Swimming is generally considered harder than running primarily due to the significantly greater resistance encountered in water compared to air. This increased resistance forces your body to expend more energy to move, leading to a more intense workout.
The Impact of Water Resistance
The most significant factor making swimming more challenging is the density of the medium you're moving through. As stated by Blue Buoy Swim School, when you swim, you encounter up to 800 times the resistance in water compared to air. This substantial difference means that every movement you make in the water requires considerable force to push against this dense environment.
Think of it this way:
- Running: You move through air, which offers minimal resistance. Your primary challenges are gravity, friction with the ground, and your own body weight.
- Swimming: You are constantly pushing against a fluid that is far denser than air. This demands a continuous effort to propel yourself forward, making your muscles work harder with every stroke and kick.
This constant battle against water resistance means your body must exert greater effort to maintain momentum and move efficiently.
Muscle Engagement and Full-Body Workout
While the core reason is resistance, the way your muscles engage also contributes to swimming's difficulty. The use of muscles while swimming is different than while running. Swimming engages a much wider range of muscles across your entire body simultaneously, including:
- Upper Body: Shoulders, back, chest, arms (for propulsion).
- Core: Abdominals and obliques (for stability and rotation).
- Lower Body: Glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, calves (for kicking and stabilization).
In contrast, running primarily focuses on your lower body and core. The full-body engagement in swimming, combined with the immense water resistance, elevates its perceived difficulty and metabolic demand.
Comparative Difficulty at a Glance
To illustrate the difference in resistance:
| Factor | Running (Air) | Swimming (Water) |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance | Low (minimal air resistance) | High (up to 800x air resistance) |
| Effort Focus | Primarily lower body | Full-body effort |
| Workout Type | Cardiovascular, weight-bearing | Cardiovascular, non-weight-bearing |
Ultimately, the need for your body to constantly push against the significant drag of water is why swimming feels inherently harder and provides a more demanding workout than running, even at slower speeds.
For more details on how swimming compares to running, you can refer to the information from Blue Buoy Swim School.
