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.
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OK some of these responses echo exactly my point. You have do do what works for you!
I'd love to do Phelps' workouts and training regime but I can't. I have time, and physical limitations and then a lack of previous experience tells me I will be on the ortho's table with shoulder injuries in no time.
Adopting training ethics and habits of top swimmers absolutely. Only swimming 50% of what they do and using dry-land to work the rest for your health...even more so.
My thought: Top swimmers with the golden 12-21 age period development years can do more than me, who from 8-12 swam...coming back at 37. I am fortunate, I had good coaching as a kid, I had some ability in BR, I had the basics, I had an above average aerobic capacity, and still had to re-wire myself. That said I don't have all the development years that the top swimmers had...in general. I'm not getting :22 on a 50 :24 maybe...with a lot of work. Even so running won't impact a 50 at least aerobically.
In my youth I danced, I ran, I lifted, I did martial arts, I played badminton, so maybe my "golden development" is in my legs...hence I can go for hours on land and get more for my aerobic base there. Sure it won't lead to a better stroke but my view is that my stroke holds together better for longer now...and you don't have to believe me, but it jumped up after doing cardio.
Other points, Tim and I have more in common on sporting terms than me and Chris Stevenson for example. I can learn much from Chris' blog about ideas and behaviors, but I can't swim like him. Tim and I can read our blogs and see what is working for each other and think "Hmm he's a pretty good approximation of me...maybe I should try that...or see what he did to improve."
Lastly, yeah there are plenty of older, fatter swimmers that can beat me...it isn't about size...it's about "tone."
I am not into suits but having tried it, I know it makes a compressed, flab-wobble free body shape. I'm trying to get as close to that in my own skin as possible.
From that POV, running helps swimming. Not the technical stroke work or feel, but the ability to maximise those elements which I have right now--while I still train and work on them.
OK some of these responses echo exactly my point. You have do do what works for you!
I'd love to do Phelps' workouts and training regime but I can't. I have time, and physical limitations and then a lack of previous experience tells me I will be on the ortho's table with shoulder injuries in no time.
Adopting training ethics and habits of top swimmers absolutely. Only swimming 50% of what they do and using dry-land to work the rest for your health...even more so.
My thought: Top swimmers with the golden 12-21 age period development years can do more than me, who from 8-12 swam...coming back at 37. I am fortunate, I had good coaching as a kid, I had some ability in BR, I had the basics, I had an above average aerobic capacity, and still had to re-wire myself. That said I don't have all the development years that the top swimmers had...in general. I'm not getting :22 on a 50 :24 maybe...with a lot of work. Even so running won't impact a 50 at least aerobically.
In my youth I danced, I ran, I lifted, I did martial arts, I played badminton, so maybe my "golden development" is in my legs...hence I can go for hours on land and get more for my aerobic base there. Sure it won't lead to a better stroke but my view is that my stroke holds together better for longer now...and you don't have to believe me, but it jumped up after doing cardio.
Other points, Tim and I have more in common on sporting terms than me and Chris Stevenson for example. I can learn much from Chris' blog about ideas and behaviors, but I can't swim like him. Tim and I can read our blogs and see what is working for each other and think "Hmm he's a pretty good approximation of me...maybe I should try that...or see what he did to improve."
Lastly, yeah there are plenty of older, fatter swimmers that can beat me...it isn't about size...it's about "tone."
I am not into suits but having tried it, I know it makes a compressed, flab-wobble free body shape. I'm trying to get as close to that in my own skin as possible.
From that POV, running helps swimming. Not the technical stroke work or feel, but the ability to maximise those elements which I have right now--while I still train and work on them.
