Swim campaign ends

Press, 10 December 1982, Page 13

Swim campaign ends

The six-week Swim for your Life campaign organised by the Christchurch City Council will culminate at Centennial Pool tomorrow afternoon when six news media volunteers are tested to see how far they can swim in 30 minutes. The campaign has been organised to promote swimming as a means of achieving mental and physical health, and as a publicity boost six volunteers representing three radio stations, television and Christchurch’s two newspapers volunteered as guinea pigs. The six went through a medical test to make sure they were of sufficient health to undergo a training programme. Physical fitness tests were then held out at the University of Canterbury which measured the weight, percentage of body fat, lung capacity and Cardiovascular fitness of each entrant. Tests are to be carried out at the conclusion of the programme to see the improvements in each entrant's fitness and gauge any loss in weight or fat content. To involve the public, a competition has been organised whereby entrants have to estimate the combined distance swum by the six volunteers in 30 minutes. The first prize for the person who is closest to the total number of metres

swum is a trip for two to Queenstown sponsored by Mount Cook, and two nights accommodation at the Lakeland Inn. Other prizes include Bendon and Fella sweat shirts, trousers and sports shorts, Arena swimming costumes and sweat shirts, tickets to City Council pools and hydroslide tickets. Entries close at the Centennial Pool tomorrow. The six volunteers are George . Balani from 3ZB, Phil Darkins from Radio Avon, John Dunne from “The Mainland Touch,” John Burning from “The Press,” Jerry Grocott from “The Star,” and Biff Urquhart from 3ZM. The promotion idea came from Barbara Taylor, a City Council recreation officer, who on a recent visit to London witnessed a scheme where six runners underwent a two-month training programme in preparation for the London <marathon. The only difference on this occasion is the change from running to swimming. Swim for your Life groups have been established at the three City Council pools — Centennial, Waltham and Queen Elizabeth II Park. The hours set aside at each pool for this campaign are off-peak swimming periods so that participants can have uninterrupted sessions. Lanes

are cordonned off for exclusive use by the group if the pool is crowded on the day. A supervising tutor, Jo Watt, is available at all sessions to teach nonswimmers and to help the more proficient. The Monday and Wednesday evening groups at Queen Elizabeth II pool are well patronised but the Tuesday morning sessions have not got so many attending. Other sessions at Centennial and Waltham have plenty of room for more swimmers. Anyone wanting to join a group or to find out more details should phone Centennial 68-917, Waltham 60-725 and Queen Elizabeth II 886079. Swimming is a great alternative to jogging or cycling as a way to get fit and it-has many advantages over the other two. Swimming exercises all the major large muscle groups, and with appropriate training, conditions the car-dio-vascular system. Also, because it is relatively free of weight bearing by the body’s joints there is less likelihood of stress and injury. For many people recovering from back, hip, leg and spine injuries swimming is the only practical way to return them to full mobility. Mr John Edyvean, of the

Sports Sciences Laboratory at the University of Canterbury, says there are three criteria which people must fulfill if they are to increase their fitness, whether they be cycling, running or swimming. ® Exercise must be taken at least three times a week. 9 It must last for more than 20 minutes. • The intensity must be greater than 65 per cent of maximum effort. Fitness does not necessarily mean a longer life. What it does is improve that quality of life. Demanding tasks become easier, recovery time is less and more work can be accomplished. Fitness is a great psychological thing. If people think they are fit they immediately believe they are healthy and their whole lifestyle takes on a new dimension. As an extra, getting fit usually incorporates an associated weight loss. Distances completed by the six volunteers during the last week of the campaign are (distances swum before the programme started are in brackets). George Balani (800 m 1100 m, Phil Darkins (550 m 1100 m, John Dunne (300 m 1200 m, John Durning (200 m 700 m, Jerry Grocott (200 m 550 m, Biff Urquhart (600 m 1100 m.