Columbia Athletic Clubs

Swimmers, stay HYDRATED!!

It’s easy to forget how much your sweating while you swim and unfortunately having your mouth in the water doesn’t help your body stay hydrated. In actuality having our face in the water can cause us to forget that we are thirsty .As with any exercise pre-hydration is critical in helping your body perform to the best of it’s ability.  If you swim first thing in the morning it’s more then likely that you have gone approximately eight hours with out food or drink. If your stomach can handle a little food before the workout great, in addition though try and get down a 16-ounce sport drink on the way to the pool.  Not only will this provide you with some necessary fluids, but you will also pick up a few carbohydrates that should help you feel better during your swim.  If you swim later in the day and also happen to be a coffee drinker, be conscious of how much water you consume over the course of the day.  In addition, make sure to keep a water bottle on the pool deck with you during your swims, don’t just look at it either, set a goal to drink it.  After the swim pay attention to your body, and make sure you are urinating on a regular basis.  Staying properly hydrated will not only help you feel better while you swim, but it will also help your body recover faster so that you can feel even better for the next workout.