When it comes to cardiovascular training, running and cycling get most of the attention. However, swimming is arguably the most complete full-body workout available. It is low-impact, high-resistance, and burns calories at a highly rapid rate.
The Low-Impact Advantage
Because water supports your body weight, swimming removes the impact stress from your joints. This makes it an ideal option for larger individuals, people recovering from knee or hip injuries, and lifters who want to add cardio without adding skeletal wear. You can estimate your exact calorie burn based on stroke style and weight using our Swimming Calorie Calculator.
Pacing and Technique
Unlike running, where pacing is intuitive, swimming pacing requires split management based on pool lengths (usually measured per 100 meters or 100 yards). To convert splits and keep track of your aerobic efficiency in the pool, use our Swimming Pace Calculator.
Consistent pool sessions adapt your shoulder endurance and lung capacity rapidly. To forecast your future swimming pace as you increase weekly volume, consult our Swim Progress Predictor.