XC running as off season training?

cmacblue42

I recently found out i was actually good at running cross country on trails and what not and i actually like it. But cycling remains as my number one sport and another reason i was hoping to be on the cross country team was to help out my off season training. The season only goes until november and weekday practices are not an issue because they are either early morning or until 4:15 and my parents pick me up at 5, but a problem arises when some off season training races might conflict with saturday xc races and training. I am sure they can work out a way to give me low intensity days on saturdays so i can ride on sundays, but is it worth stepping back from cycling a little bit on the weekends to help out my cardio? I dont think it will conflict too much, with it ending in november and training races twice a month starting october, but i want an opinion from people who might be experinceing what i am at this moment at my age.

xcmntgeek

You can't pick a better sport for cross training than xc running- one more way to make yourself an aerobic god! I wouldn't worry about missing a few off season races, that's why they're called the off season. I think (and I pass this on to the juniors I coach, I'm 20) that its important to step back from cycling and play another sport when you're young.

That being said, don't run if it'll be half-assed. Use it as a break from cycling and another way to compete. You won't loose any aerobic conditioning. Its always tough to step away from cycling for a little bit but in the end its worth it. A lot of junior cyclist's burn out because they didn't- even (especially) the guys winning national championships.

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Just a kid riding his bike, and living his dream