TRAINING ON THE ROAD: An E-Roundtable Discussion

Swimming World Magazine, Jun 2005

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Masters swimmers can't always stay home and tram in their home pool, so Swimming World Magazine found out how some of these swimmers train when they're away from home.

It's a common occurrence. After working hard for months to get into tip-top swimming shape, you find yourself on the road. Perhaps you're on a business trip, or maybe it's a family vacation or a class reunion.

Conscientiously, you checked hotels in the area in which you find yourself, to find one with a pool in which you can train. But, surprise! It turns out that "Olympic-sized pool" is a kidney-shaped monstrosity heated to 90 degrees. What do you do?

We asked four Masters swimmers to participate in an e-roundtable discussion and tell us how they deal with this not uncommon situation. It's one that we all seem to face sooner or later, and one with which some Masters swimmers have to deal on a regular basis.

Swimming World: What do you do to stay in swim-shape when you're on the road?

Richard: Fortunately, I rarely have to travel on business. When traveling for pleasure, there are fairly long lead times to plan on finding a nearby pool that has lap swim times. Whenever possible, I also try not to travel during particularly critical training periods. I definitely use the web to try and find a local team to train with as it keeps things more interesting, and you get to meet new swimmers.

I just got back from a week in California. For part of the time, I stayed with fellow Masters swimmer, Tom Whatley who trains with Burlingame Masters. I hit four workouts in four days and met tons of great people.

Then, returning from the Big Sur area on my way to the airport, I just dropped in on the Santa Cruz Masters at their awesome pool overlooking Monterey Bay. I found out on the web that they had workouts at noon every week day.

Paul Smith told me to check out the pool if I was ever in the area and it was worth it. The coach, Joel, was very hospitable, and it was a fun workout even though I had to get out early to race to catch my plane.

Glen: Before going on the road, I always check out where to swim and train. Usually I am successful, but on those rare occasions when I can't find a suitable place to swim, I exercise in my hotel room: push-ups, sit-ups, squats, triceps-push and other dryland exercises, plus I jog and stretch.

If there is a gym nearby, I do weights. If possible, I also try to get a massage, which I regard as a form of training. Since I train so very little, it is important for me to do something every day!

Diane: When I'm traveling, I try to get in a pool, regardless of its shape or size. When that's not possible, I will run and do yoga exercises. Sometimes if I have the time, I will hike. I also add plyometrics, which really helps me keep strong-it is easiest to perform on a track or grassy area.

Steve: For me, the obvious thing to do is to make sure I do plenty of stretching-on the plane, in my hotel room, waiting in numerous security queues. You can never do too much stretching as you will he better prepared for a pool workout when you next find one.

I often find myself in countries where a decent pool cannot be found without a complicated trek on unfamiliar public transport. Then I do more walking rather than taking public transport.

Of course, when working at a major swim meet, I'm usually going to be constantly walking (running) up and down many flights of stairs from the pool deck to the media tribune for several days straight.

If you're lucky and security turns a blind eye, at some meets you will be able to have a swim in the warm-up pool after the morning heats-a real bonus. Be assertive: it will get you most places-just ask Phil Whitten!

Lastly, in the case where a hotel or motel has a basic-size pool, I just try to enjoy the feel of the water, do some turns off the wall, stay streamlined and focus on form in the confined space I have available.

Swimming World:

What sets do you do when you don't have a pace clock?

Richard: I usually don't wear a sports watch, but that could be one solution. Usually, though, I end up either doing something very relaxed like drills or long easy swims (especially in warm open water) or, if I want more of a challenge, I just do lots of longer fly repeats with a fair amount of rest in between. I also like vertical kicking, especially if there are interesting things to look at.

Glen: When I do not have a pace clock, I use my watch. Easy When I forget my watch, or the size of the pool is so strange that it is useless to use a pace clock, I swim long, easy stuff and very short mini-sprints and do fun exercises.

Diane: Without a pace clock, I will warm up with a 400 swim, 300 pull, 200 kick and 100 drill. Then I do 12 x 100 in sequence: slow, medium, fast, four times through. Sometimes 1 count strokes to keep interested...then some IMs, 4 or 8 x 100. I also like to add at least 4 x 50 with 25 fast and 25 slow. Then I do a 200 warm-down.

Sometimes it is nice to do a straight 2,000, building each 4 x 500. Plus, of course, when I'm here in Hawaii, I love to take a relaxing swim in the ocean without a clock.