I'm a newbie, to swimming for fitness, but not to general working out.
I'm puzzled about how to make sure my aging bod is set for a good workout in the pool. I've always been under the impression that stretching cold muscles is not very productive, but I also don't think it's wise to drive to the pool, change, and hop straight in the pool and start doing laps.
Do you stretch before you get in the pool (or er, intend to, anyway, most times lol?). Or does a hot tub do any good before a swim workout?
It occurs to me that I'm beginning my swim workout "cold," and that it is maybe impeding my progress.
I guess I don't understand the need to do other types of stretching before a workout.
You would understand it if you had my 55-year old body with the physical issues I had (mostly congenital)! Believe me, I have tried it your way several times, and those were the most miserable times I have had in the pool. In addition, as a breaststroker and flyer, between the breaststroke kick and fly pull, not warming up the way I do is a recipe for disaster. I must be very warmed up before I attempt either one, and the exercises I listed in my previous post go a long way to getting me there. I then swim a warm up of 500 free, gradually getting faster on each 100, followed by 8x50 of odds pull/ evens kick, IM order.
The older you get, the more warm up you will need to get the synovial fluid working in your joints. Keep this in mind as you age.
I guess I don't understand the need to do other types of stretching before a workout.
You would understand it if you had my 55-year old body with the physical issues I had (mostly congenital)! Believe me, I have tried it your way several times, and those were the most miserable times I have had in the pool. In addition, as a breaststroker and flyer, between the breaststroke kick and fly pull, not warming up the way I do is a recipe for disaster. I must be very warmed up before I attempt either one, and the exercises I listed in my previous post go a long way to getting me there. I then swim a warm up of 500 free, gradually getting faster on each 100, followed by 8x50 of odds pull/ evens kick, IM order.
The older you get, the more warm up you will need to get the synovial fluid working in your joints. Keep this in mind as you age.
