How can I stay in shape for swimming while working in the Egyptian desert? Help!
Former Member
Hi - I love reading the discussion forums, and have finally got up the nerve to join because I'm looking for suggestions on how to stay in shape when I can't swim.
I spend about three months of the year working on archaeological sites - while there I can't swim (no pool) or even walk or run, as apart from actual excavation we must stay in a small compound under military guard. I hate losing my conditioning for swimming while on these projects; not only do I desperately miss swimming while in the field, I hate coming back unable to keep up with my normal lane mates. But I haven't found anything good to do to maintain it. This year I thought about taking my jump rope - but then remembered that only the floors of the teeny shared bedrooms are solid, all the rest is sand. ANY desert "cross-training" suggestions at all would so appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Flots
Parents
Former Member
Everybody thanks for the great ideas. I am really going to try hard to not lose any swimming-ground this time.
RE: Using crocodiles to improve stroke rate - my coach would laugh. His nickname for me is "Saving it up Sally" because when I really want to swim quickly, I'm super fast. But most of the time I guess some crucial motivation is missing (crocodiles?). We usually swim sprint sets, which I hate, towards the end of practice and it seems I swim them faster and faster. Probably to get them over with more quickly. He says, "if you can swim this hard now at the end of practice, tell me, what were you doing before? Apparently nothing! You're getting shorter intervals next time."
thanks to all,
flots
Everybody thanks for the great ideas. I am really going to try hard to not lose any swimming-ground this time.
RE: Using crocodiles to improve stroke rate - my coach would laugh. His nickname for me is "Saving it up Sally" because when I really want to swim quickly, I'm super fast. But most of the time I guess some crucial motivation is missing (crocodiles?). We usually swim sprint sets, which I hate, towards the end of practice and it seems I swim them faster and faster. Probably to get them over with more quickly. He says, "if you can swim this hard now at the end of practice, tell me, what were you doing before? Apparently nothing! You're getting shorter intervals next time."
thanks to all,
flots
