To Run or to Ride? A Look at Cycling Vs Running for Heart Health

Your heart is a very important muscle in your body as it is responsible for keeping the entire body fed by pumping blood. It never stops working from the day it starts as you’re in your mom’s womb until the day you pass. As such, it is a good idea to take care of it, which begs the question, is it better to ride a bike or run to keep your heart healthy?

When it comes to cycling VS running for heart health, you should look at what the heart needs first.

Keeping your Heart Healthy

There are a lot of benefits of a healthy cardiovascular system. This is the basic foundation of overall good health. If you want to live a long, healthy life, it starts with taking care of your heart. And you can do this by:

Eating right
Avoiding things that are bad for your heart
Manage your stress levels
And get a good amount of exercise

While there are plenty of exercises out there, aerobic or cardio are best suited for keeping your heart healthy. And two great examples of cardio exercises are running and cycling.

Cycling Vs Running for Heart Health – The Differentiators

Since cycling Vs running for heart health are both considered good, the next question is, how do you choose between them? Well, there are varying differentiators we can look at.

Do you want to build muscles?

One of the main benefits of cycling is the fact that you build and tone your legs as no other exercise does. It engages the large muscle groups and provides resistance as you push down on your pedals (and pull up if you are wearing cleat shoes).

On the other hand, running uses most of the muscles in your legs at the same time but doesn’t have the same level of resistance. While it still strengthens the bones and muscles, it won’t bulk your legs up as cycling does.

So if you plan to fit in skinny jeans, cycling may be a bit more difficult option. Big, bulky legs can be difficult to fit in tight spaces.

Do you have any injuries?

Another consideration you would want to look at with cycling Vs running for heart health is injuries. No one wants to get injured. It hurts. And, it can be a detriment to your goal. If you want a healthier heart, you would want to stay active. That is a difficult task if you are in pain.

Generally speaking, running is harder on the body as compared to cycling. The impact of each step on your legs can build injuries. Studies also show that in cycling, only six injuries are accounted for every 1,000 hours. As compared to running, it accounts for 11 injuries per 1,000 hours.

Then again, there is a more present danger of accidents with cycling as compared to cycling. You might sprain your ankle while running in the park. With cycling, you might get in a road accident. Of course, there are steps you can take to minimise those risks.

Lastly, you should also take into consideration your current health and if you have any nagging injuries. Those who have suffered from knee injuries would usually fair better on a bike than to run since there’s less impact and stress on the legs.

It would also be a good idea to consult with your doctor about which sport would be best suited for your condition.

What are you willing to spend?

Another consideration you would need to look at is the cost. With running, you can just put on a pair of shoes and start. With cycling, you will of course need to get a hold of a bike. An entry-level bike is usually more expensive than an entry-level pair of running shoes.

And even if you already have a bike, probably given by a family member or friend, you should still be wary of the costs. You will need to maintain it, wash it, etc. And, if you get into it, you will find so many things to upgrade on your bike. Once you’ve upgraded, you will then want a new bike!

Ask any cyclist, how many bikes one should have is; N+1. It can be a vicious cycle.

Running isn’t free from these too! Might be good to get a pair of shoes for weekday training. Another pair of shoes for weekend training. Maybe a new pair for that race you plan to compete in.

Ask any runner, how many shoes one should have is; N+1. It can be an unending race.

Conclusion on Cycling Vs Running for Heart Health

At the end of the day, both cycling Vs running for heart health is good. They help your heart, they help you burn calories, and they both are great activities to enjoy with your family and friends as well.

You can choose cycling so you can get to far-away places. You can choose to run to enjoy the fresh air and nature around you. Or why not both, if you can?