Swimming Bliss - Adult Swimming Part 3

How I jumped into the pool, and so can you!

You've made the decision to start and now you have your gear.

Let's get in!

I am assuming you are familiar with water and already know the very basics of swimming freestyle. OK, at least you can put your head in the water and know how to float, right? If you have not yet learned the very basics of drowning avoidance, you need to arrange to have at least one or two swim lessons before we go any further. But being the smart person I know you are, I really don't need to say all that. Get comfortable with water first, then proceed.

Most local pools, swim centers, and gyms with pools maintain someone on staff with availability for teaching swim lessons to adults. Start there. Here's basically how I started: I wasn't scared of the water and knew I would not drown, having spent many summers of my youth cooling off in our irrigation ditches in on the farm, but I never really learned to swim strokes and such. So, I found a local guy that offered to teach lessons for a reasonable rate (I think he charged $30 per 1/2 hr session). After three sessions I felt confident to get to the end of the pool, knew how to breathe, kick my legs, and move my arms at the same time. After the third lesson, he suggested I start attending the Master's Swim class at noon Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

I freaked out. What? Are you serious? Isn't Master's swim class for those awesome, sleek bodies I was already paranoid to be around? Yes it is, but he explained that Master's is also for those who want to improve their stroke efficiency, get exercise, and meet other cool people who live healthy lifestyles. Plus, he promised that I'd see all kinds of body types of all ages-no worries! I agreed to go, keeping my promise to myself to be able to participate in my first triathlon by June. It was already March so I couldn't dally further.

I showed up. Just like the great Woody Allen once said, "90% of life is just showing up." Keep that in mind during this process if you're new to swimming. You need to show up. Day after day, you just have to show up. It will come, and you'll extend your life because developing a love for swimming will lead to a healthier lifestyle.

The remaining big three tips for you are some rules of the pool. Yes, rules exist. While simple, if you don't abide by them, not only will you disrupt the flow of the pool, you'll look like a dork. You may also want to talk with the swim coach running the session prior to the start of class to let him or her know you are new or have taken some time off. He or she may suggest a more appropriate class to join for beginners, or at least spend more time with you to make sure you're comfy.

Rule 1

If a class is in session, the swim coach usually designates the pool with lanes from faster to slower. I've most often experienced the faster dolphin types (still very inhuman beings to me) to the left, and the slower angel fish (yes, we are all angels if we are in the pool) to the right.

Rule 2

The pool rules usually specify that if two people occupy a lane, the lane is "split" with the swimmers choosing a side and staying on that side the entire lap. If three or more swimmers occupy a lane, the swimmers will "circle swim" in a counter-clockwise fashion around the lane's black line. If a circle swimmer is in the last position, and feels the need to pass, he or she gently taps the foot of the person in front of him or her and the tapped person moves to the side to let the faster swimmer pass.

Rule 3

It is good hygiene to shower before climbing into the pool. Just do it. If we all used the pool as a bathtub, would that be fair to everyone using it? Same thing for peeing in the pool, c'mon. Someone told me once that pool water has a special dye in it for those who think they'll get away with it-the pool turns a deep purple where you decided to use the pool as a toilet. Ever since then I am petrified that I'll make the pool purple and that's a big enough deterrent for me. (I'm a molecular biologist, so I know that is just a joke, by the way.)

These are just a few tips that should make it easier to get into the pool and start making swimming a habit. I've met some of my best friends in the pool, created some of my best memories from swim training, and reached many of my goals in life because of that wonderful water. In short, swimming has saved my life. Just show up!

In Part 4 in the series I'll discuss how to pace your training in the pool.