A reader of Outside Online asked the site’s fitness expert, Chris Carmichael, to answer a question that we’ve often wondered about: how does lap swimming compare to other aerobic workouts? The easy answer, of course, is that it depends on how much effort you put into it. But Carmichael gives us more, like a calorie burn comparison that puts swimming slightly ahead of running and cyling. Carmichael’s standards, however, may be a bit high. He compares cyclists doing 20 miles an hour to runners running 6 minute miles to swimmers doing 100 yards in 1:15. We’ll give him the times for cyclists and runners, but how many swimmers can sustain a speed of 100 yards in 1:15 for more than 100 yards? Carmichael’s most interesting revelation concerns heart rate: swimmers experience lower heart rates than runners or cyclists because they are exercising in a horizontal position, which allows the heart to pump blood more easily.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Monday, May 5, 2025
It strikes me that the comparison paces of 20 mph bike, 6 minute mile run and 1:15 per 100 yard swim are fairly comparable. They are all fast! I imagine there are more people that can do 20 mph on a bike for 30 minutes than can accomplish the other two sport’s paces. I know a bunch of “masters” swimmers that can and do swim for a half hour at, or below the 1:15 per 100 (yd.) pace. I know far fewer runners that regularly do 6 minute miles for that length of time.
as a swimmer i can tell you than a 1:15 100 yard is pretty easy. i usually swim in a meter pool (which is longer) and our coach used to give us sets of 10 x 100 at a 1:30 interval. my question is does the body burn less calories if you are a swimmer? like does the body get more efficient and burn less calories to achieve the same movements?