Is running 26 miles the same as a 100 mile bike ride?

[RabbitFood]

Hi all,

I have been asked by a friend to run the London marathon with him next year, we are going to go through the run for a charity route as we missed the ballot.

Anyway I read somewhere on this forum that cycling is the equivalent to 4 times as far as running.

Hence my question, because the idea of running 26 miles seems far far far more daunting then 100 mile bike ride. I have got up to 45 mile bike ride so far and gently increasing this and I fell that I will be able to do 100 miles on my bike.

I seem to get a lot of second wind on the bike and have breaks not peddling and so on.

So if I can cycle 100 miles do you think I can do the 26 miles running?

I will of course be doing a lot of running training as well as cycling but the 2 compliment each other well I think.

Rabbit

 

[fossyant]

It's sort of the same ish...but you'll need stacks of training for running - totally different muscles.

You'll have to be able to run for at least 2 hours constant...bit like doing 100's, you need to be able to do 60-70. Don't forget running is much harder on muscles and joints....

I'd not attempt it, too many bike miles in my legs

 

[Bigtwin]

No. Nothing like.

You don't get shin splints on a bike, compression injuries, buggered hips and hamstrings, etc etc.

100m on a bike MAY use about the same calories - or at least you could probably make it do so - but running a marathon is far more brutal on the body.

 

[RabbitFood]

yes im still thinking the idea over to be honest and one of the reasons i took up cycling was becasue it is better on the legs (football player so not sure what shape my legs are in).

But i do love running and dont find it very hard and run the local 10 miles rather easy.

 

[sheddy]

Long distance runners to have cope with the wall. Long distant cyclists don't (unless they fall asleep)

 

[ChrisKH]

Different muscles as people say.

I couldn't run 26 miles, even with new knees. 100 miles on a bike is easier.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I'd say you'd have to cycle 120 including some serious hills to make a reasonable comparison with a marathon. But as others have said, running is much worse for your joints and bones...

 

[Andy in Sig]

I've done 200 km which at a guess is around 120 miles on four occasions and each time I felt I could easily have gone on for another 30 km or so. I couldn't imagine wanting to do another three miles after the end of a marathon. In fact I've only ever done one half marathon and that was enough.

 

[RabbitFood]

I think I might have posted this on the wrong Forum, ill try it on a running one might get some hope from them lol

 

[Bigtwin]

I think I might have posted this on the wrong Forum, ill try it on a running one might get some hope from them lol

I didn't say don't do it - just that it's bloody hard work. But it's a good thing to do - once.

 

[RabbitFood]

I know that no one is telling me not to do and id love to do it like you said just the once, I just dont want to mess up my knees or anything else that would stop me getting on my bike becasue I have so got the bug

 

[craigwend]

No; as above (different muscles)I was entered into a 'massive' 2K run with my 2 year old boy at the begining of the week, couldn't believe how much I ached afterwards, possibly not helped by 'running' in walking boots & little boy spending 1 & 1/2 k on my shoulders(really should not have done this) / in my arms.

Contrast with my 100 mile plus in April at end the of which I felt like I could still keep going for miles - if only it was not getting dark / my delusion was increasing

Oh & I don't enjoy running

 

[PaulB]

Riding a bike for 100 miles is much easier than running for 26 miles. And the muscles that you use are different as well. But your cycling training will have helped your fitness hugely.

Is exactly correct.

I ran several marathons before I got into this cycling malarkey and though a 100 miles on a bike takes a lot longer than running a marathon and is harder on certain parts of the anatomy, it's a darn sight easier overall. The day after a century on a bike and you'll probably feel like going out on it again, you'll certainly feel human but the day after a marathon you'll be coming down the stairs on your hands and knees and promising yourself "never again!"

 

[Bigtwin]

I know that no one is telling me not to do and id love to do it like you said just the once, I just dont want to mess up my knees or anything else that would stop me getting on my bike becasue I have so got the bug

Get some decent shoes (go to proper shop and get them to fit you) and follow a sensible training programme and you'll be very unlucky to do any long term damage doing one marathon.

 

[RabbitFood]

yes im going to go to Decathlon this weekend and they will messure my feet and tell me if I am an inner or outer, something like that, anyway ill get the right kind of running shoes.

well the application form has gone in to whizz kids, so if i get a spot i can rely on you guys to help me get to the £1500 i need lol