Part of what makes swimming such an excellent sport is its accessibility to beginners and experts alike. All one needs is a towel, a swimsuit, and goggles (you can wear a swim “cap” if you want to). All of these can be found at SportMart (Novato), Big 5 Sporting Goods (Larkspur), NorCal Swim Shop (online), Sports Basement (San Francisco), and SuitsMarin (Novato).

Before you start swimming, though, you must have some basic guidelines. First, if you don’t know how to swim, don’t just get into a pool and try. Ask a professional swim coach or an advanced swimmer about the basics and the techniques you should know before swimming, like the easiest way to float, when to breathe when doing freestyle, etc. Also, never swim by yourself unless there is a lifeguard on duty. Even if you are an excellent swimmer, random accidents can happen and it would not be fun to be seriously injured when you are alone. Finally, remember that anyone can succeed if they keep at it enough. Swimming is not like running or playing basketball; we are not as constantly in the water as we are walking around on land. It takes time to learn, but if you work hard consistently, you will get in shape, tone your muscles, and even become a fast swimmer.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

• Speed is not important until you get your stroke right   
• Have fun—this is not meant to be torture or punishment
• If you enjoy this sport, join a local club or high school team