Swimming or running?

[aefibird]

Which would you say was the better exercise - a mile of swimming or a mile of running?

 

I swim pretty regularly (3-4 times a week usually, more if I'm off work on holiday), but one of the guys at my karate club has told me that I'd be better off running instead, as it is better excercise.

 

I was always under the impression that both are good cardio and that neither is better than the other.

 

I generally swim between 1 and 1 & 1/2 miles per session, alternating breast stroke, front crawl and back stroke (I can swim butterfly, but I'm very bad at it!).

[TangSooGuy]

If anything, I'd sooner believe that swimming is better exercise than running... it seems like your using more muscles in swimming...I know I'd rather run a mile than swim a mile any day.....

[CanuckMA]

Swim. More complete workout. Gentler on the joints. Ask your friend to do the 'fly for a mile

[Red J]

Without a doubt, swimming a mile is a better workout. My reasoning is that the average person can run a mile in 8-10 minutes and that same person would take 25-30 minutes swimming a mile. You spend more time with an elevated heart rate swimming a mile than you do running a mile.

 

Now, given equal times like 30 minutes versus 30 minutes I pick running. I feel like a get a better workout and have an easier time breathing. Here is a link that demonstrates that running burns more calories.

 

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/exercise-heart/page3.htm

 

I don't see a problem with your swimming for cardio. If you enjoy it why stop? In other words, if it's not broken don't fix it.

[soul fighter]

I'd swim if I knew how

 

So I just run instead

[Radok]

I am a cross country runner, and to me it seems like running is more taxing on the cardio-vascular system's endurance, while swimming is more taxing on the muscular system.

[Hudson]

I'd say go for the swimming. I run and swim regularly (Runs in the EARLY mornings, swim in the afternoon). I feel running definately gets me breathing harder (Especially after I sprint) but I love swimming and swimming plenty of laps still gives you a good cardio workout. Work on your butterfly! That's probably the best stroke for wearing you out.

[Kaos666]

running is avery good endurance and strength building excersice, the only problem with it is that it is hard on your bones and joints, you may have problems later on...

 

swimming is just awesome, it works of strength, endurance, lung capacity and is much more intence than running, plus it goes easy on your joints... only problem is that it's not as accessiable

 

if you can, swim and run, that will give your the best of both worlds...

[CanuckMA]

I am a cross country runner, and to me it seems like running is more taxing on the cardio-vascular system's endurance, while swimming is more taxing on the muscular system.

 

Does not compute. Any exercise that requires prolonged, arduous activity by the mucular system will require an influx of oxigen to those muscles. That in turn taxes your cardio-vascular.

[aefibird]

Work on your butterfly!

 

Yeah, I'm trying to. When I was younger I swam for my school, as well as a local club. However, my main stroke was back crawl, so I used to spend most of my time doing that. I never did 'fly much.

 

My mum is a retired swimming instructor/coach and she always says I look like I'm trying to kill myself by drowning everytime I swim butterfly.