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Swimming for fitness (part 4). Everyone welcome.

999 replies

TheOrigRightsofwomen · 11/03/2019 15:45

Old thread here

Anyone interesting in swimming for fitness welcome here.
Newbies, experiences, the fast, the slow - we're all sharing, learning and most of all supporting each other.

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8FencingWire · 11/03/2019 15:47

:) thank you origBrew

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TheOrigRightsofwomen · 11/03/2019 15:52

I'll go first.

Relatively new to swimming though I'm fairly competent now.
I'm a runner really, but have found a love of swimming I never thought was in me. When I first started out I was going 3 times a week (was injured from running). Then when I was back running I decided I'd come so far I didn't want to give it up, and was also conscious of the importance of mixing up my sports.

I'm 48 and always running long distances on the road takes its toll.

So, I then swam twice a week for a long time and that kept my swim fitness up. I love how it has toned my arms and back up in a way running doesn't.

For various reasons I've only been able to go once a week for a while, but I'm realising that this isn't enough to give me the steady enjoyment and keep my tone up (I want my defined deltoids back!).

I've entered my first sprint tri in May, having done a couple of open water races in 2017 and one splash and dash (swim then run).

I swim 1K each time, all front crawl, 4 lengths with a pull buoy then 4 w/o. The buoy helps my position in the water (raises my hips) and also allows me to rest my legs from running.

All good.

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TriSkiRun99 · 11/03/2019 16:06

Thanks rights for the new thread. I too have slipped from swimming twice a week to once and I really want to be swimming more just struggling to find a regular second slot in my week, along with running 3x a week and now I’m also doing a Tri in May I need to find some cycling time but I’m failing badly at the moment only getting out once on my bike so far this year..
I’m also mid 40s so my body is creaking a lot and peri-menopausal causing havioc with my mind and hormones the last two years. Swimming has helped with this as I find that half hr in the pool I can only think about breathing as I plough up n down. I start off breathing very rapidly and tense but a good swim will calm my breathing right down and when I get in the zone I can keep going upto a mile is my limit at the moment (time wise & shoulders/back starts to ache too much).

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MooseBeTimeForSnow · 11/03/2019 16:06

I’ve just been diagnosed with moderate arthritis in my left hip and a possible bone spur. I’m 45.
No running for me, not that I did anyway. I want to get back into swimming. Slightly daunted as our local pool is a 50m!

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TriSkiRun99 · 11/03/2019 16:08

I’d love a 50m pool moose, do they do any “swim-fit” sessions at your pool? These at our pool are for Adults that swim lengths but with a coach on the side who offers informal hints n tips if you want it. It’s relaxed but good if you want some technique guidance.

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MinnieMountain · 11/03/2019 16:18

I'm trying to swim twice a week. My aim today was 120 lengths of the 25m pool but I only managed 70 due to an annoying cold sapping my energy Angry

People who have done long swims, how does one work out how much to eat beforehand? And what?

Our local lido is 50m. It's a bit daunting at first but excellent for achieving that feeling of just ploughing through the water.

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TheOrigRightsofwomen · 11/03/2019 16:25

Tri we have a great deal in common!

That I thought swimming was boring used to be a big factor in me thinking it wasn't for me, but now I find the up and down, up and down, rhythmic breathing and NOT having to think about cars, pot holes, which way to go etc is a real positive. I think that's come with maturity and all that life throws at you.

I love that knowing after a max of 12 lengths I'll be into my stride and letting go of tension and worries and that I'll feel great afterwards.

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TriSkiRun99 · 12/03/2019 20:29

I got to the pool today Yah! Tried some more practicing of breathing on my left side but struggling still with the body roll. I then showed my DD my arm pull at home in our kitchen and she’s pointed something out about my left arm so I have something else to try Grin. I then powered out some lengths doing my normal breathing to get rid of some work grrrrr feeling which was good.

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boxcar · 12/03/2019 22:01

I’m another mid 40s. I swam a lot in my teens / early 20s. Not competitively but several times a week. Got back into it after a running injury last summer. I’m new to running so the swimming is helping me build strength after years of inactivity (since having kids). Managing once a week with 2 runs & a ‘something else’ (spin, Pilates, body conditioning, gym) if I can. Did a Go Tri aquathlon last weekend. Enjoyed it. Signed up for another!

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boxcar · 12/03/2019 22:05

Funnily enough Tri my son took a ‘live’ photo of me swimming at the aquathlon. I reverted to bad habits & not the stroke I’ve been working on. Think it was nerves but it’s given me something to work on!

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8FencingWire · 12/03/2019 22:30

Hello all!
I went for a swim on Sunday and yesterday, I seem to have lost my mojo. And the more I think about my strike, the worse it gets. Aaaargh! I’ll try again tomorrow.

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tizwozliz · 15/03/2019 19:26

I'm competing in some races in 8 days line and naturally i've found it really difficult to get to the pool recently, only managing once a week so I don't feel I'm at my best. I've entered 4 events but probably will drop one of them - 100m IM.

People who have done long swims, how does one work out how much to eat beforehand? And what?

