Here’s to life in the fast lane!

By Shape on November 29, 2011 in Advertorial

Well swimming fans, 31 December marks the official end of my Speedo challenge. Mission Impossible has turned into Mission Almost Accomplished. But now that I am nearly done, I am having serious second thoughts about throwing in the towel. What can I say? I love the smell of chlorine in the morning! In twelve short weeks I’ve gone from PoolApprentice to PoolPro and it seems silly to quit now. I’m much fitter, stronger and healthier than I was when I started and I could easily continue my training in the New Year. After all, the Mayan calendar only ends in December 2012, so there is still time to compete in one Midmar Mile before rumored calamity strikes. And if the world doesn’t self-destruct a year from now, I will have lost nothing (apart from a few more kilos perhaps). It’s a win-win scenario for me but before I swim off into the proverbial sunset, I have a few final pearls of watery wisdom to share with you…

First, writing a blog about swimming (or a “swog” as I call it) has really helped me to keep track of my progress. It has enabled me to monitor exactly how I feel each day and make adjustments to my training and diet as needed. “Swogging” is an absolute must in my book and I recommend that you give it a try. Second, “Nightswimming” doesn’t always deserve a quiet night. Contrary to claims of one of REM’s most famous songs, I have found that an after dark dip in a busy gym pool is hugely beneficial. I recently started training with a a few friends in the evenings and we have discovered that when there are a lot of people in the water it actually motivates us to swim more intently. We push ourselves much harder and our concentration levels are higher. “Everybody hurts” the next day but that’s what happens when you live your life in the fast line. My point is, don’t be afraid to mix things up. Find the time of day that suits you best and schedule your training sessions accordingly. Finally, please be assured that you don’t have to be an Olympic hopeful in order to swim for fitness. Swimming is for everyone, young and old. Trust me, if I can do it, you can too. So grab your Speedo kitbag and head for a pool near you.