people who primarily bike riders. Probably something to do with getting on the static bike and winding the resistance on as far as it will go, much like the people who benchpress a small cars weight, once, then retire to the sauna with burst blood vessels!

[d1bble]

Thanks Guys. I’ve booked myself in for a 'sports massage'.

There is a lady that comes to The Park in Nottingham and thirty squid for an hour.

So...am i in for some pain? (will she snap my neck etc?)

(Looking forward to it actually )

[d1bble]

snotrag said:

Nick_F said:

I think it's also fair to say that cycling as a 'spinner' - high cadence and low pedal effort - has less impact on your running than pushing big gears all the time, so your riding technique may need thinking about too.

Very valid point - I'm not trying to make out I'm Lance or anything, but I see a lot of people both cycling round town at home, and out at mountainbike centres, who have awful technique.

When working at a bike shop I wouldnt often see people complaining that they were struggling on their bike, then when watching them on their bike they would set off up a hill pushing a huuuuge gear, thigh muscles on the verge of bursting, with their ankles on the pedals.

As soon as you learn to hold a much higher cadence, in a lower gear, yuo may find it puts much less stress on your legs and body.

Another thing I would say is that the culprits are often those who are from a 'keep fit' or gym background, and have recently take up cycling, rather than people who primarily bike riders. Probably something to do with getting on the static bike and winding the resistance on as far as it will go, much like the people who benchpress a small cars weight, once, then retire to the sauna with burst blood vessels!

I’m not one for riding in too higher gear if possible, but on the other hand i don’t like to hang around (spinning?) and ive recently been hitting the hills between Notts and Leic in smaller cogs than usual.

I think it best to ease off the riding and increase the running (and eating)

Snotrag..i may have the wrong riding technique..any pointers? or could you link anything (im open to suggestions)


Cheers for all the advice.

[ADD vantage]

Been biking for about a year and I now do a fairly steep hill in the tallest gear to build up my muscles, as it requires the most effort. Fully understand cadence and speed--I just make it as hard as possible to build up the most muscle. Is this disastrously wrong if I am not pulling/tearing any muscles?

Also, I have found that one calf muscle is much more developed than the other. What can I do to even them out on the bike? Only thing I can think of is to switch to weights and work them in isolation? But I much prefer biking outdoors.

Cheers, and sorry for the thread hijack.

[Nick_F]

d1bble said:

Thanks Guys. I’ve booked myself in for a 'sports massage'.

There is a lady that comes to The Park in Nottingham and thirty squid for an hour.

So...am i in for some pain? (will she snap my neck etc?)

(Looking forward to it actually )

Illio-tibial band deep frictions are the most painful thing one human being can do to another. But apart from that it should be a pleasant experience - give yourself 24hrs off running and cycling afterwards and go for a steady swim instead.

[PomBstard]

Nick_F said:

d1bble said:

Thanks Guys. I’ve booked myself in for a 'sports massage'.

There is a lady that comes to The Park in Nottingham and thirty squid for an hour.

So...am i in for some pain? (will she snap my neck etc?)

(Looking forward to it actually )

Illio-tibial band deep frictions are the most painful thing one human being can do to another. But apart from that it should be a pleasant experience - give yourself 24hrs off running and cycling afterwards and go for a steady swim instead.

Oh yes! ITB massage is painful, but in a I-know-this-will-feel-better kinda way. Same for the glute massage - elbow into the muscle, just to chase the knot away. The sensation of being in better shape afterwards though makes it all worthwhile.