Poll: Cross Training (Swimming, Cycling, Rowing) Helped Your Running Performance

silvery gold wrote:

A) Yes, it improved

B) No, it stayed the same

C) No, it got worse or led to injury

D) Never really tried and only run

Let's assume that you aren't replacing runs, but simply adding a session here and there.

Choice D. Not bi- or tri-curious, but I wouldn’t mind supplementing and finding out.

A)

I've been biking and swimming along with running since around 5 years after i started running. When i was at my peak, during base training, my schedule was roughly M - run/swim, T/Th am run/PM run, W - run, swim, F - off. Sat - tempo+ bike, Sun -Long run + swim.

As i got closer to key races, i would cut the bikes out and cut the swims down. But i had some great results on that plan.

Now in my 50s, i think it's even more important. Running has its years of sharp declines and i was out of swimming with a shoulder injury for a while. But once i got over the shoulder injury and was able to put in the yards in the pool again, my running seems to have kicked up a bit.

A) with qualifier. In my late 50s I ran my best masters marks just running. Now in my 70s I seemed to respond best with this pattern: M interval-repetition running,, Tu swimming, W tempo running, Th spin biking, F swimming, Sa long run-tempo running, Su spin biking.

Thanks for the responses so far! Wondering if others have experience here too.

A. Cycling and rucking ( hiking with a 30 pound pack load )to supplement my running. Both have really improved my hill running and overall lower body and core strength.

A lot of my prs happened when I was also swimming 2 or so days a week.

CCB wrote:

A lot of my prs happened when I was also swimming 2 or so days a week.

I will add that I had a swim background as a kid. I don’t think swimming helps if you don’t swim efficiently / know the strokes.

Swimming, helped with having better posture, lower hear rate and a more evenly strengthened and limber body.

Rowing, used to do at the gym to feel a pump overall body immediately after lifting weights.

Cycling, actually gave me aerobic endurance, muscle endurance and additional leg strength.

All combined would probably be a good idea.

If I could only do one it would be swimming. Cycling is often the most time manageable one though. Rowing is the least impactful for running in my opinion.

helped.

more volume

Swimming, 2-3 times a week, in addition to running with 15-20 minutes of heat directly aftward. Good low heart rate, low impact aerobic work. I also find it helps with recovery of legs during high milage weeks.

silvery gold wrote:

A) Yes, it improved

B) No, it stayed the same

C) No, it got worse or led to injury

D) Never really tried and only run

Let's assume that you aren't replacing runs, but simply adding a session here and there.

Rowing (indoor or outdoor), A, yes a significant improvement in run performance.

Swimming & Cycling, though fantastic for high levels of fitness, the translation to running was minimal.