Pools are OPEN!!!

Take a moment to be grateful for the opportunity to swim again! Likely there are new restrictions that will alter your swim as you knew it, but try to embrace what you can do versus lamenting what you cannot do. Share your enthusiasm for getting wet again! 

Before you jump back in the water, to regain your pre-break swim fitness, know that you need two weeks for every week you were out of the water. Sorry to be the one to deliver the hard facts! And on that mark, here are six things to be aware of as you return to a regular swim routine.

1. Start back with a slow progression and focus on technique. Running uses the 10% rule, I am okay with 20% for swimming. That means increasing your swim volume by 20% each week.

2. When you return to the pool, try to forget any bad techniques, and relearn the correct movement patterns. This is a great time to have your stroke analyzed by a coach or via video analysis.

3. Be patient. You cannot rush fitness. It will take time for your body to adjust to swimming again if you have maintained run and bike fitness that is a bonus as your body knows how to process glycogen and dispel lactic acid. 

4. Quality. Start back with comfortable swimming, mixing in critical drills, to reinforce the proper form.    

• Sculling: works on hand control and feel of the water.
• Swim with fists: works on using the forearm not just the hands.
• Catch up: one pull at a time allows you to work on the high elbow hinge/catch and finish the stroke
• 6 kicks-1pull: works on Kick efficiency, rotation, and proper body alignment

5. Frequency: swim every other day for a few weeks for 20-30 minutes versus 1 hour, 3 times a week. You are better off working on drills and form without fatigue.  

6. Hold off “testing” Give yourself 2 weeks of swimming before you test how fast you are. Get your feel for the water and then give the following set a go:

•  5×100 on base interval. Whatever your base* interval was pre-shutdown, add 5sec/100 and give the set ago.
• If you made all 5, well done! Wait a week and add 1×100 until you are up to 10×100 on your base + 5 seconds.
• Next, you drop back to 5×100 on your base interval and follow the same progression.
• *What is my base: your base interval in swimming is the fastest send-off you can hold for a set of 10x 100. This is my goto set for endurance. 

There will be ups and downs and aches and pains after a long break, but embrace the sore arms and shoulders! Stay healthy and swim with a smile.   

I am a USAT Certified Coach, Ironman U, and US Masters Swiming Coach. If you are looking to UP your swim game with form, video analysis, or a custom swim plan, please DM or email me.  idropboys@gmail.com  I work with athletes in the open water and pool