Swim Wisdom is a thread dedicated to the little bits of wisdom we accumulate in swimming. It's not about swimming faster it's about living better & smarter. share Practical stuff Like:
I've noticed my Teva Mush flip flops smell awful when they are slightly wet & I leave them in my car. So I leave them outside my car on the window under my windshield wiper blades, they dry faster, don't stink up my car & so far they haven't been stolen. Done this with towels & suits too
dry rubber tech suits inside out
keep your goggles inside a case when you're not using them & they won't get as scratched up
please share what works for you
Share what you know
These are great!!
If you have a problem with water in your ears, use plain white vinegar as a drying agent, instead of the alcohol drops. The vinegar will dry the ear, not upset the natural balance and kill any bacteria that might cause and infection.
:anim_coffee:Great Idea (Like Heloise's Hints for swimmers...) Once I was advised to wrap my wetsuit in my towel after showering. This helps to lengthen the life of the suit; I've been doing it with success. Also, get a water proof sharpie pen and write your name on your equipment so it won't get lost or taken.:2cents:
If you have a problem with water in your ears, use plain white vinegar as a drying agent, instead of the alcohol drops. The vinegar will dry the ear, not upset the natural balance and kill any bacteria that might cause and infection.
Thanks - I must try this one as I do suffer a bit with my ears.
Plus I guess smelling of vinegar would make a pleasant change from smelling of chlorine ;)
If you are a solo swimmer like me, you need to hit the pool with a pre-planned workout and keep track of the results. I picked up a dive slate for less than $10 at www.scuba.com . I use toothpaste (paste; not gel), followed by a damp paper towel to clean it off after I have logged my workout in my F.L.O.G.
Before I put on my goggles and start my workout, I apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline) around my eyes to help protect the skin and make the goggles seal better.
After I rinse my cap and it is dry, I sprinkle talcum powder in it to help it last longer.
I use inexpensive microfiber cloths purchased in the automotive dept. at Target, instead of using expensive "swim towels". I bring a small one to the pool every day to wipe down my gear after I have rinsed it with fresh water, so I can save my big towel for me. At meets, I bring several for after warm-ups and after warm-downs, so I can save my big towel for after my shower at the end of the day.
Finally, I ALWAYS make sure to have a couple of water bottles filled and next to my gear at the edge of the pool. Then, I USE them! Staying hydrated during a swim is a must for this heat intolerant swimmer, especially in our community's indoor pool (surrounded by large glass windows) that is topping 86+ degrees at the moment (air temp. is hitting 90 on some days and the humidity is ridiculous!). So much for window tinting; we need AIR CONDITIONING!
If you are a solo swimmer like me, you need to hit the pool with a pre-planned workout and keep track of the results. I picked up a dive slate for less than $10 at www.scuba.com . I use toothpaste (paste; not gel), followed by a damp paper towel to clean it off after I have logged my workout in my F.L.O.G.
Lots of people write their workout down before going to the pool then put it in a Ziploc bag at the end of their lane. Another technique is to forget the ziploc and just dip the sheet of paper in the water and stick it to something like a kickboard, If you write with pencil you don't have to worry about the writing smearing or running.
Lots of people write their workout down before going to the pool then put it in a Ziploc bag at the end of their lane. Another technique is to forget the ziploc and just dip the sheet of paper in the water and stick it to something like a kickboard, If you write with pencil you don't have to worry about the writing smearing or running.
I put mine in a ziploc bag, but it still leaks and the ink runs. Why the heck did it never once occur to me to write in pencil? Doh!
Thanks for the tip. :D
I'm a bit embarrassed to mention this one, but I will anyway: I bring a sharpie to swim meets and write down all of my events with heat #s and lane #s so that I don't have to keep checking and don't blow it. Yes, like you would do for a child (or, more appropriately, for someone old enough to be losing their marbles...)
