It would be great if your swimming training went without a hitch, but it isn’t always like that and chances are there may be a few issues that you have to deal with along the way.

Here are some problems that you might come across in your swimming, and how to avoid them. If you do suffer from them, we’ve got some tips on how to cope:

1. Swim overtraining and burnout.
2. Loss of interest and boredom in your swimming.
3. Illness and swimming.
4. Swimming injuries.
5. Pressure from others.
6. Technical swimming issues.

1. Swimming overtraining and burnout

Overtraining is a very common problem and one that you can experience almost without realizing. It can creep up on you without you noticing and when it does strike it can prove costly. While it’s important to overload, which helps you to progress, there is often a fine line between overload and overtraining. The latter is taking your swim training to a level higher than you should. It exhibits itself through tiredness and difficulty in sleeping and can often lead to injury.

Avoid it by following your training plan to the letter and not overdoing it, even though you may feel that you could do more.

Burnout is a step further. It results from excessive periods of swim training without a break. You will feel lethargic and totally devoid of energy. In any swimming training program, it is essential to have a good period of time off. Without it you can get burnout. Make sure that you take regular breaks.

2. Loss of interest and boredom in your swimming

This is often a symptom of burnout, but it can also result from a lack of focus in your training or the realisation that swimming was just a fad and not really for you.

Without a clear swim training goal, whether it is weight loss or preparation for an event, it is very easy to lose interest in any sport and it’s quite likely that you’ll drift away from it. Get focused and you will probably stay keen!

3. Illness and swimming

If you can go through a long period of swimming training without an illness, then you are doing very well. This is especially true during the winter. You should factor into your swimming program the likelihood that you’ll be unable to train for a week or two. This is also the case if you’re on a weight loss program.

Never train when you are ill. You will just get worse and it will take you two or three times as long to recover. Training when ill is especially dangerous if you have a virus as it will put serious pressure on your heart. Don’t be tempted.

4. Injuries through swimming

Swim training when you are injured is also a very bad idea. You often pick up an injury when you are overtraining or when your technique is wrong but, whatever the reason, don’t get in the pool when you have an injury without seeking professional advice.

There may be some exceptions where the water will help recovery, but you will not get over your injury if you train on top of it and you could make it much worse. Seek the advice of a professional and rest. Rest is the key to successful swim training in many ways and none more important than in helping get rid of injuries.

5. Pressure from others

When you embark on a swimming training program, at any level, it is essential that you have the support of your friends and family, especially the latter. Without this support it is very likely that you will find yourself under pressure and you need to avoid that at all costs.

If you are just starting your swimming program, you need as much encouragement as you can, especially if this is the first exercise that you’ve done for a while. Without this encouragement it can be a lonely time, but with no support or even worse, pressure not to do it, it can prove all too much. To have to stop because of others is upsetting when you’ve taken the first steps on what could be a life changing experience.

Training, however many hours you spend on it, may mean sacrifices not just from you but also from others. It’s about everyone getting the balance right.

6. Technical issues when swimming

Problems with your swimming gear can arise, so check it on a very regular basis. Leave nothing to chance. A wetsuit splitting in the middle of a triathlon could seriously ruin your day!

Technical issues relating to your performance are another issue. It doesn’t matter what aspirations you have, if you know what you’re doing it will easier to be to achieve them. Seek advice from an expert if you feel your swim technique is letting you down. Is there something you’re not happy about? Get advice and deal with it. Poor swimming technique can cause varying degrees of problems, one of the most serious of which could be a bad injury, particularly to your shoulders and back.