Core Daily
Live Better
Train Like the Greatest
marco pako? on flickr.com
The epic performance of Michael Phelps at the Olympic Games has led many to wonder if he'll inspire legions of children to take up the sport of swimming.
That would be a wonderful thing. Swimming is a terrific workout and a sport that creates discipline in kids since it usually requires early-morning practice sessions. But Phelps might have a greater impact by inspiring adults to get into the pool.
When adults decide to get in shape, they typically start jogging. Or they join a gym, where they either hit the weights or attend group fitness classes. There's nothing wrong with that, of course. But they might be less prone to injury and get a better return on investment from swimming.
I should know. About 15 months ago, I realized that what I thought was swimming since the age of 5 was little more than dog paddling and that I didn't know how to swim. Since I wanted to compete in triathlons, I had to start from square one, learning proper swim form and how to breathe correctly, exhaling in the water.
Learning how to swim as an adult is tough. It's a lot like learning the golf swing. You break down the stroke into parts, undergo long hours of drills, and eventually begin to put it together. After that, it takes constant practice to create a repeatable stroke.
Unlike golf, you get a heck of a workout along the way. I've always done a lot of running, but because I was so far behind in swimming, I've run less over the last year. Ironically, I've become faster in 5K and 10K races, largely because of the swimming and following the Core Performance Endurance training program.
Swimming is one of the few lifelong sports. Many runners give up their sport because of joint problems. Others no longer go to the gym because of various ailments. And while it's true that swimmers are prone to shoulder issues, it's one of the least risky sports in terms of potential injuries.
It's also a sport where it's easy to measure progress. Just look at the clock. Or track your distance. Or compare your form to top swimmers. I often watch YouTube videos of Australian great Grant Hackett, who on Saturday night just missed winning gold in the 1500-meter freestyle for the third straight Olympiad, taking the silver.
There are masters swim programs in every community, with (very) early morning workouts tailored to working adults and parents. None of us adults are going to become Michael Phelps, but we can get a phenomenal workout in a short period, which will contribute to greater performance at work and in other endeavors.
After Phelps won his eighth gold Saturday night, I felt compelled to jump in my backyard pool and do some laps, even though it was nearly midnight. I've never headed to the driving range after watching Tiger Woods win a major or wanted to shoot hoops after seeing Michael Jordan win an NBA title.
Perhaps that will be the lasting legacy of Phelps, quite an admirable one at that. If he can inspire adults to take up a life-sustaining sport, it will be an accomplishment of Olympic proportions.
About The Author
Pete Williams – Pete Williams is a contributing writer for CorePerformance.com and the co-author of the Core Performance book series.
