The Duathlete?

Running on the path today, I watched the cyclists go by and wished I was back on the bike---partly regretting my choice for the pool over rollers for the Winter. Only partly, mind you, because I clearly love the bike more than the pool (and some days more than pounding pavement), so I will be back for a 3k season at the end of February or beginning of March. But it does feel like I have chosen running as the primary sport these days---especially since I do not have a single cycling event on my calendar. Looking at 'Coach Jenny' on runnersworld.com, I found a comment I have seen expressed in a few different ways:

"Like all activities, you run well by running frequently and at various effort levels, terrains, and distances. So if you are cycling more than running, you will become a stronger, more fit cyclist. If you run more than cycling, you will become a stronger, more fit runner. It is all about the balance of the two. . . . For instance, you could include a long, easy endurance ride, a hilly strength ride to develop power and a workout dedicated to cadence and turnover, which translates to running turnover and stride rate efficiency."

I think the key in 2008 is to figure out how to balance the two with my own biomechanics---I like Jenny's suggestion for the high cadence rides. When I started getting serious about riding, I focused on these high cadence rides---and they did a lot for me, but I quickly backed off preferring to try to gut out faster paced rides rather than the slower, high cadence rides. I need a plan for riding that is not just miles, but effort so that I am inserting quality into my cycling that has high payoff of my running (and maybe swimming).