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Swimming Any Good for Running?
I'm thinking of going swimming in the morning before work a couple of times a week on my easy running days. Does anyone know if it's good cross-training for running?
I won't be flouncing around doing gentle breaststroke, I'm a good swimmer and I'm hoping to do 100 metre front crawl intervals pretty hard. I'm assuming this type of swimming would improve your aerobic capacity as much as running, but give your legs a rest and improve your core strength.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
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Originally Posted by
Dynamo Dan
I'm thinking of going swimming in the morning before work a couple of times a week on my easy running days. Does anyone know if it's good cross-training for running?
I won't be flouncing around doing gentle breaststroke, I'm a good swimmer and I'm hoping to do 100 metre front crawl intervals pretty hard. I'm assuming this type of swimming would improve your aerobic capacity as much as running, but give your legs a rest and improve your core strength.
Sounds about right - stick to crawl - keep the tempo up - maybe put in some slower recovery lengths in between.
I work on the basis that 20 mins run = about 1 hour swim so it's a supplement to your run training in the ways you mention above, not a substitute.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
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Originally Posted by
Witton Park
Sounds about right - stick to crawl - keep the tempo up - maybe put in some slower recovery lengths in between.
I work on the basis that 20 mins run = about 1 hour swim so it's a supplement to your run training in the ways you mention above, not a substitute.
Yea that's what I thought, I'll still run on my swimming days, but it seems like a good way to get more hard aerobic work in without battering my legs.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
Dan, LoveShac is a really keen swimmer he told me once that they actually block book the pool he will be the expert to talk to.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
Some opinions on swimming for long distance running here
http://www.ultrunr.com/swim.html
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
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Originally Posted by
matthew
Thanks Matthew that's an interesting read.
I've got a clear idea of what I'm going to do, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience of complimenting their running with a bit of swimming?
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
I do a one mile swim every morning before work and a longer swim at weekends and have done this for the past 15 years. I used to do lots of long distance fell races but I never really needed to run more than 30/35 miles per week as long as I kept the swimming up. I had fewer injuries and fresher legs as a result of it.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
I think it works your core, also helps develop regular breathing..
Per hour the calorie burning is pretty similar..
I'm doing a bit more now, but I always have a snivel, runny nose when I swim.. I think its just the chlorine irritating your nasal passages..
Supplements rather than replaces... helps keep the weight down, certainly won't do any harm..
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
i have increased my swimming due to triathlons.
i swim between 40 to 70 mins.
it has been a challenge trying to master the perfect stroke.
i have found a pretty hard leg kick aids recovery to the calf muscles.
my legs are a lot more supple and my breathing has improved.
i am swimming 2 to 3 times a week,when it gets warmer i swim out doors.
the day after a long run(2-3 hours)i am jaded but the time off your feet is good and helps recovery.
i dont do as many fell races now but when i do i have found my stamina is there,my hill climbing is better but that is prob due to biking.
the one thing i am is injury free.
plus my upper body has gained better muscle definition.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
I'd say it definately aids recovery. I miss it now that I rarely do it. I think jacuzzis help me too! When I did triathlon 10-15 years ago I was much less stiff all the time. I find now if I do any large amounts of run training I get stiff calfs and its a bugger to clear them out. Swim or jacuzzi does it!
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
It seems the general consensus is if you can supplement your running with a bit of swimming it's good for your aerobic capacity and general recovery.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
try different strokes to see which complement your running.
i have found certain leg kicks can sort out knee problems,calf stiffness and hamstring strains.
swimming hard under water helps stiff backs.
play around with different movements.
the only downside i found was that i cramp often on the sole of my feet,but thats more to an aggressive swim kick.
good luck and enjoy
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
I quit concentrating on fellrunning due to persistant/recurrent injuries & took up triathlon. Swimming is the discipline I struggle most with & because I don't like it I only swim a couple of times a week but they're structured. Warm-up, drills, main set, cool down & total between 2-4km. This coupled with 2 or 3 cycles & runs a week keeps my running at a reasonable level, perhaps 10-15% slower than I used to be........but this may also be due to age.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
IainR
......but I always have a snivel, runny nose when I swim.. I think its just the chlorine irritating your nasal passages..
Iain, some people are more susceptible to this than others & I'm one of them. The irritation is caused by poo & wee mixing with the chlorine :closed: rather than just the chlorine itself. Some people use prescription nasal sprays, but I didn't want to go down this route each swim. I used to use a clip, but kept losing them. I've tried saline rinses, but no joy. I now stick a bit of vaseline up each nostril before swims & find this much more effective.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
suppose it really depends on how wet the summer is?
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The muscles you use in running are not the same ones that you use in swimming.That is why the benefit isn't there.I do it to tighten everything up because I like being outside and it gives my shoulders a break.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
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Originally Posted by
(notsomuchofa)Fellrunner
The irritation is caused by poo & wee mixing with the chlorine :closed:
It's losing it's appeal for me now as well!!:p Swimming is something I've always fancied, coming from a cycling background I want to do a Triathlon but have always shied away from swimming as you have to actually prepare to do it rather that just stepping out of the door, is swimming like running?? does it take a reasonable amount of time for it to begin to feel normal?? I generally feel I have a go and do a lot of thrashing around for not a lot of return, I'm a reasonable swimmer but generally end up kn*ckered so tend to lose interest.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
There is a huge amount of technique involved in swimming, that coupled with the fact that - as you mentioned - it takes time to get ready can make it a bit of a hassle.
