Cycling as training to run a half marathon

[runner]

Due to an Achilles injury I have been putting in extra miles on my daily commute + Sats in order to prepare for the Stroud Half Marathon which was yesterday October 23rd. There is prob no real substitute for running a half marathon than running itself but as I get older (now a sprightly55) I am increasingly worried by the amount of running injuries that I pick up and so it seems sensible to run once or twice a week but up my weekly cycle mileage. So for the last 3 weeks I have done on average 100+ miles per week on the bike as well as 2 runs ( although when my Achilles was sore did not run for 2 weeks) on the road.... The result was I completed the Stroud Half in 1hr 38mins and 16 seconds and have felt my recovery rate much faster. The only gripe I have is at as usual not having the running miles in once I get over 10miles I struggled but I keep it together and keep to my rigid plan of 7.30 mins per mile...but all in all I enjoyed the run and will soon have a Kinesis Racelight TK in my collection to continue my cycling/running regime. So for all you cyclists/runners....the two disciplines go really well together and cycling will certainly enable me to keep running following a sensible training programme

 

[007fair]

Due to an Achilles injury I have been putting in extra miles on my daily commute + Sats in order to prepare for the Stroud Half Marathon which was yesterday October 23rd. There is prob no real substitute for running a half marathon than running itself but as I get older (now a sprightly55) I am increasingly worried by the amount of running injuries that I pick up and so it seems sensible to run once or twice a week but up my weekly cycle mileage. So for the last 3 weeks I have done on average 100+ miles per week on the bike as well as 2 runs ( although when my Achilles was sore did not run for 2 weeks) on the road.... The result was I completed the Stroud Half in 1hr 38mins and 16 seconds and have felt my recovery rate much faster. The only gripe I have is at as usual not having the running miles in once I get over 10miles I struggled but I keep it together and keep to my rigid plan of 7.30 mins per mile...but all in all I enjoyed the run and will soon have a Kinesis Racelight TK in my collection to continue my cycling/running regime. So for all you cyclists/runners....the two disciplines go really well together and cycling will certainly enable me to keep running following a sensible training programme

I trained for a duathlon (run and cycle) last year and in the lead up I kept pulling a calf muscle while running - which meant I couldn't run for 2 months before the race, but was still able to cycle
In the race I was able to finish the run but was really knackered and my leg muscles - which are not used by cycling so much - were really sore at the end

The cycle was 5 mins quicker than the year before so i was fit for that
so just cycling does not prepare you all that well for a long run. But in tandem I agree - doing both is better for you especially as you get older. Better for the joints and the variation is good too.
Even better to add swimming and go for a triathlon!

BTW 1:38 at 55 is good going I have 11 years on you but 9 minutes slower

 

[JamieRegan]

This is good to know. I've been succesful in the ballot for the London marathon next year (London 2012 - get in!) but i'm due to do a 300 mile bike ride 2 weeks before.

I've only ever ran one marathon and I've never cycled further than about 10 miles.

I'm going to be sore, but looking forward to the challange, immensely.

 

[runner]

I trained for a duathlon (run and cycle) last year and in the lead up I kept pulling a calf muscle while running - which meant I couldn't run for 2 months before the race, but was still able to cycle
In the race I was able to finish the run but was really knackered and my leg muscles - which are not used by cycling so much - were really sore at the end

The cycle was 5 mins quicker than the year before so i was fit for that
so just cycling does not prepare you all that well for a long run. But in tandem I agree - doing both is better for you especially as you get older. Better for the joints and the variation is good too.
Even better to add swimming and go for a triathlon!

BTW 1:38 at 55 is good going I have 11 years on you but 9 minutes slower

Well I was hoping for a 1.35!! but am pleased with 1 38mins. As well as being a member of a local running club I have been running for a number of years...too many to name...hence those sore joints

but the most important advice I can give is pace...pace...pace....as I finished yesterday a runner behind me said "I followed you the whole way around....I could see you knew what you were doing and you kept a solid pace from start to finish"....I certainly did and I can honestly say I feel great today...on a real high...after all those years of running nothing beats crossing that finishing line

 

[baldycyclist]

1 38 -good going -
My combination of 12 miles a day on the bike and the same running two to three times a week has got me down to 9 minute miles - although the half marathon plan for 9s didnt really work recently in the GNR - totally blew up after doing 8s for the first three miles!
I am just an inexperienced 43 year old - so I bow down to your superior ability

 

[User169]

Well I was hoping for a 1.35!! but am pleased with 1 38mins. As well as being a member of a local running club I have been running for a number of years...too many to name...hence those sore joints

but the most important advice I can give is pace...pace...pace....as I finished yesterday a runner behind me said "I followed you the whole way around....I could see you knew what you were doing and you kept a solid pace from start to finish"....I certainly did and I can honestly say I feel great today...on a real high...after all those years of running nothing beats crossing that finishing line

Well done runner.

I'm going to try to run a half marathon this weekend and have also had to rely on bike training in view of a sore achilles. The event starts at 2am on Sunday morning - pb's all round!

 

[007fair]

Well I was hoping for a 1.35!! but am pleased with 1 38mins. As well as being a member of a local running club I have been running for a number of years...too many to name...hence those sore joints

but the most important advice I can give is pace...pace...pace....as I finished yesterday a runner behind me said "I followed you the whole way around....I could see you knew what you were doing and you kept a solid pace from start to finish"....I certainly did and I can honestly say I feel great today...on a real high...after all those years of running nothing beats crossing that finishing line

my 1 half was 1:47 Average 8:05 minute miles although I don't think that was consistent over the course
My hope is to join a tri club once (if) I can swim.. Then the motivation from that will spur me on to better things.
But seems a long way off.!