'fit to ride' - a couple of questions for those of you who run?

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ecrozier

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Realised this spring I have had it easy with J - he really doesn't need much riding so have probably got away with being less fit than I should have been in terms of CV fitness as opposed to muscle strength.
Decided to remedy that, ESP as now with two to ride I could easily have 2x dressage 2x sj and 2x XC in a few hours as I did on Sunday! I'm certainly not a wobbly mess by the end of a XC round, am still in a 2 point comfortably and able to ride, but the fitter the better after all! Have managed in the past 4 hours of lessons in a day and coped ok but think I am lucky that neither of my boys is lazy!
So those of you who run - how often and how long for? And how fast?! Am attempting to build up my runs but thinking better to go for longer at a slower speed than race along for 5 minutes?! (I exaggerate but you know what I mean!)
I am stupidly competitve so may try and find myself a run of some sort to aim for... So just looking for some guidance etc from those of you who already run!
 
I don't run as I am co-ordinationally handicapped when running outside :o yet find running on a treadmill easy but VERY boring! I started to ride my bike everywhere though recently and it has done wonders for my fitness. I used to do lots of Mountain Biking as a kid, I even won some competitions!! :eek: so it must be easy to be competitive in it ;) and I really enjoy cycling, although that probably comes from pretending my bike was a pony... :o :D
 
I run twice a week for 40 mins. Its enough to keep me fit to go round xc course, but little enough not to bugger up my knees!
 
I do different runs - as it is more interested and stresses me in different was. I vary my runs between short and long runs and have a test distance of 5km. My short would be 3km and long 7km. Short runs are done as quick as possible, whereas long are slow and boring (really struggle with this). Short runs work my cv, whereas long runs make my legs hurt! I therefore feel the different runs work different areas of my body!!! I use the test distance as a way of monitoring my fitness. I tend to run at least 4-5 times a week.

I do some running on the treadmill and some on the road. All my road work is up and down hill.

I also speed play when on the treadmill, so every 1/4km I change my speed, e.g from 10km to 12.5km.
 
I go on a strider (sp) once a day for 15 mins. Going to increase this to 30 mins eventually. I can't do normal treadmills as they hurt my knees/ ankles.

I like running in the park with my dog but there are so many chavs around here its a bit intimidating. :p
 
Kokopelli said:
I like running in the park with my dog but there are so many chavs around here its a bit intimidating. :p
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Agree with this!!
I do tetrathlon so I have to be able to run 1500m in as quicker time as possible and I find doing varying speeds is the best for building up fitness, say 1 minute brisk walking then 2 jogging or vary between jogging and sprinting but its very difficult to do this without looking like a weirdo! But thats what I did when I was training for 5km too.
 
I sadly can't run anymore as it has bu****ed my knees. When I was running I used to run 2 miles am about 20 mins and then some nights ran again 1 mile as more of a sprint. Was fit enough to event 3 horses in a day on that.
 
I run about 3 -4 times a week depending on my mood I vary how long/how fast/how far :)

short run is around 2miles and takes under 20mins. Longest one is 4/5 miles and takes around 45mins, all my runs are hilly as we stay at the top of a hill! Wish we didn't sometimes :rolleyes:

I trained for a few half marathons before and although I'm not that fit anymore i feel a difference if I do nothing. As a fair weather runner these days I take to the gym if it's wet and windy, on a treadmill I vary pace constantly and never really do more than 3 miles as find it so boring!

Good luck :) it is great exercise and races are good fun if you pick a bug one - plus you get medals for finishing :D
 
I'm doing Manchester 10K on Sunday (eek!) for the third time so at the moment I'm running further than normal.
Under normal circumstances I can comfortably jog round 5-6K in around 30 mins depending on hills, weather etc. This will get me puffing a bit without pushing myself too much and feeling wrecked or getting too sore and stiff the next day. I'd do this distance once a week outside and mix it with another couple of sessions either a swim, pilates/yoga class, or a gym session.
I don't usually run more than that because I'm biomechanically crap and I just get hammered and pick up injuries. I would say you need to be disciplined about your stretches because running can make your tight in your hip flexors which can cause referred lower back pain - not great for riding!
 
I cycle 6 days a week on an exercise bike doing normally an hour a day although days late home 30-45 mins instead. I find it a lot gentler on my knees helps my fitness no end and as on exercise bike have it positioned so can watch tv and also use iPad so can browse web to stop me getting bored intact I'm posting from iPad on bike now ;)
 
You can do a fair bit in a 30-45min session a few times a week. Interval/Fartlek type sessions are good for improving fitness in a shorter space of time than a steady session, hill training is great sprint up a hill, jog/walk back for recovery, repeat x times.

As a guide to how hard you are working a lot of people use Rate of Percieved Exertion (RPE), this is a scale of 1-10, 1 = doing nothing, 10 = sprinting/working flat out. If you aim for sessions that keep you mainly at 6/7, so your breathing is heavier, you are getting warmer etc etc, but, you can still talk, if required.
 
u lot put me to shame :(
I do a session with a pt once a week. I do 20 mins on the treadmill twice a week (minimum incline 1.5) and alternate between jogging and running. the incline goes up 1% every time the speed goes down and down 0.5% when I speed up so I'm constantly pushing myself.
I also do interval training on the bike, x-trainer and cardiowave as well as the rowing machine and free weights.
 
