For those who are swimming for fitness as well as pleasure, Jim Boucher, Channel swimmer and Lido regular, shares his thoughts on making the most of our time swimming the lengths…..
Guildford Lido is the most wonderful place to swim recreationally and, in better weather, to bask around the pool and on the grassy surrounds. On busy days there isn’t much room to swim in a straight line, but with the increased opening hours this season there are plenty of times when the pool is quieter; then the Lido comes into its own as one of the best, “regulation distance” pools to exercise and train in.
It’s by no means necessary to be a competitive swimmer to grind out the lengths. Swimming, even with a modest number of lengths per session, remains one of the best ways of maintaining health and fitness and to be able to do so with the sun beaming down (or through the clouds) adds to the pleasure. Some people will favour a pre-determined number of lengths, maybe just using a favourite stroke, on a regular basis. Others start off modestly and session by session build up the number of lengths they swim, both as result of increased fitness levels and also as a personal challenge.
Making the most of the lengths
It’s quite usual to see people swim continuously for their pre-determined number of lengths. However, whether we’re a fast swimmer or a plodder, inevitably we all suffer some degradation in stroke efficiency the further we swim. Many “wannabees” to the extreme marathon that is the English Channel frequently ask how far they should be swimming in their training sessions, eg “is a 10,000m swim a good idea each week?” etc. The equally frequent answer is that concentrating on stroke and stroke efficiency through a number of repetitive swims is better than big long continuous swims for stroke and for improving fitness. The same also applies to regular lane swimmers. In other words swimming 20 lengths as 10 x 2 lengths may be better for us than a straight 20. And much easier to count too!
We don’t have the benefit of a pace clock, but there is no need for technology nor big science to enjoy the benefits of repetitions. Find a pace that you can comfortably hold over two lengths and set yourself a goal of doing 4-5 repetitions at a pace you feel comfortable with. No need for heroics, no need to indulge in lung-busting sprints as, with these being in what’s called the anaerobic region, this tires us very quickly. So stick to a steady pace on the first attempt and concentrate on maintaining pace and a good stroke. When you finish each repetition, count roughly 30 seconds and go again.
If we’ve set too easy a pace we’ll notice as quickly as if we go at it too quickly. If we can remember to do so, working the last 15-20 metres a little bit harder is always good.
When swimming, by all means take in the scenery, but one useful tip is to count the number of strokes – it doesn’t matter if you count single arm pulls, or breaststroke kicks, just give yourself a reference for each length. Periodically do a check on the number of strokes and try to reduce the number taken. Whatever the efficiency of your stroke and however fast you may be, one less stroke per length will always be a sign of increasing efficiency and fitness. And the counting gives something to focus the mind on too……
Mixing up the strokes is good. Few of us – me too – will consider 50m butterfly so if you see anyone doing that in the Lido this season, they’re a pretty good swimmer! Backstroke is probably the worst stroke to swim in an outdoor pool. The absence of a ceiling and also finish ropes means it’s easy to lose track of where you are in the pool. It can be the most disconcerting stroke for swimmer and those around and it’s advisable to use one of the lane ropes as a convenient point of reference. Front crawl (freestyle) is the most efficient stroke that allows us to build up distance. Using a “float” or “kickboard” and throwing in a few 50m or 100m stints to ease the stresses on the arms is good to incorporate. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t seem to go anywhere using legs alone – many competitive swimmers don’t either, especially the older blokes!
There are many ways of covering considerable distances but they don’t have to be big, long, continuous swims. The pattern:
1 length ,2,1,2,3,2,1,2,3,4,3,2,1,2,3,4,5,4,3,2,1 etc with ten seconds after each swim will add to a long swim and the most you ever have to count is 5 lengths. Superb for aerobic training. I’d discourage most people from trying repetitions of 800m and above preferring the use of 200m and 400m for building stamina. But there aren’t any pre-set rules for those of us concentrating on building and maintaining fitness.
We can bemoan – and do – the lack of space to swim lengths, at busy times. With a bit of give and take, and co-ordination, it’s easily possible to get at least a dozen swimmers into one lane width. Even when lanes aren’t fitted, swimming up one side of the black lines on the bottom of the pool and down the other side will create a “virtual” lane. Simple etiquette such as moving aside when we sense a faster swimmer approaching will always be acknowledged as a friendly gesture.
What goes through the minds of those who, seemingly swim length after length? What are they doing it for? Where is it all leading to? Is it monotonous, and if so how do they alleviate the monotony?
I never find swimming in the Lido monotonous. In the early mornings I get to imagine what each guest is having for breakfast in the hotel at the traffic lights. The smell of an English Breakfast is worse than the songs of the Sirens to the early morning swimmer. The changing weather is always something to enliven me. Counting strokes per length is important and from time to time I sense a “second wind” when I again feel at ease with the water and can decide to up the pace for a few lengths.
There are all shapes, sizes and ages of swimmers grinding out the metres this year – do come and join in as there is plenty of room and all ranges of abilities too. We have at least one swimmer aiming to swim the Channel this year, a few aiming at swimming Lake Zurich where the 26km will be swum in water that’s warmer (yes honestly) than the Lido’s minimum, there’s at least one doing her first organised open water swimming events, the Great East and Great North Swims later in the summer and plenty of regulars who just love the buzz of being in the water in the open air.
See you there!
