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.
I'm still going with
YES!
I'm still going with
NO!
because, as Chris notes, there are other ways of cross training that help swimming more: weights, core, cycling, rowing, yoga ... But, if it's the only cross training you do, than running is more beneficial than sitting on the couch as Aquaman notes.
I have 2 main issues with running (which I do really enjoy, miss greatly and is fantastic for remaining lean). First, it wreaks havoc with your ankles. Swimmers need loose flexy ankles to kick effectively; runners need strong inflexible ankles to run effectively and avoid injury. Hard to reconcile these two goals. And it's super easy to destroy your ankles running with sprains and whatnot. Second, running thrashes your legs. If all you want to do in the pool is swim and pull, this might not be so bad. However, my swimming is very kick based and I think many swimmers could benefit from kicking more. Not many masters seem to like to kick, but improving your kick can contribute hugely to faster swim times. But this is all difficult to achieve if you have leg fatigue from running (or plodding) and drylands. Having directly compared the two (running vs. drylands as cross training), I find it's decidedly better to spend your finite "leg energy" on drylands. My legs are much stronger from my dryland routine than they were from running (my fin addiction really helps build leg strength as well. :))
Stud, I also think you're improving just from more time in the water and focusing on technique. Plus, you've been hitting the ellipse machine and doing weights. So it's hard to isolate running as the source of, or significant factor in, your improvement.
I'm still going with
YES!
I'm still going with
NO!
because, as Chris notes, there are other ways of cross training that help swimming more: weights, core, cycling, rowing, yoga ... But, if it's the only cross training you do, than running is more beneficial than sitting on the couch as Aquaman notes.
I have 2 main issues with running (which I do really enjoy, miss greatly and is fantastic for remaining lean). First, it wreaks havoc with your ankles. Swimmers need loose flexy ankles to kick effectively; runners need strong inflexible ankles to run effectively and avoid injury. Hard to reconcile these two goals. And it's super easy to destroy your ankles running with sprains and whatnot. Second, running thrashes your legs. If all you want to do in the pool is swim and pull, this might not be so bad. However, my swimming is very kick based and I think many swimmers could benefit from kicking more. Not many masters seem to like to kick, but improving your kick can contribute hugely to faster swim times. But this is all difficult to achieve if you have leg fatigue from running (or plodding) and drylands. Having directly compared the two (running vs. drylands as cross training), I find it's decidedly better to spend your finite "leg energy" on drylands. My legs are much stronger from my dryland routine than they were from running (my fin addiction really helps build leg strength as well. :))
Stud, I also think you're improving just from more time in the water and focusing on technique. Plus, you've been hitting the ellipse machine and doing weights. So it's hard to isolate running as the source of, or significant factor in, your improvement.
