How can running and biking use such different muscle groups?
I have a Tuesday ritual. Drop off my daughter at horseback riding, then go a half mile down the road to Duke Forest. I used to bike there each week for an hour but I am trying to run once a week. The loop is about 4.5 – 5 miles and has good changes in elevation for our area. I usually go left at the loop because sometimes the concrete bridge is under water when the creek is up. If you go right at the intersection and 3.5 miles later come to a flooded bridge, you have a longer way to backtrack unless you want to stop, take off your shoes and wade across. Depending upon the weather there are quite a few people out there. I usually pass (going in the opposite direction) 8-10 runners, several walkers, a couple bikes, and less often a horse or two. Today I only passed two runners and two dog walkers.
I guess it is partially the fact the running does not give you any down time to catch your breath, but after about 30 minutes of running I am usually gasping pretty good and glancing at my watch way too much. My fastest time on the loop just under 38 minutes which is why I estimate it under 5 miles. I run about 8 minute miles on level ground but the slowdown on the uphills seems to outweigh any gains on the downhills. I feel like I should go as fast as possible on the descents but it really pounds the joints. Anyway, my goal today was 40 minutes which has been my average lately. At the halfway point I saw I was ahead of the pace and felt pretty good. I couldn’t leave well enough alone so I lengthened the stride some. As usual, at about 30 minutes I was hurting and the tank was almost empty. I resigned myself to the pain and kept chasing the corner or the top of the next hill. I did get back at 38.5 minutes so I am happy with that. I wish I could run at a moderate pace and go longer but either my running form (or lack of), my compulsion to go faster, or some obscure energy robbing muscle I can’t develop limits my running meter, and maybe that is why I have found a more comfortable home on the seat of a bike.
