Swimming for fitness (part 3). Dive in!

Place mark so I can come back later and join you all. Haven’t been swimming in years but I really want to start!

Must be festive spirit Avocado
I just blagged a free swim at a local club that’s just re-vamped it’s pool under the guise of maybe interested in membership (I’m locked in our local centre till the summer ..I forget to mention that!) they had sent me a voucher to use by end of the year and it was really nice and quiet but was v.brr doing the walk from club house to outside pool (now covered over). Still a good 1k done.

Went this morning, after scraping ice off my car, and it was blissfully quiet. I think the cold has put lots of people off. By the time I was on my final lengths it was just me and one other person in the pool. The fast man in the fast lane spoke to me today! Festive spirit kicking in perhaps?

Got 42L in sat before my youngest joined me in the pool - I was rather prunie by the time we got out 1.5hr later. Our pool shuts Sunday for maintenance over the xmas period so hopefully one more chance on Sat for me before a 2wk break.

Thanks Avo will check them out.

I did a short swim yesterday after doing nothing for the last 4 weeks due to terrible chesty cough, and it's gotten rid of it! SO happy.

Aw nuts, Swimtag says I swam 2050m, the poolside box said 1.7 km. Which one should I record? So much for technology making my life easier!

I can't hold my breath well enough to do something like Synchro. Immense admiration.

Hi smiling. No, my Speedo cap doesn't keep my hair dry. The top of my hair is usually fairly dry, but the back gets wet and I usually have to squeeze some water from my ponytail. There was something several threads back about a sort of silicone headband that you could use in combination with a cap that kept your hair dry. I think it was this: www.headcovers.com/waterproof-swim-caps/

I went to my local big pool today. There was a synchro club going on jn half the pool right next to me. I was totally distracted by watching them upside down, head nearly on the bottom whilst doing the splits with their legs on the surface.

Their ability to swim upside down and do odd moves underwater that one can only see if viewed through goggles from underwater left me in awe. I found my clumsy hefting up and down too graceless and got out after 800 metres. But I felt the glow after anyway so I'm not beating myself up about not managing more than 15 mins. It's better than nothing.

Got 1k in this morning whilst DD at her club then tried a few drills to try get myself breathing both sides as I struggle to do bi-lateral breathing and did some with the float just need to keep trying to get my stiff neck to work on the left side.

I think I'm reaching the age where pruny skin is inevitable within 5 minutes :).

Did 2.8k yesterday . If I believe Swimtag, anyway.

Aw thanks smiled, I swim at over 50s sessions mostly and a year ago I could only manage 4lengths of crawl. Now I can keep going till I turn into a prune. But my complete irrational fear of pruny skin means that I never manage more than 45 mins. But I'm quietly pleased with what I've managed.

Does the speedo one keep your hair dry Avo?

I've noticed that ProSwimwear do caps for long hair, RisingSun. For example:
www.proswimwear.co.uk/speedo-long-hair-silicone-swim-cap-blue.html?fee=34&fep=8950
www.proswimwear.co.uk/tyr-silicone-long-hair-cap-black.html?fee=34&fep=84925
I've got a silicone Speedo cap (an ordinary one, not one for long hair) and it is very good.

I swam. It was awful getting in, but actually quite pleasent after the first few lengths.
Will try again next week - it's certainly away to get the pool to myself. No one else is mad enough to be swimming this time of year!

I am aiming to get back in the pool soon rights - just need to get rid of my horrendous cough I've had for last month

Wow 1k in 20 mins is amazing flamingnoravera!

Hi All,
Can anyone recommend me a good swimming hat for longish hair? I have a big head too...
Thanks

Welcome Teddy. Adult swimming lessons sound like the perfect way to start. You will be fine and I'm sure you'll catch the swimming bug as much as we all have. I know what you mean about nerves though. On the first day (about 18 months ago) that I'd resolved to get up early and try out the pool I was awake from about 3am fretting about it. So you are not alone. YOU WILL BE FAB!

Ooh, hello. In a moment of complete insanity, I've signed up for adult swimming lessons. I can swim but without style or sensible breathing so have opted for the improvers session. Please tell me it'll be ok! I feel rather sick with nerves and they don't even start until Monday...

Nope, not swimming. Pretty much decided it's too cold (no, it's not, but the water is fecking cold -sea temp is 23, I'm guessing the pool isn't much warmer).
Going to try at lunchtime tomorrow, when at least it should be above 20 when I have to walk home in my wet costume and soggy summer dress.....
Think I'm running til March now.

Ah, it is called, with great originality, a touch turn!
www.triradar.com/training-advice/touch-turn-faster-in-the-pool/

I've never mastered a tumbleturn, nora. There are lots of video tutorials online if you are feeling inspired! I don't see very many people at my pool doing tumbleturns. They seem to instead do the touch and push away at an angle (if you know what I mean). Don't know what that is called.

1k in 20 mins today. The pool was warm and quiet but a bit grubby. Yesterday I swam at another pool where the water seems clearer and brighter, but colder too. I'm working up to trying a tumble turn but don't know where or how to start or if it's even worth trying to learn.

New changing rooms properly open today. They left the same wall tiles, but new floor tiles and smartened up toilets and showers. The number of benches has been reduced and a lot less hanging space, and they've gone for grey throughout (so maybe a good thing that the wall tiles stayed). Sorry, no photo Rights as I don't usually take my phone with me! A minute slower than usual today …

Well done, Tri at holding your own. There is a fast man in the fast lane but I've got braver about swimming with him. Once I started out just behind him and it took until lane 40 before he lapped me, which I didn't think was too shabby!