Long-distance triathlon glossary·ROB

Run off the bike : running after cycling

Run

The ability to run efficiently after a long cycling effort, a fundamental long-distance triathlon skill developed through specific training.

After 5+ hours of cycling in an Ironman, the first minutes of running show characteristic 'sea legs': legs feel heavy, stride shortens, the neuromuscular system struggles to switch from cycling posture to running form. Specific 'run off the bike' (ROB) training prepares for this transition: chaining 15-30 min of running immediately after a cycling session, several times per week during the build phase. Target adaptations: slow-fiber recruitment under post-bike fatigue, maintained running economy, ability to hold target marathon pace despite the muscular shift.

In TriPaced:

In TriPaced, brick sessions are flagged with the note 'Chain a 15-30 min run immediately after.' During Ironman build phase, the planner incorporates 1-2 short ROBs per week, calibrated to avoid interfering with recovery between long sessions.

Related terms

  • Brick : the bike-run combo
  • Drop : heel-to-toe offset of a running shoe
  • Negative split : finishing faster than you started
  • Pace : Running pace (min/km)
  • Pacing : Race pace management
  • Drill : Isolated technique drill