Any swimmers out there?

[MrsTumbletap]

I am thinking of taking up swimming as my main form of exercise. I have a bad ankle and impact sports are not helping.

Do any of you swim? Do you wear goggles and a swim hat? How many lengths do you do? How often do you go?

Would love to ask more questions for any experienced swimmers out there!

Hat and goggles for me, and I have a Speedo MP3 player that clips on the back of my goggles.

I swim front crawl, no of lengths depends on the drills I'm doing, I use a float/ pull buoy and paddles. It also depends on the amount of time I have but I do between 2-5k.

In terms of etiquette swim in the appropriate lane, don't chat with your mate swimming breast stroke two abreast in the fast lane. If you want to pass someone let them know by tapping their heel. Likewise, don't let people know intimidate you - triathlon swimmers are ime particularly dickish. If you have an issue talk to the lifeguard.

Long hair, plaited up, no hat, but goggles. I swim 1000m (40 lengths of a 25m pool) in half an hour. I did my first 2000m swim in years a fortnight back - the first week we weren't limited to 45minute sessions. Was tired after!

I don't remember my first swimming lessons, though I remember early lessons. I grew up swimming a lot - Mum worked at the pool, so most of the school hols were spent there, and in later teenage years, on my own account as lifeguard and swimming teacher. Came as a bit of a shock when I had to start paying for swims... I grew up not far from the sea, so often swam in the sea after school/work, and still do when I can.

I swim different strokes to break it up and make counting easier, and to focus on different areas. (Need to focus more leg work.)

Lots of people start swimming as adults - you might be able to find classes to improve your stroke, if that interests you.

Most pools will have lane markers for fast, medium and slow swimmers (and direction) do you go at a pace which suits you. I sometimes change lanes depending on whether I'm doing breaststroke or crawl. Sometimes on a Friday, when it's quieter, I get a lane to myself, bit other times are usually busier.

Another thing I do is aquafit/aquarobics, which is also low impact, and can be good fun. It's usually quite mixed ability - some can't swim well at all - and it's quite easy to adjust your pace to what suits you. Quite a few people will be there because they can't do high impact exercise, and the water supports your joints better.

I swim four times a week at 7am, it's the same people there mostly each day so there is a camaraderie and a bit of banter.

I wear a hat, I can no longer swim without one, it keeps your head warm, it keeps hair out of your eyes and it keeps it out of the pool. Hats are not just for you. They don't keep your hair dry, they are designed for keeping hair out of face and water.

Get goggles, it's easier to swim properly if you have goggles.

Start slow, as slow as you need and then start to either speed up or increase your distance.

Swim in a one piece, it's easier to keep in place and more streamlined.

Watch the better swimmers, you can learn a lot from observing them.

I swim 40-50 lengths of crawl each time, when I started swimmjng regularly I could only manage one length of crawl and 20 or so of breaststroke. I increased it by a length a week until I can now no longer swim breaststroke, it feels so inefficient! But it took a fair while to get to where I am. I'm 59 and swimming is my saviour, it's a meditation, a work out and a rebirth each day. It leaves me feeling fantastic.

Take the plunge, it's a wonderful way to keep fit and keep calm. Good luck !

I’m not a particularly strong swimmer and I doubt I have much “technique” but I love swimming. I swim 45 laps or so without needing to stop. At that point my legs quickly go..!
I don’t wear goggles or a swim hat.

@woodfort How do you manage without goggles? I find my eyes get really red even with them.

I swim regularly. Here are some tips:

• shower before you swim even if it's without soap
• wet your hair (important to protect your hair)
• use a cap (protects your hair and the pool)
• use goggles as you really need to get your head in the water
• relax. Really important. You will swim loads better if you relax
• go at a quiet time so you can be more relaxed and see what your technique is like
• watch videos about technique
• breast stroke is bad if you have back problems
• back stroke is great as you don't need to worry about breathing
• crawl is most effective but your technique needs to be reasonable otherwise you won't enjoy it - watch videos
• relax - can't stress that enough
• enjoy

I swim 2-4 times a week. I used to swim about 10km a week but I damaged my shoulder, so probably only do 2.5-6km now

I wear goggles and sometimes a hat. If I don't wear a hat I put my hair up and then plait my hair, and ideally put the plait into a bun. If I'm using a hat I put it into a bun and then hat over bun, goggles over hat.

Consider asking a friend to come with you if you know anyone who likes swimming? I have taught one friend to swim from nothing and another who could only do breast stroke can now do 20+ lengths of front crawl.

Don't worry about stopping to have a rest - just keep out the way at the end of the pool so people can turn past you easily.

Just build up gradually. One thing I would say though is that I find I feel pretty tired for say the first 6 or 10 lengths, especially if I've had a week off, but actually once I've done them I don't get any More tired, if that makes sense? I can then do another 50 without being more tired. Obviously I'd expect this to be on a smaller scale to start with! Technically, sprinting and technical drills is the best way to get better. But I don't really enjoy them so just focus on consistency.

breast stroke is bad if you have back problems

You should also avoid it if you have dodgy knees.

back stroke is great as you don't need to worry about breathing

But if it's a busy lane, you increase your chance of collisions.

I had a lane to myself for my entire swim this evening. It was fab. :-)

That's true about backstroke (collisions) but if you observe the speed of those sharing your lane you should be able to work out likelihood of collision. Another tip is get yourself a swim shampoo. I quite like the Child's Farm one.

The only time I have ever had a collision is when the other swimmer is swimming backstroke and wanders all over the lane and then is furious when we have collided. I swim crawl and I use a pool snorkel, because I have a neck injury, he said my snorkel was dangerous. I told him that if his hand had hit my snorkel then he would have hit my head if it has not been there and he was in the wrong because he could not see where he was going. The pool guard wandered over and said it was his last day and he did not want to spend it dealing with rows over lane etiquette- not helpful at all.

These are all so helpful and @Mxflamingnoravera that is a lovely post.

Another question there are no hats/caps that keep your hair dry?

As far as I know, you'll not keep your hair dry I'm afraid. I could be wrong, mine needs daily washing anyway.

Thanks for the lovely response :)

No water will always leak in under a hat. There is some science behind wetting your hair before jumping in the pool. Something about wet hair not able to absorb more water which is chlorinated. I wet mine and wear a hat. Also use a shampoo that removes chlorine. Child's Farm does a nice one.

If you don't put your head underwater for long periods of time your hair won't get that wet. I've managed to keep some of mine dry, tied up under a race hat after a 50m race before now.