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.
Parents
Former Member
What is good for one is not necessarily good for another.
I was a very high floater even when I was younger. I did a lot of cross training. I ran, cycled, rowed, paddled, lifted weights, land drills that were proposed by the swim coach at Yale University, and lots of swimming.
As I got older my knees gave me trouble so cut out the running. Then after I switched to long distance swimming I eliminated everthing else except the land drills that Kipuith disigned and massive amounts of paced swimming, scattered in with sprint swim workouts. The sprint workouts were timed so I could swim fast when needed. I would throw in 25s, 50s and 100s as fast as I had ever competed in when I was a sprinter. I would start my training weighing in as high as 255lbs and when ready to swim my first race at about 225lbs. By the end of a distance swimming season I would weigh in at about 215. One year I ended up weighing 187, I looked like a skeliton with muscles. I had to eat very large meals to keep my weight up. During the marathon swim season.
What is good for one is not necessarily good for another.
I was a very high floater even when I was younger. I did a lot of cross training. I ran, cycled, rowed, paddled, lifted weights, land drills that were proposed by the swim coach at Yale University, and lots of swimming.
As I got older my knees gave me trouble so cut out the running. Then after I switched to long distance swimming I eliminated everthing else except the land drills that Kipuith disigned and massive amounts of paced swimming, scattered in with sprint swim workouts. The sprint workouts were timed so I could swim fast when needed. I would throw in 25s, 50s and 100s as fast as I had ever competed in when I was a sprinter. I would start my training weighing in as high as 255lbs and when ready to swim my first race at about 225lbs. By the end of a distance swimming season I would weigh in at about 215. One year I ended up weighing 187, I looked like a skeliton with muscles. I had to eat very large meals to keep my weight up. During the marathon swim season.
