Impact of cardio with specific sport

**Steel_UK** · March 7th, 2009, 02:45 PM

As my last topic will have identified, I'm involved in Powerlifting and have been for some months.

I cycle to and from the gym (10 miles each way) for the three days that I train there (Mon, Wed and Fri). I'm usually not far off keeping up with the traffic apart from the very long hill climbs. This evening I went on the treadmill, first time since I was applying for the RAF.

My word, I don't know how a friend (girl) of mine can sustain setting 11 for 30 minutes straight. I thought my cycling would have allowed me to hit the 1.5 mile run in 10 minutes or so, but I was wrong big time!

So my question is two questions.

1.) At what stage will cardio impact upon one's strength and performance development for a sport such as powerlifting?
2.) Will my development for Powerlifting and cycling mean that, even if I excelled at both I would still be a shite runner?

(No one in my family lines were runners, we have always been cyclists, boxers and the like if that means anything)

**Steel_UK** · March 11th, 2009, 05:14 PM

Anyone?

**PowerHouse** · March 12th, 2009, 12:02 PM

1) No idea. Seems like that would depend solely on you. When I was obsessed with PL I did very little cardio all I cared about was being able to lift as much as possible one time.

2) To get better at running you need to run. I wouldn't expect to be a good bench presser because I can OHP a lot.

Thats my 2 cents, and your miles may vary

.

**justaguy87337** · March 12th, 2009, 12:36 PM

I don't know alot about the subject either, I would say that biking isn't as taxing on the body as running, there isn't the shock to the legs and I would guess that pedaling doesn't have the friction against you as does jogging. I know even less about powerlifting but I would guess that you wouldn't want to do much more cardio than your bike ride. Much more than the 20 miles a day you are riding I think would start to break down your muscles and start to affect your PL. Just my .02

**Steel_UK** · March 17th, 2009, 12:29 PM

Thanks for the comments chaps.

Turns out when I run at about 11-12km/h on the treadmill for at least 6 minutes my heart rate is somewhere around 120-130bpm but I am struggling incredibly.

I guess this highlights the difference between fast and slow twitch fibres, along with red blood cell count...