I run between 5 and 7k three times a week and 10k once a week, 5k in 30 mins, 10 in around 50, over a farily hilly mixed terrain, and cycle 30 mins to work every day. So I'm fit- but! Riding fit is different. I'm still dripping after a hard lesson.....
 
Wow thanks all! Re jogging in chav filled park - get yourself a rottie ;) mine runs with me and the chavs scatter! In school holidays may borrow friend's staff x too as he looks like a pitbull, run with those two and no one bothers me ;)
Great, sounds like I'm heading in right direction then, aiming to do 5k 3 times a week, then either a longer run or a bike ride at weekend.
Will try some of the interval stuff once a bit fitter too!
 
monkeymad said:
I run twice a week for 40 mins. Its enough to keep me fit to go round xc course, but little enough not to bugger up my knees!
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Exactly this actually!! I have arthritis in both my knees and if i do too much they really hurt for a couple of days (im only 28). Ive found 40mins is my maximum - i do a lot of up and down hills though within that 40mins and never take any walk breaks I do push myself aswell, i definitely dont hang around when im running. I also go to the gym twice a week and do 20mins on the treadmill, some weights/situps and 30mins on the cross trainer. I find the gym is less strenuous on my knees, its the running on roads/pavements that jolts my knees more.

Like Halfstep said riding fit is definitely different, however i find my stamina is very much increased now - i am still very hot after a long schooling session though, but am never really tired.
 
I run 5K twice a week (takes 25-30 mins) and then 8-10K once at the weekend (takes 50 mins to an hour)... didn't ride for a month as my horse is injured and brought a new house, then rode 2 each day last weekend and didn't feel it at all! Running a 10K on May 30th and will then swap the weekend run for a gym session as I do feel less toned that when I was using weights as well... could also do with a few sit ups :p

Like Tempi I do get hot schooling/lessons but not tired :D
 
I try to run twice a week but often it is only once run between 3 and 4.5 miles sometimes further on weekends. I can do 4 miles is about 40 mins. I also do 40 push ups and 60 sit ups each night. I think core strength is important for riding.
 
You need to be careful with riding and running as actually they are not that compatible together as running tightens your hamstrings and your hips. Plus it does not really build your core strength. You need to make sure you do lots of stretching and something like pilates thrown in once a week for core strength will see a much better result.
 
Thanks all
LEC my core strength is pretty good as its the only way I keep my rather onward bound arab in check! But I do also have a pilates book which I am trying to use once a week. May alternate cycling with running - problem is I don't have the time money or motivation to go to the gym/swimming etc whereas running can be built into daily routine (run to the yard or take dog to save a walk). Will maybe increase to a few times a week with the pilates though to counter any tightening!
 
LEC said:
You need to be careful with riding and running as actually they are not that compatible together as running tightens your hamstrings and your hips. Plus it does not really build your core strength. You need to make sure you do lots of stretching and something like pilates thrown in once a week for core strength will see a much better result.
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A friend of mine who is a osteopath (sp?) has recently given me this foam roller thing to help me stretch out my IT band as it is so tight that it is causing me knee pain. The thing is like an instrument of torture as you roll yourself over it, but, it really seems to be helping to loosen things up! The knee pain is going! The rest of me is still falling apart though! I've spent most of winter doing 1 or 2 core stability sessions with the rowing club which have really improved my posture and seem to be beneficial for riding too.
 
I gym a few times each week. When I run I can only manage about 8k a hour (more if im only doing less time) I do have quite bad asthma though, but being a bit sporty helps it.

I also do quite a few classes, like body pump (which is weights in a fun way) Step, which does me in its so hard sometimes, yoga (which really helps my core and does make me tired and sweaty but just in a different way) and have tried spinning (I nearly died!!)

A year or so back I did enter the london marathon 3 years in a row (but never got in) I only did running then and normally ran about 19 miles a week (10 on a weekend, 2 3.5s and a fast short 2) Most I ran in a day was 23 miles, couldnt do that now!!!!
 
Agree with LEC - make sure you incorporate lots of stretches for your hips and hamstrings as running tightens them up and when I used to run daily I found my dressage position was awful. Now I run 5k twice a week, do one spinning class a week and try to fit in 3 or 4 cardio and weight sessions at the gym (I only ride about 3times a week and am mostly a dressage rider). I try and stretch my hamstrings most days - a good one is lying on your back in a doorway with one leg on the floor and one against door frame. I also got instructor at gym to show me how to use two flexibility machines at gym - one to stretch hamstrings and another my hip flexors.
 
where you do you all find the time to run? :o

I find it hard enough, working a full time job, keeping 2 ponies, riding only one of them daily and keepin house etc. :confused::(
 
Joyous70 said:
where you do you all find the time to run? :o

I find it hard enough, working a full time job, keeping 2 ponies, riding only one of them daily and keepin house etc. :confused::(
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I run in my lunchbreaks at work! No time to fit it in otherwise! Takes me just under 30mins to do a 5k run, which leaves me enough time to quickly shower afterwards and scoff my lunch before back to work! Plus I find the run is great way to clear my mind of all of work's stresses!
 
I run after riding in the evenings, it's light til gone 9 now! Not sure what I will do next winter but we shall see.
 
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