Tools For Swimming

So, here are a few helpful things, not all required but many are very helpful, others are great if you become more advanced or fall in love with it.

• Goggles.  Many of you don't swim with goggles, but they are almost crucial for lap swimming. The chlorine will irritate your eyes, and it makes it easier to see.
• Towel. Standard, you probably have one already!
• Fins. These are actually so much fun to use, but they aren't needed. Use them to kick freestyle or butterfly. Many places allow you to borrow them.
• Swim Caps. Many girls will want one because they protect your hair from the chlorine and keep your hair out of your face. You can get these for under $10.
• Pull Buoy. These are hard to use, they are for as you advance. You put one between your legs to pull with your arms. You can probably borrow these as well.
• A swim suit. As darling as your Trina Bikini is, that will be hard to swim in. They come in one piece and two piece styles, I prefer one piece. You can probably buy them on sale at sports authority or Dicks. Make sure to try them on for fit!
• Kick Board. These are so great! You can probably borrow one of these as well, but they are great to strengthen your legs.

Let us know if you're a swimmer!!

Love,

A+C

You Can: Lap Swim

So, we know we won't be the next Michael Phelps anytime soon. But, it's summer time and working out outside can get hot, and the gym gets monotonous after a long time. But there's a way to work out and stay cool: lap swimming.


Lap swimming can be so intimidating. Here are some tips on how to get started and what some simple terminology means. Tomorrow, there will be a post on some simple supplies that helps make swimming easier and creates a wider variety of activities.

• Just go! Many of you have access to a pool, from your summer country club to your local YMCA. Find out the hours for lap swimming.
• Stretch out before and after. So important.
• Make sure to do a warmup set 4 laps (or a 100) of free style (front crawl) is great for beginners.
• Laps: a 25 is one lap-so from one end to the other. a 50 is two laps-there and back once. a 100 is four laps-down and back twice.
• Strokes: Freestyle is the standard front crawl. Backstroke is the only stroke on your back. Breaststroke is on your stomach, arms and legs in circular motion. Butterfly is legs together kicking and both arms simultaneously. Stick to freestyle and backstroke as you begin.
• You don't even have to worry about keeping track of your laps at first, just go! It's a great way to clear your head for those non runners.

Here are some great work outs for beginners, the first for endurance and the second for speed. They are from Beginner Triathlete

Give it a try!! 

Let us know!

xoxo,

A+C

Is It Memorial Day Yet?!

For most of us, its a bit too early to be thinking about bathing suit purchases. Memorial Day: The long awaited day when most Country Clubs or Pool Clubs open their pools and the swim season officially begins. We may or may not have about a month (on the dot) until Memorial Day...but when has that stopped us from doing some (online) window shopping? We know you're going to 'Ooh and Aah' over these too. 

We love us some seersucker. 

via J. Crew (only available online)

Polka dots and ruffles? Yes, please.

via Splendid

Pin-up chic. 

via Marc by Marc Jacobs

Loving this stripe color combo.

via Ella Moss

The anchors always get us. 

via Shoshanna

You know we couldn't leave Lilly out!

via Lilly Pulitzer

Love, 

A+C