Swimming for fitness (part 3). Dive in!

Thank you for the welcome everyone and inspiring words. I shall try the putty ear plugs for my next swim, hopefully at the weekend. Will report back!

Ear not war?!

justasec I’ve recently started using the putty type wax ear plugs. They mould into the outter part of the war they don’t feel like they will stay put but with a bit of moisture they do. I do try pull my hat over to help as well. Work well for me now I’ve got used to them. I’ve also tried the swim ear drops they were basically olive oil & tea tree mix as drops were ok but didn’t stop the water just reduces any infection risk. Well done on your swimming.

I managed a rather painful 800m today, but pleased I did it as it does cheer me up. Heartburn, of all things, is brutal when you do flip turns!

Welcome Justa and Bluelagoon!

Welcome BlueLagoon. Do pass on your breaststroke tips! I'm very slow at breaststroke (and have a wonky kick) so just don't swim it –
which probably exacerbates the problem!

Can I jump in since I could never master diving dive in too

rights I love the positive attitude

justa I'm just starting back to actual swimming too (DD now in nursery 3 part days per week).

I decided to get my dad to teach me proper technique before I aim to get distance or speed up. (Dad was a champ back in the day but worked long hours when I was younger, so he's never taught me before but now he's retired). It turns out I have always done my arms wrong in breaststroke - it seems most people make the same mistake too. I can't believe the speed difference if makes. Ive also never been able to coordinate my breathing in front crawl, turns out my issue there was just me trying to take the breath slightly later than I should, so I can now stay straight and breath! Luckily the pool I'm signed up to is really quiet in the daytime, so I dont need to worry about looking a fool or getting in people's way.

Welome too, Justa and so pleased you are loving your swimming! There is someone who swims with me who puts in very flexible looking earplugs, maybe the putty ones you mention. She tucks her ears + earplugs under her swimming cap too. I've heard of sprays you can get from Boots – and I've also seen one on the ProSwimwear website:
www.boots.com/swimseal-protective-ear-drops-7-5ml-10177068
www.boots.com/earol-swim-tea-tree-oil-spray-10ml-10148538
www.proswimwear.co.uk/swim-eze-30ml-ear-drops.html?fee=34&fep=73203

Could I quietly sneak in? Just started swimming again after years of just splashing about with the kids and am loving it. Only managing 1-2 times a week for less than an hour so only managed 1.25km max so far but am loving it so much. Looking for advice though, already my ears are complaining. Any earplug suggestions, not sure whether to try putty ones or are the plug types better? Wish our local centre did improvement lessons, am v envious of those of you learning to improve!

Sports club of course!! Apparently it has an amazing pool...

My oh is off to China in a couple of weeks, he’s only just getting his visa sorted, but that’s commercial, wonder if academic is different rights

Oh’S Man In HK goes to an amazing club in HK, I can try and find out where that is to see if you can get there etc

I used to live in Egypt —god forsaken place— that’s all far too reminiscent for my liking Sand, I’ll be content with my chlorinated indoor pool for now..

Although my lovely oh wants to eventually install a lap pool for us.. need the whopping great big garden first though 😂

I have no access to alcohol! No access to Pork. And I (currently) can't drive. My running route, all 5 km of it, involves going past my front door twice as I can't go any further in my "indecent" sports clothes.
But, yes. I have a nice swimming pool .
Aquafit tomorrow.

23rd is nearly 2 weeks away. Chill!
HK should be ok by the end of the month. November is supposed to be on of the best times to visit.

Ahh... and I was all set to do a “bomb” rights... 😂

I’ve been busy... masters training and new coach. Not saying she’s special/hardcore/evil but the whole squad just looks traumatised after every session

There are guys literally more than twice as fast as me, truly amazing swimmers and they come out at 10pm quietly bleating ”what the fuck^ just happened...?”

Those that can still speak that is.. many are just

She hydrates on the tears of unicorns, of that I’m sure.

I luffs her. My swimming is beginning to kick some serious ass.

I’m able to flip turn now without paramedics being called or lifeguards scrambling.

I can actually pretty nearly keep up with the others on a warm up.

I even gave a couple of them a wee bit of a scare when they didn't Leave me for dust in a race or 2.

Have just done my second beginner course in Effortless Endurance (total immersion) mostly because my lovely yet beleaguered oh wanted to do it.

I say “wanted”... he says I told him he was doing it...

I do remember saying he was paying for it tho 😂

He’s well chuffed now tho, it’s transforming HIS swim now, and he’s amazed at what he’s learned

Learning however involved a trip to a quiet shallow pool where I’m a member... it’s great except the chlorine level is so high as to render me nasally incapable the following day due to allergies.. I’m now a sudafed girl so hopefully I can carry on practicing the long distance stuff on Mondays without losing the ability to breathe for the remainder of the week... or worse... resort to nose clip again...

My Effortless Endurance however enabled me to put up a sterling 2k with chunks of 350/400 metres with full functioning flip turns followed by a nice easy cool down of 100m each of back/breast and front crawl to finish

No swimming today as we have Masters tomorrow and there aren’t pool times available

So great to see so many still doing great and enjoying the swimming

I had a lovely swim last night: 3.5 km of breaststroke. I started off in the medium lane: I overtook this one bloke nine times mid-length and he still didn't get the message that he was in the wrong lane (or let me go first on purpose)! Then I moved to the fast lane and other people got out or changed lanes so I had the lane to myself for about an hour: it was bliss.

Good luck with the Chinese Visa, rights
We just pay people to process our Saudi ones!

Good stuff, rights! Hope you're out of the sea of visa applications now. I've never tried for a Chinese one, I understand it's one of the most confusing and easiest to get wrong.

Did an easy 1km myself yesterday, nothing today as working pattern didn't permit, but I'm allowing myself the luxury of 45 minutes to do 2km tomorrow before work.

Dipping toe in... 😂

Will pop back later and update

You'll need a visa - get applying for jobs now. No tourist visas