running vs. swimming

I had an enlightening experience on the road last weekend. Normally I run 4
times a week, 3-4 miles at about a 10-min mile pace as one component of my
overall routine. Last Saturday I was too tired to run at 5:30 AM (stayed up
to watch the game) so I decided I would run in the evening after class. It
didn't happen because it got late with stuff I had to do. I was in a hotel
with a small pool and strangely enough the pool was deserted so I figured
I'd swim for 30 minutes in addition to some power yoga and dumbell work in
my room.

The pool was so small that it only took about 6 strokes to get from one side
to the other. I kept sinking and couldn't keep my head high enough to
breathe at times. I used to swim and know the mechanics of the strokes but
had to move quickly in order to stay afloat. Needless to say, I was
exhausted in less than 10 minutes. I couldn't believe how tired I was
already. I ended up running laps in the pool for another 10 minutes and
then swimming again for a while.

I don't care much for swimming, but the workout was so difficult that now
I've decided I must conquer this. Fortunately the resorts in town sell
memberships to their pools during the winter (off-season) and I found a
place that has treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals (mroe than the local
fitness center) in addition to decent sized pool and after reading the posts
about varying the cardio (which I agree with 100%) I think this is worth a
shot. Just trying to get DH to join with me

Jenn
300/147

"Jennifer Austin" wrote
snip

I don't care much for swimming, but the workout was so difficult that now
I've decided I must conquer this. Fortunately the resorts in town sell
memberships to their pools during the winter (off-season) and I found a
place that has treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals (mroe than the local
fitness center) in addition to decent sized pool and after reading the
posts
about varying the cardio (which I agree with 100%) I think this is worth a
shot. Just trying to get DH to join with me

Jenn
300/147

The only other time I lost weight was from swimming. I read in a magazine
that if you swim 15 minutes a day, you'd lose weight. We lived in a
high-rise in Germany with a pool in the basement. I picked up my kitchen
timer, swam laps for 15 minutes, came back upstairs and took a nap! lol I
started swimming for at least 15 minutes most days, began eating a *little*
better and lost 30 pounds that summer.

I would swim in a heartbeat if there was a pool closer than 24 miles away in
Ellsworth.

--
Walking on . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

My family loves swimming. My kids swim on summer swim teams and the whole
family loves doing the neighborhood pool all day on weekends. One joke we
always have is when we are all in the deep end and I just "stand" there
bobbing vertically with the occasional sculling motion to stay vertical and
my husband desperately treads water to stay afloat. I float like a cork, he
sinks like a rock. He is thin(ish), I am not. I will note, however, that
since I lost my initial 80 lbs I've had to work a little harder to stay
afloat...I can no longer tote a child into the deep end and simply hold them
up based on my natural buoyancy. So...it doesn't surprise me that given all
the weight you've lost, that you are finding swimming more difficult. Even
though heavy, I think the fat cells provided a buoyancy that made it easier
for us to float and thus swim. I find swimming to be a great cardio
workout, but I also think it's hard on my knees. Weird I know, but I think
somehow when I kick I hyperextend my knees since I was taught to kick from
the hip and keep the knees straight. Have fun with your swimming. Elise.
"Jennifer Austin" wrote in message
...
I had an enlightening experience on the road last weekend. Normally I run
4
times a week, 3-4 miles at about a 10-min mile pace as one component of my
overall routine. Last Saturday I was too tired to run at 5:30 AM (stayed
up
to watch the game) so I decided I would run in the evening after class.
It
didn't happen because it got late with stuff I had to do. I was in a
hotel
with a small pool and strangely enough the pool was deserted so I figured
I'd swim for 30 minutes in addition to some power yoga and dumbell work in
my room.

The pool was so small that it only took about 6 strokes to get from one
side
to the other. I kept sinking and couldn't keep my head high enough to
breathe at times. I used to swim and know the mechanics of the strokes
but
had to move quickly in order to stay afloat. Needless to say, I was
exhausted in less than 10 minutes. I couldn't believe how tired I was
already. I ended up running laps in the pool for another 10 minutes and
then swimming again for a while.

