aching after swim

MoveitlikeManda

so, On friday I thought instead of sitting and watching my children in there swimming lesson I would do a swim.

I have not been swimming for along time and when I have its not been actual swimming as were taking the babies so was more walking around holding the baby in the water as ya do.

anyway, on Friday I SWAM and I mean SWAM, I was in the water 38 mins, I did a few full length but had to keep stopping as there were people in the shollow end so I switched to doing width in the deep end, nobody in the way so I just kept swimming.
I figured there was no point me doing it if I didnt put my all in to it so I did and am VERY happy with how I did

HOWEVER since then my arms, thighs and bum have been sore, yesterday morning it hurt to even sit down lol

so my questions..... is it normal to ache so much after a good swim? (still slightly sore now but not too bad)

did I over do it? should I do more stretching before and after? or is being sore a good sign I had a good work out?

cmriverside

Absolutely normal

The more you do it, the less after-soreness.

Get back at it! Well done. I love swimming - I was on the swim team in high school. We worked hard for five hours a day: it gets easier quickly. Keep it up!!

MoveitlikeManda

brilliant, I totally enojyed it and actually did a lot better than I thought I would considering the last time i tried I had to stop after 5 widths because I couldnt breathe lol (overweight asthmatic smoker not a great combo)
but this time I was flying like I do it every day and felt great until I got out and couldnt lift my arms above my head lol

girlinahat

Totally normal. You are using your muscles in a different way.

Well done for getting into it, the more you keep at it the less you'll be aching in future

snowflake954

Any new exercise will cause this. As your body gets used to it, it won't happen. Yes stretching is a good idea, and for now take it easy until the pain goes away. Swim lightly the next time, and then slowly up your workout--I've been swimming for 20 yrs, 3x a week.

MoveitlikeManda

the plan is it go each week while the boys have their lessons and then will at some point go a second time during the week so as well as going the gym and doing my full body kettlebell/dumbell work outs I will be swimming twice a week

meritage4

Yes perfectly normal, keep it up and it will go away.

MoveitlikeManda

well tonight seems to be much better.

I stretched before and after and even though I did more swimming this time (had the pool to myself) Im not too bad..........atm

fishgutzy

Sux when splash poolers take up an entire end of the pool. Happens in China where I go on business. (But found a 'real pool' eventually)
Soreness after swimming for the first time in a long time is normal.
Maybe you can convince them to install lane ropes in the pool for more efficient and safe use of the pool. Also designate lap lanes. It uis extremely rude of people to just occupy and end of the pool when they are not even trying to swim.

daj150

As already noted, that's expected. Always stretch before and after, and the more you swim the easier it will get. If you want to see slightly quicker improvements, you want to swim at least twice per week, but if you get into it and want to see good gains, the three times a week is a must. Good luck, have fun! Swimming is an amazing and fun exercise.

MoveitlikeManda

because I loved it (have always loved swimming but between 5 kids and not liking being in a swim suit i just have not been going) Im going 3 times a week (mon, wed, fri)
I figured I might as well get in to something Im enjoying rather than kill myself at random classes lol

I can confirm that grown women doing handstands like 8yr olds and slashing eachother like 5yr olds can really start to get on ya nerves after a very short time when your trying to swim and its annoying when they exect you to swim around them rather than them moving slightly to the side

MoveitlikeManda

little update,

went swimming again tonight (3rd time since i started as have been poorly this week with my chest) but I managed to do 12 widths and 32 lengths in the time my boys were in their lesson AND im not dying after, although my arms and legs feel like they have had a workout im not over achey like the first time I went, so glad it didnt put me off going again and iv carried on because Im really enjoying it

cmriverside

Yay!

kenyonhaff

Oh, yes--swimming is extremely good exercise, and works muscles not easily done "on dry land"! And you've figured out a way to squeeze in a workout!