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Original poster

Would any swimmers like to help me beat DH?

55 replies

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 02/05/2015 21:16

Just wondering if there are any good swimmers here (especially outdoor/distance swimmers) with good advice!

We have both signed up to do the Great North Swim in mid-June (1 mile, in Windermere). So far, swimming has been the ONLY sport which I am better at than DH - he is much fitter than me generally (runs, bikes, climbs, etc etc and can wipe the floor with me at any of those), but my swimming technique is better, thanks to swimming club in my schooldays, so I can usually beat him at that.

However... lately he has been getting into triathlons, so has been doing much more swimming training (and general exercise), and has improved quite a bit and already done several open-water swims, up to 1500m. Meanwhile, I have not been doing much swimming at all... and am not especially fit, nor used to open water. So I want to make sure he doesn't sneakily overtake

I have already done 1 mile without stopping in the pool, so I know I can do the distance, although of course open water is a bit different. Also got a wetsuit sorted. But as I've not trained properly in a long time, I'm not really sure of the best way to improve my speed or prepare for it. I'm hoping to manage maybe 2 sessions a week, unlikely to fit in much more than that though.

I've had a look for training plans online and found lots of plans for getting up to 1 mile, but not much to help you do it faster. So thought I'd see if anyone here has any good tips as I will be slightly gutted if he beats me! Thank you!

OP posts:

pootlebug · 02/05/2015 21:33

I don't have many ideas on getting faster - I seem to only have one speed! But there's a fair amount of technique to open water.

Practice in open water a few times (fairly obvious, but there you go)
Practice sighting (i.e. looking up to see where you're going) - both in the pool and in open water. Some people do it in-between breaths and some people on the breath - you can youtube for ideas and try both - but get in the habit of doing it. Zigzagging wastes a lot of time
Are there any practice aquathlons or similar you could do? I'm assuming it's a mass-start, which brings its own problems….the main two being a) bashing into people, and them bashing into you, and b) the feeling of panic that you're being left behind where you try to go out too fast then can't breathe, then panic, then end up clinging on to a safety canoe for dear life.

CMOTDibbler · 02/05/2015 21:49

I think the main thing for getting faster is really concentrating on your technique (loads of youtube vids on head position etc) all the time - its easy to let it slip as a session goes on, and doing intervals so you do 100m warmup, then 50m really hard, 50m normal speed etc. Its easier to keep up the intensity if its only 2 lengths at a time.

Also, could you run to a couple of open water coaching sessions?

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 02/05/2015 21:54

Thanks pootle!

I have tried practising sighting a bit in the pool (read about this online), I will do a bit more work on it though! I think looking up/forwards at the start of a breath seems to work best for me.

We are having a week's holiday near the sea soon so I am hoping to get a bit of practise in then too. Actually I saw some people going out for a swim near us recently - in the North Sea, without wetsuits, in April They are braver than me though!

Rightly or wrongly I am not too worried about panicking as I am generally fairly confident in water, though more worried about setting off too fast and then running out of energy later, I've no idea how you pace yourself when it's over a long distance with not many reference points.

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Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 02/05/2015 21:57

Oh thanks CMOT too (and like the name!).

Intervals sounds good, I did a bit of that yesterday but then got a bit unsure what to do next after a while. Maybe I should hunt out a float and do some kick/pull drill too, guess that would help?

Silly question but about the coaching, do you mean in a pool but focusing on open-water technique, or actually outside? The former would be easier to arrange than the latter, but either way it's worth considering I guess!

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CMOTDibbler · 02/05/2015 22:07

Actually outside. Obv a swim coach would be able to give you drills to do in the pool, but theres no sub for being in a yucky cold lake and heading off into the murk.