I don't care much for swimming, but the workout was so difficult that now
I've decided I must conquer this. Fortunately the resorts in town sell
memberships to their pools during the winter (off-season) and I found a
place that has treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals (mroe than the local
fitness center) in addition to decent sized pool and after reading the
posts
about varying the cardio (which I agree with 100%) I think this is worth a
shot. Just trying to get DH to join with me

Jenn
300/147

"Jennifer Austin" wrote in message
...
I had an enlightening experience on the road last weekend. Normally I run
4
times a week, 3-4 miles at about a 10-min mile pace as one component of my
overall routine. Last Saturday I was too tired to run at 5:30 AM (stayed
up
to watch the game) so I decided I would run in the evening after class.
It
didn't happen because it got late with stuff I had to do. I was in a
hotel
with a small pool and strangely enough the pool was deserted so I figured
I'd swim for 30 minutes in addition to some power yoga and dumbell work in
my room.

The pool was so small that it only took about 6 strokes to get from one
side
to the other. I kept sinking and couldn't keep my head high enough to
breathe at times. I used to swim and know the mechanics of the strokes
but
had to move quickly in order to stay afloat. Needless to say, I was
exhausted in less than 10 minutes. I couldn't believe how tired I was
already. I ended up running laps in the pool for another 10 minutes and
then swimming again for a while.

I don't care much for swimming, but the workout was so difficult that now
I've decided I must conquer this. Fortunately the resorts in town sell
memberships to their pools during the winter (off-season) and I found a
place that has treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals (mroe than the local
fitness center) in addition to decent sized pool and after reading the
posts
about varying the cardio (which I agree with 100%) I think this is worth a
shot. Just trying to get DH to join with me

Jenn
300/147

I was a competitive swimmer in high school: distance (400 meter) &
butterfly. I had enormous upper body strength. Unlike when I was distance
running, I was hungry all the time. When one swims, the body tries to hold
on to every ounce. It is a great cardio workout, though, especially when
combined with running or walking.

Martha

"MH" wrote in message
news
I was a competitive swimmer in high school: distance (400 meter) &
butterfly. I had enormous upper body strength. Unlike when I was distance
running, I was hungry all the time. When one swims, the body tries to hold
on to every ounce. It is a great cardio workout, though, especially when
combined with running or walking.

Martha


I competed one year as a junior. I noticed it was one of the few hard
exercises I could do at night and still fall asleep with no problem. That's
another advantage. I'm headed to the resort to sign up tomorrow. I also
like the idea of combining it with the running or walking on the treadmill.
I just have to figure out which is less offensive, diving into the pool
sweaty from running or jumping on the treadmill wet from swimming
A true triathalon starts with a swim, then bike, then run, correct? I may
just yet be ready for the mini-tri next summer!!

Jenn

Jenn, I don't do running but I do some serious walking, and I also go
swimming about once a week.
I find the two types of exercise affect me in completely different
ways, and I regard them as complementary. Maybe it's because I'm not
a very strong swimmer and can only do breast stroke. I find this very
hard work for the upper arms, shoulders and chest muscles but it
hardly works my legs at all. If I miss a few weeks swimming, I find
it even harder. Regular visits to the pool make it come easier.
On the other hand, walking exercises my lower body, particularly
thighs and calf muscles. Swimming makes me feel much fitter
immediately afterwards, but it's not a weight bearing exercise and
probably doesn't do much to prevent things like oseteoperosis.

janice
233/161/133


On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 13:55:56 -0500, "Jennifer Austin"
wrote:

I had an enlightening experience on the road last weekend. Normally I run 4
times a week, 3-4 miles at about a 10-min mile pace as one component of my
overall routine. Last Saturday I was too tired to run at 5:30 AM (stayed up
to watch the game) so I decided I would run in the evening after class. It
didn't happen because it got late with stuff I had to do. I was in a hotel
with a small pool and strangely enough the pool was deserted so I figured
I'd swim for 30 minutes in addition to some power yoga and dumbell work in
my room.