When I started I couldn't swim a couple of lengths before I was knackered.The 2 huge helps that sorted me out were;
1. I started going along to a Masters class in which you start in a lane & position graded on you performance & then follow a structured session. This is sort of like doing a club session were you might do a warm-up, build, main session & cool-down. It really helps to have people around you & there should be an instructor who can give you some pointers.
2. I was given for Christmas a DVD set of SwimSmooth dvd's;
http://www.swimsmooth.com/
people also swear by Total Immersion;
http://www.totalimmersion.co.uk/
TI may give you a great smooth stroke, but some triathletes say that this does not transfer to rougher open water swimming very well.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
i used to be shattered when i swam,but just kept at it.
swimsmooth also have a book out that i refered to along with there forum.
what got me really going was swimming outside in the open,
this is like fell running is to roads.
i did a tri at capernway where the water was crystal clear
I was watching fish as i swam,a bit further on a group of divers underneath,then an old wreck.
i swam in ullsewater and semer water as part of tris,then a hard hilly bike followed by a fell run.
brilliant,feel how i used to feel about running 30 years ago
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
Quote:
Originally Posted by
(notsomuchofa)Fellrunner
There is a huge amount of technique involved in swimming, that coupled with the fact that - as you mentioned - it takes time to get ready can make it a bit of a hassle.
When I started I couldn't swim a couple of lengths before I was knackered.The 2 huge helps that sorted me out were;
1. I started going along to a Masters class in which you start in a lane & position graded on you performance & then follow a structured session. This is sort of like doing a club session were you might do a warm-up, build, main session & cool-down. It really helps to have people around you & there should be an instructor who can give you some pointers.
2. I was given for Christmas a DVD set of SwimSmooth dvd's;
http://www.swimsmooth.com/
people also swear by Total Immersion;
http://www.totalimmersion.co.uk/
TI may give you a great smooth stroke, but some triathletes say that this does not transfer to rougher open water swimming very well.
Many Thanks for the advice, I'll take a look at these, I sound a bit like the people who say 'I don't like running, never have'. it's like anything you have to do it to make it feel like a natural thing to be doing:thumbup:
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
I'm glad this has popped up! I started swimming lessons four weeks ago and just getting the hang of it. I never did much as a young en and I havnt swam for years. Deels really good just being in the water. I have the idea I want to do a tri at some point but mostly thought it would be good cross training.
I enjoy it so far!
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
i started a coule of years ago,
getting into it now,
its more technique than thrashing it.
the more times in a week you do it the more it clicks or is easier to analise and correct.
swimsmooth have a good book as well as the video and the book "swim speed secrets" by sheila taormina is very helpful.
swimming open water instead of the pool is something else,
like comparing fells to the road
there are quite a few tris that involve off road/fell runs.
220 mag is quite good for info but the prices of tri are very scarey.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
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Originally Posted by
dylan
but the prices of tri are very scarey.
Got to agree with that was gobsmacked when a guy at work told me what he paid to enter an ironman!!
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
HI
Swimming is an excellent form of cardio, it works your entire body and gives your body a break from the constant pounding, i would suggest the butterfly and freestyle (front crawl) for the cardio and then breaststroke to cool down, i found swimming was excellent for me when i was pregnant and for when i couldn't run due to injuries,you will find that if you keep swimming as part of your routine you will develop stronger breathing, more muscle tone and suppleness which will all aid you in your running
best of luck
country-lass
p.s i would suggest after a hard swim workout to have some complex carbs after as swimming unlike running can make you ravenously hungry !
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
Running always makes me ravenously hungry ! Especially once I get over 10 miles.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
country-lass
HI
Swimming is an excellent form of cardio, it works your entire body and gives your body a break from the constant pounding, i would suggest the butterfly and freestyle (front crawl) for the cardio and then breaststroke to cool down, i found swimming was excellent for me when i was pregnant and for when i couldn't run due to injuries,you will find that if you keep swimming as part of your routine you will develop stronger breathing, more muscle tone and suppleness which will all aid you in your running
best of luck
country-lass
p.s i would suggest after a hard swim workout to have some complex carbs after as swimming unlike running can make you ravenously hungry !
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
Quite new to swimming, but have been swimming with my local Tri club for a couple of months even got up at 5:00am this week to go before work for a session :confused:. 1 hour session of dills, races ect none stop front crawl and although I get out of breath and my arms and shoulders ache, I get out the pool and can happily run for 3 hours on the hill or 40 mile+ bike ride, it does not knock it out of you like a 1 hour hard run would IMO.
My view from my limited experience so far is it will not get you fit for running; it is good for a recovery session on a light day instead of a recovery run. I will keep it up as I am getting better at it and am starting to quite enjoy it but I am convinced at the minute that to build good fitness it is simply not intense enough if you are looking to be in anyway competitive in a fell race.
