This is something I never really gave much thought towards when I was younger, given that as a teenager banging out 6k and 7k workouts, usually twice a day, didn't seem that hard.
Nowadays though (late 30s), post-workout recovery is taken more seriously. Not necessarily because I want to get back to the pool ASAP, but because I don't want to be a human pile-up over the course of the day after a hard AM swim.
For me, my recovery routine ends up including:
1. Always doing at least ten minutes of warming down. I feel noticeably better in the hours after a hard practice if I spend some time doing easy swimming at the end of my session.
2. Packing a post-workout shake and banana. Takes about ten seconds to do, and it's waiting right there in my swim bag post swim.
3. Hitting the pillows and blanky like they owe me money. Where possible, of course.
4. A scotch at night. Master's prerogative, as they say.
What are you doing to make sure that you are recovering quickly after practice?
Nice article-- good job! :applaud: There is one thing, however, that I feel you forgot to include: STRETCHING! At 55, it's imperative that I stretch after a workout. (You may have not gotten to that point yet at your age.) I do foam rolling and dynamic stretching to get everything loosened up before I swim , and then do static stretching post-workout. I also taught myself yoga, so I do that as well.
It makes a difference! When I skip it at a swim meet after my races and cool down (That's the point my husband starts to get hot and cranky, and has run out of patience :waiting:), I really feel the difference the next day. :cane:
Nice article-- good job! :applaud: There is one thing, however, that I feel you forgot to include: STRETCHING! At 55, it's imperative that I stretch after a workout. (You may have not gotten to that point yet at your age.) I do foam rolling and dynamic stretching to get everything loosened up before I swim , and then do static stretching post-workout. I also taught myself yoga, so I do that as well.
It makes a difference! When I skip it at a swim meet after my races and cool down (That's the point my husband starts to get hot and cranky, and has run out of patience :waiting:), I really feel the difference the next day. :cane:
