Would swimming be any good as 400m training?

Question

Im a 400m runner, just started, won my first race in 56 seconds. I want to get sub 50 seconds by the time im 16 in summer nxt year. Would swimming help me to do this in any way?

Answer 1

Well it certainly wouldn't do you any harm.  It'll probably help build your muscles up a bit or it could just help you to relax :)

Answer 2

I've been swimming for the past couple months and when I laced up my running shoes this week I found that it was MUCH easier than I remembered-- I wasn't out of breath or anything.

Cardio- any time, running, swimming, cycling etc will get/keep your heart and lungs in shape.  When the season rolls around next year you won't have to train that part of your body.

It might be a good idea to do some other running year round-- jogging once or twice a week to keep you from losing too much form.

Answer 3

There is a principle called specificity of training.  Basically it means that if you want to run fast you have to train fast.  Swimming is not specific to running and wouldn't make you faster.   However,.....

Every runner should consider cross training activities.  Too much hard running with no change up in activity will lead to injuries.

Swimming is a good cardio activity that gives your running muscles a break.  So although swimming won't make you faster per se, it will allow you to train harder when you do run and that will make you faster.

Answer 4

No although they can both be anarobic they require building different muscle groups in your body. you can argue that it will build endurance,  you will not build endurance in the muscle groups that you will use in running the 400 m. however if your season is over and you do not intend to run over the winter swimming will keep you in shape. if you combined it with some middle distance running say 1-2 miles a few times a week, you could start the season in great endurance shape do your sprints and interval work and peak out at the proper time in the season.  

Answer 5

Swimming probably will not help but water sprints will.  Speed track sessions eg 150m sprints, lactic threshold eg 8x 300m at 75-80% with minimal recovery would be good, and then one or two 'pool' sessions would be beneficial.  Water running will reduce the onset of soreness from the continual impact of track running.

Answer 6

not much help