Do Cyclists Make Good Runners? | Manon Lloyd

Can a pro cyclist simply swap the bike for running shoes? 🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️ Does elite fitness actually transfer to running, or does it just lead to injury? In this episode of The Runna Podcast, hosts Ben and Anya sit down with Manon Lloyd, former Team GB pro cyclist and GCN presenter, as she swaps the velodrome for the road and trains for her first half marathon with Runna. We dive into the brutal reality of being a beginner again after years at the top of elite sport. Manon opens up about the identity shift required to step away from performance-driven goals and the specific challenges cyclists face when transitioning to running, specifically impact tolerance and the ‘ego trap’. Whether you are a cyclist starting running, an athlete returning from injury, or training for your first race, this conversation is packed with Coach Ben’s best beginner running advice - from shoes, mileage, and training sustainably. In this episode, we cover: 🛑 The ‘Engine’ Trap: Why cyclists get injured 🧠 Ego vs. Reality: How to stop impatience from derailing your progress. 🩹 Injury Prevention: Specific advice for athletes coming from low-impact sports. 🤝 Community: Why running clubs and social support are vital for women in sport. Are you training your ego or your body? This episode forces you to confront the difference and rethink what sustainable progress really looks like. 🎧 Subscribe for new episodes every Friday Want to give Runna a go? 🆓 Try it FREE for 2 weeks with code: PODCAST26 👉 https://web.runna.com/redeem And if you’re just getting started, our New to Running and Return to Running plans are totally free 💛 📱 Follow for more running content: Instagram → @runna TikTok → @runna 📺 Watch more episodes → @therunnapodcast ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 Cycling to Half Marathon Transition 00:54 Triathlon & Finding Cycling 06:11 Track Cycling & Velodrome Basics 11:22 Elite Cycling Training Schedule 18:01 Recovering from Cycling Injuries 19:58 Leaving Professional Sport 24:38 Switching from Cycling to Running 26:39 Running Injury Prevention for Cyclists 27:52 Understanding Impact Tolerance 29:02 Running for Beginners (Zero Pressure) 30:22 Safe Mileage Increase (The 10% Rule) 33:35 Treadmill vs. Road vs. Trail Running 36:23 Finding a Run Club 39:12 Do You Need a Running Coach? 43:01 Running vs. Cycling: This or That 49:35 Designing a Dream Race 52:00 Runna & Lululemon News #ManonLloyd #RunningFromCycling #BeginnerRunning #InjuryPrevention #WomenInSport #EnduranceAthlete #Runna #TheRunnaPodcast #HalfMarathonTraining #GCN