Going Home for the Holidays

Usually every school has a Thanksgiving break during the week of Thanksgiving.  And usually, practice is not mandatory during this time.  But, it's not always a good idea to skip out on swimming practice for a whole week.  You've been training for months, in and out of the pool, and your meet season might have already started.  Don't let your hard work go to waste by sitting around and doing nothing but consuming turkey for the next seven days.  Here are some things to keep you in shape and swimming ready:

• Go to practice.
• Even though the practice isn't mandatory, it's best to go anyways.  Take a couple hours out of your relaxing day to workout and be dedicated.  Contact your coach to see if he is still holding non-mandatory practices.
• Swim with your club team
• If you're in college, and you're going home for the holidays, call your old high school or club swimming coach and ask about their practice schedule.  Most likely, your coach will welcome your work ethic and invite you to swim for the week.  It's a good way to switch up your usual workout routine and catch up with some old swimming coaches and friends.
• Go to the YMCA
• If you don't have access to a coach and team, go to a pool.  Have your coach e-mail you sets to do for the week, and take them to the YMCA pool.  Be your own coach.  Have fun and train.
• Go to the gym
• If you can't get to the pool, go to the gym.  Get on a treadmill, go for a run, ride a bike, do a workout dvd, do something!

All in all, don't sit around all week.  Don't let your training go to waste-- do something!
Enjoy Thanksgiving, and work hard!  Your dedication will leave you swimming fast, well, and swiftly :)