I am wondering how many of you take the time to warm down with an easy swim after a workout. I always feel rushed for time and usually end up skipping most or all of the warmdown, feeling that it is a better use of time to workout right up till the time I need to get out.
I know the conventional wisdom is that warmdowns are important- I just wonder how many actually do more than an easy 50 or 100 before hitting the showers.
A 200 warm down is always a part of my workout. Also stretching. I stretch while I am taking a shower after a swim. Some would argue that the post-swim stretch is more important than the pre-swim stretch.
I love my warmdown and would never go without it. I usually do 100 to 200 so it really doesn't take up more then just a few minutes. I think its important to do it to relax your muscles a little after a hard workout. I think it also helps to keep them loose for your next workout.
It is actually possible to use a warmdown as part of your training. The warmdown can be an excellent time to engrain perfect stroke skills. See my article on this at:
www.totalimmersion.net/.../packlearning.html
I'm sore as it is, but without a warmup and warmdown, I'm sure I'd be in the world of hurt!
For me, a dead stop after an intense workout is a really good way to get a lot of muscle spasms, and be all stiff and disjointed the next day.
I'm with Jim on this - at least 200 after a workout, usually some sort of drill.
I recently started to count laps at meets, and discovered that for every 200 race I swam between 1200 - 1500 in total warmup and warm down. I hadn't realized it was so much.
200 warm down using drills to remind me how sloppy I have gotten during the work-out! and yes I stretch in the shower too. The water aerobics ladies all think that is quite funny.
I'm a relatively new swimmer (less than three years - and I'm 47 years old), but a lane buddy extols the virtue of what he used to call "garbage yardage" as a younger swimmer. I use the 200 yards or so to dolphin swim underwater, drill, or just completely relax, focusing on technique. I also end *every* swim by climbing out of the deep end. It's not pretty, but it's the perfect ending to a good swim. Never thought about stretching in the shower; I lift weights three days a week after my swim and I stretch after that, but I'll start a modest stretching routine in the shower on the off days. Good idea!
Kathy
