Abstract

Understanding the effects of high-cadence cycling on subsequent running performance and spatiotemporal parameters is vital for determining whether a brief, low-impact cycling stimulus can acutely enhance running performance in healthy adults. However, research on cycling-to-running transfer has primarily focused on triathletes, and its applicability to healthy adults remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to examine the acute effects of high-cadence cycling on subsequent 800-meter running performance and spatiotemporal parameters in healthy adults. Thirty healthy adults completed two testing visits. In the first visit, participants performed an 800 m run at a maximal workout pace. In the second visit, participants completed a 10-minute bout of high-cadence cycling, then immediately repeated the 800-meter run. Time, average cadence, velocity, step length, and step time were compared between visits. Significant improvements were observed in total time, cadence, velocity, and step time, while step length did not change significantly. Participants were also classified into cadence-dominant or step-length-dominant strategy groups, and running outcomes were compared within each strategy group. Total 800 m time decreased during the cycle-run protocol in both running strategies, but only the step length group achieved statistical significance. Cadence increased significantly in the cadence strategy group, and step length increased significantly in the step length strategy group. These findings indicate that an acute bout of HCC may improve 800-meter running performance and alter running strategy in healthy adults. Furthermore, the variability in responses suggests that while HCC serves as a potential rhythmic primer, runners retain individualized movement strategies when translating to faster running speeds post-cycling.

Keywords

Length-Time Difference, Running Cadence, Cycling Cadence, Step Length,

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