The other day, as I was being thrashed by a heavy lap swimmer, I once again pondered the difference between a swimmers body and a runners body. I have seen quite a few husky guys, carrying quite a bit of extra weight, who are also very good swimmers. On the other hand, you won't see runners who are carrying extra weight (unless they have just begun running). I think that there maybe a chicken-egg thing here (heavier guys tend not to go in for distance running) but I think that there are other considerations. One of them is that swimming tends to arouse appetite while running tends to suppress appetite.
Having said all that, I just can't yearn for a runners body, even though I would love to drop 5 kgs. I just do not want a body with no arms or shoulders. Also, maybe it's me, but this guy looks like an anorexic model:
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Former Member
Another runner media.lawrence.com/.../Shawn_Crawford_RELAYS_vert.jpg
Shawn Crawford
IMO it still depends on person. Both in running and swimming there are guys like Alan Bernard or Shawn Crawford as well as extremely slim guys. In general running uses more calories than swimming that's why runners have less fat but that doesn't mean that all of them are dystrophic looking.
More runners cdn.simplyshredded.com/.../va.jpg
Swimming uses a LOT more calories than running when both are at the same intensity. Because you can float and glide, many masters can do lots of yardage in the pool without really doing a lot of work.
Successful distance runners have less fat because of the huge penalty gravity makes you pay for extra weight on land, especially over longer races. That's why good marathoners always look like emaciated twerps.
I have run regularly for years (1:25 1/2 marathon). When I race, I strive to be one of the first finishers who definitely does not look like a runner.
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Former Member
Another runner media.lawrence.com/.../Shawn_Crawford_RELAYS_vert.jpg
Shawn Crawford
IMO it still depends on person. Both in running and swimming there are guys like Alan Bernard or Shawn Crawford as well as extremely slim guys. In general running uses more calories than swimming that's why runners have less fat but that doesn't mean that all of them are dystrophic looking.
More runners cdn.simplyshredded.com/.../va.jpg
Swimming uses a LOT more calories than running when both are at the same intensity. Because you can float and glide, many masters can do lots of yardage in the pool without really doing a lot of work.
Successful distance runners have less fat because of the huge penalty gravity makes you pay for extra weight on land, especially over longer races. That's why good marathoners always look like emaciated twerps.
I have run regularly for years (1:25 1/2 marathon). When I race, I strive to be one of the first finishers who definitely does not look like a runner.
i32.photobucket.com/.../31065678-IMG_3355.jpg
