Trainingload cycling vs running

From a data perspective I seem to be able to generate may more trainingload trough cycling than trough running and thus resulting condition. Would it be fair to conclude I should keep cycling next to my running to get optimal condition? Or are these conditions not comparable?

I’m here for the answers because I have the exact same issue!

Training load isn’t always the goal. If you’re trying to improve at running, you need to run. Both fast, and lots.

If you’re trying to improve general aerobic health, then sure, add in cycling.

But I want to challenge your premise. Per unit of time, running is generally considered better at aerobic improvement due to more muscle recruitment. But while cycling requires more time, it also allows for more time as you are much less likely to get overuse injuries the way running can cause.

If you are getting more training load for the same perceived exertion of cycling than for running, you may need to alter your training zone values in the software.

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FWIW, I started running/jogging about 5 years ago after 15 years of cycling only focussed training. I feel much more allround fitness. For me, the combination of both is superb and leads to more aerobic condition, flexibility and less stress. Missing a cycling training because of lack of time, can easily be accounted for by going for a run of 30-45 min.

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Yep. I started running a year and a bit and found I burned more calories per hour than cycling. But then I got a power meter and more serious about structured workouts. As my eFTP has risen, so has the calories per hour burned.

I’m now burning more calories with cycling than running, mostly that’s because I’m terrible at running and dislike it, so it’s harder to sustain for me :smiley: .

Great discussion! I agree that mixing cycling and running can offer an excellent balance for overall fitness, as both have their unique benefits.

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I’m not a running coach, but have some n=1 experience of how running had a negative impact on cycling performance, at the pointy end of a race, not general fitness. The coach I had, at the time, said that I as I was trying to master two disciplines, and it would impact each other.

So it depends what you are wanting to do, and how that impacts your training and time for recovery. Don’t think sessions or weeks, but rather longer term.

My experience
I was training for a few 21.1km races, as a 2yo (running age) compared to cycling with >30y history. So the focus was on getting prepared to run much further than I was conditioned for. This is the part that affected cycling; it was just too long and too hard, over a long period of time, i.e. running wasn’t limited to a block of training but spread over the year.

The top end of cycling dropped quite considerably, as the fatigue from running didn’t allow time for HIIT work on the bike. So while I had a good aerobic system, I lacked the top-end and strength for cycling, as I just couldn’t do the work (to fatiguing to do running and cycling specific HIIT work. I was fine on flattish races, but the minute the effort required some 4-10m max efforts, I was in trouble.

The coach was a triathlon coach, and knew how to train for Ironman-type events, where cycling doesn’t require explosive efforts that road and MTB racing requires.