Question for Aquajock and other swimmers

[balletgrrl]

Okay here is my situation: I am recovering from a knee injury and would love to try swimming to keep up my cardio and improve my overall fitness level. I know the basics as far as swimming goes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, etc.) My gym has what they call "adult swim" hours where the lanes are open for people to swim laps.

My question is: beyond basically swimming up and down the length of the pool over and over, is there anything I can do to make my swimming workout more fun? I know it is great exercise, but it also seems like it could get boring pretty fast. Does anyone have suggestions? I guess I should also say I'm not sure if I'll have access to the shallow end for doing drills without getting in anyone else's way. If I do, I am certainly willing to give anything a try. Thank you in advance for your help!

Alison

 

[Aquajock]

Swimming without dying of boredom:

Insert full-out, high-intensity intervals into your laps

Vary your stroke with each lap

Vary laps between standard swimming-stroke laps and kickboard-drill laps (flutter kick is the most challenging and this recruits the legs far better than swimming alone)

Insert intervals of deep-water treading

Find an aqua jogger and do deep-water aqua jogging with upper body arm drills (when you're not having to share a lane with a swimmer and won't get in her way)

Understand I'm more of a non-drowner than a swimmer; I don't swim for fitness but instead teach aqua group fitness, which is quite different. But these suggestions oughtta get you started.

A-Jock

 

[Kathy02]

A-Jock had great advice. AS a former swimmer on a swim team I would also just suggest doing intervals. Switching up with kick boards. There are also buoys that you can put inbetween your legs that help keep them afloat while you just do you arms, say for breatstroke and frontcrawl. Another fun one, if you don't get dizzy too easy is do one stroke of frontcrawl role over onto your back and do one stroke backstroke. And just keep doing that down the lane then switch arms to start with and do it going back. Another that works your arms, is lay on your back and flutter your hands to get you moving feet first to where you want to go. Do a few laps of these and you'll feel it. Watch the timer and time yourself to see how fast you can make it to the other end, or down and then back again. A great way to work your core is use the kick board and do butterfly legs as big as you can and get yourself to go as fast as you can. That will burn after a short while.
I'm thinking back on all the fun I wish taht I could be there to show you everything. But explanation is that best I can do. Good luck, swimming is a great cardio workout. OH and if you want to try to build up lung capacity swim underwater as fast as you can the length of the pool as far as you can. Challenge yourself and try to make it further everyday you do it. Eventually you will shoot for all the way down. IN an olympic sized pool of course.
Ok, I'm done now. Good luck!

Kathy

 

[tetons]

Hi Kathy

Saw your post and noticed that you used to be a swimmer... me too. I swam on several different swim teams for many years and loved it. One summer my hair actually turned green!

Anyway, I also saw a post from you a while back about taking one of Annette's classes. I would be interested in possibly joining you. Let me know when you plan to attend one and I will see if I can fit it in.

Take care and hope all it well. Your MOA friend,

 

[Kathy02]

Hi Nancy, for sure I will let you know when I'm going to go to Aquajocks class. It probably won't be for a couple of weeks. February and March are the buisiest months out of the year for me it seems. But I do hope to make it there in March. I will keep you posted!

Kathy