I have been swimming for as long as I remember. I swam on a swim team for a decade and then a varsity team. From personal experience, I know how good swimming is a source of exercise. I also know how hard it is to start. We would stop swimming for the summer break and return in the fall. If you want to start swimming – keep reading.
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| Photo by Jay Ma |
Pool – find a local pool or
a beach to swim. [Please note: swimming
at a beach is much harder and keep in mind of your swimming skills.] Many
places will offer packages that include so many pool sessions a month. Also, if you are a university/college student
you may have access to your schools’ pool.
Buying a bathing suit –
This is more important than you think.
If you are going to be at the pool a lot, I suggest that you buy a
practice swimsuit. I recommend speedo
endurance. It is a little bit more
expensive, but you will save money in the long run. Here’s a little information: a bathing suit made out of polyester is the
best. It is more chlorine
resistant. Avoid materials such as
nylon. You have to be careful when some
suits will say “chlorine resistant”, which is not really true. If the suit feels like silk it is probably
not very good. However, these suits are
often more “pretty”. An endurance suit
is often more rough to the touch.
Maintain your suit – There
are products that you can purchase that can extend the life of your suit. These are soaps that are specifically
designed for removing chlorine yet they are gentle enough. Do not EVER put your suit in the washing
machine. It is very very bad. Always soak your suit in cold water (with the
special soap if you have it). And let it
air dry. Do not leave it in your bag
after swimming, although I am certainly guilty of this. For men, buy a jammer
or a speedo – do not use your regular bathing suit because the loose material
causes drag. As a result, it may be possible to see between your legs or you
may loose your suit.
Gear – Bathing cap: You
will need a bathing cap (swim cap) if you have long hair. I like the silicon ones because they are more
comfortable but they do fall off more than the latex ones. If you are competing I would certainly
suggest using a latex cap. Goggles:
a well fitting pair of goggles is a must.
No – it is not normal to have water in your eyes because of a leaking
pair of goggles. The best trick to find
a pair that fits is to suction them onto your eyes without the strap around
your head. If the goggles quickly fall
down – they aren’t right for you. If
they stay on quite well then you have found your pair.
Training - I have created a
swimming schedule and a practice list for all levels of swimming. Check
them out here [coming soon]. If you are just looking to get in shape,
swimming a 2 or 3 times a week is great.
If you are training for a triathlon or are really motivated into getting
in great shape you will want to swim upwards of 4 times a week for more than an
hour.
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