battery guy

What event did you run? 100m? 800m? Cross country?

*What are your strengths as a cyclist? Climbing? Sprinting? Endurance? Speed? none?

*What is your biggest weakness as a cyclist? Climbing? Sprinting? Endurance? Speed? none?

let's see if there's a correlation...

superdex

I was a hurdler (110s and 300s); #9 in Cali my senior year. No I don't think there's any correlation, especially since there was oh, about 12 years between my last race and starting to ride seriously....

slowandsteady

I ran track in HS and college. I ran the 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 100 and 300 hurdles. I did the 800m when they were short a runner and placed around 3rd or so. I ran cross country to get into shape for track, but I am no distance runner.

I can't say I do anything well in cycling, because of my weight. I still ate like a track star without all that running.

But I would think if you have a tendency to bulk up with fast twitch muscle fibers(as I do), you should do well to sprint in any event.

Dubbayoo

I ran track in high school (only as off-season training for football); switched to throws in college because I was much bigger and not fast enough to compete at that level. I don't see any correlation between the two.

It would stand to reason that distance runners are better climbers because they tend to lighter with better aerobic capacity.

justinb

If you were a good 100/200m runner, or a long jumper, you might have inherent fast-twitch fibers that my 5k/10k/3000m steeplechase running self could never hope to recruit.

FWIW, I'm not that great a cyclist, but I'm a better climber than anything else.

ratebeer

Mile, two mile, cross country.

I did some sprint triathlons and duathlons back when they were called biathlons and this got me onto the bike. Back then, I tried to and usually did climb anything that looked ridiculously steep and was preposterously weak in sprints and in the flats.

Strengths: None really. Maybe short sprints and that's still not good just better than my hill climbing.
Weaknesses: Hills.

frischtr

A funny combination here, but I ran the 100, 200, and 3200 (and cross country)...

It does seem to compare to my biking as well. I can both sprint and climb decently, but I lack power in the flats for extended periods of time, a lot like not doing well in the extended sprint events like the 800 and 1500.

noisebeam

LJ, 220, 440, 880 and 5k (x-country.)

Strongest at LJ & 220. As cyclist climbing is probably my strength.

Al

.:Jimbo:.

Was a big-time track and cross country runner at my h.s. I did mid and long distance stuff, 400's 800's 1600's 3200's. Set a school record mile time as a freshman at 4:46. Also, was a part of many relay races, all of which my team always placed top three, and generally first. I did very well, and have a whole shelf of medals to show for it, I'm quite proud of my achievements back then. My grades were nothing hot because I spent so much time training. Overall, I'd say the only thing i got out of it was a strong cardiovascular system, a super competitive instinct, and lastly, a ridiculous metabolism. I guess all of that gave me a great platform for my cycling, however I have not noticed any weakness or strengths when it comes to climbing and sprinting, but I suppose speed and endurance may be my forte.

slim_77

I loved running the 800 and 1600 and did the 3200s if the coach wanted me (and the team) to suffer. I fancy that I would be good at any attempted 3-5 min bridge so long as that didn't require much effort thereafter...but other than the mental endurance I (read: everyone else) don't see much overlap...

last time I ran the 800 for time was *blink* 13 years ago. Hell, soon as my ankle heals I may or may not train and run one in June.


sorry for not adding anything useful to your survey...

get_nuts

I ran the 400m in high school. It's a "middle distance" event. I'm also a sprinter on the bike and I do best on the track and worst on the hills, when the little guys just fly by me (which is also what happened when I tried to run the 3200m or 1600m race).

I've just got the build, I guess.

crd15

110m and 300m hurdles, and 400m, Strength - coasting. weakness - endurance

Miller2

I ran the 100, 200, 400, 4x100, 4x400, 800 and cross country. Post college I ran road races up to 10k. I had alot of speed and endurance so I was pretty good at the 800. I dont think running back then really has any positive effect on my cycling.

dmitrivich

I ran 400M and 800M, predominantly (and 4x400 and 4x800 relays). I also did long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault various times. I even placed in the shot put once in a (very) small meet, with one day's practice. I also did cross country one year, but hated it.

