Question for swimmers

[zinaida]

I'm 20 weeks pregnant and recently started going swimming, because I'd like to keep active through my pregnancy. I really like swimming, but have never been good at it, and am definitely one of the slower ones in the slow lane (which is full of pensioners, and I'm under 30!).

Should I be trying to speed up, or will that come naturally as I plan to go 2-3 times per week? I could go a bit faster, but then I'd get knackered much quicker, and I'm not sure if that would be better for fitness?

After I'm finished I definitely feel a bit knackered and like I've had a workout, so it must be doing some good, but it feels like it's not 'real' exercise because I'm not bright red and gasping for air like when I used to do my 30 day Shred DVD.

Any thoughts gratefully appreciated!

If you are just going slowly because you're not that fit yet, then you will get faster over time.

But I see a lot of swimmers who have really poor swimming style, so a lot of their energy is going to kicking the water out sideways or something, rather than propelling themselves forwards. So they can be using loads of energy and getting really knackered, but still very slow (DH is a bit like this, so it's the only sport I can actually beat him at!).

If you think that might be you, then just a few lessons (and then practising what you learnt) would make a big difference and you would then be able to get quite a lot faster over time.

It depends how bothered you are about going faster though If you are happy and not causing a total traffic jam, then it doesn't really matter and you will still be getting a workout. And you are pg after all, so nobody will expect you to be the Thorpedo!

Thanks Inigo! I probably should think about having some lessons to check whether I'm doing it wrong.

I swim once a week with a friend who recently became a mum - I don't enjoy it and am pretty crap but it means I can keep in touch with her while she gets used to her new lifestyle iyswim.

I swim a mile (64 lenghts of my local pool) and have got significantly quicker as I get fitter. Swimming is about stamina and endurance and I recommend you set yourself a target amount of lengths then gradually increase it rather than pushing for speed and not necessarily enjoying yourself.

If it helps, I've been swimming weekly with her for 7 months and built up from a struggling 32 to an easy 64. I can now nearly keep up with her in breaststroke (would lose my glasses at front crawl!!) where before she did 3 lengths to each of my 2. I have also stopped needing a breather at the end of each pair which has made me much quicker overall

2-3 times a week will soon see you keeping up. Oh, and she was back in her pre pregnancy clothes within 6 weeks

Thanks for that purple! I've just looked it up and I did 30 lengths today which is half a mile, so I'll try to do 2-4 more lengths each time I go and build up gradually.

Just do it to your comfort, pleasantly tired is fine to feel at the end.