The other day as I was swimming the man next to me jumped in about a half hour after I started my workout. He stayed in for about a half hour before he was finished his workout. Within that half hour time, he pulled out paddles, then fins then fins and paddles then paddles with a pull buoy. While I do think that any combination of that equipment can be a good thing, all in one workout can be way too much. Sometimes I go days without the pull buoy or paddles (I dislike fins so I try to avoid them as much as possible). If you are an experienced swimmer, these “toys” can be very helpful but you have to know when to use them, and how to use them. Without proper knowledge, you can not only waste your water time but you could seriously hurt yourself. When my coach first started training me, I would say to her, “ok, what is my dryland plan, what kind of cords are we going to use? what kind of paddles do you want me using? what do you think about IM paddles? How about this new snorkel thing everyone is using?” She pulled the reigns back and sat me down and said, “the best way you are going to conquer the distance is to just swim it. Yes, we will use equipment but you just need to put in the yardage unassisted sometimes.” She was/is absolutely right. When I do straight swims or 5 x 2,000, what we will do is throw in a 50 fly right in the middle of the 2,000s. Try it, it is harder than you think (especially if it is long course meters). When I do that, I imagine a change in open water conditions that may throw off my breathing or force me to exert more energy, then when I am done the fly, I try to get back to regulating my breathing. It is hard but it works. I do love to play but sometimes you have to just put away the toys and swim.