I had a panic attack on my first open water event, and I wish that I'd done some work in a lake before hand. I did complete the event, but I was kicking myself about it. I have my first session in 3 weeks

pootlebug · 02/05/2015 22:17

The panicking in open water thing doesn't necessarily relate to how confident you are in water. I am completely confident in a pool and I think CMOTD is the same. I know from our tri threads that both of us had a complete lose-it day last year in open water. For me I was very happy it was a I-don't-really-care after work aquathlon rather than one of my 'A' races. It isn't rational. I KNEW there was a risk of it - I'd sat through a talk at the Triathlon show where the swimming guy doing the talking said how easily it happens, even to experienced swimmers, and I was determined not to do it. Still did.

Open water is so different. You can just about see your own hand. You can't see the bottom, you have nothing to follow. You really feel that there could be anything down there. Urrrghhh.

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 02/05/2015 22:38

Mm wonder whether I would get a chance to arrange that. Although if DH heard he would probably invite himself along too

Thinking about it I suppose I have done a bit of outdoor swimming, even if no races. Did a swim to an island on holiday a few years back which was a bit over 1km I think, it was indeed quite strange being out in the middle of the sea and not able to see anything except murky blue. Oh and we did some swimming in the lake last holiday too (that was lovely actually). Also had a go at surfing a couple times, which is not the same obviously but did manage to get washing-machined a couple of times without freaking out! I don't like seaweed though...

OP posts:

pootlebug · 02/05/2015 22:46

The 'everyone-else-is-going-to-get-ahead-of-me-and-I'll-be-all-on-my-own-and-eaten-by-the-monster fear is utterly irrational (no shit!) but can still get you in a mass start. Combine it with people kicking your goggles off and it can feel not-that fun.

That said - when it works, it's awesome. I did a tri last year where I just really got into rhythm and overtook person after person on the 2nd half of the swim and felt sooooo amazing as i ran up the bank…. You never get quite that high from trogging up and down the pool.

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 02/05/2015 23:08

Can't see me ever doing a tri, I am pants at running and biking! I don't even like biking fast, it always makes me think what would happen if I fell off at that speed (even before I actually did fall off my bike and land on my face one holiday, ouch).

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Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 02/05/2015 23:26

Thanks by the way, just chatting about it is already making me feel more excited/looking forward to it and less nervous (monsters notwithstanding!).

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beginnerrunner · 03/05/2015 16:26

If you only have two sessions a week then you need to make both sessions count. You need to be knackered at the end. Puffing and achy muscles the next day. Aching muscles are not a bad thing. It's your body's way of getting fitter. Maybe do one speed session of 25s, 50s and 100s and then one long swim session.

Mrsmorton · 03/05/2015 16:29

OP, where are you? I'm doing an open water acclimatisation week sort of schnirgled through a friend of a friend... Last week in May.

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 03/05/2015 17:55

Thanks beginner, that sounds like a plan. I did have tight forearms (weird feeling!) after the last session and was certainly puffing (was trying for a speed session)!

Mrsmorton I am in the North East, what about you? I wouldn't be able to do a week though, would be lucky to get a day to myself... we are away that week anyway though I think, but hoping to manage a bit of sea swimming while we're there, as we will no doubt have to take the kids to the beach more than once...

OP posts:

DeladionInch · 03/05/2015 18:34

Are you getting an equal amount of training time to him? Your first step might be greeting him at the door with your cossie on under your clothes "Dinner's in the oven,don't forget to test Matilda on her spellings and make sure Jonny's pe kit is ready for tomorrow, see you in a couple of hours darling"

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 03/05/2015 19:15

Welll... I'm probably not quite, but that's partly as I have other things on at least 2 nights of the weekend already which I either can't, or don't want to get out of, so then I have to let him have a turn at going out on the other nights. But I will get a bit more time in a few weeks when my working hours will drop back a bit. Also need to kick myself up the bum to seize every opportunity, even when feeling tired/lazy!

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Mrsmorton · 03/05/2015 19:22

South coast. Couldn't be further away!!

