Novice swimmer here, 40 y.o. male. Never had any formal instruction, then started up with my local masters club about 9 mos. ago after an injury forced me to cut back on jogging. Hoping some of you old pros can help me out with answers to some basic questions:
1. Are there any muscles that swimming DOESN'T develop, and that I should work separately in order to have a "balanced" physique? For example, if you do quad exercises, you also want to work the hamstrings. What are the "equal and opposite" exercises I should do to balance out the swimming muscles? We always do some IM sets so I'm getting in at least some work in all 4 strokes. I also continue to run, about 15 mi./wk., altho I don't know why--most of the time I'm thinking I'd rather be swimming.
2. I live in CA and swim 3x a week in an outdoor pool at lunchtime so I'm getting lots of sun exposure. BESIDES sunscreen, is there anything I can wear in the water to protect at least my torso? I tried a rash guard once but it was too "draggy". Maybe I just need a really tight one.
3. My *** stroke kicking is especially bad. I think it's because I have inflexible ankles. In the "fully loaded" position, I can't seem to get my ankles cocked enough nor my feet turned out enough. Is there a stretching exercise to improve ankle flexibility?
4. How do I know when I'm ready for (i.e. able to finish) an open water swim of say 1 mile in a lake? Yardage in a pool can't be the same . . . you rest between sets, you push off the wall, there are no waves, you don't have to look up to navigate, it's significantly warmer, etc. Is there a rule of thumb such as, if I can swim 2000 yds continuously in a SCY pool I should be able to swim a mile in a lake? I don't mind finishing last, I just don't want to have to be pulled out of the water!
5. What and when do you eat and drink before an open water swim?
Thanks in advance!
Parents
Former Member
geochuck, you wear "googles"?:D By the way, how long do you swim each time?