Why drink when training for swimming?

In swim training, I swim 3-4k pretty darn near every swim.  So I bring a drink to the pool with me.

Agree.  You'll get more out of your training if you take care of your hydration when possible.  I typically have a water bottle at the pool and often even use a scoop of accelerade because I know that keeping my workout nutrition in line will promote a better workout and faster recovery.  I definitely don't become dependent on the fluids so I don't see it as a negative when it comes time to race.  I get sufficient training time without any hydratio when I do my OW swims.  At the pool I'm going to get everything I can out of my training.

I don't take water with me for runs under 1 hour.  My pool is only open for lap swims in one hour increments so I don't keep water with me at the side of the pool because I train for less than one hour at a time.  I make sure I am well hydrated before and then after.  Seems like if you start a workout well hydrated that you should be able to go 45mins to 1 hour without taking a drink?  I don't know?

Actually, I never ever think I am drinking pool water, but almost always when I am done swimming, I have to pee right away and then usually again before I leave the locker room and then again right when I get home.  And it's always clear like I have been drinking alot, but sometimes if I am in a hurry, I haven't been drinking much at all.  I don't quite get that! 

Adventure Bear and Joel already mention the reasoning why to do that. I swim 4-5x a week and I always bring Gatorade and drink before, while and after swimming to keep me going and allow me to hit my workout goals. Keep in mind that during a race you won’t be doing speed sets, or kick repeats or all out effort for a extended period. But you do that when training to improve your speed, efficiency, aerobic base, etc, and been hydrated will allow you to accomplish that. Finally before a big race it is assume that you will taper, re-stock your energy and eat/drink enough the days leading to the race so by the time you hit the swim start you will be ready to go.

i always drink when i swim. my usual workout is 90mins so i sweat a lot - i usually get through two bottles of sports drink, or one sports drink and one water. i also pee at least once during my workout (in the toilet mr asparagus man!)

i think people forget that they sweat when they swim as they are in water exercising. also it helps prevent cramp.

Please.

Leave the generalizations in your head.

That and the water part.  It's honestly never crossed my mind to bring water to the pool, and I've never felt the need to have it, easy swim or hard swim.  To say that you're not swimming hard enough if you don't need it is assuming far too much.

amiine - 2006-06-28 10:21 AM

DerekL - 2006-06-28 10:11 AM

Please.

Leave the generalizations in your head.

running2far - 2006-06-28 10:08 AM If you don't need water/g-aid while swimming you're not swimming hard enough.... I find most of Tri swimmers do every set at the same speed...

I agree with the statement that many athletes swim at the same speed. (I was one of them) I am NOT a swimmer

However, I don’t agree with the statement about not swimming hard enough, that's just nonsense and plain silly. I don't know any GOOD coach advising athletes to swim HARD every session...