Swimming for fitness (part 3). Dive in!

I think I have swimmers shoulder... pain in my collarbone, is that swimmers shoulder?
I've got a cold now so I'm going to rest from swimming for a few days but I am wondering what it is in my stroke that might have caused it. (It could be caused by sitting at a desk with a mouse or too much mumsnetting on a phone in bed too?). I want to sort this without recourse to doctor or physio if possible but I am thinking of taking some private lessons on stroke technique.

All my life I've been well, but not fit, now in mid 50s I'm fit but constantly plagued by muscular skeletal pain in different parts of my body. I'm fed up.

Toothpaste is wrong ph for eyes (speaking with winceful experience).

How about this for a cool idea:

Lane swimming: Everyone has to wear a monitor that figures out how fast you swim. It also compares how fast you are to folk in the other lanes (slow, med, fast) and how many are in each lane, and has a display that says if you are in wrong lane. Gotta be the next Swimtag upgrade, don't you think?

But it works? I could buy a spray - does swishing it in the pool count enough as a rinse? Thankyou

I'm swimming tomorrow and got to a point where I'm missing it if I haven't been! I'm v obese so you wouldn't take me for a swimmer (hopefully this is changing this year) but it's fab to enjoy the exercise.

Someone told me to try toothpaste. Don’t think it worked very well. I’ve got the “anti fog spray” - it need a a really good rinse before putting the goggles on or it really stings my eyes.

Wow looking! I'm 1k in 36 mins at the moment and working towards breaking the 30min one day :)

I have vague recollection of conditioner but scared of getting it in my eyes! Or the spray for that matter...

Just managed 1000m in 28.10. So chuffed. I'm improving!

conditioner or washing up liquid to prevent fogging, don't they get in your eyes and sting? I have always been too chicken to try either.

Swimming 1km is brilliant. Loads of people couldn't even contemplate it. Don't worry about the time, but i do breast stroke, with a tiny bit of back stroke, in just under 30 mins per km.

I need to get sorted with goggles when I'm next back in the UK (currently swimming in 😎), but further upthread someone mentioned using conditioner to prevent fogging. Might be worth looking up?

Happy swimming!

I came on to ask about the fog issue too! I bought some fog clear stuff but it's useless.

Also, I'm doing 1000m in 31 minutes. Is this average? As I mentioned on my previous post, it's all breaststroke. I tried a length of FC tonight and thought I was going to drown!

You could well be right! I've always had the ones with fiddly bits both sides and was wondering about it while swimming today!

I'd love to know wisdom on fogging up. I have amazing goggles to my prescription but they're the worst I've had for fogging.

Maybe what makes difference about double adjustment is the strap is very fixed in place, and in 2 places. You can't pull them loose on either side, so it's double the places to keep them fix, to avoid them simply slipping to a looser fit.

they always feel tighter on the side that is pulled shorter to me; perhaps I'm imagining things.

I can't see how which side you adjust the strap makes a difference. Whichever side you tighten it the tension is the same across the goggles surely.

If I had a piece of string and cut it it wouldn't matter which end I cut it from it would still be the same length...

But I am probably missing something!!

Lljkk - no, you can adjust each eye separately.There are 3 sizes of nose piece to chose from though, and I need to smallest one. I also don't tolerate any leaking at all. Probably because I swim in contacts (yes, I know I really shouldn't but I'm short sighted and haven't found any prescription goggles that fit). They're pretty good at the back, relatively simple to adjust but don't budge unless you want them to.

Have you tried the complete opposite very minimal googles “Swedish” ones only have string my sister (ex-county swimmer) loves them but I couldn’t get on with them.

Ah, OH has those goggles pictured above but never noticed any adjustment, not quite sure how it works will have to take a look. I generally don't get on with any one piece goggles like that with a fixed nose bridge.

individual adjustment = On side of each eye-cup, when you can tight it right there at the corner. So there are two places to tighten up, and in some designs the the strap can be tighter on left side than right side, maybe. For asymmetrical faces?

zoggs fusion air -- just one place to tighten at back. It looks like all you do to loosen it off is pull at the straps. That type always slip to being too loose on me.

Aquasphere Vista: can tighten in two places, on sides of each eyecup. You have to slip or push something to get it to loosen, cannot just pull at the strap to loosen. The Aquasphere tightening clasp is super clever (to use and reliable), and they 'look' cool. I wish I could get good fit out of Aquaspheres.

Other people have trouble with fitting goggles over the nose, I'm fine there, phew.

I don't understand what you mean about individual adjustment for each eye?

I have just bought some womens zoggs fusion air which work well for me, but it's a real individual thing

See, those Engine ones wouldn't work for me (I suspect) b/c they don't have individual adjustment for each eye. I seem to need that or I get leaks. Plus the Engines just seem to have one simple clasp at back... that can easily loosen up? If I can pull the goggles to loosen them, they won't do. Also, I seem to need a large eye covering (these goggles like elite-skin with dainty little eye covering just don't work for me). Am slowly figuring out my needs. Wish it wasn't a torturous process.

I am slightly pathological in inability to swim with any leak. My boys can do it, but I can't tolerate leak.

I love my Engine weapon goggles Flaming. I used the smallest nose piece and they fit well. A quick google tells me they’re about 20GBP in the UK. I’ve also tried the Predator Flex and they feel good too. My other top tip is to buy a goggle case and use it. Keeps them going for longer.

I braved the evening session with the squad and they were loads more normal! Apparently I could have used fins and/or missed repeats in the morning session to keep up.

I don’t cut the grass either as it always sets it off so I leave it to DH.

Glad the stretch may have helped abit. nora I got told by my GP (who also did the acupuncture massive needle in my bum thing) that 10% have their sciatic nerve going through or linked up with the muscle so when it gets tight they suffer with pain which can be relived when the muscle is released. I have to stretch a lot or end up in agony with it sometimes & I can get pins/needles in my foot if muscles are too tight - happened this morn after cycling yesterday.

Just had a swim session with coach my last one of the set. We did a few arm drills and I actually started bilaterally breathing which i was pleased with. I need to keep it going now the lessons have finished!

I'm gonna google predator flex ta.

I never heard of Selene before. Blurb says "Specifically designed to fit a woman's face in a smaller fit." I have a big face, bloke goggles all the way for me. Zoggs Predator Flex are working right now.

What about another type of Aquaspheres? DS has some women's fit ones that work perfectly for him (he's only 5'3" tall).

My swim membership card has gone missing. Weanh!

That pose did the trick! My pain is much relieved. But I rested today and let my back heal. I'll be back in the pool tomorrow.

So I've had time to do stuff I've been meaning to do for a while- one of them is new goggles. I've been using selenes for the last year and the right eye seems to start leaking after about six months. So I've got through two pairs in the last year, both going on the right eye seal. I'm looking for new goggles ideas, not Kayenne they give me panda rings, good quality women's goggles for pool swimming.

I've tried a google search but the reviews are too biased. I want real women's views on the best gogs for under £30 (ideally less).

@SkiGirl007 I just tried pigeon pose, that is a good stretch. I'll do it daily, thanks. The piriformis stretch on my back seems not to help though.
My butt is still sore today, I think it was lawn mowing that did it, that or strumming, not swimming. But it hurt too much to swim today despite having time :(