HOW TO MANAGE YOUR SWIM TRAINING OVER THE CHRISTMAS BREAK
As December approaches, many swimmers start wondering how to juggle holiday indulgences with training. Personally, I’ve signed up for the 20km 2025 Rottnest Channel Swim at the end of February 2025. Despite working hard to be in the shape of my life at the moment, I’ve got a 25-day period over Christmas where I’ll be travelling to the US, Canada and Scotland to see family, and the thought of this impact on my training worries me, too.
Whether you’re aiming to stay fit or simply want to make the most of a busy season, Christmas indeed presents some unique challenges for swimmers. Here, we’ll look at practical answers to some common holiday-related training questions, with a few tips that I’ll also be implementing to keep you both motivated and balanced.
1. Knowing that I’m going to overindulge, should I train extra hard in December to compensate?
Fitness Balance Chart in Swim Smooth GURU
The holidays are a time when many of us enjoy a little more than usual, and it’s tempting to try to “offset” indulgences with extra training. However, training intensely with the sole purpose of compensating for holiday treats can lead to burnout and even injury, especially when your body is already stressed from social gatherings, disrupted sleep and dietary changes.