Category : Cyclocross

Cyclocross Run Training Preparation

Walk Before you Run.  Coaches love this expression and never could it be more true and beneficial for cyclocross athletes.  Send any cyclist out on their first run since the last cyclocross race and I guarantee they come back wicked sore!  Here are 5 ‘trainings’ you can do year round especially in May, June and July to prepare your legs for cyclocross specific running.

Five Elements of Cyclocross Running to Undergo before you Actually Run:

#1 Hiking: a great way to train with the family, bring some balance to your cycling and accentuate lateral side to side movements that occur off the bike in a cyclocross race.  I have all my athletes go on at least one hike before they take one run step.

#2 Yoga: Yoga stretches and opens up your hips which will really take a beating if you don’t prepare before the cyclocross season.  When you incorporate yoga into your training the running will have less of an impact and you’ll recover better so that you can get back to on the bike intensity without being whacked. Here is a 22 minute quad and hip stretching yoga routine.  No excuses not to do this!  We also recommend YogaGlo’s Cycling Series (YogaGlo also sponsors a bad ass Cyclocross Team).

BUY a six week sweet spot cyclocross training plan HERE that has all five of these movements and summer sweet spot training for cyclocross.

#3 Strength and Mobility: this is the traditional gym work that all cyclocross athletes should integrate into their pre season cyclocross training. Squats and hip thrusts are my two favs – its all about glute activation! Activate the glutes, run stronger and pedal more powerfully.

#4 Footwork: Picture in your head football players running thru tires.  High steps, light on the feet, quick quick quick.  Actually what’s better for us ‘crossers is the ladder run where you are placing your feet inside each box and moving thru the ladder with quick, short steps as fast as possible. Watch HERE (hokey video and music but the content is spot on).  This is the essential footwork that teaches short quick steps (not full strides) that will ‘save’ your legs in the cyclocross racers.

#5 Plyometrics: Explosive Movements for jumping on and off the bike, jumping over barriers and giving you legs the ability to sprint, not just run.  My favorite plyometrics for ‘crossers is the single legged split squat jump + box and depth jumps.

Once you’ve done your homework (the above five) you are ready to run in a cyclocross specific manner.  Read about that style of cyclocross run training HERE.

And don’t forget your sCX Skills! Sign Up for our Jeremy Powers Cyclocross SKILLS Camp, August 25 – 27th in Boulder, CO.

Can’t make it to camp? Buy our Cyclocross Summer Sweet Spot Training Plan that includes the movements described above + all the sweet spot training you should be doing for cross training this summer.

Copyright 2017 , FasCat Coaching

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Frank is the head coach, founder and owner of FasCat Coaching in Boulder, CO.  Talking the talk and walking the walk is one of FasCat’s Core Values and you may find him hiking up Sanitas, doing strength and conditioning at REVO Physiotherapy and Sports Performance and going to the YogaPod. To talk with Frank about your pre-season cyclocross training please fill out a New Athlete Questionnaire or call 720.406.7444 to set up a Coaching Consultation.  Otherwise do your homework as described above!

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Cyclocross Running

To Run or Not to Run for Cyclocross Racing. That is the question.  Cyclocross specific running is the answer.  Yes, you should train for the run in cyclocross, but in a cyclocross specific manner.  Cyclocross running includes short, explosive deliberate ‘sprinting’, just like what happens in a race. Run training for cyclocross is not a 30 minute (or longer) ‘jog’ especially if you are not a runner. It may be if you are…. more on that later in the training tip.

We checked in with National Champion Jeremy Powers to ask about his cyclocross running and here’s what he said, “Start slow and build a base, don’t go out thinking you’re Prefontaine. Build a base like anything, then add intensity. Train for what you’re actually going to do. No need for 1 hr runs when you run maybe 10 to 20 seconds all out in a cx race.”

Here are 4 progressive 30 minute cyclocross running workouts to perform once a week this summer before the season starts.

BUY a six week sweet spot cyclocross training plan HERE that has these weekly run workouts balanced around sweet spot training specific to cross >> exactly what you should be doing this summer.

These cyclocross runs start gradually and become more advanced by integrating a cyclocross skill in week 3 and beyond.   We’ll describe the workouts first and then go back to the preparation you should do in training before converting your cycling legs into cyclocrosser legs.

To quote JPows Cyclocross Coach John Verheul of JBV Coaching, “For the majority of American races (Jingle Cross’ Mt. Krumpet is probably an exception) there are no long runs where you can gain or lose a lot of time. So the focus is less on being a strong runner, and more on not spending a lot of energy on the run. Dismounts, remounts and proper carrying technique are elements you should incorporate into your running drills once your legs are used to running for ‘cross.”

Cyclocross Running Workout # 1

Ride your bike to a grassy park with a hill and/or stairs (see image above). Be in your running shoes. Ideally this is a 10 – 30 second hill or 25 – 45 stairs.  This is the core workout the next 3 workouts will build off of.  So finding a hill or set of stairs is super important!   If not then we are talking about a grassy park.

Stretch first, do some jumping jacks, burpees, and single legged leaps. Above all warm up.

Begin with a slow 5 minute ‘jog’ (yes I know I said no jogging).   Now you are warmed up and ready to run specific to cyclocross,

From the bottom of your hill or stairs run up fast just over cyclocross race pace.  Focus not on full strides but shorter steps. Tap tap tap, accentuate your footwork.  Repeat 3 -5 times walking downhill/ down the stairs inbetween each run up.

For the off the couch cyclist (hasn’t run since last cx season or in over 6 months), start with 2 sets (3-5 stair repeats) for the first week.  This workout would be in week 1, just once a week.  Short ‘n sweet.

