Running or Swimming?

Clark Black

Most people consider swimming a better exercise compared to running. Why is that
:rolleyes:

Reply 1

Ryan

Uses more muscles aswell as being less repetitive.

Reply 2

Bis

swimming uses a bigger variation of muscles and it takes the stress off the joints. its also more fun.

Reply 3

dede

yeah but the real question is, is dancing good exercise?

heh heh heh ...

Reply 4

homoterror

it does bugger all for me though, 50 lengths, and I'm not even breathless, 15 mins running and I'm sweating, exhausted and full of oxygen :biggrin:

Reply 5

pggirl

Swimming way better than running. Although, u tend to get broad shoulders from it!

Reply 6

Bis

pggirl

Swimming way better than running. Although, u tend to get broad shoulders from it!

do you? does it change the bone structure of your shoulders then? :rolleyes:

Reply 7

username30638

Clark Black

Most people consider swimming a better exercise compared to running. Why is that
:rolleyes:

Swimming all the way I'm afraid!

I used to use the gym but I couldn't bare the hot sweatiness of it... I also used to feel dead after each time I went and didn't really notice any gain (perhaps I just had crap technique :biggrin:

)

I've been swimming now for almost 2 years now and compared to the gym or running, there is no contest! As well as the toning, cardio etc, it also relieves stress and just makes you feel good. Also from what I've read, running and jogging carries quite a high risk of injury (high impact on the joints), whereas swimming is low impact and there is hardly any risk of hurting yourself (unless you have shockingly bad technique).

Reply 8

beanie

Swimming uses all the muscles in your body, so you work on everywhere, and you're changing anaerobic and aerobic breathing a lot, which is just better for your heart.

I don't really have broad shoulders.. Well I've never noticed if I do. But I have muscley thighs though which can get annoying sometimes.

homoterror

it does bugger all for me though, 50 lengths, and I'm not even breathless, 15 mins running and I'm sweating, exhausted and full of oxygen

Depends what kind of training you're doing really, what pulse you're on, whether you're doing any kind of 'drill' with your strokes. If you're just doing a general swim down then 50 lengths wouldn't do alot for you.

Reply 9

homoterror

I need swimming lessons :frown:

Reply 10

Barny

beanie

Swimming uses all the muscles in your body, so you work on everywhere, and you're changing anaerobic and aerobic breathing a lot, which is just better for your heart.
.

OK. Why does it matter how many muscles the exercise uses? How does this improve the quality of the exercise?

"Changing anaerobic and aerobic breathing a lot" - is there different types of breathing then, for anaerobic and aerobic energy pathways? News to me. Why is this better for your heart exactly?

Personally, I'd say say running was better than swimming, everyone can run, not everyone can swim.

Reply 11

Zurich

Clark Black

Most people consider swimming a better exercise compared to running. Why is that
:rolleyes:

Because it is.

Reply 12

AlbelNox

If it's for weight loss reasons, then running is better cause it's less intimidating wearing a tracksuit in public than a swimming costume :p:

Personally when i was trying to lose weight, i found that as i got better and better at running (better endurance, stamina, speed) i lost more and more weight, and then as i began to lose fat i did light weight lifting to tone up. With swimming i didn't really notice a huge difference though.
lol i guess to settle the argument both sides could say it depends on the individual's body, plus the techniques you do :redface: