Swimming or running?

[Shorin Ryuu]

Distance for distance, swimming takes more endurance simply because the amount of structures used in greater. At the same time, it places less stress due to impact upon the body (as running is merely continuous jumping, in a way).

 

I used to be on a swim team and ran cross country and track in high school. They both have benefits, but swimming is probably the safest in terms of long term health (barring drowning, I suppose).

 

Walking long distances quickly increases the amount of structures used as opposed to just running with less impact effects.

[Radok]

Because push-ups involves small muscles working slowly, while running involces the largest muscle group in the body working at a fast pace. Serious swimming involves all of the muscles in the body.

 

But since they're working at a fast pace, shouldn't they produce much more lactic acid, thus causing more muscular pain than squats or pushups? Following you logic, muscular endurance cannot be worked separately from cardio endurance. Guess that elliminates the need for any type of enduarance work aside from swimming, such as callisthenics.

 

Quite correct. However, the slower you work the muscle, the less oxygen they require, thus the less stress on the cardio. You can work on your leg endurance by walking 20 miles a day. That will require considerably less cadio work than running 20 miles.

 

Running involves the largest muscle group in the body working at peak capacity, requiring a large amount of oxynated blood, requiring the heart and lungs to work harder to supply. Push ups require a fraction of that energy. Competitive swimming involves both legs and arms muscles, and the accompanying increase in cardio, without the nasty effects of pounding the ground with every step.

 

Darn it, that's what I said in the first place! I said running requires more cardio, while swimming works on muscle endurance. You than said that is not possible, but now you say it is.