Commuting and how it fits into my training plan..
scott_burrows
Posts: 381
in General Chat
Hi all, it has come to that time of the year when commuting is much more viable... the questions I have is:-
· Does commuting count towards my training? I currently plan specific session while commuting but I want to cycle more frequently...
· Can I commute too much that it becomes over training?
· Will it generally have a positive effect on me, even if I take the journey easy?
I have this idea I’d like to drive as little as possible over the summer months but in the same time don’t want to screw over my training...
All thoughts welcome
Scotty
· Does commuting count towards my training? I currently plan specific session while commuting but I want to cycle more frequently...
· Can I commute too much that it becomes over training?
· Will it generally have a positive effect on me, even if I take the journey easy?
I have this idea I’d like to drive as little as possible over the summer months but in the same time don’t want to screw over my training...
All thoughts welcome
Scotty
0
Comments
- Yes (I always take it easy on a Friday prior to my Parkrun 5K TT on the Saturday)
- Yes (You need to train easy sometimes)
If I didn't run / bike commute I wouldn't get any training done!
Seriously though. Heart rate goes up. You burn calories. THAT's training![;)]
What I like to do to mix it up is bike on a Monday morning, run home in the evening, the run in the next day and bike home so that you don't end up with a 14 mile day when you really wanted 6 or 7 miles.
i try to cycle to work at least 3 times a week and usually add a run on the end to make it a little brick session, It also means going there and back adds a little tiredness into the equation and i find myself pushing hard on the way home to beat my time there.
It saves so much time, although as its only 12 miles i still need to get out and do a long ride at least once a week.
Once i can run again the plan is to run the train stations in building up to the point when i run the whole way.
So to answer your question commuting to work can be as good a training session as you want it to be. Saves a fortune in petrol too
And Bman... sorry got to ask. Is that you in the picture? And are you in fact walking a cat?
2007 - I cycled to work. Got put off by having a near death experience every third ride in.
2008 - Switched to running - it's 8 miles each way, so is great for a bit of "free" volume.
2009 - Been too injured, only did the run on two days in January :-(
I do the trip in at "easy" pace. It's all about base, economy, and not getting too sweaty. And we don't have a shower so I have to be a bit careful - although to be honest you can get pretty clean with a hot water and a flannel!
Coming home I go a bit harder - simply because it is 8 miles of pretty steady up hill (from a bit over sea level to almost 1000 feet).
So, yes, it counts.
Organise your training around it so that you don't over train (e.g. look at your quality sessions, then use the commute to provide the easy/medium intensity bulk).
It takes about 1hr to run in, and about 25 - 45 to drive (rush hour congestion). So I can get a 16 mile base level run in for only 30 minutes of time - 15 mins in the morning, 15 mins in the afternoon.
Juleso, when you say 50-60 min, you mean each way? Im doing 50min altogther each day and finding it good whereas a few years ago 90 min one way was a killer. Talk about crashing when you get home, I was a zombie! Ok maybe my fitness has got better since, but still..
I have a 10mile direct route which I use when I want to do bricks or a speed session and a long cut that is 18miles so it fits perfectly in with the advice (40-60mins).. I have also been known to run to work.
Jack - you're dead right about the rush hour timings - I can get up at the same time and cycle to work, have a (cold!!) shower and breakie in the canteen or get up shower and eat at home then drive in and get to my desk for the same time!!
I think I just need to slow myself down - I'm still in mindset of every journey should be faster than the previous one......
I do this constantly, and sometimes it gets me into work looking like I'm ready to go to bed again. The mileage is great, but when I decide halfway through a run that instead of being "tempo" that it should be at LT instead, and want to breeze the last mile above my race pace... things go downhill. Instead of a recovery 5 mile run, it turns into 35 minute dash which is sometimes great, but mostly not what you need.
On the other hand, I love to start off with a 60 minute easy run, after 40 get so bored so decide that doing the last 20 minutes at LT speed will be a good idea. I've not really seen any training plans that say you can combine easy + threshold in the same workout.. but I can't see why it isn't a good idea!
I have just moved jobs from one that is a 4 mile round trip to one that is a 20mile round trip. So this has answered all my questions as well. When it becomes too easy I might have to change jobs so I am further away!!