Swimming for fitness (part 3). Dive in!

Sloooow 1km done this morning. I have a cold and I'm feeling sorry for myself

Glad the programme was helpful MShip

I went to a session with the Swim Smooth Squad yesterday. It was a Pure Trchnique sesson so lots of drills. Aiming to avoid crossing over at the front, keeping the shoulders back and scapulae pulled together and not pushing down on the water at the front of the stroke when you’re breathing. We used Finis Agility and Freestyler paddles, fins and pull buoys.

lljkk I'd just stop swimming for a while if I were you. Unless you have a target to train for what's the point if you're so bored? Have a break and you might realise you miss it! Or not!

You'll find your mojo again lljkk

I thinks it's not always a bad thing to lose it for a bit, because when it comes back it feels really good again. KWIM?

Did you enjoy listening to music ie would a different player/earphones be worth investing in?

Could you go to a different pool, arrange to go with a friend, enter a race, have some classes, find an online group to chat to?

Or you could just ditch it for a few weeks and give yourself a break. It won't do you any harm to rest your body.

1K done here. I went the same time as last week and it was as busy as it was then, so it must be a thing.
Amazed at the woman doing head out breast stroke being as fast as me doing all out front crawl (not that I'm super fast, but she looked like she was making no effort at all).

And splashy man who was doing crawl but instead of kicking his legs was crossing them over and kicking like that. Is that a training method or was it just the way he was swimming.

Used the mens' shower (NOT communal) as women's were full.

Now back to Excel.

Reasons!

I've been swimming regularly for a few months now. It definitely clears my head!
I feel I need to step things up a bit though and get faster - I only do 1k in 40 mins. I am wondering about getting a coach for a bit to help improve my stroke - has anyone done this?
The virtual coach app thing mentioned in an earlier post looks good - but I don't really want more reafibs to look at a screen.
Also, what's the name of the thing you wear that counts your lengths for you?
Thanks 🏊🏻‍♀️

We can't have you abandoning us lljkk. I don't know what to suggest to alleviate boredom other than a drill as MShip says. I don't do drills but the other person in the lane with me today definitely meant business. He had those hand things that Rights was talking about and also a float for between the knees and seemed to do ±6 lengths normal front crawl, ±6 lengths with the hand things, ±6 lengths normal front crawl, ±6 lengths with the knee float thing … Guess it adds variety. I do enjoy seeing the other swimmers for a brief chat too. A lot less solitary than when I was running. Do you use Swimtag? Sometimes they have challenges and it was the last challenge that got me from 1 mile to 2km each session. Was it you who asked about other pools in the Places for People network? If so would it help to vary which pool you go to?

Oh no lljkk! Is there a pool near you doing the 5km swimathon, or a race? A distance challenge?Mix it up, do a sprint triathlon?

This morning I did a modified version of Corrigan's workout from earlier:

Warm up:
200m easy
2 x 50m kick, 50m pull

Main set:
4 x 100m at 1:45 pace on 2:10
100m pull (no paddles, I don't have any)
3 x 200m at 1:47 pace on 4:10
100m pull
2 x 300m at 1:49 pace on 6:10
100m pull

Cool down:
2 x 50m kick, 50m swim

I used the pull in between each of the pace sets as an opportunity to catch my break, re-set my stroke and really stretch it out. I was aiming for 1:45-1:50 pace and got my actual paces from swimtag. Quite pleased with the results.

I have lost my mojo. I still go swimming 2x/week but I am VERY BORED with it.
I tried music player -- sound quality was bad. I used to like my own thoughts. But now am just bored bored bored.
Can't think of any challenges to aim for.
Is it hopeless? Can I find swimming enjoyable again?

I'm going to try that laminated sheet idea - whizzing!

I find that I go swimming WHEN I'm mellow, not to BE mellow.

This morning I decided to see how far I could swim in an hour. I'm happy to report 2.3 km I'm not super-speedy at any point - strictly breaststroke only - but I also don't stop much!

It took me months to get in "the zone" with swimming, but I love that side of it. So good for mental health.

Seriously Corrigans my brain is fried until I swim then it goes all MELLOW.

