Distance swimming takes determination and mental focus, especially if training for an event. Keeping the mind occupied to finish a workout harder and faster is crucial to training well.
Pretend to Race Someone
Scope out the scene in the pool and find someone who is a bit faster. Follow that swimmer closely and push to stay with them. Pretending to race will take the swimmer's mind off of the swim, and into the mock competition. It's fun and will keep a swimmer's pace steady and challenging.
Always Time a Swim
Even if not training for an event, timing a swim is a great way to keep track of pace. If the goal is to swim a 500, then warm up, look at the clock and get out the laps against the clock. The next time a swimmer gets in the water, he or she should try to beat the time. This is a great strategy, especially if there is nobody else in the pool.
Buying a Waterproof MP3 Player
There are several waterproof MP3 players out on the market. The Finis SwiMP3 is a solid MP3 player that holds 256MB of music. It is also compatible with PCs and Macs. While there are waterproof cases for MP3 players like the IPod or the Zune, these have poor customer ratings. MP3 players are hard to get into the waterproof cases, and water can still leak in through the gaskets.
When creating a playlist on an MP3 player, consider putting high energy music at the beginning. Playing upbeat songs that match the swimmer's stroke beat is a good way to keep a pace. Put slower songs at the end of the playlist for a relaxing cool down and ultimate swim experience. Swimmers can also sing along to their MP3 players which is entertaining for the swimmer and the people in the other lanes.
Invest in a Swimming Pace Timer
These little devices can be placed under a swim cap and keep a swimmer's stroke steady. They transmit either beeps or clicks to help create a consistent stroke rate. They can also be programmed to increase at certain parts of a swim. Swimmers should analyze their swims, and find where they start to break down mentally and physically. The pace clock can be programmed to pick up speed just before a swimmer is about to lose his mental focus or physical prowess. They are also great to keep a beat when singing in the pool.
Analyzing a Swim
Swimmers should analyze their swims, just like runners analyze their runs. Figuring out where mental breakdown begins will prepare a swimmer and get him ready for the struggle. Knowing where the problem exists will help overcome the distance obstacle.
Carmen Sofia Grant - Carmen is a social media marketer, freelance writer, and blogger. Her favorite blogs are MomCrunch and Social Media Examiner.com
