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
Former Member
Egypt the home of great marathon swimmers. Are you close to the Suez Canal, great swimming there.
I would not advocate that. My family moved from Alexandria to Port-Said)
in 1958 (I was 15 back then). My father worked for the Suez Canal Authority and worked on one of the man-made islands in the harbour where they had some workshops.
One Summer day, I dived in (the Suez Canal) a little South of the ferry-point landing (if you know the area) and swam to that island (only a few hundred metres away). When I got there, I got the tongue-lashing of my life (not only from my father but from several of the technicians there). A great many sharks (God-knows how many species, several of them definitely dangerous) migrate yearly between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea and hang around harbours because of all the possibilities of offall.
In a different thread, I might relate my other "shark" story (it probably will be the "most embarrassing thing that happened to you" thread).
Cheers
Hi All,
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who sent me suggestions on staying in swimming-shape while working in the desert. I jumped rope and did a kick-boxing dvd, and did pushups, etc. And it worked....for a few weeks. Then we started working from 6am to 9pm and I quit all the great rope jumping, etc., and started drinking giant 500ml beers instead. Now that I'm back I really miss Egypt, but I'm very happy to be swimming again. I'm out of shape, of course (and weigh more due to lack of swimming and abundance of beer), but I'm not nearly as out of shape as I'd be if I hadn't followed your suggestions for several weeks! Thanks a lot,
Flotsam
Flotsam, hopefully you enjoyed your time there. If you did, then all the training, including working your beer arm, was all worth it in the end!! Welcome back! :drink:
Flotsam,
In case you go back again, I have some more suggestions for you that have been tested by a former coach. They are numbingly dull, but can help keep your tone for a few months when no water is available.
Isometric training, while not as sexy as yoga or pilates, is very efficient in working the muscles you use in swimming. Working one set of muscles against another (or a stationary object) also has a benefit of balancing the muscle group strength.
A dedicated regimen of non competitive stretching will keep your flexibility.
Cheers!
