Does Biking Help My Running Endurance?

B

braveheart1027

New member
I'm trying to improve my running endurance so every other day I run and on the days imbetween I ride my bike for about 45min to an hour. I break it up like this to avoid injures like shin splints and stress fractures, which are common to runners. My question is, does bicycling help your running endurance? I just started so can't speak to it myself.
 
Cycling is an excellent form of cross training for runners, it works out the same muscles, but in a different way. It's good for the cardiovascular system, and it gives the joints an easy time.
I always included cycling in with my marathon training, and I'm using it extensively in my post surgery recovery.
As a coach, I encourage my runners to do some sort of cross training, and cycling is one of the main ones I recommend.
Hope this helps.
 
I am a triathlete so I have lots of experience with this. It might help but very minimally. You utilize different muscle groups. It helps your heart but not your muscles.If you are a beginner it might help but if you are experienced than the results would be minimal.

Best way to help your running is to incorporate more variety. Don't run the same way every time. You can use sprint training, interval training, "recovery runs" (look it up if you don't know), fast runs, etc. Follow up a "harder" day with an easier one. For example sprint training is hard so follow it up with a recovery run the next day.

GL
 
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