Swimming is a great way to cross train for running.  It’s easy on the joints, the water provides resistance and you get the benefit of the elongation of the muscles with each stroke.

There are two ways to approach your laps.  You can swim for time or distance, keeping an easy, even stroke or you can do a swim workout.  Varying distances and strokes and speed.

Not surprisingly I prefer the swim workouts.  Some laps to warm up.  Then a few 50’s (2 laps slow, 2 laps fast) or 2- 100 IM’s (1 lap each of fly, backstroke, breast stroke and freestyle), some laps using a kick board (supporting your upper body and only using your legs)  some pulls (putting a pull buoy between your legs and only using your upper body) and finishing off with some cool down laps and I’m done.

There’s something strong and powerful about swimming.  I encourage you to check it out if you need a break from the road or want to become a better swimmer.  Check out a Master swim program (for the mature adults) or your community local pool for their adult swim hours.  All you need is a pair of goggles, a swim suit and a cap.

Now go run!

Keli 🙂