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Books are not always swimmers’ first choice for rest and relaxation. After a long, hard practice, curling up with a book is often not as appealing as taking yet another nap. But, with intentionality and determination, reading can become an extension of any swimmer’s training and lifestyle. In fact, great books can inspire swimmers to continue to pursue enjoyment as well as excellence in their sport. Here are five books, from a variety of perspectives and genres, which can inspire swimmers to keep loving swimming and plunge into reading: 1. Swimming Studies by Leanne Shapton (2012) Who should read it: Artistic...

Every swimmer knows that feeling in their body after a difficult practice, but they know very well the feeling they experience the next day at practice. This is commonly known as lactic acid. Lactic acid builds up in the muscles after strenuous exercise and leaves a burning sensation when the muscles are active. Many coaches, parents, and fellow team mate have different ways of recovery to prevent this lactic acid build up, ranging from how much sleep a swimmer should get each night to the perfect snack right after practice. But what are the best ways? Sleep- Research shows that getting at...

There are many reasons for which swimming is THE best sport: total-body toning, less pressure on the joints, an edge over the competition for you triathletes, a sense of purpose and accomplishment…not to mention a potentially ideal physique! Given all of these advantages, swimming seems like an ideal sport, right? Not so fast. Just getting in the pool and swimming is not necessarily the key to unlocking all of its potential benefits. Below are ten misconceptions that many people have about swimming – along with some clarifications that will help you make the most of this great activity! 1) SWIMMING...

Swimming, more than any other type of exercise, requires technical training to be done properly. Most people can walk and running is a natural extension of walking quickly. There are some technical details of running form that can be improved in nearly every runner, but by-and-large you can go out and run regardless of your skill level or training. Swimming, you need to know how, to a certain point or you’ll die. After that certain point, you need to have enough skills to move through the water effectively, or you’ll be wasting your time. First disclaimer: You shouldn’t exercise at a high intensity every...

It's not easy to design a generic training program, given that everyone has different capabilities and strengths, but there are universal guidelines anyone can follow to make sure they're on the right track. What follows are a few ideas and suggestions for those of you who are interested in staying in swimming shape on a consistent, injury-free basis. Swimming is one of the best forms of cardiovascular exercise available to us. Of course I will say that, given that I've been swimming all my life, but there is no denying the fact that it is one of the only exercises...