Quote Originally Posted by PeteS View Post
Graham - I wonder with all your cycling if you actually do any running other than races? With my aging years and recurring injuries, I'm wondering if this is the way to go and just concentrate on the bike. I really don't want to give up running entirely but, with the obvious notable exception of the downhills, I don't see much difference in training benefit between a good hilly ride and a comparable ascent on a run.
The short answer is "No".

The very long answer is between 55-65 years I raced 50 times a year and did an average total running mileage of 1200. That was enough to be competitive in my vet. category unless, say, Ken Taylor or Kieran turned up.

When I was 65 I had an arthroscopy and my surgeon showed me (colour pictures) that my cartilage had virtually disappeared and told me I would need new knees one day - so stop fell running.

So between 65 and 74 years I basically only did short races, averaging 55 races a year, I never ran a step unless it was in a race. So eg in 2018 I ran 373 miles in total in 65 races. However that year I cycled around 1500 miles to keep my heart and lungs working.

I had decided to stop fell running because it hurts too much but this year I have run in 13 races to see if I could win some V75 prizes but I have only run a total of 71 miles so far. However I have ridden nearly 2500 miles.

Obviously running and cycling use different muscles but if my pulse on the bike is around 140-150 bpm then that is what it would be on a serious fell race and I don't think my heart cares very much what my legs are doing.