Many people find themselves wanting to work out, whether it is to get the summer bod they want, or to just feel good every day. As millions of people around the world start up the treadmill, what they really should be doing is hopping into a pool.
While running is far more popular, with around 621 million people running daily, (compared to the 64 million people who swim daily) swimming offers a wide range of benefits that often go overlooked. As a competitive swimmer of just about ten years, there are endless rationales as to why swimming is superior, and this article is dedicated to exploring at least some of them. So, here are five reasons you should switch out your running shoes for a pair of fins.
Swimming can burn serious calories
For those focused on calorie burn, swimming holds its own, and in many cases outperforms running. Swimming burns up to 25% more calories than running over the same time period. For every hour, you can burn just around 700 calories swimming, versus about 500 calories you burn from an hour of running.
It’s easier on your body
Unlike running, which puts repeated stress on joints, swimming is low-impact. The water supports your body weight, it comes with the benefits of stress reduction on joints, muscles and bones, pain management, and even an improved range of motion. Because of this, swimming is often recommended for recovery and physical therapy. Overall, swimming is not only good for you, but good for your body, and helpful towards recovery.
It is a true, full-body workout
When swimming, you engage more muscle groups than you do when running. From the arms, back, and chest, to the core and legs, it is a full body workout that allows all parts of your body to be used. Running focuses mostly on lower body muscles. As you get on with age, using more muscles can be beneficial, and you become a stronger person overall, rather than just in the lower half of your body. Plus, swimmers are shown to actually live longer by a long shot!
It benefits your mental wellness and feels better
I know I hate feeling sweaty and dirty after working out, and with swimming, that is never a problem. I get out feeling refreshed, proud of myself for working out, and ready to take a shower because I am already wet! Not only does it feel good to swim on a hot day (as well as in the rain), but it is also proven to have mental health benefits. Swimming improves resilience, reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress and it even boosts mental flexibility.
It’s a life-saving skill
Beyond fitness, swimming is a practical skill that can make a real difference. Living in a beach town, I think it is important that everyone should learn how to swim, and not only learn how, but be able to swim strongly. It’s one of the few workouts that doubles as a potential life-saving ability.
The one downside: accessibility
Running does have one clear advantage: it is accessible. You can run anywhere, at any time, but you cannot swim anywhere at any time. However, you can always go to the gym, your community pool, or even the ocean on a calm day to get a workout in.
These are only a few of the many reasons as to why swimming will always be better than running, but I can’t say much until you try it for yourself. Put down the running shorts, pick up some swim trunks, and swim a few laps. You’ll see just how rewarding it is.
