I run and swim for fitness, competing in both sports. I'm a better swimmer than runner, so have been focussing more on running lately (especially as our small pool does not offer many masters or lengths only times). Many people have told me that running has a negative effect on swimming for various reasons:
1. running makes your ankles inflexible
2. running makes you lose muscle mass
3. running emphasizes quad muscles too much, which will throw swimming strokes off
Is there any truth to the above? Can running complement swimming?
Any thoughts or info on running and swimming would be appreciated.
Parents
Former Member
Lexa,
Though not a specialist in exercise physiology but I don't think running is going to hurt your swimming. I believe Janet Evans use to run about 4 miles a day in preperation for the Olympics. I use to run quite a bit during water polo season posting a 1/2 marathon time of 1hr 35 minutes and we use to do running during swim season so I don't think that complimenting your swim training with running is going to hurt you in the ways you've expressed.
Jeff
Lexa,
Though not a specialist in exercise physiology but I don't think running is going to hurt your swimming. I believe Janet Evans use to run about 4 miles a day in preperation for the Olympics. I use to run quite a bit during water polo season posting a 1/2 marathon time of 1hr 35 minutes and we use to do running during swim season so I don't think that complimenting your swim training with running is going to hurt you in the ways you've expressed.
Jeff
