Can someone please explain to me why distance swimmers are encouraged NOT to lift weights, or too much weight?
I've read the "do nots" but no one explains the "whys".
Help!
If you have a huge amount of muscle mass those muscles are going to require a huge amount of oxygen to power them. This is great for sprints, but your lungs and heart can't supply this oxygen for long periods. For longer races you need a body that will use a lesser amount of oxygen, but sustain this level for much longer--hence less muscle bulk.
I'm not a physiologist or expert in any way, but this certainly makes sense to me.
EDIT: ^^ So, yeah, pretty much what Fred already said :)
If you have a huge amount of muscle mass those muscles are going to require a huge amount of oxygen to power them. This is great for sprints, but your lungs and heart can't supply this oxygen for long periods. For longer races you need a body that will use a lesser amount of oxygen, but sustain this level for much longer--hence less muscle bulk.
I'm not a physiologist or expert in any way, but this certainly makes sense to me.
EDIT: ^^ So, yeah, pretty much what Fred already said :)
