Thoughts on cross training??!!??

baza1976

Looking for some thoughts on this. I “try” to cycle to work at least 3 times a week. It’s a total of 17 miles. I also try to run on same days (try to run everyday) sometimes either morning before heading to work on the bike or late in the evening. The run could be anything from 3 miles to 7 miles at the moment. I also play 5 aside up to 3 times a week. In general I don’t run on these days but could be cycling depending on the day.

I’m doing the cycling and footie as more for cross training then anything, but it’s leaving absolutely wrecked. So much so it’s affecting my running mojo.

What do people here do? Do you cycle at all? Do you cross train more? What kind of extra activities do you do to aid your running? Does the total leave you shattered? Should I drop the cycling or cycle less?? Am I trying to do too much????????? Have I just answered my own thoughts here??!!!???

macinalli

At the moment I'm cycling to work 4 days per week (about 40 miles) and currently running about 40 miles per week. I find that fine but does take a little getting used to. Diet is also important - I find that I need to eat quite regularly due to the activity.

Regarding astro soccer, I think it's a case of what your priorities are. I think running and cycling go well together but personally I don't think astro gives you anything fitness wise (at least compared to the other 2). By the way, is your cycling 17 miles per day? At the end of the day it's up to you - concentrate on the sports you prefer. For me running is the priority, although I couldn't give up the cycling as I'd go mad driving/bussing to work.

baza1976

Hi Macinalli,

Yeah 17 miles a day for 3 days, sometimes 2 or 1 day in a bad week, but mostly 3.... I have tried the 5 days but on top of running 40 mile weeks I found tough.

I find the astro helps me with sprinting and agility/flexibility.

I'm currently tipping away at running approx 30 miles a week and I'm wondering should I drop the cycling and push on with the running. I find if I mix the activitiy I don't have much if any niggles.

Mr Marri

I was going to post this exact question
My own feeling is that if you don't cross train at the same intensity as you run (HR etc) that it de-tunes your running performance.
I do wonder about the effect of muscle memory and muscle imbalance, particularly for repetitive activities like cycling.
Very interested to hear other peoples opinion on this.

KentuckyPete

I cycle to work every day - approx 60 miles per week. I don't really view it as cross training because I'm just moving along in commuting mode

Over the past few years in the winter / spring I'd usually be training for a marathon and running maybe 50 miles a week. The cycling doesn't impact the running - I don't view the cycling as training - more as a daily loosener to help the legs.

In the summer I'd be training for triathlons. Once again however I don't use the commute as training - I'd do specific separate bike sessions where I'm following a set plan for pushes / climbs etc. Again the commute helps loosen things out.

The point made earlier about eating is very valid - I find that during peak training phases I eat like a horse. Two dinners in a day would be no bother. Maybe the loss of the running mojo is because the you need to adjust the diet?

Also, about the footie, I tried to keep it up when I went through the standard mid-life crisis conversion to running and tris a few years ago but I found it was very difficult to do both. I was knackered tired - and that was when I was only running twice a week. I figured I was too old for both so I packed up the game of ball and went harder at the running. No regrets on that score.

slowsteady

Similar thoughts to the OP were going through my head this week but I am much earlier in the process - I only bought the bike last week!!

I have done a fair bit on the bike - novelty factor - 100 miles over the week as well as keeping up the running, 40 per week. This week my running has been very sluggish, I wondered was there a connection - in my case may be just using different muscles and getting used to it.

baza1976

Thanks for that info KP.

I do think I need to improve on the diet, maybe that will help with being slugish and the loss of mojo