Swimming can actually be better for you
than running. The main reason being that,
as you are in water, there is no impact
on the joints that there is with running,
you are just pushing yourself through the
water and not impacting any surfaces.
Again, start small and build up. Aim for
doing a certain number of lengths and, as
you get fitter, either aim to do the lengths
quicker or do more of them and always
have a target in mind for when you reach
the target you previously set.
It might be worth getting earplugs, if you
are going to start swimming seriously, to
reduce the risk of getting an ear
infection.
Try going once a week to get your body
used to the exercise and then build up as
you get fitter, if you throw yourself into
it, you may end up injuring or tiring
yourself out really quickly and then you
will be put off from doing it again.
You’ll have to time your swimming
sessions to the timetable of the pool that
you use, I don’t know about elsewhere,
but in the UK, schools and swimming
lessons are carried out in the pool at
certain times of the day. So, if you turned
up to swim at that time, you would be
unable to.
If you have never done any swimming
before, whatsoever, it may be worth
your while signing up to some beginner
swimming lessons. This will take away
the risk of not swimming properly when
you go and you’ll get some useful tips
that you can use in the future. Also, it
will give you confidence when you go
swimming, that you’re not going to be
embarrassed by getting into the pool and
not knowing what you are doing, or
getting in other peoples’ way.
