Back when I was in high school, I was what I think can be considered an avid runner. I threw myself into running in hopes of improving my cardio on the rugby pitch, and it definitely helped; at one point I contemplated getting into long-distance competitions, or marathons, perhaps. But, sadly, my relationship with running morphed into something quite toxic when I developed an eating disorder, and once I was in recovery, I stopped running entirely.
Fast forward a few years to now, and I’m back into running. I started getting back into it at the recommendation of my concussion specialist; he suggested starting off very slowly and gradually building myself back up to an actual run, and now that I’ve gotten back into the habit, my goal is to keep with it all winter so I’m in better shape for rugby season.
When it comes to cardio, a lot of folks seem to debate as to whether running or cycling is best. I’ve done a little bit of research on the matter, and from what I’ve read, they’re actually pretty equal in terms of the cardio benefits the offer.
One advantage running has over cycling is that running is more exerting on the body and therefore burns more calories and fat. However, running is hard on your joints, and this can wreak havoc on the body over time.
One advantage cycling has over running is that it is much easier on joints, which is why a lot of people prefer it. Cycling is also an awesome way to build muscle in your legs, which, in turn, could give you more power as a runner, depending on your preference.
Essentially, running and cycling are on par with each other regarding their cardio effect, but cycling takes a lesser toll on the body than running does.
Photo by Rikki Chan on Unsplash
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