The stars are still out. The moon too.
My windshield has a layer of dew on it showing signs of Spring. The birds are starting to chirp though. And 54 degrees in April feels much happier than 54 degrees in November did.
I freaking love it. The temperature, not the time.
It's 5:20am and I'm on my way to the pool to coach a private client. I've been a swimmer for as long as I can remember, and a coach since the summer after I got my license, mornings will forever be entertaining. I warn my clients that before go-time, "morning me" is ever so slightly not put together. Swimming is really the only thing I can do first thing in the morning. Running, I might fall on my face. Riding bikes? Oh, dear. Yoga? Can I just stay in child's pose?
But OK, back to swimming. As soon as it's time to get down to business, the coach in me, the swimmer in me, that mentality that was instilled in me courtesy of my first coaches' kicks in and it's go time. I don't have to think. I can quickly identify what to do, where to start, and say LET'S GO.
Which is why I'm bringing you a little bit of one of my favorite sports. It's a lifelong sport as they say. It's easy on the joints, great for injury recovery/cross training, and if you learn proper technique, even your busted shoulder can get through a stellar workout. Oh! And the swimmer munchies to follow will be amazing. {You should see the childish grin I have on my face right now.} I should be honest on one more thing, who doesn't want to channel their inner mermaid or merman? My Target had a Mermaid fin the other day I almost purchased.. so yes, my hand is raised. I would give so many mermaid analogies to the kids I used to coach.
Your fitness goals and your past experience in the pool will determine how hard or how easy swimming for fitness will be for you. Why? Because honestly, swimming can be one of the toughest workouts you will do but also one of the most rewarding. It's all a matter of what you put into it. You are using all of your amazing body to swim.
To get started you're going to need a suit: Guys: Don't be afraid of the traditional Speedo or a jammer {longer shorts but still fitted}. Briefs also exist. You don't want all that extra fabric swishing around in the pool with your board shorts. Trust me on this, the last thing you need is for those board shorts to come shooting down when you kick off the wall and you give everyone else swimming laps a show.
Gals: Ditch the string bikini. You also need to keep all your lady parts in. Unless it's summer time year round where you live and you are ready to be in a two-piece TRAINING suit {there is a difference}, find yourself a one-piece. And honestly, swim brands like Speedo and TYR have really stepped their game up and make amazing suits. They're not the one-pieces of our childhood.
Now for the equipment: Every coach requires different things. I require my swimmers to have the following 3 items.
- Fins
- Kickboard
- Pull buoy *Optional: snorkel and pull paddles
These amazing swim "toys" as we call them will help enhance your swims by giving you a break from staring at the black line and make you stronger in and out of the pool.
Accessories: Cap and goggles.
The cap is important for the ladies. We have longer hair and so do the dudes out there rocking man buns or longer hair in general, so you should follow along on this as well. I highly suggest you get yourself a silicone cap and not a latex one. The better quality cap, the less damage to your hair! When I asked my own sometimes training partner, LaJoya, what her top three tips for those getting into swimming for fitness would be, her first tip was all about getting a proper cap! She said "Silicone caps are less damaging to your hair.." and "work really well for thick hair." And to all the black girls reading: this goes out to you. LaJoya protects her sisterlocks well with her silicone cap! She trains hard in the pool; don't be afraid to get your hair wet.
As for goggles: find a pair that fit your face! If you plan to swim regularly, don't hesitate to invest in a good pair of goggles. Cheap goggles are a terrible idea and you'll just be buying yourself another pair next week. What I qualify as a good pair should not cost more than $16-$23 dollars at your local sports outfitter or online. As a beginner, you don't need to buy a $50 pair of goggles. I personally favor the Women's Vanquisher by Speedo.
Two great resources for suits for males and females as well as all your equipment needs: swimoutlet.com and speedo.com
Now Let's Get Wet!
- Most pools have signs around telling you about lane etiquette, circle swimming, and their open lane hours. Don't be afraid to ask the lifeguards questions. That is what they are there for. And to save lives, obviously.
- As a rule of thumb, it's always good to call ahead to see the open lane hours! A friend of mine has had the worst luck lately with changing hours.
- If you are traveling, there is an amazing app called "Swim Radar" that you can download for a couple bucks that is golden for finding pools.
- Know that 1 lap is down to the other end of the pool once. 2 laps is down and back. Pool lengths are usually 25 yards or 25 meters. The veterans are going to know you're a newbie by your terminology.
- If your gym has a pool already, check it out before you go out and buy equipment. A lot of the time they already have pull buoys and kick boards. They don't always have fins, but usually have kickboards.
- Starting out "slow" is really important. If you've swam in the past on a summer team or did in high school, you probably already have an idea of how it goes and can hop right in. If you are super new, you should set goals and even ask about taking a private lesson or two at the pool you choose to learn the ropes so you can branch out on your own more comfortably.
- Don't try to bust out 3000 yards if you've never done this before or are just getting back into it. Try for 15-20 minutes depending on your fitness. Up to 30minutes. Go from there. Figure out what your goal is and have fun!
- For those of you who are somewhat familiar with the pool, try starting off with free style and grab that kick board to alternating between kicking and freestyle every so often. You can also work in some backstroke too but make sure you are familiar with the flags overhead so your don't bonk your noggin. That is what they are there for.
- Hydration is important. You aren't going to notice you're sweating or dehydrated when you're surrounded by water, but I promise you need to drink up, buttercup!
My last 2 pieces of advice: don't forget your towel if your gym or pool doesn't provide them or makes you pay an outrageous amount of money to rent one. Why? Well then you'll be just like me and have to shake dry or sit in the sauna till you dry off. But that makes you late. And being late makes me hangry. Those swimmer munchies are real.
And don't forget your change of clothes because then you might look like a high schooler walking through the parking lot wearing sneakers or better, barefoot wearing your suit carrying a backpack and mesh equipment bag with your backwards snapback and water bottle dangling from your mouth just like you did when you were ripe at 15, making you even later because you now have to either change at your car or go home to change. And being late somewhere after a swim… well. HI! I told you. Hangry.
Morning me is ever so slightly not put together. But I own it and I love it.