I don't think I do as well at cycling as I did at running. That's ok. No real strengths in particular but I feel better at shorter, faster-paced rides than long-distance ones. That makes sense given my running experience. I stink at hills partially because of extra weight and partially because it's difficult to train for them when you live in a very flat place. It seems I should be decent at them given my aptitude for jumping and leg strength, but perhaps not.

Patman1776

Ran Cross Country in H.S. and College - My strengths were hills and trail running vs pavement or track.
My biggest weakness as a cyclist is my climbing (6'1", 171 lbs), while my strengths are flatland power and descending.

ElJamoquio

800, 1600, 3200, XC. Still suck at sprinting.

aicabsolut

I had a better track career in middle school, but I did the 100m and 100m hurdles in high school.

...Until I got the world's worst shin splints that turned out to be at least one stress fracture that didn't show up on the Xrays at the time. I found out about that about 10 years later when I got some more Xrays done. I had trouble walking up and down the stairs in my house and squeezing my legs into my tall equestrian boots. Pretty short, crappy running career.

I've since blown out an ankle from recreational running in a style (underpronating) that took some pressure off my shins.

I'm not sure I'm *good* at anything on the bike yet, but so far sprinting seems to be the best despite my inability to do much standing (ankle gets pissy). I need to figure out a way to get around that. I'm also ok at not-too-hilly time trials.

Machka 

I was in track in high school, and my best race was the 200 metre - I have taken first place in that distance. I also ran the 100 metre, the 400 metre, the 100 metre hurdles, the 400 metre 4-person relay, and the long jump. All sprint-type stuff. I never raced anything longer than 400 metres.


In cycling, I discovered that my strength is endurance. Put me on a bicycle and I can stay there for a very long time.

My weaknesses in cycling are sprinting, hill-climbing, and anything involving speed.

ElJamoquio

Never would've guessed, Machka.

uspspro

110M Hurdles
and 400/300M Hurdles (400 in NY, 300 in FL)

Strengths as cyclist: Can maintain a very high output for 5-15 min

Weaknesses: Endurance on climbs, 175 lbs

wvxc

I was a 4:40 miler in high school. I also ran third leg for an exceptional 4x400 relay team, and ran second leg for a pathetic 4x800 team. I did this in support of my main sports which were football and basketball. I was a four year letterman and three year starter in both, with many honors including a state championship.

All that translate into a 6'2", 215 pound 32 year old that can barely bang out 6 minute miles, and gets dropped like a hot rock on the second big climb of any local group ride. I have heard more than one guy say "ol Johnny makes a hell of a windshield" though. Proof reading this has just depressed me .

battery guy

I ran the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m in high school. All short sprints, I would do the 40m if they had it.

In cycling, my biggest weakness to me seams to be maintaining a strong paced set by quicker group. I could climb up short hills with them, and have little bursts of speed here and there, but I can't maintain it for crap. After a while my legs and lung just get burnt

Mariner Fan

I ran the 220. It was as far as I could run full blast.

oilman_15106

This will date you. I ran the 440 yard dash in HS and College. Also did 440 hurdles, 880, and mile relay.
Ran in Penn Relays twice in college. We got smoked but it was quite an experience. Watched it on TV last weekend. Our coach made us do CC in the fall which I hated but before the knees gave out I ran 5k & 10k events for about 10 years.

HS did almost everything in the running events. Ran in the PA State meet every year in HS. Actually turned down a track scholarship to play Div. 3 football which only lasted 1 year, dumb but I met my wonderful wife while in college.

ollo_ollo

Back in the dark ages (late 50s to mid 60s) I ran in H.S, & College: Cross Country, Mile, 2 Mile, 5K, 10K. In college I once followed Peter Snell through the hills & finished about 100 yds back after he separated the men from the boys. Don't see any correlation to cycling where I've always been just average.