Runner Running out of time!

[Den]

Hi all.

I have entered the London to Brighton bike ride which is on 19th June this year, however I am also running the Edinburgh Marathon on 22nd May. I have been cycling during the week, but the majority of my time, especially my Sunday's have been taken up with the long training runs.

I am also climbing Scafell Pike in the Lake District the week after the Marathon, so I really only have 2-3 weeks where I can soley focus on just cycling.

My fitness level is fairly decent at the moment and am hoping to complete the Marathon in around 4 hours.

I just wanted to know if anyone has been in a similar situation and if you think my cross training will help me even though I havent had too much saddle time?

Any tips or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Den

 

[Globalti]

Yes it will; my cycling buddy also goes running and it definitely gives him the edge in cardio-vsacular fitness.

Also as former mountaineer I can tell you that cycling develops muscles that are accustomed only to an expanding action; it does not develop the muscles that let you down a mountain. So I can romp up a mountain with almost no effort and hardly breaking into a sweat yet coming back down is a nightmare - it kills my legs, they tremble with the effort and my muscles will be sore for three or four days afterwards. So keep up the cross training.

If you really want to improve your general fitness, choose a long straight flat road, get out and ride your nuts off for as long as you can, turn around and do it again. It will make a big difference.

 

[Den]

That's good to know. I have been doing lots of hill training for the Marathon (up & down), which has really helped.

I ran London Marathon last year and I had really bad problems with my ITB. This year, I have had no problems with it, which I think is purely down to the cyclying cross training strengthening my leg muscles.

Can't wait for Scafell Pike. I know it's not a technical climb but hey, I have to start somewhere. Anywhere you would recommend for beginner climbers?

 

[Globalti]

You mean proper climbing with ropes or just scrambling up a mountain? If the former you need to go with someone experienced or do a course. If the latter, go to North Wales and climb a mountain called Tryfan; it starts right beside the A5 and is a super rock scramble all the way to the top with an easy route off the back or further scrambling up Bristly Ridge onto the Glyders. When you reach the summit climb onto Adam and jump onto Eve (or the other way round - can't remember) then you've passed your initiation as a mountaineer.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

cycling L2B on 'the' L2B really isn't that much of a challenge, compared with say running a mountain or climbing a marathon as you'll discover when you arrive at the start and find yourself surrounded by unfit overweight people on raleigh 20's and assorted shopping bikes all of whom will get to the end. (and ruddy well done the lot of them). Some of these people will never have ridden more than 20 miles in their lives before.

Why is this....? the pace is slow because of the numbers, there are only a couple of climbs of any significance and the pace on them is slow because of the numbers.... there are multiple stops because of the numbers.... etc., etc..

Make sure you've got a roadworthy bike, make sure it fits properly and the contact points are comfy enough for all day riding, focus on your running for now, go steady on the day and you will do and enjoy your L2B with very little in the way of cycling specific training.

My only concern would be after effects of the run, and/or of the run+climb maybe knocking your body for six (glycogen etc) but you know your body better than me.

 

[Den]

Thanks Globalti. I will defiantly look in to that. I'm also going to do some indoor climbing, just to get me started. There is a place called The Reach in London which us supposed to be really good.

Hi GregCollins. I'm taking my bike for a service and getting new tyres put on, so hopefully that will help. I am slightly concerned about the after affects of the run too. I ran a 22 mile training run last weekend and it takes a good week or so to get the strenghth back. I think I will have time to mend though.

When running a long distance, I take on sports drinks, water and jelly beans for a little boost. Any tips on what kind of fuel I should take on before and during the L2B?

Thanks again for your tips. This is really useful!

 

[Globalti]

Unless you're going up a proper rock route on Scafell you can prepare better by walking up some steep hills with a reasonably heavy rucsac. Remember that the downhill will strain your legs more than the uphill.

For a quick recovery, Wiggle sampled these sachets a few weeks ago so I bought a pack and they seem quite good: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/for-goodness-shakes-recovery-powder-24-x-72g/ the strawberry one tastes just like a milk shake. Otherwise you can fuel up with Complan or Build Up from Boots, which are the same thing but in use many years before maltodextrin became fashionable.

 

[Den]

Scafell is a family trip to the Lake District, and we have a young son so we wont be doing any proper climbing I do want to do the rock climbing as a seperate event to though.

Thanks for the link. A friend of mine tried those shakes out and he didnt get on with them. Everyone is different though I guess.