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.
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Former Member
I am a competitive cyclist and 2x a week runner who just got into swimming a few months ago. I swim Ok but have noticed something when we do kick...I go nowhere ( literally!), and I can swim pull just as fast as regular free...so that tells you something about running ( and cycling) and swimming! If you want to be the best swimmer you can be focus on swimming...if you don't care about that and just want higher level of fitness then keep on running.
I am a competitive cyclist and 2x a week runner who just got into swimming a few months ago. I swim Ok but have noticed something when we do kick...I go nowhere ( literally!), and I can swim pull just as fast as regular free...so that tells you something about running ( and cycling) and swimming! If you want to be the best swimmer you can be focus on swimming...if you don't care about that and just want higher level of fitness then keep on running.
