Running is good for cycling fitness

For the past two years, running has become a bigger and bigger part of my routine, and it has done wonders for my cycling fitness. At least on shorter rides and on climbs. I feel noticeably fitter and stronger on the bike, less out of breath, and the hills that once felt like a struggle are far less punishing.

That running should help cycling came as a surprise. I had always assumed the two sports used different muscles and were different in plenty of other ways too. So how can one benefit the other?

Why running has helped

Part of it is straightforward: better cardiovascular fitness and the fact that I am no longer carrying an extra 20 to 30 pounds of body weight.

A few other factors are worth considering:

• The leg movements have made my legs stronger overall.
• Trail running on bridleways has sharpened my balance and reaction times.
• Better posture. Running is a standing exercise, which I think compensates well for sitting down all day. Cycling, after all, is done sitting down, so it does not offer much of a change in posture.
• Regular exercise has to be a good thing, and running is easy to fit in when I want to take a break from the bike.

I do not follow a planned schedule for how running fits around my cycling. I simply do one or the other depending on how I feel. At the moment I run three times a week, covering around 15 miles in total, and cycle twice a week, covering around 40 miles.

The benefits have been most noticeable on shorter rides, so I still need to get out for some longer three to four-hour rides before planned cycling trips with friends later this summer.

Give it a go

Overall, I feel I have gained a great deal from running, and it has improved my cycling fitness.

Why not try a parkrun on a Saturday? The regularity has kept me motivated to keep running, and it is a great way to get started.