Carryover
This is another article aimed at those you who are Triathletes. I used to wonder about the carryover or should I say the lack of carryover from cycling to running. So before I get to the a-ha moment, let’s review the good and not so good areas.
GOOD
1. Some cardiovascular carryover. However you improve your Cardio/ VO2 Max. is good.
2. Some leg strength carryover. Even though the muscle recruitment pattern is different, building muscle is good. Plus, the emphasis on Quads is something most runners do not develop and is very useful for downhill racing.
3. Mental toughness- nice thing about a long ride is that there is no shortcut for getting back to home base. Builds that mental toughness to be out there bored, tired, sweaty and miserable.
Bad
1. Not weight bearing-even though I am building some muscle, there is no impact or ballistic training happening. This is a huge component of long distance running.
2. Posture- good running involves good upright posture and flexible hips. Cycling tends to tighten up those hip flexors and keep folks in that hunched posture.
BIG A-HA
1. After my recent BioMechanics course, I had the big AHA moment while riding my bike. In running, your MASS or Center of Gravity is always moving from behind the foot to in front of the front. Just like in swimming, where the lead hand acts as an anchor and helps to pull the body forward and past. OR think of a Pole Vaulter going up and over the pole once it hits the ground. In cycling, your MASS or CoG is static and positioned behind your legs. Your legs are moving a lot, but you never learn how to transfer the CoG.
2. One of the key factors for efficient running is learning how to move your MASS smoothly and quickly over that “anchor foot”.
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Thanks and Happy Trails