After two weeks of regular riding, it's time to make my first report on the hits and misses, successes and failures, and pros and cons of our Bionic Runner. While Mike and I both use it, it is clear that I will be doing the bulk of the riding. I ride more often and for longer distances, since I am an injured distance runner. I am essentially substituting mileage on the Bionic Runner for mileage I would traditionally get while road running.
A little background. I have always loved distance running, but I took my running to a new level when I joined the Fleet Feet Racing Team in Sacramento in 2008. While I had been a decent runner before, with Fleet Feet, I trained for higher mileage, and did speed workouts. In the next few years, I set PR's in every distance (while in my early 40's!), including a 3:22 marathon.
In 2010, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Because it was early stage, the cancer was removed with relatively few issues, and after radiation and six years of anti-cancer drugs, I am officially cancer-free (yay!). The surgery, however, took a toll on my training. In addition to removing the cancer, I also had lymph nodes removed from under my right arm. The secondary surgery proved more harmful to my body, throwing the right side of my torso all out-of-whack. I have been out of balance ever since, and as a result, I have imbalance injuries when I run. For years afterward, I simply ran through the injuries. I can run while in pain - in fact, I can't remember the last time running didn't hurt. So this summer, when it got so bad I had to stop for a break every mile because the pain was unbearable, I knew it was also time to take a break from running, and try to let some of those injuries heal. I spent all summer inside, in the gym, because the elliptical trainer didn't aggravate my injuries. So I was getting my workouts, but inside, in a gym.
Mike knew I wasn't happy inside the gym (except for that one kickboxing class!), so he did a bunch of research (as he always does), and found out about the Bionic Runner. I liked that it had a 60/40 swing/stance timing, which gives it a feeling that is more like running than any other cross trainer on the market, most of which are 50/50. When Mike bought it for us for our anniversary, I was incredibly excited. It meant that I could get out of the gym, and back onto the road.
The first two weeks of training have had some challenges, but have ultimately been more positive than negative. Here are some of the challenges:
1. Learning not to lean on my shoulders.
At first, I couldn't ride without putting enormous pressure on my shoulders. Part of that was because I wasn't relaxed yet, and part of it was because I was leaning too far forward. Each time I ride now, I am a bit more relaxed than I was last time, and riding my Bionic Runner is downright comfortable. I do also tense up in traffic, so it's better for me to ride in less populated areas.
2. Riding in wind.
I am not particularly aerodynamic as a runner, but on my Bionic Runner, I am even less so. On my windiest ride to date, I tried to lean forward and push through the wind in a high gear. It didn't work very well, and ended up being exhausting and demoralizing. On the next windy ride, I realized I could just downshift and not lean forward quite as much. This meant I wouldn't go quite as fast, but you have to pick your battles, right?
3. Flat tires.
The tires are small and made for the road. We have had two flat tires so far, in two weeks, caused by the prickly Star Thistle that is prevalent in our area. We tried to order thorn-proof liners and tubes, but they don't exist for this wheel size. Mike's solution was Slime, a sealant that can be added to an inner tube to keep it from leaking. So far, so good.
4. Finding the right shoes to stay on the pedals.
The pedals have little spikes that are supposed to stick into the bottom of your shoes so your feet don't slip off. I have 8,000 (maybe a slight exaggeration) pairs of old running shoes, which I thought would be perfect to use on my Bionic Runner. The problem is, many of them have plastic plates across the bottom of the shoe, which actually made my feet slip while on the pedals. Additionally, high-profile, max-cushioned shoes don't allow leverage on the pedals. So I had to go through trial and error to find shoes that didn't slip. Shoes that DO work - my ancient Nike Vomeros, and a relatively recent model of the Asics Nimbus. Shoes that DON'T work - any model of Hokas, and my first generation pair of Adidas Boosts.
Here are some of the positives:
1. My heart rate gets up there!
I haven't felt like I've worked out this hard since I stopped running. Granted, it all depends on how much effort you put in it, but when you're traveling forward, it's a lot different than being on a stationary elliptical trainer in the gym, and my instinct is to go faster and work harder.
2. It doesn't hurt!
This one is self-explanatory. I have had debilitating ongoing pain in my hip flexor and high hamstring, which I feel in just about everything I do - but not when I work out on the Bionic Runner! The no-impact workout allows me to crank out a tough workout without pain. Such a relief!
3. I feel like an athlete again!
One thing I miss about running is feeling like a serious athlete, rather than a gym warrior. Doing my daily workout on the Bionic Runner gives me the sense that I'm training again. I'm on a mission, and I'm trying to get faster with less effort. Just like running.
4. I'm back out on the road!
Another thing I missed about running was simply being outdoors. The Bionic Runner gets me back out there, feeling the freedom that comes with being on the open road (along with the occasional bugs in my face!). I crank my tunes and even sing along sometimes, since I am riding in a mostly unpopulated area. In just two weeks, my speed and distance has increased, and I'm more comfortable with shifting and turning.
I've also begun tacking on a mile of jogging after every other Bionic Runner workout. It is my hope that I can start to increase the distance and speed of my short runs, with the goal of being able to do a complete running workout, but I'm not even close to being there yet. When I do get to that point, I will alternate my running workouts with my Bionic Runner workouts.
In conclusion...
Two weeks in, I'm very happy with our purchase. I've ridden over 100 miles already, and look to be able to increase the distance. I also plan to do a longer ride each week, the way I would do a longer run. So far, it seems as though a 50-minute ride is equal to the calorie burn of a 50-minute run, so I get the same benefits in the same amount of time. I can say, without hesitation, the positives far outweigh the negatives.
I do get some strange looks from passing cars and cyclists, but I figure it's because I look so cool. Until next time....
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