Is Running Actually Good for us??????????

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: joedrake
Anyone know what the equivalent in running 1 mile is to riding a bike? Like how many miles of bike riding would equal 1 mile of running? Or is it completely different muscles?

AFAIK biking is more focused on the quads while running uses the entire leg more. I'd have to guess that you would need to go maybe 3-4x as far biking (at a moderate pace) as running for them to be equivalent.

 

[TallBill]

I run a lot, and it keeps me in great shape. I feel better, which is worth it right there.

 

[JDrake]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi

Originally posted by: joedrake
Anyone know what the equivalent in running 1 mile is to riding a bike? Like how many miles of bike riding would equal 1 mile of running? Or is it completely different muscles?

AFAIK biking is more focused on the quads while running uses the entire leg more. I'd have to guess that you would need to go maybe 3-4x as far biking (at a moderate pace) as running for them to be equivalent.

Darn :/ I love riding my bike but not running... and the other response, I don't have a stationary bike, sorry

 

[phantom309]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
Used to run 70miles a week year round.... I can feel it in every bone and joint from my shoulders down. I tell people that all the time (jokingly) that they will live to 100 with their good heart and lungs but wont be able to move.

Jesus, that's a lot of running. I found that doing more than 30-35 miles a week gave me real problems with soreness and fatigue that never got better. I'd get sick a lot too. After a few months of that I decided screw this, I'm switching to light beer and calling it even.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: joedrake

Originally posted by: Sukhoi

Originally posted by: joedrake
Anyone know what the equivalent in running 1 mile is to riding a bike? Like how many miles of bike riding would equal 1 mile of running? Or is it completely different muscles?

AFAIK biking is more focused on the quads while running uses the entire leg more. I'd have to guess that you would need to go maybe 3-4x as far biking (at a moderate pace) as running for them to be equivalent.

Darn :/ I love riding my bike but not running... and the other response, I don't have a stationary bike, sorry

Oh, I love my bike too. Just bike most of the time and run once or twice a week to balance it out.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: evilmantis

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
After about a month of that, my friend said that to really trim up that i need to run. It works out your lower abs and what not. He said that you could do crunches all you want, but its not going to get you a six pack. You need to run in conjunction with those excerices. So i decided what the hell, i have ~hour that i can take away from doing something else so i decided to start running. Not having played a sport my senior year i was somewhat out of condition, but i set my goal at 2 miles at 5mph on a Grade 6 slope on the treadmill. I ran that and then walked another .5 miles at 2.5mph on the same incline.

-Kevin

Lots of people have a six pack... but you just can't see it! Really, you just need to lose weight. And no, contrary to what alot of people say, you can't target where the weight loss comes from. Running is good. Burns about 100 calories per mile, on average (walking is the same calorie burn on average, just takes longer -- so you can mix walking and running to get your burn). So basically, with your workout, you cancelled out a candy bar or a 20 oz bottle of non-diet soda. You can also reduce your caloric intake to help accelerate the weight loss (remember, weight loss is simple math: if calories in < calories expended, weight is lost) -- just don't go crazy with that. Proper running shoes will help you, too. Lots of people like New Balance. I wear those, and have also worn Saucony in the past. Shox are popular, but I have never worn them and so can't comment on them.

As for the running comments, I ran alot in the past few years (this year I have slacked off), and I can say with certainty that I felt better all over when I was running. Sure, you get sore sometimes, but that's different. It goes away after a day or so. More and more studies are indicating that running is beneficial for the joints as long as you are smart about it, ie, start slowly, stretch afterward, allow yourself time to recover.

Last i checked though i was only 8% body fat. Not much to lose i would think.

So what would the best way be for me to lose some weight or something?

-Kevin

 

[RollWave]

my father is 65 and has been running 8-10 miles a day every morning since he was 20 and has shown no sign of slowing down...7 or so years ago he got a pool put in to add to his workout...he swims laps like mad as a cooldown from running.

 

[oboeguy]

Weight bearing exercise can be good. Life-long cyclists are advised to do some cross training to keep away osteoporosis (for a source, read almost any recent bicycling science book).

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: suse920
swimming ftw

Swimming is great. Just finished the season for the Varsity team in my HS. I would like to run, but it will take some time b/c of my knees and ankles.

 

[James3shin]

running, according to the radiologist i work for, strengthens your tendons and so on. However, if you over do it, you will feel the effects. He and I actually have a pretty similar running schedule, he runs 3 times a week, approximately 3 miles each time. I've never asked him what is too much or what is adequate though. He's also shown me X-rays of some athletes (basketball) and their knees do look pretty bad, it looks like little mice were chewing up the ends of the bones. In short, running is good for you.