Swimming is kind of like riding a bike, once you learn you never forget. However, for many of us we never got beyond the basics of swimming. It can be a little daunting and maybe embarrassing to try to learn how to swim well as an adult.
The benefits of swimming are well worth the effort. It is one of the few non-weight bearing sports so it’s easy on the joints as we age. Anyone with a decent swimming stroke can continue swimming through their entire life.
It is also excellent cardiovascular exercise. The rhythm of the arm stokes and breathing create a pattern that naturally puts you in your aerobic zone. With a little bit of training, you can sustain that pattern indefinitely.
There are two basic approaches to swimming distance. First, there is the long distance swim. I see many people just get in the pool and swim a mile or more without stopping. While the cardiovascular benefit is great, form and efficiency usually suffer. Most of these swimmers display very poor arm motion as their muscles fatigue and appear sloppy and slow in the water.
The second approach, the one I prefer, is interval training. Intervals create short periods of rest that allow your arm muscles to recover, removing some of the excess lactic acid. This allows for much better form and in turn, more effective stroke production and speed.
