Swimmers Body, Runners Body

And it is not a realistic goal for guys my age (although I'm sure that somewhere there are a few exceptions) to get ripped. One of the exceptions is our friend Rich Abrahams www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../Abrahams_RichA.jpg This photo appears to be from Worlds when they were at Stanford in 2006, so Rich was around 60 at the time. But I totally agree. I'm sure it's exceptionally rare for someone your age to look anything like the magazine cover guy. If you are very muscular than 93 kg for your height doesn't seem that high.

I find myself in a strange position - seemingly defending obesity! As a 58 year old life time recreational athlete, I find this weird. Personally I am 1.88m. tall and weigh around 93 kg. (6"2, about 205lbs.) with about 18% bf and muscular. About a year ago I consulted with a nutritionist who specializes in working with athletes. I wanted to get under 90kg. and drop to 15% bf. I was swimming and strength training 5-6 days a week before work so there was no way to add more exercise (my recovery ability, as well as my career, do not enable me to train twice a day). The nutritionist said that running would be more effective for weight loss than swimming but he realized that this was a non issue for an avid swimmer. So all the effort had to be directed to nutrition. I improved for a bit, fell off the wagon (damn those 5 star resort hotels) and am trying to get back on. Still, the nutritionist said that he can't remember seeing a more muscular guy my age. That was definitely a feel good moment. My point is that to look like the cover guy it is not enough to exercise. You have to have the right genes and follow a strict nutritional regime. Also, it is probably not sustainable year round. It's like boxers or weightlifters dropping bw to meet weigh ins. And it is not a realistic goal for guys my age (although I'm sure that somewhere there are a few exceptions) to get ripped. I personally don't even think that it is a worthy goal, but that is only my opinion. Peyton Manning is right !

As a general and totally subjective stereotype I'd say that women swimmers are more attractive than women runners and much more attractive than sedentary women. I've been carefully studying this subject for years (for scientific reasons, of course) and have not as yet reached a conclusion. I guess that the only thing to do is to continue my research:bliss:

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 According to calorie usage tables it isn't so. I'm masters swimmer and I daily do about 3200-4000 yards in the pool. When I don't swim because of some reasons I do running as well though I'm far from being competitive runner. In general I run about 9.5 miles in 45 minutes without any gasping with average heart rate 120. Swimming seems to be harder activity but I noticed that I lose more weight from running than from swimming.

The tables of calorie burning for swimming generally don't refer to the race pace or other high intensity work.Evidently it is harder to lose weight swimming because swimming increases appetite.

According to calorie usage tables it isn't so. I'm masters swimmer and I daily do about 3200-4000 yards in the pool. When I don't swim because of some reasons I do running as well though I'm far from being competitive runner. In general I run about 9.5 miles in 45 minutes without any gasping with average heart rate 120. That's a 10K in under 30 minutes. That would have put you in the top 20 in the NCAAs last year. Impressive!

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

According to calorie usage tables it isn't so. I'm masters swimmer and I daily do about 3200-4000 yards in the pool. When I don't swim because of some reasons I do running as well though I'm far from being competitive runner. In general I run about 9.5 miles in 45 minutes without any gasping with average heart rate 120. Swimming seems to be harder activity but I noticed that I lose more weight from running than from swimming. Those tables compare vigorous running with noodling. However, you are the most awesome runner ever. 120 heart rate holding a 4:44/ mile pace??

Those tables compare vigorous running with noodling. However, you are the most awesome runner ever. 120 heart rate holding a 4:44/ mile pace?? That's what heart rate monitor was showing. Anyway by feelings it is easier than swimming 1.5K - after that my heart rate is 135-140.