Cyclocross Running Workout # 2

Perform  Cyclocross Run Workout #1 but instead of 2 sets we’ll go four.  The first 2 at cx race pace (from workout # 1).  Then the 2nd two FULL GAS, sprint, as hard as you can. Still maintain your footwork but faster.  They key is running UP, as that’s where a lot of cyclocross courses force you to run.  This workout would be in week 2, also just once a week.

Cyclocross Running Workout # 3

Now, let’s integrate your cyclocross bike into the workout so we can practice the all important skills of dismounting and remounting.  From here on out all your cyclocross run workouts will include the bike and a skill. We call them “2 fers” – two aspects of cyclocross at once, which is so much of what cyclocross is.

Perform Cyclocross Run Workout # 2 including a 30 minute Zone 2 ride. But now you are going to ride into the run section (hill or stairs) dismount and run up carrying your bike.  You are in your cycling shoes now whereas before you were in your running shoes. Depending on the run up you are either shouldering or ‘suitcase carrying’ your bike.  Ride your bike down easy  and recover for 1-2 minutes before the next set.

For workout # 3 we’ll do 6 sets (progressing from 2 > 4 > 6).   Do half the sets suitcase carrying and the other half shouldering the bike.  The key here are short runs on the order of 10 seconds where you are running fast, always concentrating on your footwork.   Run as fast as cyclocross and even faster to amplify the physiological adaptation from running.  For shouldering, really pump your left arm to help propel you up the hill or stairs.  This workout would be in week 3, but you can perform it twice a week along with another cycling workout to make it a “3 fer”.

Cyclocross Running Workout # 4

By now your legs are acclimated to the intensity of running specifically for ‘cross so we can hit it harder.  All running should be in short bursts, full gas, with primo footwork, faster than the races, carrying your bike.

8 sets (3 – 5 run up per set): warm up on the bike for 30 minutes in Zone 2

Sets 1-2: These are your warm up sets (Cyclocross Workout # 1), focusing on dismounting smooth, timing carrying the bike, running under race past up the hill/stairs in short small steps, not full strides

Set 3 & 4: Ride into the dismount easy, focusing on timing your dismount, carrying your bike smooth and running up deliberately and controlled, not full gas, more like tempo. BUT half way up, hit the gas as go as hard as you can!  Tap tap tap, short steps like Adri van de Poel (and of course Jeremy Powers). Here, footwork is so important: by running short steps you don’t load up your legs and suffer as much when you get back up on the bike.  Think of these short steps like your cadence: spin a higher cadence and easier gear.  See Footwork training below.

Sets 5 & 6: Just like sets 3 and 4 but as hard as you can from top to bottom.

Sets 7 & 8: Ride into the dismount section with some speed and run up as hard as you can. Focusing on everything as before but at the top remount and accelerate back up to speed, ride around the to bottom and hit it one more time.  HUP HUP!!

4 Elements of Cyclocross Running to Undergo before you Actually Run:

Our bodies are adapted to a single plane pedaling movement. Send any cyclist out on their first run since the last cyclocross race and I guarantee they come back wicked sore!  Here are 4 ‘trainings’ you can do year round and especially in June and July to prepare for the Cyclocross Workouts 1 – 4 described above.

Hiking: a great way to train with the family, bring some balance to your cycling and accentuate lateral side to side movements that pedalling a bike.  I have all my athletes go on at least one hike before that take one run step.

Yoga: Yoga stretches and opens up your hips which will really take a beating if you don’t prepare before the cyclocross season.  When you do incorporate yoga into your training the running will have less of an impact and you’ll recover better so that you can get back to on the bike intensity without being. Here is a 22 minute quad and hip stretching yoga routine.  No excuses not to do this!  We also recommend YogaGlo’s Cycling Series (YogaGlo also sponsors a bad ass Cyclocross Team).

Strength and Mobility: this is the traditional gym work that al cyclocross athletes to integrate into their off season cyclocross training

Footwork: Picture in your head football players running thru tires.  High steps, light on the feet, quick quick quick.  Actually what’s better for us ‘cross is the ladder run where you are placing your feet inside each box and moving thru the ladder with quick, short steps as fast as possible. Watch HERE (hokey video and music but the content is spot on).  This is the essential footwork teaching short quick steps (not full strides) that will ‘save’ your legs in the cyclocross racers.

Plyometrics: Explosive Movements for jumping on and off the bike, jumping over barriers and giving you legs the ability to sprint, not just run.  My favorite plyometrics for ‘crossers is the single legged split squat jump + box and depth jumps.

Speaking of skills: John, Jeremy and Frank invite you to consider our Jeremy Powers Cyclocross SKILLS Camp, August 25 – 27th in Boulder, CO.  We’ll be working on teaching you the correct dismount and remount skills and performing some of these run workouts during the camp!  In any case good luck (!)and holler back if you have any questions or experiences to share with your run training for cyclocross.

Can’t make it to camp? Buy our Cyclocross Summer Sweet Spot Training Plan that includes the workouts described above + all the sweet spot training you should be doing for cross this summer.

Copyright 2017 , FasCat Coaching

Sign Up for More Tips

Frank is the head coach, founder and owner of FasCat Coaching in Boulder, CO.  Talking the talk and walking the walk is one of FasCat’s Core Values and you may find him performing these workouts up the 5280 Stairs at the Valmont Bike Park. To talk with Frank about your cyclocross training please fill out a New Athlete Questionnaire or call 720.406.7444 to set up a Coaching Consultation.  Otherwise run run run as described above!

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