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 05/05/2015 23:17

Well only had 30 mins to swim today, but I tried doing some speed stuff - shorter but faster bursts and a few sprints. Think I will feel it tomorrow! In fact my back/shoulders are aching a bit already. Next time will try for a slower but longer distance swim.

Anybody got good tips for preventing cramp? That is one thing I'm a bit worried about, given it will be cold too. Might have to start the bananas and milk regime again like when I was pregnant, although it's hard to tell whether it helped or not!

OP posts:

Claybury · 06/05/2015 09:08

How come your DH fits in so much more exercise than you ? Herein lies the solution ! Great that you have the technique. I came to swimming late in life and in my triathlon club the people who swam as children are so much better even when I train more than them now.
BUT you can make improvements, swim as much as you can, even if it's just an extra 20 minute swim. Can you find any open water / wet suit sessions ? It's good to get used to swimmimg surrounded by bodies not in orderly lanes.
Also would you have time for any weight training - upper body strength can improve quickly if you're new to training.

I really want you to beat your DH! But men are very annoying in being able to muscle their way through a swim with poor technique. If he does triathlon he's probably experienced in open water racing.

A session we did in a 25m pool last week was this. Warm up and some drills. Then 10 sets of 100m with just 10 secs recovery between each. The time you can do this in multiplied by 1.5 gives you a good idea of your 1500m time which is nearly a mile. It took me 22 minutes, a mile outdoors would be about 33 minutes in theory.

Claybury · 06/05/2015 09:10

Did you get cramp in the pool ? I find cramp is caused by pushing off at the start of a length in a pool. And take an energy drink for long sessions.

ItsJustPaint · 06/05/2015 09:15

No advice... I'm pants at swimming and in a lake ? Nah !

However I will be on the shore line cheering you on - good luck !

Original poster

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 06/05/2015 11:45

Oh energy drink is a good idea thanks Claybury, never thought of that for some reason and it might help. I sometimes get cramp in the pool, sometimes later on (occasionally in bed after dancing) and cold does seem to make it more likely.

DH fits in more exercise because that is what he enjoys! So ALL his hobbies are sporty - running, biking, triathlons, watersports, ...... Whereas I do exercise because I should and it's good for me, but don't enjoy it as much and I also have other things I love doing and some which have regular commitments (music, dancing - though that's sort of exercise I suppose) - which leaves less time for training, given we have to take turns going out because of the kids.

It should get a bit better after the end of this month, as my working hours will go down a bit then so I can fit in a bit more during the day. I managed a little run before work today, despite being stiff from yesterday! Also might try doing my Shred DVDs on the days I can't get out, that should help with the strength side I guess?

Thanks for the cheers Paint, am feeling much encouraged

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CMOTDibbler · 06/05/2015 11:50

You could try taking a magnesium supplement against cramp - I used to get it a lot, but not since taking supplements

SummerLightning · 06/05/2015 11:54

I don't do much swimming, and I haven't read the thread, but I would find a local triathlon club, and go to their swimming sessions, both open water and in the pool. You will make new friends too!

Sorry if this has already been said, and you can't fit it in or whatever..

Micah · 06/05/2015 11:55

Where in the NE are you?

Join a masters session at your local swimming club. Adults, friendly, quite a few tend to be tri training.

They'll set you proper sets- warm up, drill set, speed set, warm down

Obviously one or two open water sessions to practice are invaluable, but it is possible to do the bulk of your training in a pool. The current GB 10k swimmers are all from a club pool background.

Micah · 06/05/2015 11:58

Also with club sessions, there tends to between 3 and six sessions a week available to masters, so it's easy to dip in and out. Tri clubs will be timetabling cycling and running sets, so tend not to have more than 1 or 2 swim sessions a week.

Tri clubs rarely have open water "sessions". They might have days where they all go along for a swim, but there are so many insurance and coaching issues with open water organising an official training session is next to impossible. They also do most of their training in the pool.

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