Swimmer's Daily

  • Pool ownership brings a lot of joy. It also brings a lot of responsibility. Sooner or later you’re going to have to clean your pool to get that grime out.

    Image courtesy of GEOGOZZ/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

    You have a choice between using a manual vacuum and an automatic cleaner. These are two different ways of cleaning your pool.
    We’re going to show you the differences between the two cleaners and help you to decide on which one you should choose.

    Why Should You Use a Manual Vacuum?

    It goes without saying that you should use a manual vacuum over cleaning your pool by hand. It’s a far more hygienic option and it’s much faster than attempting to clean by hand.

    But the manual vacuum still needs manual labor. Using one is like pushing a vacuum cleaner around your house.
    The only problem is that it’s much slower than using an automatic vacuum. However, the manual option is also the cheaper option. Automatic vacuums can be an expensive investment.

    Why Should You Use an Automatic Vacuum?

    An automatic vacuum is exactly what you expect. It’s not handheld and it will clean the pool automatically. This is an excellent option if you don’t want to spend a lot of time and effort cleaning the pool.

    These are the vacuums for people who don’t mind the initial investment in exchange for saving time and effort. It’s especially good for larger pools because a manual vacuum would take hours of hard work to get the job done.

    Do keep in mind, though, that with larger pools even an automatic pool cleaner will require a few hours to complete the job. You should also remember that you will have to backwash the filters to maintain performance.

    If you value your time, though, the automatic pool cleaner is a worthwhile investment.

    Should You Make the Big Investment?

    An automatic pool cleaner isn’t actually the most expensive option you can find. Some of the more luxurious pools have cleaners that have been built-in to the pool.

    The way these work is that the currents work with the cleaner to send dirt and debris towards the main drains, therefore automatically cleaning your pool all the time.

    However, these must be installed during construction and are the most expensive choices around as far as pool cleaners go. For the average pool owner, they’re simply not worth the investment.

    An automatic cleaner gives you the benefits of an automatic cleaning without the huge investment required by a luxurious in-pool cleaner.

    Last Word – The Automatic Pool Cleaner is the Way to Go

    Yes, you can use a manual pool cleaner to save money on pool maintenance. But you have to keep in mind that you will spend a lot of hours keeping your pool clean and pristine.

    The way around that is to purchase an automatic pool cleaner. The initial investment is worth it because automatic pool cleaners will always do a better job than you can do manually.

    Do you think an automatic pool cleaner is the right option for you?

    Guest post by Simon T, Poolcleanerhub

  • The Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) has prepared the Exercise in Cancer Care paper, which states doctors should prescribe particular exercise regimes and refer patients to exercise specialists with experience in cancer care.

    The statement has been endorsed by more than 25 health organisations, including the Cancer Council and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and a COSA report on the issue has been published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

    “We’re at a point where the level of evidence is really indisputable and withholding exercise from patients is probably harmful,” said Associate Professor Prue Cormie, who is chair of the COSA report group and lead author of the statement.

    “It would be seen as a major breakthrough in cancer treatment.”

    The COSA statement finds most people with cancer don’t meet exercise recommendations, and outlines a level of exercise, including:

    • At least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise (e.g. walking, jogging, cycling, swimming) each week; and,
    • Two to three resistance exercise (i.e. lifting weights) sessions each week involving moderate to vigorous-intensity exercises targeting the major muscle groups.

    Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre chief medical officer, David Speakman, said the statement was a significant step forward in the treatment of cancer.

    “The notion that we must protect a patient, wrap them in cotton wool, is old fashioned and not supported by the research,” he said.

    See ABC News

     

  • After having competed at the 2018 Commonwealth games in the Gold Coast, I head to Sydney for a couple days off. I meet up with some friends, check out manly beach and visit the famous Bondi Icebergs swimming pool. Had an awesome time in Sydney, so much love for Australia, can’t wait to come back soon!

  • The director of the Aqueous Swim Academy Ben Gleeson collaborates with Andrew Lauterstein, Australian triple Olympic Medallist, two time FINA World Championship medallist and also owner of the New Wave Swim School, a leading Australian swim school in the education of aquatics.

    https://youtu.be/Lg0HLmdP5fs

  • One of the most important things you can do to keep your kids safe around the water is to teach them to swim at an early age.

