Overdoing crosstraining - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-05-2005, 08:51 PM

Suppose one had decided to take up some other activity to do a little cross
training. In other words, one would still be biking every day, but, just to
increase strength in some other muscles, improve cardio fitness, add spice
to life, etc., something else was also taken up -- like running, or
swimming, or lifting weights, or suchlike.

Now, suppose in one's enthusiasm for this other activity, one overdid it a
little. Not to the point of injury, but, since this is cross-training,
muscles that haven't been used all that much are suddenly being used, and
one is a bit sore here and there.

What do you think is the best course of action?

A. Continue the intensity of the crosstraining and continue one's normal
pattern of riding. No pain, no gain!

B. Decrease the intensity of the crosstraining and continue one's normal
pattern of riding, until recovered. In other words, do the same number of
reps but at a lower weight, or swim half the number of laps as before, or
whatever. That way you remain in the groove, you're continuing the practice
of the new activity, but you aren't pushing it too hard and injuring
anything.

C. Cease the crosstraining -- take a few recovery days -- but continue one's
normal pattern of riding, because that's no personal strain, that's what you
normally do.

D. Cease the crosstraining and the riding too -- that's what "recovery"
means. Be completely slothful, and ease oneself back into the fray in a day
or two.

E. Or?

Would your answer be influenced by the fact that one rather foolishly signed
up for an event happening in a few months based on the notion of at least
some basic competance in the crosstrained activity as an incentive to keep
at it?

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
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