i run back and forth in a swimming pool.is this as good as running on grass or pavement.?

Question

the obvious resistance in the water prevents me from running hard ,so i am concerned about the benifits i am getting.

Answer 1

George, do you think Thai travel forum is the right place to ask this question. Have you looked to see if there is a fitness forum here on YA.

Answer 2

You are achieving great benefits.
1. Water provides greater resistance than air, so you are actually working harder (especially if you are matching the distance or time to what you would run out of the pool, though this is not necessary because of your extra effort) than running in the open air. You are actually able to achieve the same workout in a shorter period of time if you wish.
2. You are not pounding the heck out of your joints by running on a hard surface, therefore it is a low impact (much better for your joints over time) routine.
3. This like running or walking is a great cardio workout, without the time consumption and impact damage on your joints.
Continue happily with your fun and healthy exercise.

Answer 3

This may be silly - but why don't you swim in a swimming pool? As far as a workout goes, swimming say 10 lengths initally, and building up your stamina and speed (while swimming freestyle) is much better than running up and down the pool!

You can also alternate between arms and legs - even during breaststroke. Use only your arms for 10 lengths, then only your legs for 10 lengths. Increase the amount as your fitness increases.

I tend to find that after not running for a couple months, I can still go out and have a decent run. Swimming requires far more fitness and stamina.

Answer 4

They say that swimming is the best cardio-vascular exercise so I would say, as far as that goes, that you're doing okay. Running through water takes a lot more energy than running through air because displacing water is a lot harder than displacing air. Swimmers have longer, leaner muscles and it's also a lot less strain on your joints than running on pavement or grass.

Answer 5

If you can run in the deep water so your feet do not touch the bottom of the pool you will get a much harder workout than running on the ground. Many distance runners use this as one of their two per day training runs.

Answer 6

I think the resistance in the pool gives you more of a workout, and you can stay cool. You just have to watch out for the bottoms of your toes as it can rub them raw.

Answer 7

If you are trying to improve the movements of your legs or knees in particular, walking in the pool is excellent exercise and is often recommended by doctors who want patients to strengthen movements of knees and legs.

Answer 8

sounds like a good workout to me ......couldn't you pay a local to do your exercise for you?