The Cross-training Effect between Swimming and Running

This investigation examined the crosstraining effect of swim training on middle distance running performance. Eight, healthy, untrained subjects (mean age + SD = 24.63 + 2.77 yrs) participated in a 12 week. swim training program. Before and immediately following the training period, measurements were made of: maximal oxygen consumption (V03 max.) (treadmill); anaerobic capacity (Wingate test); knee and shoulder muscle strength (isokinetic dynamometer); 100m and 200m swim timetrials; and 400m and 800m run time-trials. VOmax. increased from a mean of 42.06 + 5.1 ml/kg/min. to 45.39 + 5.05 ml/kg/min. (8.137. ; p< 0.005). The 100m, 200m swim times and the 400m, 800m run times improved significantly in response to the swimming training (p< 0.0001). Dynamometry showed significant inc reases in power and work during knee flexion at an angular velocity of 60 °/sec; knee extension at 245 °/sec; and during shoulder f1 ex ion and extension at 195 and 245 °/sec. The Wingate test however, did not show any changes after the training period. A cross-training effect by swim training on running performance was attained among the untrained, noncompetitive swimmers of this study. While mode of activity was nonspecific, a training response was attained by keeping the intensity and volume of the swim training specific to middle distance run training.