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Swim Bag Essentials

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. 

My daughter just finished another season of high school swim and had one of the best season's of her career to date. Her hair also survived the season better than it ever has before, too!! So, what was in her swim bag this season? Let's take a look:

Swim Bag Essentials

The biggest difference this year (apart from her dropping times meet after meet), was that her hair did not get trashed this year from the chlorine! Prevention really is your best friend when it comes to protecting your hair and skin from the damaging effects of chlorine.

We invested in some good quality hair/body products this season. Triswim makes a line of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion that removes the chlorine from the hair/body and then protects it. We bought the travel size set of the Triswim products to put in her swim bag and got the full size ones for home and refilling the small ones.

She also found that if she put a little conditioner in her hair before she put it up in a silicone swim cap, that it helped to protect it even more. Silicone swim caps are thicker and more gentle on the hair than the latex ones.

Even though most pools have kickboards and pull buoys that can be borrowed for training, my daughter prefers to use her own pull buoy to work on just her upper body strength during her strokes. The short fins make working on leg strength and endurance more effective. The shorter fins provide more resistance that the traditional length fins. I like that you can purchase the shorter fins – we used to always have to buy the long ones and cut the tips off.  The pull buoy, fins and other wet equipment goes into a mesh bag for transport and to dry out.

Rounding out her essentials is a quick-dry, microfiber towel that does not take up a ton of space in her swim bag and her favorite Vanquisher goggles. Everything gets packed into the Speedo backpack that has plenty of compartments for caps, goggles, hair care supplies, a sealed compartment for wet suits, and room for dry clothes for after practice.

High school swim season may be over, but in a few short months it will be time for summer swim season!

February 21, 2018 Leave a Comment

Talking with Dara Torres and Swim Today about The FUNNEST Sport – Swimming

SwimToday

If you ask kids what the FUNNEST sport is, you will get a lot of different answers – from soccer, to gymnastics, softball and everything else in between. Not a lot of them will raise their hand and say swimming. But if you ask the question a different way, like “what is the best part about summer?” I bet almost all of them will say SWIMMING and going to the pool.

First, from the press release: 

Ten industry partners, including USA Swimming, are collaborating on a summer-long campaign called SwimToday, led by five-time Olympian and 12-time medalist, Dara Torres. Launching today, the lighthearted campaign proclaims swimming as “the funnest sport there is” and showcases its many benefits in an effort to bring more kids who know how to swim into the sport of swimming.

According to the 2014 State of the Competitive & Fitness Swimming Industry Report by Sports Marketing Surveys, the exclusive research provider to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, nearly 80 percent of parents overlook swimming when choosing organized sports activities for their children after they learn to swim. Most notably, parents whose children had never tried swimming perceived it to be less fun than other sports. However, parents of swimmers rated the sport at the top in fun, teamwork, confidence-building and health and fitness once they gave it a try.

The campaign is endorsed and supported by 10 leading swimming industry partners, including membership organizations, coaches associations, swimsuit and equipment manufacturers, swimming media, and technology partners. The “Funnest Sport” campaign will also address common misconceptions about the sport, encouraging more parents to consider swimming as a youth sport option for their children.

Torres, a lifelong swimmer, entered her first international swimming competition at age 14 and in 2008 became the oldest swimmer to compete in an Olympic Games. Now a “swim mom” herself, she cheers her daughter on at swim practice and understands the challenges parents face as they make decisions about how their children will spend their time.

“I started swimming as a kid and it gave me skills I’ve used throughout my life,” said Torres. “Now I have an 8-year-old daughter who is on a swim team and loves it. I see her benefitting from the same things I did, and I want other moms to know how much fun it can be and what a lifelong gift it is for our kids.”

As part of this campaign, I was given the opportunity to talk with Dara Torres on the phone last week about swimming and why it is the FUNNEST sport. But, I already knew why! While Dara's daughter is just now starting to swim competitively, all three of my kids have done so in some capacity – summer league, year round competitive team and high school swim – over the last seven years. I know it's fun – not just for the kids either – it is a very family friendly sport.

Here are a few of the reasons my own kids love swimming on a team (and my 5 Reasons to Join a Summer Swim Team):

  • Like the image at the top of this post shows – there are no bench warmers! Every child can participate – from swimming in individual events to the incredibly exciting relays. My youngest daughter would be totally content just swimming relays -she LOVES being part of a team and working together as a team.
  • It's social! They love sitting with their friends between races at meets, writing silly sayings on their arms, and cheering on their friends. Did I mention how much fun the relays are?
  • It's great cross training. Swimming makes you stronger and builds your endurance – and that makes every other sport they do easier. Plus swimming is low impact – which means fewer injuries.
  • They can all be on the same team. Yep, that's right! Especially in summer, all three kids go to practice and meets together. Boys and girls swim side by side and the big kids swim at the same time as the younger kids. It is like one big family.

In talking with Dara, we both agree that swimming teaches so much more than just swimming (that in itself is a life long skill).  Of course, it is most important that your child is watersafe at a young age – and swim lessons are great way to start, but once they can swim, competitive swimming can teach so much more. Things like self confidence, team work, setting goals and time management are just a few of them.

Over the past seven years, I have watched the friendships made at the pool grow – not just with the kids either. As swim parents, you have to get involved, too. From timing to officiating, concessions and awards, it takes volunteers, but some of my closest friends are those I have met timing or helping to run swim meets. I asked Dara what job she usually does at her daughter's meets and she responded, “timer.” Timing a meet is a blast – you get to see every race and be right in the middle of the action!

Summer swim season for us starts the Tuesday after Memorial Day and even though only one of my kids is swimming this summer (well, maybe two), we are so excited for another FUN summer of swim, friendships, team spirit, and staying fit!

For more information on getting started with a swim program in your area, visit SwimToday.org.

 

May 5, 2014 Leave a Comment

Female Athletes Who Conquered the World As Teenagers

I love this fabulous infographic sent to me by Aries Apparel that highlights nine amazing female athletes who accomplished more as teenagers than most of us will in a lifetime. Featured athletes include gymnasts Mary Lou Retton, Nadia Comaneci, and Gabby Douglas; golfer Michelle Wie; tennis players Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis; snowboarder Elena Hight; figure skater Kimmie Meissner; and swimmer Missy Franklin. Enjoy!

Female Athletes Famous teenagers

Who is your favorite? I'm going to have to go with Missy Franklin – such a classy young lady with a very bright future.

May 31, 2013 Leave a Comment

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