swimming for fitness

[HoppityFrogs]

I've started swimming to get fit, does anybody else swim for fit? Can we encourage each other?

Back in the game hissy!

I think I'll use it for a while and let my system recover from the overload, then I'll focus on breathing properly and see if that helps.

I've massively increased the swim distance so exposure has increased too. Makes sense, however inconvenient. :)

Good morning! Any tips on preventing swimming costume rub? I've started to get small red marks under my arms where the side seam of my swimming costume sits and they are a bit sore. I've tried putting Sudocrem on at night and after my shower but any other ideas gratefully received.

Glad the nose clip has helped you Hissy.

What about a little Vaseline over the spot where it rubs before the swim Singingavocado?
I went with a friend this morning for 8am and swam for an hour without stopping and then probably 15 minutes but the pool was getting busy with the 50+ swim. I had to do mainly breast stroke as my right arm was hurting and felt dead. think i may have a trapped nerve Friend did a mile but she does more overarm but stops regularly.

Thanks Bruffin I'll give Vaseline a try.

Proswim have fabulous costumes ridiculously cheap advocado

Hi Hissy, my costume is a boyleg one from Proswimwear that I've only had since the very end of August (about 10 weeks). This is the first trouble I've had with it / me. How often do costumes need replacing if you are swimming three times a week?

Seemingly a lot.. my Slazenger boy leg I only bought in the summer.. going thin on the top already

The aqua sphere one I bought for a song from proswimwear is thinner than it was.

I have a back up cozzie, it's a little tight still, but I'll fit in it better soon.

I just typed a long post about the changing-room etiquette of pointing out the 'no shoes' rule, but t'internet lost it so I'll just say: yay or nay - do we politely point out that shoes shouldn't be worn in there or am I a dick not?

And, how do you do backstroke without worrying about bashing your head? I try to count the beams on the ceiling but always seem to get muddled and end up just kicking the last few yards.

Shot gun, usually there are flags some 10m before the end of the pool, get yourself down to the flags, line up and see how many strokes you take in that distance and then you'll know.

Not fool proof, but works more or less..

Thanks - seems obvious now! How's your target going?
I went at 12pm today just to see if it was a good time to go. Was tempted to slope off as weather cold and miserable but I'm so glad I went, feel so much better now, relaxed and energised. Swimming's great!

Did 1200 m today, taking 2 mins off my 1000m time. Happy!

Had a horrible lane bully experience last Monday and that's thrown me slightly, but I'm there tomorrow (with friend!) and may venture back on Monday, later than usual I think and see if I have more space

Might see if I can have a word with the life guards at some point too

6 strokes for one length ?! I'm in awe.
I usually swim either 40 or 60 lengths, i never seem to get any quicker though :(

We have a horrible lane bully who swims on flippers and does tumble turns without looking. He times every lap but his stroke is bad as e slaps the water.

Talk to the life guard, that's not on.

For those of you not on my mile swim group, This is what happened:

Grr. If it's not noses, its Pools and lane behaviour!

I get there and always look at the lanes to see the one best for me to fit in with. Not to hold anyone up, or harass anyone

So tonight I'm in the one of the fast lanes because all slow lanes and both medium lanes are full of people swimming breaststroke at the pace of flotsam, and the bloke in the fast lane was roughly my pace. So we crack on for about 250m all good.

Then these 2 women turn up, with their floats and equipment. I could see what was going to happen so I carried on swimming my 100m

One got in one lane, other got in mine and took off like a fucking rocket

Great.

Then now in front of me she gets her float out and does leg drills

So she's too slow in front of me or right up my arse. I'm nearly hurling trying to keep going, I'm off my pace and struggling with the nose clip

I got out. Went home. In tears.

Flaming Britishness... seething inwardly then huffing off.. oh the shame.

I think I've seen these women before.. think they did a number on me about a month ago, but another lane opened up and I hopped into it and left them to it.

If I'm with a friend, we share a lane and we don't cramp anyone else. Basic fucking manners

So today was a write off - 400m

Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, I suppose

And a few weeks ago I'd have called that a good day out..

I'm going to give some thought about trying morning sessions. If nothing else my caffeine deficiency will make me fearsome...

If I can't find my space there, I'll have to find another pool I can call home (that has decent session times, a membership programme and doesn't cost the earth)

Yes I should be more assertive, but I'm British fgs, how the hell do I manage this?

Hello!

Sorry to hear of your experience, Hissy. Please don't let her put you off your amazing swimming.

Shotgun, I've worked out that from the bunting on our pool I've got about 6 more strokes before I get to the wall when swimming backstroke. All the same, I've still hit my hand very hard on the lip of the pool several times now, usually my wrist! I feel very silly when that happens, and it really hurts, often leaving a bruise.

I thought I was going really fast this morning (a couple of people stopped for me to go ahead of them and that really puts pressure on to go faster so as to deserve being ahead of them) but Swimtag says I took 37 mins to do my 50 x 33m lengths. I was so pleased to have been coming in under 35 mins lately so that it was a bit of a disappointment!

I'm 725m away from 10k

I'm also fighting off some horrid throat lurgy.

At least today I don't have a fever... no swimming for me until Thursday I think... I had faint plans for 15k month, but that was before I got this thing...

Never mind!!

Thanks Avocado - my stroke count is eight before I hit concrete! I'm really noticing an improvement now; I've been gradually upping my weights at the gym and it helps so much. I managed to do more crawl today (4 lengths non-stop, which was a big breakthrough, then several more alternated with back & breast). Didn't feel like I was drowning once! I'm pleased as I think it was always my most comfortable and favourite stroke in the past, so I feel as if I have something achievable to aim for now (will start Hissy's zero to one mile programme soon I hope).
Hope the lurgy doesn't take hold, Hissy.

Oh it's only stopping me until Thursday... then last lesson of the year, a session or 2 at the weekend or early next and will see where I can get to!

Shotgun, you're ready for the Zero to 1mile,

week one is
4x 100 (aim for 12 breath break)
4x 50 (8 breaths)
4x 25 (4 breaths)

3x a week

You can add in a cool down if you're up for it, nice slow 200m ought to be a good one for you and a good prep for week 2

That does sound doable actually, I didn't rest much at all today. It's more likely to be twice a week though as I go to the gym twice as well. I suppose it just takes a bit longer to get there in that case.
< wibbles >

The interval breaths are hard, don't expect to just sail by and do them, just be mindful of pushing off again a bit before you're ready.

I'm more or less doing sets of 200m now, once I've got a pesky 500m or so under my belt

God the first chunk of metres just hurts! Then it's just so easy! You find a rhythm, a pace and you're relaxed and it just happens

Shotgun, it takes what it takes, it's when you're ready

Your mind has to believe it and be comfortable with it too.