Is swimming good for running? (Read 4209 times)

The question is "compared to what?". Compared with going for a run... not really - but then you can only run so much in the week. Compared to doing nothing probably a bit.

 

It's pretty much like all forms of cross-training. Mostly they're better for your running than doing nothing, but not as good as running. But if you run too much you'll end up over-trained, under-recovered and/or injured...

Define "too much running".

1 mile more than you should?  Other than that, I have no idea what that means. 

Although, my mother in law always tell me I run too much, but when I ask her what number wouldn't be too much, she doesn't know how to respond. I think for her the answer would be 0. 

Very good answer, Tom.  I just wanted to know what people who seem to have already concluded that they'd need to "cross train" because they might "run too much" and hurt themselves think of "too much" running.  I'll bet it's closer to 20 than 120.

That amount that leaves you injured or not improving any more. You have to find it for yourself... and it'll change through time for each person.

I am inclined to believe that once someone has been running consistently for a while say a couple of years, then the volume is not likely lead to injury, but maybe running fast, or running too high a percentage of that too fast might.  That faster running tolerance is probably different for each person, and we might have to find that out the hard way, but more often than not,  volume is not likely to be the culprit.  My running slows down when I run more than I am capable for my current fitness and I think that is a self regulating mechanism.  

I guess what I am trying to say is by doing some auxiliary strength and flexibility exercises and/or some drills one can avoid getting injured.

That's a good one too though that really doesn't explain anything.  I'd say most people never find out "that amount that leaves you injured and not improving any more" mileage simply because they are too busy putsing around with other things like swimming. 

 

You don't get injured because you run a lot; you get injured because you weren't smart enough.  In most cases, people have the answer why they got injured; they just don't see it or never implimented what they've learnt from previous injuries.

Most club runners, and a lot of people hereabouts get injured from time to time. As do many elite runners. Saying that we're injuring ourselves because we're not "smart enough" is of course sort of true. If we knew in advance that we were going to end up injured we'd do something else instead. 

The best thing, I think, is to really take note when you start to feel aches and pains. Often times when people end up out of action for a time there are warning signs that they should have backed off a bit, but we can all get into a bit of self-delusion from time to time. Over time you start to gain a bit of experience about what kind of thing is transitory and what isn't.

There are certainly times when it's probably wise not to run more. Of course you can just rest, but on those occasions it can sometimes be refreshing to cycle or swim or whatever, and is probably better for your running than doing nothing (although maybe not much).