What do you get out of swimming?
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Anonymous
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Just started a master's workout three weeks ago after running for 20 years (and tearing up my knees to bits). I swim about 1500-2000 meters a workout. I like it, but there's not the endorphins that I get running. What do you get out of swimming? I'm assuming it's great for toned arms and core but I haven't been swimming enough to see it yet.
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Anonymous
| are you jumping in the pool and just swimming or are you doing intervals etc? |
Anonymous
| If you're not getting endorphins, you may be holding back too much. I used to swim laps for exercise and my head would be in the clouds after an hour. I'd also feel like I could eat four meals at once. It really can be the best exercise. |
Anonymous
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OP here. There's a coach who posts a workout on a whiteboard that everyone's supposed to do. I'm a newbie at this, so I suppose that's intervals? Like 4x50 strong, then pyramids, etc.
Could be that I'm swimming too slow to get endorphins, that's true! I'm so paranoid about form and losing count of my laps (it's only a 25 m pool) that I spend all my time going slower than I probably can thinking about those two things the whole time. |
Anonymous
| ask the instructor if there is amore advanced class or move to a faster lane. sounds like you are stuck behind some slow horses on a trail ride. you should feel drained after your workout. |
Anonymous
NP: I swam with masters teams off and on in my 20s and 30s, and after a hard practice, I felt over the top energized. I was tired, sure, but stretched out and invigorated like no one's business. I'm usually a runner, but never had the aches and pains with swimming that I do with running (or rowing, my other sport of choice). Give it time, OP. You do have to swim pretty hard to get the endorphins, but they're great when they're there. Do focus on form, though--it's hard to go fast without it. |
Anonymous
| Peace. |
Anonymous
| I've been running 20 years like you. Did a triathlon last year for the first time, dreaded the swimming training almost more than the boring biking. I didn't think I would get back in the pool on a regular basis but started swimming regularly again about 4 months after the tri. I swim on my own, don't really get endorphins but have found I surprisingly enjoy it. The improvement and progression in my skills has been really satisfying. When I trained, I could only effectively breathe on one side and only did freestyle. I decided to become a bilateral breather and decided develop an effective butterfly. Long story short, like running, I've set goals and been challenging myself to do something harder. And since my butterfly stills needs a lot of work many months later, I keep working on my form and stroke and really enjoy it. The satisfaction of the full body workout and the upper body strength is a plus, I wasn't doing any regular strength (or ab) work and I definitely notice a difference now. |
Anonymous
Agree. I never feel the endorphins after swimming, but I still know I kicked ass if I feel exhausted, out of breath, warm, hungry, and my stomach looks flatter. |
Anonymous
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Swam for 20 min today. And ran for 20 min. And lifted for an hour. Not in that order.
Never did that before but feel great. Historically, for the past 20 yrs I have been mostly a cyclist. |
Anonymous
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A full body no impact workout. Most swimmers I know (including me) feel positively ravenous after a swim workout. You burn an insane amount of calories.
I no longer swim competitively, but I find it's great cross training for me, and the meditative quiet aspect for me is really good for my mental health. I also started as a swimmer as a kid, and I could see that making a difference versus coming over to it from running as an adult. |
Anonymous
| OP here again. Took all your advice. Started swimming harder. Wow. What a difference. I'm exhausted the rest of the day, but it is addicting. If I miss the master's workout, I find myself wanting to go to the pool on the weekends and banging out 1200m. I love it and it's not going to mess up my knees or ankles, yay! Thanks everyone! |
Anonymous
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That's great, OP (I'm 20:21 from above). As much of a die-hard runner as I am, there's something uniquely amazing about swimming. I have a hunch I'll take it up again when I get older. I want to try to run some PRs before my joints give out entirely.
The only thing I don't miss about swimming is the constant sweating if I swim in anything warmer than a cold pool. 
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Anonymous
Thank you. I just started, and after one workout this was exactly my discovery. I think that's a different solo style of swimming than the pump-up-to-endorphins that other PPs are talking about. But that's OK--that's why they make chocolate and vanilla. (I do plan on going at odd hours so I'm not clogging up the lane for anyone else. Being alone is part of the peace.) |
Anonymous
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As we get older and knees take a pounding from whatever-Mine have crepitus Says the doc- swimming will give you a sufficient workout and preserve joints. Win win.
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