Defining Swimming Fitness

My operating definition of fitness for swimming is as follows: Fitness is the ability to express the technique you have developed over whatever time you choose, at whatever intensity you choose. Fitness is specific to the task at hand. A person may have a high level of fitness for distance running or for cycling yet be completely unfit for swimming. A person might be fit for swimming long distances yet be unfit for sprinting one length of the pool.

The terms health and fitness are often used in the same breath, as if they were inseparable. Although it is true that if you have a high level of fitness, you have a greater likelihood of being healthy, the converse is not necessarily true. You can be healthy in the sense of being illness and injury free, yet be completely unprepared for any prolonged or intense physical exertion. Before you start your swimming training program, check with your physician to be sure that you can handle the added stress of exercise at a variety of intensities.

If you are in good health and already exercise vigorously on a regular basis, you can probably handle 45-minute (or longer) swim-training sessions at a moderate pace with relatively short rest periods. If you exercise only occasionally or only at moderate levels, you may need to take longer rest breaks during a training session. If you are a NEBAB (never ever been athletic before), you may need to take frequent, longer breaks and swim or drill more slowly. Beginning a new physical activity when you are at a low fitness level can be frustrating if your expectations are too high. You should count your initial trips to the pool as major accomplishments even if you get tired easily or feel pooped. Moving from relative inactivity into a fitness activity is a big change that takes a while for your body to get used to. Keep after it. The lower your initial fitness level, the greater your rewards will be in the near future.