Using Swim Paddles

Using Swim paddles is a great way to perfect your stroke technique in the pool.

Swim Coach Frank Sole provides recommendations for varying levels in the size, style and brand of paddles for swimmers in this post for www.active.com.

You're looking for a paddle about 10 percent bigger than your hand. The goal is to use the paddle to help "train" proper stroke technique.

Maybe You Need A Coach

Maybe your routine is in need of a "shakeup".

You may have reached a point in your training life where you'd like to "take things up to another level". Or you may be in a position where you feel as though you're in a rut and you need to "shake things up".

Whatever your case might be, I thought this post on the Frayed Laces blog laid out a good process for deciding upon and engaging a coach.

There are a lot of considerations in choosing a coach - your goals, the experience you're seeking, synergy with a coach, etc. Use this experience as a guide in helping you make a decision that's right for you.

Speed Workout

Check out this resistance band workout video.

Todd Durkin of FitnessQuest10.com demonstrates how to use the band in a variety of ways in this video. Durkin has been a personal trainer for New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Using a resistance band for exercise is a great alternative workout to using weights.

Take Care Of Yourself After Runs

Take care of yourself after runs.

Are you feeling sore? Do you have headaches? Various treatments might be called for to treat symptoms you're feeling after runs that "aren't quite right".

Applications like ice baths or certain foods or drinks can play a role in the recovery process. Check out Christine Luff's post on www.about.com to learn more about things you can do to make yourself feel better following your runs.

Check Out Mr. Fitness

Gary Player, the famous South African golfer, isn't generally know for his fitness exploits.

Personally, I wasn't aware he was dubbed "Mr. Fitness" in the 1950s. At age 75, take a look at how good this guy looks now! I can only hope I look half as good as he does at that age.

Player has an interesting mix of resistance training and cardio he does "five or six times a week". His routine includes 1,000 pushups and situps every morning.

Read more about how this golfer takes fitness seriously through Jen Murphy's Wall Street Journal article. Player relates how his fitness activities have contributed to his success on the greens.

Running Injury Free

If you're looking to run free of injuries, here's some good advice.

Nicole Nichols at the dailysparkblog.com posted about how she's stayed injury free this year with some pretty easy-to-follow instructions.

Advice for running injury-free? Well, it starts with some easy suggestions like listening to your body, not pushing your body just because you think you can and not running every day.

From experience, I can tell you these suggestions make sense. Cross training and not pushing yourself into extremes are good points to follow.

Swimming Etiquette

I never thought much about this, but there is swimming etiquette.

If you're taking the plunge into the pool and looking for some direction, the Frayed Laces blog has a "starter's kit" for you.

As I read this, there were some great suggestions that I honestly had taken for granted. Most of these items are common sense, but sometimes it's good to get the benefit of someone else's perspective.

For example, the post shares when it's good to leave the "band-aids" at home, when to chat with others and how to approach sharing a lane.

Check out this Emily Post guide for swimmers.