Running to Train for Cycling

I have been running a considerable amount lately to get ready for the fast approaching Mountain Biking season. With my first race scheduled at Yankee Springs on April 22 I have been really focusing on my training. I did not do this last year as I was slightly unmotivated until I realized how much I enjoyed the sport. I did fairly well for my first season registered in the sport class. However, I have bumbed into the expert class and realize that I will be needing to do way more prior training than I did last year (I trained very little prior to last season.)

My background athletically is in running. I was a better than average High School runner that was pretty versatile doing the 400M, 800M, 1600M, and ran cross country as well. I was good enough to be a walk on to Grand Valley State University's Men's running program where I trained in the fall with the cross country team and focused on running the 800M during indoor and outdoor track season. I had done some biking in high school when I was injured for a season but never competed. As I have been readying for this summer's mountain bike season I reverted back to what I know and that is running. The thought of riding a bike outside in the winter time in Michigan going 20+ MPH with ice cold wind blowing in my uncovered face is not my idea of a good time. Neither is running outside in the cold for that matter either. My MVP gym membership solves this issue for me.

One thing that is so very difficult for me is to train on a treadmill or a stationary bike. It is taxing on me mentally. When I'm outside I get to see new scenery and have a change in terrain. I get to explore new places and I can feel like I'm getting somewhere. This really helps with taking my mind off the actual ride/run and actually somewhat enjoy the workout. When I'm inside and not going anywhere it makes it very difficult for me as I'm sure is the same for many people. This may be why so many people decide to opt out of their new years resolutions after less than a month (see previous blog posting).

I have found however, that running on a treadmill is "easier" for me to stay motivated about training in the gym then riding a stationary bike. I have been increasing my milage beginning since mid-November and will be looking to get into the low to mid 30's for this week in 6 days.

After beginning this consistency in running and building up my body physically the only way I know how, I began to wonder if all of this running would be doing me any good for the upcoming Mountain Bike Season. I have found through my very little research so far that my cardio may be buildling up but that I am not necessarily training my muscles used for biking. In all that I've read so far, I've been shown that running is a good way to cross train for cycling. But it seems that it may not be the best to completely train just running in order to be good at cycling. There has to be at least some carry over. My intentions are to work in a good base for another month until I am able to hit 40 miles a week on 6 days. I will then incorporate more and more cycling into the mix as it gets closer to the beginning of the season. Also, the weather will be getting better to ride outside rather than training inside.

I have started a "note" on my facebook page documenting my training schedule. I will post this in a later post and work on keeping it updated. Who knows, maybe i'm doing things all wrong. But who knows, maybe I'm doing it all right.