In the Swim

Water can be really invigorating – use it for an energy boost in your training and your life.

Swimming Sensations

"Swimming just feels great" says Clive Rushton, Director of Coaching for Swimming New Zealand. "If you have reasonable technique you can meander up and down a pool for ages and enjoy every minute. Because your exercising and enjoying it, endorphins cascade in their millions and it can be better than chocolate!". Now we've got your attention!

Tanya Cates, fitness and health educator and associate Lecturer at La Trobe University agrees: "The water can be a beautiful place to train once you know how to allow the water to work with you, against you and for you". Cates believed swimming in a pool is meditative because it's just you and the black line on the bottom. "It can be the opportunity to tune out and just be yourself" she says. "Some people find it stimulates their mind and it's the time where they are most creative because they are allowed the space to think."

Water Workouts

Introducing water workouts to your training routine can add a splash of variety. You can swim laps, use different strokes and use aqua gear such as kickboards, flippers, pool running belts, aqua shoes and even aqua dumbbells!

On of the best benefits of swimming is a great way to cross-train (maintaining training benefits with a different activity). "Using the water for swimming or other ways such as water running can be a lovely way to decrease the amount of impact training you are doing with normal walking or running," says Cates. If you are training heavily (which we know you are in preparation for your triathlon!) incorporate the water environment for variation, cross-training and as relaxation.

Accessories to make a splash

There are stacks of gadgets you can use to challenge your workouts:

• Aqua noodles/water logs
• Pool running belts
• Aqua shoes
• Kickboards
• Flippers
• Hand paddles
• Aqua dumbbells
• Aqua weights
• Tennis Ball
• Floating medicine ball.

SHE magazine November 05