TrainerRoad alongside a running plan

Training
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Hi all

I’ve just renewed my TrainerRoad subscription after a few years of no cycling (maybe 1-2 social rides in the last two years).

Since June last year, I have been 100% focussed on running and training for my first marathon which I completed in April this year. I’ve set my sights on completing an ultramarathon, which will be a 54km run in the Peak District in September 2025. However, after the ultramarathon itch has been scratched, I want to turn my focus back towards cycling and/or possibly some duathlon events, so I want to start building my basic cycling fitness back up alongside the run training currently, therefore I’m looking for some advice anyone can share on the best way to go about it, or sanity check my thoughts of how to train.

Currently I’m running 3-4 times a week. One run is an interval session and all other runs are very easy paced Z2. Main focus is building mileage weekly, I’m in no way concerned about running fast, just far.

I’m thinking of just adding 2 maybe 3 easy endurance trainer rides in a week alongside the running and seen how I feel. I’d like to think the easy rides will help benefit my overall cardio fitness towards the ultra and I will back off on the riding if I feel my fatigue is creeping up too much.

However, in regards to TrainerRoad alongside, would you advise sticking with the above and just easy trainer rides, or maybe use Train Now on the days I want ride?
Would a triathlon plan be any better towards my goals and improving my cycling fitness using the TrainerRoad sessions for the cycling, ignoring the swim sessions and using the planned runs with my current running session?

Any advice or insights would be appreciated.

eddie 2

Hey @Reecey,

Good question!

I think there are a few options for someone in your situation.

If you’re simply looking to add some easy rides to your running, TrainNow isn’t a bad way to go. It will always give you a few options, with one being an endurance ride.

A second option would be to create a training plan with a focus on improving endurance. My recommendation here would be to replicate your entire training week with TR workouts (running and cycling) so that you’ve got a solid plan in place to follow, regardless of what your ratio of running to cycling looks like each week.

I’ve got an example below, but you’ll have to create your own schedule that fits your needs.

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With this schedule, I know when my easy and hard days fall and can plan out a schedule that works well for both my personal life as well as recovery. I could do a running workout on Tuesdays, and an easy run on Wednesdays, rest on Fridays, then do a bike workout on Saturdays and a long run on Sundays.. Alternatively, I could run on Saturday and do a long, easy bike ride on Sunday if I wanted to. It’s easy to switch between running and cycling this way because my schedule remains constant, and I just need to see how I’m feeling each morning. If my legs are a bit sore, a bike ride might be the answer, whereas if I’m feeling fresh, I’ll probably run.

Again, the specifics of the schedule will be different for you, but the idea is to lay out your week on TR and then fine-tune when you’re running and cycling based on priorities and how you’re feeling.

This is what I did when training for my first marathon this spring, and I transitioned slowly into more and more running, using the bike to get in more aerobic stimulus when my legs needed a break from running.

In the past, when I tried to do something similar without a schedule to reference, I often skipped runs/rides, or moved things around in my week without realizing that I would end up running a few too many days in a row, leading to some soreness that almost turned into an injury.

Doing things with a set schedule gave me a training budget of sorts that I was able to spend however I felt was best each week. It kept my training honest but productive long-term.

Either option could work well! It just depends on how your own brain and body work. :brain: :leg:

Let me know if this helps and if you have any other questions. :+1:

3 Likes
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Thanks for the response Eddie, that is a great write up and some great points to think about. It seems a great way to do it and more flexible than anything plan wise I could think of. I appreciate you taking the time to reply!