No need to subtract from your running distance, just to gain the
benefits of some hard, body and character-building bike-riding. Many
world-class runners have integrated riding into their programs. Often,
their coaches encourage it. When you're hurt and can't run, you may be
able to continue riding and stay in shape. If you regularly ride, your
body is used to it and can immediately benefit. If you were to ride
only when you couldn't run, you'd be out of shape for it and it might
result in more soreness than good conditioning. If you have one or two
cross-training alternatives ready to go in your bag of tricks, a running
injury may cause just a shift in workout type, rather than a forced
crash into a recovery time of complete sloth.
Some top runners use bike-riding as an all-out, gut-busting, super
workout. You can push yourself harder and farther on a bike, past the
point when your legs would buckle if you were running. I started riding
and running at age 4 and have always felt that one complemented my
ability in the other.
If you've only done one of these things, give yourself a year of doing
both, before expecting such cross-benefits.
Lance Armstrong sometimes supplements his riding by doing some
running. He started out as a distance runner, then expanded into
triathlons and finally focused on riding.
Steve McDonald