Forums >Cross Training>Swimming versus Running
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Since I am between marathon training schedules for the next 6 weeks I wanted to get some other activities in like biking and swiming. Biking just seems like an easier sport than running but swimming feels much harder. Is swimming more of a cardio sport and does it help with your breathing for running?
I love it and I hate it. I love it because it is such a great workout. I hate it because I suck at it but I am getting much better.
Trails Rock!
Since I am between marathon training schedules for the next 6 weeks I wanted to get some other activities in like biking and swiming. Biking just seems like an easier sport than running but swimming feels much harder. Is swimming more of a cardio sport and does it help with your breathing for running? I love it and I hate it. I love it because it is such a great workout. I hate it because I suck at it but I am getting much better.
Not a brilliant point, but why not juggle swimming, biking and strength training on a 3 on, one off schedule?
"If you have the fire, run..." -John Climacus
" Is swimming more of a cardio sport and does it help with your breathing for running?"
No, not anymore than running or biking.
It probably is for you right now because as you say......."I suck at it".
My training heart rate is the lowest when I'm in the pool. Which it should be. I'm horizontal, I'm using fewer muscles and those that I am using are smaller. Swimming can be a very good cardio workout if your swimming sprints vs distance.......
I do believe that it helps with your breathing for running. For one, you learn to fully inflate your lungs in one breath, you learn that going hypoxic isn't going to kill you....but unless someone punches you in the gut in the final 100yds of a 5k I don't think going into a hypoxic state matters. It probably improves your oxygen efficiency but I have no data currently to point you too.
I do have some kick drills that I use that strengthens the core and uses the same muscles that running and biking does.
If you were to learn how to swim with proper technique I think you would find that you can glide thru the water with a pretty low heart rate.
Man in Tights
So yeah you can get a good cardio out of any of these three.
That said, I train in all 3 sports and do 1/4 to 1/2 the running volume I used to do when I was a pure runner and I'm nearly as good as I ever was. And this is coming off an injury that had me not running for 5 months. At my current rate of improvement I expect to be setting running PR's again real soon (technically I set one this morning but I hadn't run a 10 miler in 2 years so it was a soft PR).
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose; it's how drunk you get. -- Homer Simpson
Sandi Sue
Races for 2013:
Kluane Bike Relay (4 legs 70 miles)
Calgary 70.3 (72.3)
Aukeman Sprint Triathlon 8/6/2013
Pain is Temporary Pride is Forever
I think that swimming gets bad rep in terms of cardio because swimmers with great cardio but not so good technique will often get passed by swimmers with poor cardio but good technique. This is frustrating to people coming to triathlon from running or cycling because in their sport your fitness level has a much greater importance relatively to technique.
So do swim and measure your pulse in the pool to correspond to the type of training you're trying to do. But note that the pulse swimming will always be lower than when running or cycling because (as slo hand mentions) you're horizontal and you're in cool water.
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There's no comparison. at a competitive they are ball breakers. Ask any Triathlete. Or ask Lance Armstrong. Biking seems easy. But hit a high gear and go uphill for 10 miles and it'll blow your lungs and quads out. Now let's take swimming. Just try a to do 1000 metres in less than 20 minutes. It'll blow your lungs and shoulders out again.
I think you made a typo somewhere in the swimming numbers -- that's only 2min/100m.
It's a 5k. It hurt like hell...then I tried to pick it up. The end.