ATB
Tahr
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
Quote:
Originally Posted by
country-lass
HI
.... as swimming unlike running can make you ravenously hungry !
Having just recently run and ate my way along 140 miles of the north cornish coast path in 7 days I'd have to disagree. :)
As for swimming helping running, I think its absolutely brilliant for increasing your lung capacity (breathing while swimming is a bit like trying to play the didgerido :) ). Whilst on the subject, didgerido playing would I'm sure also be good training for running
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
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Originally Posted by
Stolly
Whilst on the subject, didgerido playing would I'm sure also be good training for running
I'm thinking of an Alice Springs quadrathlon.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
I have changed one of my strength training sessions to swimming having read that its good for ladies over a certain age to swim rather than just lifting weights and flinging kettle bells around. Also, good way of keeping fit when injured, one of the reasons I have a gym membership. But my G*D it is so Booooooooooooooring.......... I agree with country-lass it makes me hungry as well, I put it down to always being allowed a bag of Seabrook crips after swimming at Ripon pool as a kid, psychological, swimming = food.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
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Originally Posted by
SCharm
But my G*D it is so Booooooooooooooring..........
Agreed, and the view is rubbish to compared to running :thunbdown: when swimming looking at bottom of pool, then breath see roof, bloody tiles on the bottom again. No nice veiws of tarns and hills ect.
ATB
Tahr
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
Swimming is very good for your hip flexors, so if you have a problem in that area ie: tight groin, psoas strains etc then a bit of breast stroke will be beneficial. That's where all my ills start and I find it helps..
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
im getting into open water swimming.no lanes.no turn arounds
,its like fell running to road running.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
Whether you think swimming helps your running depends on whether you think cross training generally helps your running. I think it does because I think it helps prevent injury and build all round fitness, which I ultimately believe must be better for you. Just my opinion.
I used to swim a mile a day and I was the fittest I had ever been, although I used it on top of my training not as a recovery session.
Front crawl is excellent for core strength and learning to control your breathing. Personally I love the feeling of swimming front crawl, which when done properly almost feels effortless, sort of hypnotic when you get in the rhythm. I also most like my body shape when I swim :thumbup:
Gave up due to issues with sneezing. Just getting back into swimming now as part of my return to health and fitness after a long lay off. Loving it.
I too love open water swimming, which is like the difference between road running and fell running. Got into it when I did some olympic triathlons years ago. Different techniques needed such as sighting. I'm thinking of doing some 10k open water swims at some point. Open water swimmming is becoming popular and there are now open water events as well as much more information about where you can wild swim.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
Did the 1500m open water swim Buttermere swim (utterlybuttermereswim.co.uk) last Saturday. Martin did the 5k, there was also a 10k. It was great. Best lake I've swam in so far, much better than Derwent, Coniston or Ullswater, water was clear and warmish. It was quite low key event very much like a fell race. There are bigger organised swims like Great North Swim, this weekend in Windermere, quite commercial like Great North Run, wouldn't do that. Epic Events also organise lake swims. Everyone is very friendly
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
capernwray swims are on a wed,superb clear water.
ellethorpe is another very clear clean smiw think it opens daily,
just swam allethorpe,not as clear but still nice atmostphere
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
In my experience, swimming is good for running.
Along with cycling and walking...they all help in my opinion!
They all condition the body and different muscles, to make you overall stronger.
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Re: Swimming Any Good for Runn
Its pretty much all I can do a the moment so I hope you're right!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tahr
Quite new to swimming, but have been swimming with my local Tri club for a couple of months even got up at 5:00am this week to go before work for a session :confused:. 1 hour session of dills, races ect none stop front crawl and although I get out of breath and my arms and shoulders ache, I get out the pool and can happily run for 3 hours on the hill or 40 mile+ bike ride, it does not knock it out of you like a 1 hour hard run would IMO.
My view from my limited experience so far is it will not get you fit for running; it is good for a recovery session on a light day instead of a recovery run. I will keep it up as I am getting better at it and am starting to quite enjoy it but I am convinced at the minute that to build good fitness it is simply not intense enough if you are looking to be in anyway competitive in a fell race.
ATB
Tahr
Try doing 10*50 fly off 1.30min turnaround, then you'll know about intense!
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50m at 1:30 is faster than I could do by a long way, but I have still done timed lengths to 800m as fast as I am able, given my poor technique I am probably working just as hard as the faster guys.
But maybe you are right chaddy, but just from my limited experienceof the swimmers in my local tri-club most will leave me for dead in the swim, but get out of the water and all but one would never be any were near me in a road run, switch that to a hill run and the gap would be even bigger. Whether that is typical or not unless your name is Brownlee I didn’t know.
ATB
Tahr
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I swam through my 2month injury period of no running... Went from not being able to swim very well to being able to swim 1km in 30 mins but mainly breast stroke with a few lengths of crawl thrown in. Been back running a few months now and have continued to swim once a week if I can fit it in... I think its helped me loads with toning up and breathing etc. May even try a sprint next year but need a bike first!