5 Ways Swimming Can Increase Running Stamina

Swimming is a wonderful cross-training exercise that can help you build aerobic endurance and strengthen your body. It’s also a great way to get a break from running without having to worry about losing your fitness. Whether you’re injured or just want to add some extra cross-training to your workout routine, swimming is an easy way to get fit and stay healthy.

Swimming Improves Cardiovascular Fitness

A study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that swimmers were more able to complete a hard swim set than those who didn’t swim. This is because the muscles in the body are better able to take in oxygen.

As a result, a stronger heart can pump more blood to the muscles that need it, delivering more power and helping you swim faster.

Swimming Strengthens Arms

When you run, your arms are responsible for driving the rest of your body along, and when they’re strong, it helps you to maintain good form during races and training runs. By adding swimming to your training schedule, you can focus on building arm strength, which will give you a much more powerful and efficient run.

Stretches Your Joints

When runners perform repetitive movements, they can lose flexibility and become more prone to injury. Swimming is a great way to stretch and elongate your joints, which can help prevent common injuries such as calf and ankle problems.

Breathing Techniques Transfer to Running

Rhythmic breathing patterns are important for both swimming and running. By incorporating swimming into your training, you can practice and learn these patterns while improving your ability to breathe efficiently during running, increasing your lung capacity and overall performance.

To maximize the benefits of swimming, it’s important to do it a couple of times a week. This will keep your muscles and lungs conditioned and will allow them to recover more quickly after swimming workouts, says coach Patrick Billingsley of Palm Beach Masters in Florida.

Start with short distances and increase the length of time you’re in the water each time. Doing this will gradually build up your endurance over time, so you’ll be able to complete longer intervals in the pool.

You can also add in hand paddles, which are great for upper-body strength but not ideal for shoulder strains. To avoid these potential injuries, make sure you use proper swimming techniques and don’t over-stretch your shoulders.

The best thing about swimming is that it’s a no-impact exercise, which means you don’t have to worry about breaking bones and bruising ligaments. Plus, swimming is a great workout for your arms and core, which can help you build up muscle strength, boost your endurance, and improve your running technique.

Try to alternate your swim strokes in order to work all of your muscles, and do a different one each day. This will give your body a chance to adapt to new strokes, and it will also help you develop consistency in your swimming, which can translate into improved speed during races or hard swim sets.