Distance Vs. Interval Swimming

Sprint

Because sprinting involves several short, intense bursts of speed, the overall workout is shorter. It is simply impossible to sustain 100 percent effort over any extended period of time. For example, after a short warm-up, try a set of 5 by 100 yard freestyle sprints at maximum effort on a 5-minute interval. You may swim an easy 100 yards in between the sprints. Finish with a cool-down.

Distance

Distance swimming involves slow-twitch muscles. In other words, it involves swimming at a slower pace than a sprint but over a longer period of time. An example of a distance set would be 5 by 400 yards freestyle with 30 seconds of rest in between each one.

Muscles

A quick look at Olympic swimmers will tell you that the sprinters have bigger muscles than the distance athletes. High intensity exercise forces the fast-twitch muscle fibers to expand. While it may seem that some people are simply “born sprinters,” anyone can experience increased muscle mass from sprint workouts over time. Alternatively, anyone can reap the benefits of the long, lean muscles that result from distance swim workouts.

Fat

One of the biggest advantages of a sprint swim is the afterburn. The body continues to burn calories for up to an entire day after you exit the pool. In other words, you increase the number of calories you burn while on the couch or even asleep in bed. A distance workout also produces an afterburn effect, but it’s not as pronounced as with a sprint. As a result, sprinters tend to experience greater fat loss.

Caveat

Mix up your workouts. Sprinting has its advantages, but even in the pool, its intensity takes a toll on both body and mind over time. To prevent plateaus and boredom, focus on speed only 2 to 3 times each week. Fill in the holes with longer, slower swims, or, better yet, cross train. Running, biking, yoga and weight training are just some exercises that can only benefit your performance in the pool.