Finishing off the week of guest posts here, I’m really thrilled to have Christine of Love Life Surf posting. She’s an all-around athlete (she surfs!) and always has inspiring posts on her site. For her post here today, she’s going to enlighten us on how runners can benefit from swimming:
Hi! I’m Christine and I live in New York City with my two sons and husband. I blog over at Love, Life, Surf where I talk about the things in my life and that I love – primarily family, fitness and surfing. I’m excited to be over here at Miss Zippy’s place today. I love visiting here because she always has such great posts. She inspires me to focus on my running.
Since I know that Miss Zippy is training for a triathlon and with the Olympics in full swing, I wanted to talk a little bit about swimming. I grew up swimming and used to swim way back in high school. Recently, I’ve taken to the pool as part of my rehab from knee surgery in March. I haven’t been cleared yet to run and this was the best way for me to maintain my fitness in the interim.
A recent question on the Runners World forum got me thinking about the connection between swimming and running. I know that nothing will improve your running like running, but I do believe that swimming has helped improve my running in the past and that it will benefit me when I return to running (hopefully) in a month or so.
1. Builds cardiovascular fitness and lean muscle. Swimming is an incredible workout that burns calories, boosts metabolism and builds strength and lean muscle, particularly in your core, arms, hips, shoulders and glutes.
2. Low impact exercise. Swimming tends to work the upper body more so it’s a great way to be active while providing some relief to your legs from running. The buoyancy and low-impact nature of the pool can also aid in muscle recovery and injury prevention.
3. Learning to Breathe. I have a mild case of asthma that is primarily exercise-induced. Nothing has helped me regulate my breathing like swimming. The rhythmic breathing that’s required has allowed me to tune into my breath and better control it out of the pool and on my runs.
4. Focus. In much the same way that running gives me the opportunity to step outside of my own head and focus only on the road ahead, swimming offers something similar for me. I find that when I’m in the pool, it’s one of the only times that I focus solely on what I’m doing at that minute. My stroke. My kick. My breath.
Are you ready to get into the pool? Here are two of my favorite swim workouts:
SWIM PYRAMID – 1,800 yards / meters
600 warm-up (200 swim, 200 pull, 200 kick)
50 free
100 free
200 free
300 free
200 free
100 free
50 free
200 warm-down
BACK IN THE POOL WORKOUT - 2,700 yards / meters
600 warm-up (200 swim, 200 pull, 200 kick)
500 pull (with pull buoy)
500 swim
2 x 200 swim
4 x 75 (alternating slow / fast / slow and fast / slow / fast by 25s)
4 x 50 Free
200 cool-down
Do you swim? Do you find that it benefits your running? Have you used swimming as a way to rehab from injury?
Want more from Christine? Check out all her social media spots:
Blog: lovelifesurf.com
Twitter: @cyu888
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Life-Surf/330918320335267
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lovelifesurf/
Instagram: http://followgram.me/cyu888/
 "Swimming and running a match made in heaven? (guest post)")
I don’t take advantage of swimming the way I could – we belong to a town pool and I just “look at it” all summer while the kids play. My daughter has asthma and while she sometimes struggled with the laps she needed to do for swim team, I encouraged her to stick with it, because I knew it would be so very good for her breathing and lungs!
ilene recently posted..Hope on a Leash
Thanks Amanda for having me over here today! I’m truly honored!!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Back in the pool with swim intervals
Great post Christine. I recently started running this year and I’ve been looking for new forms of training that will help and also be easy on my knees. I still have to get used to being back in the pool since I haven’t been swimming for a long time but I’m looking forward to getting back to it.
I swam in high school and college, and just the other day was thinking about how similar the sports are (even though they seem SO different)… I really think they compliment each other well. Love the workouts – pyramids were always so fun (once you got to the top and could finally make your way back down, of course)!
Danielle recently posted..Delicious Sticks
I have a hard time motivating myself to get to the pool, but am always glad when I do. It’s one of my favorite low-impact workouts. Thanks for the interval ideas!
Laura recently posted..8 tips for injury prevention
Seriously thinking I need to dip my toes in the pool. It’s a start. First the toes, then the legs, then the bawwwdy, and then I’m paddling laps for fitnessl!! This would be a great feat for me. Not even kidding.
Yum Yucky recently posted..You Say You Really Want It? Then Your Mission Is Clear…
Can this workout be done at a gym indoor pool?
Can you do this in an indoor pool?
Kalie recently posted..#Loveyourself Giveaway!!!!
Yes! Definitely. I do this at a 25 yard indoor pool.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Back in the pool with swim intervals
I started swimming as cross training for my running. I was constantly getting injured so it has been good to throw some non impact training in the mix to try and stay healthy. It even lead to me doing some triathlons. I’m not very fast and sometimes have to force myself to get in the pool, but I’m always glad when I do.
Beth @ Miles and Trials recently posted..A Morning Blessing
great guest post! I really don’t take advantage of swimming…especially here in Texas where it’s practically warm year-round. I guess I haven’t found the passion for it, as I have for running. I’m not very “good” at it, so it messes with my confidence level for sure, but hey…we’re all in the fitness industry to try things we never thought possible and to push our bodies like never before, so I’m not sure why I’m so afraid of putting more time and effort into that sport…Hmmm, maybe I’ll hit the pool tomorrow!!! THANKS!
marissa recently posted..injured.
Running helps me a lot in lowering my cholesterol.. The best way of exercise for me. Before I am so lazy to it. But I am now force to do it every morning.
Born27 recently posted..Conference Call UK
I took up swimming this year as I crossed over to Triathlons. I LOVE IT! And have seen such an improvement in my overall fitness as a result. Great post!
Vieve recently posted..I’m Not Crying
Running and swimming is a great workout for everyone to have a healthy body… Sad to say, swimming is not for me, I always get cramps when I am paddling so I just opt for running or walking.
Nathania recently posted..Business Opportunities in the UK
Swimming is the best workout you can do! Mix it with running then you will need some sticky tape because you will be ripped!!
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