The pool was so small that it only took about 6 strokes to get from one side
to the other. I kept sinking and couldn't keep my head high enough to
breathe at times. I used to swim and know the mechanics of the strokes but
had to move quickly in order to stay afloat. Needless to say, I was
exhausted in less than 10 minutes. I couldn't believe how tired I was
already. I ended up running laps in the pool for another 10 minutes and
then swimming again for a while.

I don't care much for swimming, but the workout was so difficult that now
I've decided I must conquer this. Fortunately the resorts in town sell
memberships to their pools during the winter (off-season) and I found a
place that has treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals (mroe than the local
fitness center) in addition to decent sized pool and after reading the posts
about varying the cardio (which I agree with 100%) I think this is worth a
shot. Just trying to get DH to join with me

Jenn
300/147

"Jennifer Austin" wrote in message
...

"MH" wrote in message
news
I was a competitive swimmer in high school: distance (400 meter) &
butterfly. I had enormous upper body strength. Unlike when I was
distance
running, I was hungry all the time. When one swims, the body tries to
hold
on to every ounce. It is a great cardio workout, though, especially when
combined with running or walking.

Martha


I competed one year as a junior. I noticed it was one of the few hard
exercises I could do at night and still fall asleep with no problem.
That's
another advantage. I'm headed to the resort to sign up tomorrow. I also
like the idea of combining it with the running or walking on the
treadmill.
I just have to figure out which is less offensive, diving into the pool
sweaty from running or jumping on the treadmill wet from swimming
A true triathalon starts with a swim, then bike, then run, correct? I may
just yet be ready for the mini-tri next summer!!

Jenn

Go for it, Jenn! I think that's great.

I'm thinking of signing up for rock climbing classes once I get my upper
body a bit stronger. I think we should all do something we've wanted to do
before but never tried.

Martha

"janice" wrote in message
...
Jenn, I don't do running but I do some serious walking, and I also go
swimming about once a week.
I find the two types of exercise affect me in completely different
ways, and I regard them as complementary. Maybe it's because I'm not
a very strong swimmer and can only do breast stroke. I find this very
hard work for the upper arms, shoulders and chest muscles but it
hardly works my legs at all.

Really? Then you're not kicking hard enough. The breast stroke, as well as
the crawl sprint and backstroke are the three races made for swimmers with
strong legs. Kick harder the next time you swim, push as hard as you can
with your legs. I was never a strong breast stroker beacuse my upper body
was much stronger than my legs in high school.

Either that, or learn the crawl and then do some distance swimming.

Martha

I also
like the idea of combining it with the running or walking on the treadmill.
I just have to figure out which is less offensive, diving into the pool
sweaty from running or jumping on the treadmill wet from swimming
A true triathalon starts with a swim, then bike, then run, correct? I may
just yet be ready for the mini-tri next summer!!

I will attest to the many benefits of swimming. Two summers ago, I
swam every single morning before work. I didn't lose too much weight,
but I dropped 3 pant sizes in one summer. (The not losing weight can
be attributed to gaining muscle, etc.) I also could easily mountain
bike 45 miles that summer, to what I largely attribute to gains made
in the pool.

Now that a pool is available to me again, I recently joined the Y
again and now swim before work. It is sooooo relaxing to start your
day that way. You're so refreshed and awake before heading to the
office.

Triathlons are swim, bike, run, but that doesn't necessarily mean you
have to do them in that order. Most triathletes train in 2 sports a
day, with a 3-sport day on one day of the weekend. If you go from the
treadmill to the pool, just make sure to make a quick stop in the
shower for a second before dipping in, and you'll be fine. It'd also
be a nice way to cool down.

"MH" wrote in message
news

Go for it, Jenn! I think that's great.

I'm thinking of signing up for rock climbing classes once I get my upper
body a bit stronger. I think we should all do something we've wanted to do
before but never tried.

Martha


I couldn't agree with you more. I've tried so many new exercises that when
the exercise assignment for our HMR class is "try something you haven't done
before" a few of us long timers just look at each other and try to come up
with things to try. Rock climbing did come up, but around here all you get
is the wall in the gym. I'm thinking about trying it out sometime but it's
very popular

Jenn