Every single time I practice in the pool I start off in a weird way - as if my muscles are asleep or something(I feels like I do not move what my potential allows me) and only some time throught he work-out it clicks and I start swimming faster , easier and smoother.That probably is nothing strange, 'cause obviously muscles need some warm-p first.
That brings me to the following question: at meets(any level - up to Olympics) do swimmers prefer to warm up somehow(maybe go for a short swim) and is that even possible to do, i.e. are there usually certain areas for that?
Former Member
born2fly.
What is your 'stretching in water'? Thank you.
Meet warm-up is totally dependent on the individual. Find a warm-up that works for you and do it time and again. Then use it as your meet warm-up. I don't like to warm-up much. I love when there is a 500 as the first race, that I use as my warm-up. I'll get in the water swim about 200 yards do some starts then use the 500 to really get warmed up. I'm not big on warm-ups.
Also, move around right before your race, swing your arms, jump up and down, etc. This will get the muscles warmed up and allow you to explode a little more.
If you need a little more warm-up, which it sounds like you do, allow for that.
Also, there is always at least a lane to warm-up and down in once the meet starts, and frequently a second pool.
Ray,
After the beginning of my general warmup (500yds) I will do light stretching in the pool. All really depends on how limber you already are. I do the elbow behind the head (30 seconds each), then arm across the chest (each arm 30 seconds), arms in back hands together (30 seconds), then a chicken wing where the back of your hands are on your waist and push elbows forward.
Once this is done, I continue with the warmup set and after the next set I will work the legs and calfs.
Stretching varies from person to person. I happen to be very limber. Do what feels good for you.
swim fast,
greg
For meets, I always do about 10-15 minutes of controlled stretching on deck before getting into the pool for swimming warmups. No way, no how I want to pull a muscle during warmups before swimming my first race!
It's amazing that there are so many swimmers in our local meets that just jump right in upon arrival, and don't get cramps or pulled muscles.
