Running. Does it help your swimming or is it an interesting diversion? A lot of people here seem to cross train with running. (Some are obviously triathletes). USS teams now have their swimmers running. But does running really help swimming?
For me, I'm not so sure. I think it helps a bit on the cardio side and may build leg strength. I do it to tighten everything up, because I like being outside and it gives my shoulders a break. But I'm not sure I wouldn't be better off with more pool time if my body could take it.
On this topic, I am both completely torn and completely confused. For me, the biggest benefit of cross training is keeping my interest in swimming high by diversifying my workouts. When I focus solely on swimming, as I am now, it does get a bit boring at times. However, when I was doing a lot of cross training, my swimming clearly suffered.
How true. Swimming alone gets dull. I may learn to row this summer for some aerobic cross training. That would seem to have more benefits for swimming than running in any event.
I like slogging along on my occasional 5 mile zen runs. And, as Bob notes, I'm convinced that they are absolutely no good for my swimming so I keep them to a minimum. But I have no real desire to do track workouts, and for great starts and turns you can do plyos and squats. Now, sled pulls sound kinda fun.
On this topic, I am both completely torn and completely confused. For me, the biggest benefit of cross training is keeping my interest in swimming high by diversifying my workouts. When I focus solely on swimming, as I am now, it does get a bit boring at times. However, when I was doing a lot of cross training, my swimming clearly suffered.
How true. Swimming alone gets dull. I may learn to row this summer for some aerobic cross training. That would seem to have more benefits for swimming than running in any event.
I like slogging along on my occasional 5 mile zen runs. And, as Bob notes, I'm convinced that they are absolutely no good for my swimming so I keep them to a minimum. But I have no real desire to do track workouts, and for great starts and turns you can do plyos and squats. Now, sled pulls sound kinda fun.