I’ve only recently got into swimming. At my first lesson the only positive thing the coach had to say about my swimming was that I could swim in a straight line

With the right coaching and training plans it’s achievable. But it depends why you want to swim. There’s a lot to be said for having a relaxing 40 mins without rushing though. Swimming is great for clearing the head.

Back from late night 1K. Only 3 in the lane so we went up and down rather than round and round.

I have the heaviest day of my period today. I use a mooncup and it's always been fine in the pool. But gosh...15 mins after I finished and was wandering around Tesco I felt this gush. It had filled up and overflowed. Yikes.

lljkk

For the big lake race it was a mass start. I started at the back and at the side so I didn't get trampled on and terrified. It was fine and I was pleased I didn't get swept away with that excitement because just being in the race itself was enough to make my breathing go all crazy for the first 50m or so. Had to give myself a good talking to.

For the splash and dash it was a far smaller field. We started in the water for that one and very quickly found our own place.

I'm so impressed with these mega distances you lot are swimming! I did 40 mins this evening, no idea how many lengths because I lost count after 10 mins! Tried to mix it up a bit by focusing on different bits of technique. And some speedier lengths here n there and I tried to do some slowly and smoothly (ala TI?) Not a very good training plan but it's still only my 3rd swim back after a break.

I'm thinking of how I can up my distances in time for the open water sessions that start in May. Does starting with 5 consecutive lengths (25m each) and increasing the distance by 5 lengths each week seem sensible? I'll only have time to do 2 occasionally 3 swims a week the rest of the time I'll be running/cycling and possibly seeing my husband occasionally! so one session can be stamina building and the other can be drills/technique. Any thoughts wiser/better swimmers?

building well done! I have just devoured some toast having just got back from the pool. I'm not supposed to be eating in the evenings but swimming just makes me so damn hungry!!

Just to lower the bar somewhat, 0.6 km in 20 min this evening, mostly breaststroke with a couple of length of crawl. Shaky and absolutely ravenous afterwards despite making sure I ate enough today. :( But pleased with myself.

I would SO lose track if I tried to follow a routine.

@TheOrigRightsofwomen, when you do Open Water events: are they mass start & everyone tramples over each other getting in & getting going? All the films I've watched are brutal, do not entice me to try it out.

Corrigans that's exactly why I've switched to a planned workout. It just flies by when there's a structure to it, and I really feel like I've accomplished something. I might nick your increasing sets workout, minus the last 2 x 400 + 100 and adjusting the pace to 1:50. I'm not quite up to a full hour's proper training yet. DH will have to get the laminator out again! TBH I can fairly easily keep a 2000-2500m workout in my head, but the man does love to laminate, so I indulge him.

I've just had a look at that Tempo Trainer thing. I know what I want for my birthday now!

Corrigans I can only assume you're not in the same universe country as me then. The only think I would need to be avoiding when swimming in an outdoor pool would be hyperthermia.

Laminating is taking it a step further! I usually use a plastic wallet with the top taped up with sellotape. I also usually follow a plan, i’d get too bored otherwise.

I had a lovely swim in the outdoor pool in the sunshine today, although you’ve got to be so careful not to get sunburned. I slather myself with Bronze Zinc and end up looking a bit like an alien.

This is my work out. I use a Tempo Trainer to help with pacing and help keep my speed up:

Warm up:
1 x 200m easy freestyle
4 x 50m pull buoy (12.5 scull + 12.5 doggy paddle + 25 freestyle) (+10s)

Main set: (with Tempo Trainer which beeps every 25m)
3 x 100 on 1:47/100m with 27 sec rest between
1x 100 pull buoy and paddles

2 x 200 on 1:45 with 26 sec rest btwn
1 x 100 pull and paddles

2 x 300 on 1:45 with same rest as before
1 x 100 pull and paddles

2 x 400 on 1:45 with same rest
1 x 100 pull buoy and paddles

Cool down:
200 easy choice (+ quietly expire in a corner)

The beeper got the better of me today. I feel busted tonight.

MShip I applaud you! Taking laminated workouts to the pool side.
Good stuff.

Bucking I have a set of laminated print outs. I make up a bunch of workouts and DH gets to laminate them.

TheMShip how do you remember your drills? I mean, remember what you had decided to do, and then remember what you actually did?? It all goes out of my head once I get in the water