Cardio, Why do we run

**emu_forefront** · Posted On: 6/16/2008 10:21pm

I was scanning the headlines today, making sure that the US had not invaded anymore countries in the last 24 hours, when I saw an article about Lance Armstrong running a marathon. The Lance (Cardio of superman) Armstrong running a marathon. I was surprised to learn that this is old news, he has already run at least 3.

So I went back to the internets and tracked down his comments about his first marathon run.

"For the level of condition that I have now, that was without a doubt the hardest physical thing I have ever done," said Armstrong, who finished 856th. "I never felt a point where I hit the wall, it was really a gradual progression of fatigue and soreness."

What??

Lance "Heart of Steel" Armstrong finished behind 855 people with cardios worse than his??
How is this possible??
Am I using the right amount of question marks??

The real question of this thread is: how much does cardio training in one activity, say running, affect cardio in another, say sparring?

**new2bjj** · Posted On: 6/16/2008 10:29pm

I would think of it as something to do with the fact that he has extreme sports specifity. I doubt if any of the 800 could beat him in a bike race.

**Emevas** · Posted On: 6/16/2008 10:29pm

Zero.

Not really, but carryover is limited. The rule of specificity is king until you gain a great degree of procificency that dictates doing outside training. Most folks could stand to have better cardio by performing the activitiy that they want to get better at rather than run.

**pauli** · Posted On: 6/16/2008 10:43pm

running is an extremely effective method of building base cardio. once you get to the "i can run for two miles" stage, other methods become somewhat more... useful.

running is not the tool to get you to the next level.

**Emevas** · Posted On: 6/16/2008 10:49pm

I wouldn't really call running "extremely effective" compared to other cardio, but more just easily accessable.

**Pandinha** · Posted On: 6/16/2008 11:02pm

Depends on what you are shooting for.

I use a HOUR strap and program the treadmill to increase:decrease its speed and incline to bring me to 165 my ceiling and then down to 135. I do this up too 10 repetitions at most, or whatever I can do for 15 minutes.

Tailoring your running for a specific activity has helped me a lot. I rolled for thirty minutes non stop with my son, an overactive 13 year old. Which is really yhe reason I started interval training again. Brought a smile to my soon to be 40 year old face. :)

**emu_forefront** · Posted On: 6/16/2008 11:10pm

running is an extremely effective method of building base cardio. once you get to the "i can run for two miles" stage, other methods become somewhat more... useful.

running is not the tool to get you to the next level.

Why do many top fighters, who can obviously run two miles, still use running in their training program?

**Pandinha** · Posted On: 6/16/2008 11:11pm

Hour = h r or heart rate. Damn blackberry.

**bitparity** · Posted On: 6/16/2008 11:33pm

I'm sure it's because running a marathon is just as specialized an event as long distance bicycling. I mean, marathon runners have spent years developing a body to specialize in marathons. Lean, light weight, slow burning bodies.

But I bet against the average untrained joe, Armstrong could kick their ass at anything involving cardio.

**emu_forefront** · Posted On: 6/16/2008 11:41pm

My surprise is not created by the fact that he came in 856th place, but rather that he was tired after participating. I can understand how he lost, despite what my first post may say, but Lance Armstrong being tired out by long distance anything is baffling to me.