  • Deaf swimmer overcomes odds to score college scholarship

  • Yusra Mardini nearly drowned trying to escape the war in Syria. A year later, she was competing in the Olympics. Here’s her story.

    https://youtu.be/gL9MIojZwj8

  • If you’re looking to get into a sport that boasts a variety of positives – from losing weight to improving fitness – you’ll struggle to find one more fitting than swimming. Here we explain why you should take up swimming as your new hobby this Summer.

    Image credit: http://www.labspa.co.uk/

    Low impact

    Swimming is arguably the only sport you can partake in without risking serious injury. This is because of the non weight-bearing nature of it, and the lack of stress it puts on your joints, unlike running, for example, which many people are physically unable to do. Because the pressure is uniformly distributed, it isn’t concentrated on the likes of your knees and hips, how it would if you weren’t submerged in water.

    That being said, whilst injury cases are incredibly rare, and if they do occur, only low-grade, you should certainly warm up and stretch before going all out, as with any strenuous activity.

    Being soft on the body is a benefit for those who already have an injury or medical condition, in fact. Osteoarthritis, for example, can be incredibly painful when partaking in any weight-bearing exercises, yet swimming offers some relief and the weightlessness allows for more movement than would be able on dry land.

    Fitness

    Because swimming works most of the major muscle groups throughout your body, it’s a great cardiovascular exercise. With water being much denser than air, your body has more pressure put on the limbs than if you weren’t in the water, raising your heart rate and improving your fitness.

    If you frequently visit the swimming pool, and are able to improve on your technique, you will quickly see a difference in how much more efficient you are as a swimmer, and how further you can actually go. However, even if you are at a low swimming level, the benefits on your physical fitness will be drastic enough to be noticed in no time at all.

    Muscle toning

    With swimming able to work your whole body more than any other form of cardio exercise, it’s no wonder the swimmer’s body is so revered. Whilst the likes of running and cycling mostly target your lower body, swimming incorporates most of your body’s major muscle groups, helping you tone all of your muscles in unison.

    Great for working your core muscles, lats and back, and upper arms, with consistent and relatively intense sessions at the pool, you’ll be able to not only build a slim and toned physique, but also increase your natural strength.

    Health benefits

    There are a variety of health benefits that have been found to come from swimming. Training in the water has shown a decrease in blood pressure in people with hypertension, as well as reducing arterial stiffness, which can cause some heart troubles.

    It is also a great exercise for those who are overweight, as the buoyancy assists with the aches and discomfort of various out-of-water aerobic exercises, as well as having the water offering a cool-down mechanism, reducing the likelihood of overheating. Although swimming may not burn calories as quickly as some other more intense forms of exercise, with frequent sessions, it will certainly help in losing weight.

    Another bonus is the positive effects it can have on one’s back and posture. With many of us sitting in unnatural positions through driving and slouched at desks, swimming essentially slightly arches the back in the opposite direction which gives it a much needed rest and stretch, helping to reduce the chance of back injuries.

    Mental benefits

    It is now quite common knowledge that physical activity has positive effects on people’s mental health, but research suggests swimming is particularly effective.

    Lowering stress levels, incidences of depression, and anxiety, raising mood and improving sleep, are just some benefits that can be experienced through frequent swimming. And it’s not only swimming lengths that have a positive effect on the mind; partaking in a water aerobics class is just as effective and may be more suited to those who aren’t such strong swimmers.

    The reasons behind these benefits are not only down to the endorphins released, like with all types of exercise, but it may also be due to a natural, positive response of simply being in the water. This, combined with a sense of community with others in the pool and the opportunity to make new friends, makes swimming an incredibly positive experience for anybody looking to improve their life for a variety of different reasons.

    Guest post by Leanne Thompson

  • Congratulations to our 2018 Graduate Swimmer – Elena Uttaro on Signing a Letter if Intent to Lafayette College and becoming a valuable member of the class of 2022 and Division 1 Women’s Swimming and Diving Team!