Fitness is a significant goal in most of our life. Fitness can be defined as the condition of being physically healthy and strong components of fitness are endurance, strength, flexibility and balance.
To achieve this people may take on different fitness activities. Unlike other fitness pursuit aerobics like running and cycling will not cost much.
Key Takeaways
- Running is a weight-bearing exercise that builds stronger bones and muscles, whereas cycling is a low-impact activity that puts less stress on joints.
- Cycling allows for a higher calorie burn rate due to continuous pedaling, while running burns calories slower.
- Running is more accessible as it requires minimal equipment, but cycling needs a bicycle and safety gear.
Running vs Cycling
The difference between running and cycling is running is a high impact activity but cycling is low impact activity. Both exercises can yield plenty of health benefits. Running burns more calories than cycling. Cycling helps in building muscles.
People run for a different purpose. One such purpose is fitness.
It involves the entire body and improves the cardiovascular system. Some people prefer to join running clubs as it is beneficial in numerous ways.
It is an ideal opportunity to make new friends and to hold them accountable which can make them more disciplined in running. Cycles were introduced in the 19th century.
Though cycling is a fitness activity, people use cycling as a means of transport. It is effective as it reduces pollution and it reduces the consumption of fossil fuels that are harmful to our environment.
It is also a sport. People who ride cycles are known as a cyclist.
Comparison Table
| Parameters | Running | Cycling |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Running is an action of moving from one place to another by the rapid movement of the foot. The speed of running varies from jogging to sprinting. | Cycling can be also known as biking. Cycling can be used for transport and also for sports. |
| Focus area | The primary focus area is the cardiovascular system but it involves the entire body | Cycling also ameliorates the cardiovascular system. The secondary focuses are glutes and calves. |
| Joint impact | Running causes high impact | Cycling causes low impact |
| Burning Calories | Running can burn from 566 to 839 calories on an average of an hour. | Cycling can burn 498 to 738 calories per hour. |
| Requirement | The basic requirement for running is running shoes but when it is done indoors, a treadmill is needed in addition to running shoes. | A bike and helmet are required but in the case of indoor, a stationary bike is essential. |
What is Running?
Running is a form of both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Running can be undertaken in two different ways either outdoor or on the treadmill.
Both are equally beneficent. But running outdoor is a little more beneficial than on the treadmill, as it lacks air resistance.
The key motive in running is physical fitness and weight loss. Consistency is a key in fitness.
Running three to five days a week with the duration of twenty minutes at the beginning and gradual improvement to sixty minutes can make the weight loss dream come true.
Running can burn a lot of calories but to lose weight one must burn more calories than he has consumed.
There are plenty of benefits other than weight loss. Running fifty miles a week can increase good HDL cholesterol.
Studies found that long-distance runners had a nearly 50%reduction in high blood pressure. Running helps the heart to work efficiently than the non-runners.
It stimulates muscles that make the runner has a more defined, cut and leaner physique. Running can stamp out depression.
According to International and public health, running could be an effective way to overcome many mental health challenges but it’s not medicine for everything mental problem. Running can build resilience.
People who run regularly can tackle the tough situation in their personal life and career as they do harder things on the run. British Journal of Sports Medicine scientists found that the runners have a 27% low risk of early death.
What is Cycling?
Cycling can be taken by people of any age group. It does not require any physical skills.
It increases muscle strength and flexibility. Steady cycling burns about 300 calories per hour it may differ depending on the intensity.
Research has shown that the cycle can reduce the chance of bowel cancer. The risk of developing diabetes can be reduced by cycling more than thirty minutes per day.
It can strengthen the immune system. Cycling builds muscles around the calves, glutes, and hamstrings.
As it is not weight-bearing, the risk of injuries rate is lower compared to running, on the other hand, it does not do as much to increase bone density.
Research at the University of Georgia studied people between the age of twenty to eighty-five and found that over 35 years, men and women drop-in fitness by 2 per cent and per cent respectively
that resulting in the development of sleep problems.
Cycling can improve sleep quality. Cycling can increase blood flow.
Studies found that cyclists’ blood flow increases by 28 per cent in the brain and 70 per cent in other specific areas during exercise. In some areas, blood flow remained up to 40 per cent even after exercise.
Technical elements such as climbing can boost confidence.
Main Differences Between Running and Cycling
- Running is a high impact exercise but cycling is a low impact exercise.
- Running can burn more calories than cycling. The research found that fat burning is 28% higher during running than it was in cycling.
- Running is a weight-bearing exercise whereas cycling is not a weight-bearing exercise.
- The risk of injury rate is higher in running when compared to cycling.
- Running involves the entire body but in cycling, the lower body is engaged more than the upper body.
Reference
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-002-0663-8
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00007256-200939030-00002
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