Doug, I find that testing, both run and bike testing produce the same response in me as a race. I anticipate each test nervously. Like a race, I want to do my best at each. The best part about a test is the shortness of the duration. If you aren't really ready for the test, you can postpone it. If the test goes poorly, you can give yourself some rest and test again soon. I will say that bike testing seems to get me closer to hurling than I get when running. My wife says I am a little weird, but I really like the workouts that are like the tests. I enjoy the 2 X 20' bike work and I like running the mile intervals.
Not sure which one I prefer, but like Edwin said, I approach both like its a big time race. The bike probably causes me more discomfort but I look forward to bike testing more than running. That being said, I look forward to run testing because my time with EN has made me faster than I have ever been and so I look forward to the outcome.
I prefer the bike test! Not because it's easier or because I may be a bit stronger on the bike than on the run ... It's just because the test intensity is not so far off the stuff we train at especially while in the OS of GF plan. The run test is just terrible - you have to run at a pace WAY faster than 99.5% of the time you train and if that's not enough you have to do it for 5 freakin' kilometers!! I hate it - last year I decided to do only 10k tests or 1h tests because of this but in the end testing during wintertime outdoors here in Austria isn't that easy as I've learned the hard way this year.
During the In-Season I like to add some 10k or half-marathons into my training schedule which replaces my tests and this is basically how I adjust my running paces.
Interesting question. I think my answer is similar to who I want to win the Super Bowl tomorrow. I want both of them to lose, don't like either team. For me the run is more painful. I haven't run too many races in the past 5 years so really haven't pushed myself into pain mode like a 5k test does. For both it is a nice challenge, a test between just you and yourself. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't.
Run test 100%. I think because my background is running and I think I am a rubbish cyclist. I can't hit the same level of suffering on the bike. I think I have a better sense of run suffering.
Bike vs run suffer testing, both have there individual pro's and con's depending on your strengths. Over the years being with EN both are equally hard. For me it just depends on my mental status of the day to get the best out of me. I am a natural runner but some day's the run hurts and the bike rocks. Examine,adjust accept your result and move on to the next step!
Run test for me, but it's close. I appreciate the shorter time of the run test and perform better in the run. I consistently backslide on my bike tests after the OS, so it's frustrating to arrive back at the same place each October/November. Even though my peak FTP isn't going up, I am getting stronger each season based on IM results
I pick Most of what Edwin said already....LOL. But If I still had to pick, I would pick the bike test cause even if it does not go well I can find something good to take away from it. Like this week....while my power numbers were only slightly higher than mid season, I put up those numbers at a much higher cadence than on previous testing and afterward did not fell as beat up as I can remember being after those previous tests.
I prefer when I can to move the 5k run test to a weekend when I can do it as part of a local 5k, so that I can just find someone to chase and shut my brain off, other wise when I do the run test by myself I keep looking at my watch and think about it to much.
Funny thread. Somehow I seem to forget how much testing hurts until I'm halfway through one and the painful memory comes flooding back to me! I prefer bike tests over a 5k run test on my own. But if testing with an actual race, I'll take that any day. Fact is, I like the test when it's over...
Like a bunch of you have mentioned, if the run test is part of a race, I prefer that over the bike test. When it starts to hurt at the end I pick out someone in front of me and try to hang on to them. This helps distract from the discomfort. Otherwise, I prefer the bike test over a self-tested 5k.
Bike test. I've done more running races than bike races to the bike test is different. Also, I rarely put my head down and ride hard for 40 minutes like in the bike test.
I'm with Rachael B. and it's an easy pick for me: the run test. I absolutely DREAD the bike tests!
During the 5 years with the team, only once did I have a local 5K for a test. All the rest I did alone, mostly in the dark on a track except my last one which was on the treadmill.
Somehow I don't mind the suffering while running.... I can embrace it even. The opposite is true on the bike where it seems to take 10x the mental effort to keep pushing the peddles. The fact that I am a pathetically weak cyclist just adds to my misery in a bike test.
Not sure "prefer" is the correct term. More like which do you dislike the least! I dislike the bike test the least. Like Stefan said, the bike test is closer to the stuff we have been doing in the workouts whereas the run is way faster! Haven't been consistently looking for 5K races to do as the test so maybe I need to do a better job of that.
I just love Dave's zen answer! And they are both painful.
But if I have to choose, its run test-I think because I accept the results better than I do the bike test . For some reason a few seconds on a run test is satisfying where a few watts on the bike feel like, "really, all that work for a few crummy watts?" (call that more realistic of my run abilities than my bike?)
Comments
Doug, I find that testing, both run and bike testing produce the same response in me as a race. I anticipate each test nervously. Like a race, I want to do my best at each. The best part about a test is the shortness of the duration. If you aren't really ready for the test, you can postpone it. If the test goes poorly, you can give yourself some rest and test again soon. I will say that bike testing seems to get me closer to hurling than I get when running. My wife says I am a little weird, but I really like the workouts that are like the tests. I enjoy the 2 X 20' bike work and I like running the mile intervals.
Not because it's easier or because I may be a bit stronger on the bike than on the run ... It's just because the test intensity is not so far off the stuff we train at especially while in the OS of GF plan.
The run test is just terrible - you have to run at a pace WAY faster than 99.5% of the time you train and if that's not enough you have to do it for 5 freakin' kilometers!!
I hate it - last year I decided to do only 10k tests or 1h tests because of this but in the end testing during wintertime outdoors here in Austria isn't that easy as I've learned the hard way this year.
During the In-Season I like to add some 10k or half-marathons into my training schedule which replaces my tests and this is basically how I adjust my running paces.
Interesting question. I think my answer is similar to who I want to win the Super Bowl tomorrow. I want both of them to lose, don't like either team. For me the run is more painful. I haven't run too many races in the past 5 years so really haven't pushed myself into pain mode like a 5k test does. For both it is a nice challenge, a test between just you and yourself. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't.
Bike vs run suffer testing, both have there individual pro's and con's depending on your strengths. Over the years being with EN both are equally hard. For me it just depends on my mental status of the day to get the best out of me. I am a natural runner but some day's the run hurts and the bike rocks. Examine,adjust accept your result and move on to the next step!
I pick Most of what Edwin said already....LOL.
But
If I still had to pick, I would pick the bike test cause even if it does not go well I can find something good to take away from it.
Like this week....while my power numbers were only slightly higher than mid season, I put up those numbers at a much higher cadence than on previous testing and afterward did not fell as beat up as I can remember being after those previous tests.
I prefer when I can to move the 5k run test to a weekend when I can do it as part of a local 5k, so that I can just find someone to chase and shut my brain off, other wise when I do the run test by myself I keep looking at my watch and think about it to much.
Also, I rarely put my head down and ride hard for 40 minutes like in the bike test.
During the 5 years with the team, only once did I have a local 5K for a test. All the rest I did alone, mostly in the dark on a track except my last one which was on the treadmill.
Somehow I don't mind the suffering while running.... I can embrace it even. The opposite is true on the bike where it seems to take 10x the mental effort to keep pushing the peddles. The fact that I am a pathetically weak cyclist just adds to my misery in a bike test.
FTP tests are just, plain awful, especially the last 19 minutes.
But if I have to choose, its run test-I think because I accept the results better than I do the bike test . For some reason a few seconds on a run test is satisfying where a few watts on the bike feel like, "really, all that work for a few crummy watts?" (call that more realistic of my run abilities than my bike?)