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THE MARATHON MYSTIQUE
What draws the world's most famous cyclist to distance running?
PUBLISHED 03/31/2008
Are running hills harder than riding up them?
Both are very hard. With running you don't get the satisfaction of going downhills, you get the pain of running downhill. Whereas on the bike, it's complete satisfaction; I've climbed, now I'm just going to coast down. But both are issues of power to weight and gravity. So, you know, it's easy to improve on those things. You get fitter, you lose weight, and the hills are easier.
Are you doing any hill training for Boston?
Uh, no. (laughing) Well, let me say that again. Austin is a hilly place. If I don't run on the trail, I run around my house and it's very hill. Does that sound better?
Does your body feel different after running two marathons? Do you feel fit running?
Yes. When I get back on the bike after not having been on it, I feel as if I'm, one, out of shape and, two, the pedal stroke is inefficient. So if I take time off of running, and I get back, I feel, one, like I'm out of shape, but also it's a foreign exercise. So the running stride, which is similar to the pedal stroke, feels very different. And so, that's just all about efficiency. I think with both of them you lose your fitness the same exact way and you get it back the same way. The only complicated thing is that with cycling you rarely, speaking about myself, rarely do you have those injuries that you'll have with running.
You're a great cyclist, you're a good marathoner—
Was a great cyclist.
Is an Ironman in your future?
No. Well, I shouldn't be so quick to say no. It's certainly not in the foreseeable future. Primarily because I have so much respect for that sport and that event. It would require a lot of training and a lot of different types of training that I'm not sure that I can live up to. I don't think you can phone in the marathon, and I certainly don't think you can phone in an Ironman, and I simply don't have the time or really the interest to go train for it right now.
What are you looking forward to in Boston this year?
I'm looking forward to experiencing the race. I've heard from so many people that it has so much character. I've spent hundreds of days in New York and Boston I can probably count on one hand how many times I've been there. So, it will be a totally unique experience for me.
Who's running with you?
No one. I'm going to get the GPS watch.
The Women's Olympic Marathon Trials is the day before Boston. Will you watch?
Yeah. Joannie [Benoit Samuelson] is running, so I'll come out and support her.
We'll see you in Boston then.
Yeah, I'll be the guy crawling at the end of it.
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