The swimming versus running discussion is less a debate and more of a one-sided argument that leaves runners in the wake of swimmers.
Swimming not only helps with general physical fitness, but it encompasses a host of other benefits such as muscle toning, breath control, and meditative qualities. It’s a total body workout that stretches your body—something it probably doesn’t get enough of.
Check out these 12 reasons why swimming is better than running.
1) We Get To Float
Related: 8 Benefits of Swimming You Probably Didn’t Know
The feeling of weightlessness in the water is like nothing else. It just feels better to be in the water. It’s liberating. Swimmers get to exercise in a weightless environment. How cool is that? It’s the best thing next to spacewalking!
2) It’s Low Impact
Running is a high-impact activity that can cause muscle strain, inflammation and other injuries. While there remains some debate about whether running leads to joint problems, its impact does leave runners susceptible to a myriad of problems. Swimming is low-impact, which means you can do it into your 100s (literally)!
3) You Don’t Have To Shower After
The fact that you’re already wet makes it 10x easier to either dry off and change almost immediately after finishing a workout, or take a quick rinse. The convenience of already being wet makes swimming the perfect option if you’re on a tight schedule (although, we do recommend a quick rinse in the shower if you have a spare minute or two!).
4) More Training Toys To Put On Your Wish List
Long fins, short fins, paddles, snorkel, pull buoy, kick board, the list goes on! The endless amount of training accessories keeps swimming fun and engaging. They make the perfect stocking stuffers, and are great presents for anytime of the year.
5) It’s A Total Body Workout
From head to toe, swimming engages your entire body. Each competitive stroke engages different muscle groups and torches calories! Fun Fact: swimming butterfly is the most taxing movement among all sports. According to Nutristrategy.com, the calorie burn ranges from 649 calories for a 130-pound person to 1,024 calories for a 205-pound person.
6) Three Words: The Olympic Games
The Olympic games is the world’s largest sporting event – it attracts nearly 4 billion viewers. Swimming is the most popular Olympic sport and occupies 8 days of prime-time television in the first week of the games. Top athletes from the Olympics emerge as global icons and national heroes.
7) Improves Body Awareness
Swimming improves flexibility, range of motion, and functional strength in the water. This leads to improved core strength and stability in all your joints, as well as stronger muscles and enhanced motor skills.
8) Group Swim Workouts Are More Social
While staring at the black line can get monotonous, so can running at the same pace. If you swim with a group, the camaraderie is unbeatable. Between sets, swimmers do nothing but talk with each other. Have you ever tried to hold a conversation during a run?
9) Variety
No two swim workouts ever have to be the same. While some swimmers enjoy the consistency of doing the same workouts over and over, most enjoy mixing it up! The ability to change strokes, alternate energy systems and use equipment makes swimming a mentally stimulating experience.
10) Swimming Makes You Smarter
Your brain loves swimming. The extra blood and oxygen helps you become more alert, awake, and focused. It releases endorphins, the “feel good” hormones in our body.
Swimming requires your mind to make neuromuscular adjustments to imbalances created from continuous movement through the water. As a result swimming improves dynamic balance and coordination, reflexes, bone density and muscular endurance.
11) No Sweat! Or At Least It Doesn’t Feel Like It!
Okay, you do sweat when you swim, but because the cool pool water conducts your body heat, you don’t sweat nearly as much as you would if you were exercising out of the water. Have you ever tried going for a run in 90-degree heat? Let’s just say we’ve all experienced the moment when your t-shirt changes color from the start of your workout…
12) The Swimmer Body
There are a ton of health benefits swimming has to offer, but probably none that serves our vanity quite as much as having a swimmer’s body. Don’t be shy about your swimmer body. You earned it!
BONUS: Sunrises
Whether you’re swimming open water or in the pool, swimmers experience the most magnificent sunrises/sunsets!
Related: 10 Reasons You Need To Try Swimming
Ready to try swimming? Download the MySwimPro app and get your personalized Training Plan! Save $35 on your first year with code SWIM35 >
12 Comments
Excellent article! Most people think of swimming as a total body workout, but it’s amazing that swimming can boost your brain power. A swim in the morning keeps me feeling great through the day. Helps build endurance, strength and stamina.
Swimming relieves tension, depression, mood, and thoughts, especially when swimming for long distances..
this is a great source of info, I’m doing an essay on swimming & this has helped me a lot!!!!
thank you for this amazing site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Swimming helps me to relieve the symptoms related to menopause.
Swimming weight training & martial arts are the best great jogging is neither use nor ornament CRAP and overated i think in all honesty
It’s a very informative topic. Thanks!
Pingback: Keeping To An Exercise Routine When Your Body Struggles To Keep Up - Spinnin Plates
Pingback: Running Vs Swimming: Which Is Better For You? - Sloth To Flash Rehab
I used to just swim for an hour but now I run 5k with my swimmers underneath and then jump into the ocean for a quick swim, I can honestly say it’s the BEST feeling to combine the two 🏃♀️ 🏊♀️ 👊
I swam at Cal all four years. It’s a great sport and everything you write is true. However, running is a fine equal, especially in the mountains where I live. Combine it with 20 mins of dumbells and stretch bands and it matches any swim workout…and you don’t need a pool! One way or another, keep moving to stay healthy!
I’m in my 60’s and used to be an ardent squash player until a few years ago when I developed ‘sciatica’. Also used to jog a lot to keep up my fitness. Then calf problems, archilles tendon issues. Knee inflammation etc. Thank God for swimming, I burn almost the same about of calories (freestyle) in a 1.15min swim than a 1 hr jog.
Some good points but also a few absolute fails in this article.
#3: Not showering after a swim is great if the idea of carrying around other peoples urine & other germs is fun.
#4: Running is great because you don’t need toys. It’s just you & some running clothes/shoes.
#6: Theres also running at the olympics too
#8: I’ve done group swim workouts too & they aren’t social. it’s more about people wanting to get it over & done with.
#10: Running is also exercise & also releases endorphins. Therefore by this article’s statement running also makes you smarter.
Bonus: You can also run & see sunrises too.