Hey guys. I'm a runner currently training for a marathon, and I'm taking up swimming for my cross-training because I'm sure you all know it's excellent exercise (also, to be honest, I want that six pack that only swimmers seem to have). However, I haven't really swam since my parents threw me in some class when I was 5, so I'm kinda lost right now. I have a friend that is a swimmer (she's actually swimming the English Channel later this year), but I feel bad hounding her with all these questions, so I thought you guys might be able to help.
My questions are the following:
1) Swimwear (male); what is the best? What do I want to look for? What do I want to avoid?
2) How the heck do I even start? What do I need to do? I obviously need a membership to some pool and a swimsuit, but outside of that, I have no idea what I need.
3) How do I actually swim for exercise purposes? I think I know most of the basic strokes, but I'm somewhat at a loss as to what is better to exercise with.
4) And last, but not least, how do I start swimming? In the sense of how long should I start out swimming for? How many meters? Is swimming like running in the sense that you just go until you can't anymore, or is there a better way to ease myself into it?
I realize this is a lot, so I thank you guys in advance for your help. I really want to get into swimming, and I'm excited that I'm finally starting.
You might be under the mistaken assumption that male swimmers keep their bodies shaved all the time. This is not true. Competitive swimmers generally only shave for major competitions a few times a year at most. You will look perfectly normal being hairy while training.
The only truly hairless swimmers I know have either a) alopecia, or are b) under the age of 12.
Definitely go for the endurance suits - mine last 18 months to 2 years - but I have several & don't wear the same one every day - but I swim 4-6 times/week.
Swimmers also have shoulders. (That's one of my favorite parts!:blush:)
If you can find the time , get into a swim club masters or a training of some sort. You need to learn about the correct way to swim or else you are just thrashing in the water. Ask your distance swimmer for help.
2) How the heck do I even start? What do I need to do? I obviously need a membership to some pool and a swimsuit, but outside of that, I have no idea what I need.
You could start here
www.swimsmooth.com
or establish your type then order a guide (it's cheap and very well done)
www.swimtypes.com
Total Immersion is also a nice resource
http://www.totalimmersion.net/
Enjoy
Charles
Thanks for that. That helped a lot. One more question I thought about- shaving. I have a moderately hairy chest and legs. Will I look like a weirdo if I don't shave? I bought jammers, but still...
You won't look weird. Lots of hairy people on the pool decks with various suits.
Oh and I've been wearing Speedo Endurance (briefs) for practice for years now. Great suits that last pretty long.
Thanks for that. That helped a lot. One more question I thought about- shaving. I have a moderately hairy chest and legs. Will I look like a weirdo if I don't shave? I bought jammers, but still...
