Quick Dip: What Should I Do If I Feel More Tired Than Usual?
A short read for the car journey
Category: Sleep & Recovery | Read time: Under 2 minutes
Feeling tired after a hard set is familiar to most swimmers. But what if the warm-up feels unusually hard, or you are still exhausted at school the next day?
Notice what is different for you. Perhaps your usual pace takes much more effort, you struggle to concentrate or you feel tired before training has even started.
Think about the last few days:
Sleep: Have late nights or early starts cut your sleep short?
Food and drink: Have you missed meals, rushed a snack or forgotten your water bottle?
Your week: Have you had extra training, a busy competition weekend, school worries or a recent illness?
These checks can help you spot something useful to change. Pack your snack and bottle, make time for meals and start getting ready for bed early enough. They will not explain every case of tiredness.
Tell your coach before the session if you already feel unusually tired. You could say, “I’ve felt worn out since the weekend, and even easy swimming feels hard.” That helps your coach decide whether to adjust the session.
If you feel dizzy, faint or unwell in the water, stop swimming and get your coach’s attention straight away.
If tiredness keeps returning, is getting worse or affects school and things you normally enjoy, tell your parent or carer. They can arrange medical advice. Do not simply put it down to growing.
Ask a parent or carer: Can we check whether my week leaves enough time to recover?
Created by Basingstoke Bluefins Coaching Team
