Cross-training: indoor biking up Mt Norikura

Indoor cycling? On a running blog? What am I thinking?!

Well, firstly, with a lack of running, there's a lack of content keeping this blog alive. And a lack of content makes me feel like the hobby's dying, which I don't want. But secondly, when I looked up plantar fasciitis, one of the recommendations from running websites was to do more cross-training while it sorts itself out. Something with less heel impact, like cycling or swimming. So... I dusted off the lockdown bike.

It's always a bit boring being sat in one place with one view the whole time, so I stuck YouTube on the telly and watched a 4-year-old video from the Two Wheel Cruise channel where they ascended Mount Norikura in Japan. I've always enjoyed that channel, especially when they get it into the countryside. Check it out of you're bored with your exercise bike.

The bike feels easier these days than it used to in lockdown, so I rattled off half-an-hour-plus on level 6. It actually has 8 intensity levels, but the top 3 (levels 6–8) all feel the same. Anyway, it was enough to get me sweating, which I guess is a good thing, and I actually felt really positive afterwards.

Will I continue with it, in pace of going for a run? Not sure. It could make an interesting experiment to see whether I can maintain my running pace while not actually running as much — and consequently opening myself up less to injury. I doubt it'll work, but I might try it. I don't actually need to anymore, mind — the plantar fasciitis has gone again — but still. Maybe worth a try.