Swimmers unite!

That sounds fun, but it's only one day, not a whole holiday. I do try to go in at least once every year in British seas - I do miss living by the sea and being able to go down for a swim after school/work.

But the ones I particularly covet are the ones round the Adriatic and Dalmatia. Next year, maybe.

The Burgh island swim is about a mile - it's my local swim but conditions are not usually like on the Swimtrek video. I'm on the video in a yellow hat (only claim to fame ever) and it was a fantastic day - absolutely flat and we swam in and out of the rocks - it was like swimming in the Med.

I did it the swim again in September, and it got a very 'lively' round the back of the island. They pulled quite a few people out for safety as there was swell and chop, but it's just luck on the day really about conditions. It can look ok on the beach and then it picks up. I think a few of us gave feedback that they added to the site about it being a bit challenging, as folk were peed off at having paid and being pulled out.

Having said that, it's a great short sea swim, but I'd say you sometimes need a bit of 'oomph' to get round the corner (technical speak) if there's swell.

Ebear, how about the one in s devon, it's 800 m, I am really tempted!

I've considered Swimtrek before, but it sounded a bit high-powered to me, and I was worried I wouldn't be fit enough, so I'm glad to hear it's actually more relaxed than I thought.

It is on my list of things to do at some point, but I just can't afford it this year.

Aristocat I am the same in that I push on through the bad weather as I feel worse (ie guilty) if I don't go. It's more the constant coughs and colds that stop me going. This year has been particularly bad, we all sound like we are on 40 a day. Hopefully as the dc get older this will be less of an issue (until they are teens and are possibly actually on 40 a day. Hope not).

Forwent my morning swim today as dh not well at all, but kids have been on good form and have squeezed in some quiet time with a cuppa and the paper. This never happens, so am not feeling guilty at all! Will hopefully get to go later.

Exactly the same position here pootlebug re Swimtrek, but I would definitely be up for going alone in about 10 years time. Have just booked our family summer holiday and we are staying near Bordeaux a few minutes walk from the beach. Hoping to fit in some early morning lone swims then.

The dc do really enjoy swimming, but am I the only one who wishes that they could just get on with it themselves for a bit whilst I nip into the big pool for a few lengths? Or maybe I am just a selfish cow!

So jealous of all you swimtrekers! I keep looking longingly at their website but with 3 small kids and a husband who doesn't really swim I think it will be years before I get to go

Wow legspinner - sounds really tough- well done ! I bet you felt like you'd had a workout.

Most people don't wear wetsuits with Swimtrek, as the water is usually warm. They provide some tho, or you can bring your own. I did their intro to open water swimming in Mallorca, which has a sea swim in the morning and includes 2 hour pool sessions every evening - really good fun and people made huge gains in technique. We all became swim- geeks tho

Hello all you swimmers!

Relief kaizen and aristo- I did my ocean swim today and am still alive The swim was really out of my comfort zone though.
The wind was pretty strong (around 40 km/h) so the organisers shortened the long swim (3.3 km) to 2 km and I managed to finish it, which I am really pleased with. The swim was very hard - whitecaps crashing over our heads and like being in a washing machine. Some people got seasick !

Wow, I've never heard of Swimtrek. Sounds amazing kaizen and kaffiene. I guess the water would be reasonably warm and quite calm most of the time? Do you need wetsuits?

Back to the pool this week for me I think, have had enough of the sea for a bit Happy swimming everyone

I would second that kaisen on the trip to Croatia there was a mix of ages from early 30s to 60s. Some training for Triathlons and others who had only learnt to swim as adults. There is no pressure and it is one of my most favourite holidays ever.

magimedi - Swimtrek are great with all standards of swimmers, because you can get in the safety boat any time and they have enough team to cope with anything. So they stagger the swims to cater for everyone (quicker swimmers have to swim further to catch the others for example)

I've been on trips with really slow swimmers who had just learnt to crawl a bit, and very quick ones too. My room mate last year was a 70 year old woman (I usually share but most rooms are single) and we had a blast - still keep in touch. They are very relaxed holidays and you won't hold anyone up - most folk are over 40 too. And I honestly don't work for them!!

kaffeine at the moment I don't have much of a life to get in the way of trips, hence why I am swimming or writing about swimming on Saturday night but for now, I'm making the most of it

I am doing the Turkey Short Swim trip with my mum (totally outs herself!) She has just turned 59 and is just learning front crawl now so I don't see why not magimedi !
I did the Croatia trip years ago and loved it but life got in the way and this is the first chance to do it again. So jealous of your multiple trips kaisen

standards.

Fat fingers!

Kaffiene - are you doing the Kas to Meis swim?

I would so like to get up to swim trek strandards - but as am approaching 60 I wonder if I can.

I've just had a lane to myself for an hour - whoop whoop!! Saturday tea-time seems a good time to go. kaffeine - are you going with Swimtrek to Turkey? I'm off to Mallorca in April and Algarve in June - I luffs Swimtrek and want to spend my life hopping from holiday to holiday

Hi Can I join in please. Used to swim and scuba dive alot. Now just swim for fun. Have booked a swimming holiday to Turkey in the summer so need to get swim fit to get the most out of it. I go to a swim for class which puts me through my paces. Just need to find the time for a long swim to build up my endurance.

absolutely bliss is having a lane to yourself! Oh yes! I like to have a pool where I'm not the only person in, but I am the only person in my lane.

re. the cold thing, I wouldn't go if I was full of cold, but surely that's what the chlorine's for? I don't mean that I think it's OK if you've got a raging infection, but lots of things are infectious before you get symptoms? (And actually, since I started swimming and running regularly I've actually been ill much less - don't know if that's coincidence or something to do with being fitter.) People in the wrong lane - my pet hate too. I find it just as stressful having someone fast behind me as being stuck behind someone slow. I'm quite lucky because I can often go during the day when it's much quieter - absolutely bliss is having a lane to yourself!

it's not a 'real' workout as it's too easy.

That's just people who don't really know about swimming talking. I also noticed the men who came to our aquafit class stopped taking the piss so much afterwards. It can be easy, but if you put in the effort, it's definitely a good workout.

What a good thread.
Used to swim a lot before the dc, but have got back into it last year. Usually manage 30-40l and am doing the 2.5km swimathon in March.
Thanks for the links, will have a good look at those later. I love the peace I get in the pool and find my brain really can switch off. Execept when it is too busy and I find myself inwardly raging at people in the wrong lane for their ability.

Have found it hard this winter as I had a cough and sinus thing that dragged on through November and December, so didn't go for about 6 weeks. How do other people keep going through the winter months? Am wary of spreading things about or making things worse for myself, but if I only went when I was feeling 100%, I would only go for about 3 swims in winter!
Am going this morning and tomorrow - can't wait.

Thanks, kaizen! Yeah, I've got popups etc blocked, alas.

anatana if you click on the course date or name as listed it takes you to another window with the prices- so the 2nd February front crawl one is £175 - I'm on an ipad so maybe your thing doesn't work (that's tech-speak for you)

Is it just me? I can't find any prices at all on that Art of Swimming site. I've been clicking round fruitlessly for ages.

Come on in AntiJam - I get a bit over-excited when I meet other swimmers as all I get in the gym is how "boring" swimming is, and how it's not a 'real' workout as it's too easy. Yeah, right