What do you mean by long swims? I tend to swim on am empty stomach so not sure i'm much help there.

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MinnieMountain · 16/03/2019 08:35

I mean 2km plus. I'm building up to a 4km sea swim in the summer. Training in the pool until the weather's ok for outdoor swimming. I definitely need to eat if I want to do more than 1km though.

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TriSkiRun99 · 16/03/2019 15:06

Do you have a kayak supporter minnie? Can you get detroze tablets off them? Or a drink with carb/electrolytes drink? I don’t swim at that level but DD swims in a club and they do 1.5hr training sessions in the pool but have water bottles pool side at all times & told to drink a lot (she hates it as she doesn’t drink much or appear to need much).

Swam 45mins last night had lane to self was lovely just ploughing up/down in my own head.

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TriSkiRun99 · 16/03/2019 15:07

Hissy who used to be on here does long swims maybe they have some advice on fuelling?

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tizwozliz · 16/03/2019 15:30

DD swims in a club and they do 1.5hr training sessions in the pool but have water bottles pool side at all times & told to drink a lot (she hates it as she doesn’t drink much or appear to need much)

Sounds like me, everyone else has a water bottle on poolside at my club, but drinking mid-session just makes me sick. I just make sure i'm hydrated beforehand.

I normally swim powered only by coffee which works for me up to about 90mins/5km swimming. Everyone's different thought so hopefully someone else might have some more useful advice. Do bear in mind the timing of your sea swim - i'm presuming it's an event. The events i've done are often early starts so finding time to eat in advance and have a gap to digest can be difficult.

Did some timed swims this morning, pleased to find the times I entered for next week were spot on. I have a nice round target to beat for my 100m free too.

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MinnieMountain · 17/03/2019 07:00

No kayak support by the looks of it. I suppose timing will depend on the tides. I don't mind getting early to eat.

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8FencingWire · 17/03/2019 08:52

I swim with just a coffee in me too. And never have a water bottle either 🙄.
Came to say that the teatree oil and olive oil spray is fantastic. I’ve used it for a couple of weeks now, I have eczema in one ear that stopped me swimming before. With the spray, it calmes it down to the point I hardly have it now, which is unheard of, I had it for 14 years now and tried everything. In between swims I use a bit of Child Farm moisturiser. It helps.
I’m quite a fast-ish swimmer, my pool has only 2-3 lanes free. If I go in the medium one, there are a lot of really slow swimmers. In the fast one there are the shaved males who take up the whole lane and are quite aggressive.
I really want an all female lane, is that wrong of me? We are curteous to each other, we share starts with a smile, we overtake in a considerate manner.

I ploughed through 1km yesterday, my right biceps are a little sore. I wanted to go again today,but maybe I should take a break and go tomorrow.

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MinnieMountain · 17/03/2019 10:45

Does your pool have a women's only session 8FencingWire? It's not wrong at all to not want to put up with those idiots.

I've worked out I'm anemic due to heavier periods, so getting that sorted should help my energy levels.

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8FencingWire · 17/03/2019 11:05

minnie, snap, I’m on iron tablets for low to plummeting HB too!
No, my pool hasn’t got women session/lane only, and I really wish they did. Does anybody else’s has?

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MinnieMountain · 17/03/2019 11:54

Did the iron tablets work quickly 8FencingWire? It's my medication causing the heavier periods and I have a review for that tomorrow.

Our pool has a women's only session in the evening. Lots of Indian and older women go to it. It's nice.

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8FencingWire · 17/03/2019 12:19

I started feeling a bit better after 2 weeks. 3 times a day is a bit tedious though!
I’ll ask my pool if we can have that too

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Bayleyf · 17/03/2019 12:24

Has anyone had some private swimming lessons?

I swim 2/3 times a week and I'm an ex club swimmer, so my technique is OK. But I'd love to 'tune up' my crawl, and make it more efficient, if that makes sense?

I wonder if a few one on one lessons with a good coach would do it, but it's £££ so I'm not sure if I want to commit.

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bruffin · 17/03/2019 12:52

i havent been around for a while.
Im very sad as they have stopped our advanced swim class. They wanted to cut them down to half an hour which we knew didnt work, also wanted us to pay for 50 weeks a year instead of term. Swim lessons in holidays are awful because the pool is still open for normal swim and we have children diving across the rope and things being balls etc being thrown around. The water is extra choppy. The teachers were really upset as well.
Ive been going to that lesson for 15 years now, the decision was made by a media consultant who doesnt even let her children have lessons. Sad Angry

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lljkk · 17/03/2019 16:37

I don't need a drink for < 90 minutes activity, typically.
I guess an energy drink would be nice to have poolside if I was going to be in the pool working hard for >> 60 minutes. I can usually swim comfortably after light snack as recent as 50ish minutes before I get into pool.

Typically, I swim 2km first thing in morning before any food or drink (54ish minutes). Breakfast is a magnificent experience afterwards.

Having often lane-shared with (mad open water, cackling) channel swimmers and ill-disciplined large gang of extremely fast teenagers from the local competitive club, I'm not easily intimidated now.

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