swimming for fitness

Another bloody cold! FFS, we haven't got to the end of January yet and this is the second. Either that or my chlorine allergy has ramped up. Was really looking forward to tomorrow's swim.

I am so impressed with all of your timeS.

Welcome Kanye. I was also running until early last year when I developed bursitis in my heel. Not loads, 5km / 3 miles three times a week. I switched to swimming in about May and so far haven't been running other than a short run with my daughters. I liked running because it was quick (no driving to the pool) and outdoors but I find I'm enjoying swimming, including the sociability of it and someone noticing if you aren't there (I ran alone). Hope you enjoy it too!

biking too bad about the swimsuit

Well done for getting out there flaming, I thought I'd have to come a beat you with a wet kipper!

Welcome Kanye. Running is also my first love, but took to the pool when injured last year and at to my absolute delight have found a love of it that I never thought I would. I now try and go twice a week to complement my running.

& now I've posted in the wrong section. Arrggh

I'm a 45 year old, single parent who has a 16 year old daughter, with Autism. I'm tired, bury my head in the sand, who also is a typical Bridget Jones. My Issue is my child's father. He is a complete idiot. He constantly fills my daughter's head with nonsense. This makes it so difficult to manage my daughter. I believe that for the child's sake you should try & keep opinions & thoughts with regards to an ex to yourself. I don't think it's fair to insult & disrespect about them to a child. I only wish my ex would take note. It's so sad & annoying to hear when my daughter says snippets of conversations she's had with her dad about me. He constantly continues to do it after asking, pleading with him not to. He doesn't stop & this causes friction with my daughter as it affects her behaviour towards me. Anyone else go through the same? What advice can you give? Thanks

1K done early doors (lanes?).
I get there at 7.15am when the pool is 1/2 classes and 1/2 public so it's a free for all in the public bit, but there weren't too many of us this morning. Then it changes to three lanes at 7.30am and everyone sorts themselves out. It was all very civilised with non-verbal agreement of whether to go up and down (when 3 people in the lane) or switch to round and round (when a forth person arrived).

Tried to work on gliding more and slowing my stroke down etc. As a runner, the harder you work the faster you go, but with swimming I've found the more I thrash about the faster I sink! I try and watch others as well to pick up tips.

I managed 1100 m in a short 30 mins so quite chuffed ..about half crawl and half breaststroke (but with effort!!!). I find I don't get out of hell zone until about 800m though...

I can recommend the finis duo for underwater music...it plays by bone conduction so no things in your ears!!

The cup size was bit odd to be honest it was like wearing an fully wired bra under a costume so if it doesn't fit right the wires would dig in when swimming I normally have to order a 42 to fit so was gobsmacked the 40was too big but I'm not sure if it's worth ordering a smaller size. It's not a company I've used before. I know figleaves are really good at quick rtns I'll see what this company is like.

Great hints Hissy.
Out of interest Biking, could you not order a smaller size? Or maybe sizes are limited in the sale? I'm really tempted to order it - does it look good irl? No squashed-in cleavage?

I'm limited to going in my lunch hour so have 35 minutes max. I'm going to try and do 800 next time. I'll just have to go one evening and stay longer. I do remember the feeling of being in the zone when you think you can go on forever.

We need a Mumsnet pool...

Singing I'm not sure, but I have heard that we need to be counting strokes and focusing on what that number means... whatever that means...

Best you're still very much in the Hell Zone of swimming. Could you extend the time you spend and keep going to 700m+? Then take it length by length and see how you feel? I guarantee you'll feel amazing

It's the biggest rush ever, so slow down, keep sets close together to keep heart rate up but just enough to rest - find a rest stroke? Back stroke is what I do - gets me through the Hell Zone and into the Crack Cocaine Zone 😂

I've unfortunately had to send back the lovely purple Freya costume that rights found for me alas it didn't fit in the boob department but was surprising too big that never happens. So I've resumed my search for a comfy big boobs non-granny costume again! (Waves at kanyes)

That's amazing (1714 in 35 m) . I managed 640 in 25 mins today so you are almost 3 times as fast as me.
Lost another nose clip in the process. Have ordered one of the Arena ones with a strap now.

Hello everyone

Biking suggested I might drop in to say hi. I used to swim a lot but then the ease of running got the better of me. Unfortunately I have recently banjaxed my calf, so swimming might be good for me. Looking forward to reading back and seeing how you're all doing.

That's fast in my book avicado- I find lane etiquette difficult, I'm never sure if overtaking is ok or not. But at my pool the lanes are quite crowded and some quite slow (male) swimmers in the medium lane so I overtake if I've already waited as long as I can before the one behind me is about to go if I don't.

The medium lane is on the same side as the men's changing rooms and it's as if some men think it's a men's lane and swim along blithely at snails pace hogging the whole space. I'm nowhere fast enough to go in the fast lane (which is narrower than the others) so I overtake and lap again and again.

It's a whole new world for me. Lane etiquette does not seem to be common or shared.

PS I went this morning, after all. I feel great!

P.S. hope you are ok RIghts xx

And Hissy I was going to ask if you are supposed to try to reduce the number of strokes in a length? I signed up to first 7 TI tutorials but haven't watched any yet.

Hello! Just realised you've moved onto page 27!

I did 1716m in 35m 54s so slowing up again. I was really focusing on pulling in my tummy and doing long strokes though and it felt good. Towards the end of the swim someone got in my lane who I crashed into when doing backstoke. We both apologised and she said she found the slow lane too slow but wasn't quite fast enough for the medium lane. So I moved onto the fast lane for my last 4 or 6 lengths and was rather surprised to get overtaken! I had offered to let a rather competitive looking swimmer go first but she had waved me on. Then, when turning round to do my final backstroke length she suddenly did a tumbleturn at the wall and swept past me! I said 'off you go then' rather crossly and she said 'sorry'. I got out and saw her overtaking someone else! Rather rude, don't you think?

I was up before dawn today to take dp to the station. I fully intended to go to the pool but I am back home now only just fighting off returning to bed. If I went now I would feel smug all day, but I cannot summon up the motivation. :(

I love hearing about all these amazing achievements. Haven't been yet this week and only went once last week . Am doing a course and have had hand-ins. Aiming to get back tomorrow but. i mnow I'll be tired and struggling against the muscle atrophy!
Besf, I think the Vas was my suggestion - can't help with the swimming I'm afraid but I can sort your itchy nose out .

Almost lost my nose clip too... rubber string came off twice!!!

1000m done is better than nothing :)

Will go back on weds, it'll be quieter then. Have my lesson on Thursday

Will see if I can do a steady mile all front crawl.. it's time.

1K done. Lots of ladies wafting about cos it was ladies night. I swear a woman threw me daggers for getting her hair wet!

Lots going on in my life so a swim (where basically all I can do is count and not think) was very cathartic.

Got a scrappy 1000m done today.

Hard work. Was going through the usual gruelling bit at the beginning, then had to share a lane with others doing breast stroke, (I was there first... ...) so swapped into another lane.

There was a bit of chatting at the end which pissed me off, and in all, 4 of us in the lane

Can't remember who recommended the Vaseline for nostrils but thanks. I'm still sneezing but it will help until my nose clip turns up.

I think best it's better not to try whipkick if there is a possibility of hurting yourself. I'm going to stick with crawl after today's pain. Luckily I'd already done 1km and the whipkick attempt was the last length I did so in total 1050 m was my total in 30 mins. I was pleased with that,