swimming for fitness

[HoppityFrogs]

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

Good morning! 50 x 33m today! I was aiming to repeat the mile (48 lengths) I did on Monday (couldn't do Tuesday because my husband was away and I wasn't about to drag the children with me at 6am!) but then saw my time and thought I must have miscounted so I did two more. Turns out (when I looked at Swimtag) that I managed to do 50 lengths in the time it took me to 48 on Monday so I'm very pleased. There is another swimmer I've met at the pool and we encourage each other (particularly with our last 10 today), which is quite a contrast to the solitary running I did.

ach my long boastful post after my swim this morning didn't post! anyway, the upshot was that after my 'breakthrough' 100 meters last week I am now swimming 100 metres sets with ease and did a straight 10 lengths after swim lesson yesterday. am astonished by how quickly stamina is developing, given I could only manage 25 metres 6 weeks ago. the lessons are definitely playing a massive part. My ultimate goal of being able to swim a mile front crawl is now starting to seem rather achievable. I was looking at the Ruth Kazaaz 0-1mile in 6 weeks programme and week one of that now seems very do-able. anyone with any experience of that programme.

Well done weegie.
I just did 32 lengths, for the last ten I pushed off underwater in the deep end which was fine, and on my last length I was so elated that I did a surface dive to the bottom, 2.8m later I wasn't convinced it was a great idea but obviously had to come back up!

weegie I've just started the 0-1650 last week. Did week one and am now repeating it. So far I've deduced that I can swim the 100s, but struggle being able to push off after only 12 breaths. So I'm going to keep repeating the weeks until I can achieve the intervals and then try to move onto the next week. Today is Day 2 of week one (2nd time)

It means reducing your overall session to only what you're set to do. Although sometimes I add in some back stroke for leg drills just 100 or 150 though.

The jumps between weeks are considerable.

Oh great hissy. Will be good to compare notes. Yeh I had wondered about the jump. I did see week 2 starts with 200 metres. Ouch

DONT Look at week 3 Then.. or week 4!! 😂

I got a LOT closer to my breathing intervals today!

And this was a session I did after my swimming lesson! Might have helped that I had the whole pool to myself!

One more week ought to definitely do it!

Hi, can I join in please. I try and swim when I can and usually do a mile 64x 25m. My trouble is the pool opening times with a shift working husband and 2 kids. I try to go when they're at school but some days the pool has schools/lessons/Zumba all day and literally no public swim between 9-3. There's another pool half hour away so I end up rotating depending which has a session on. That works but means I just pay each time and don't benefit from a membership.
Anyway, moan over. Sounds like there's some real progress being made. It's fab!!

You are very welcome Wonderone – and well done for finding time to swim when it is so tricky for you. I go to the 6.15am session 3 times a week and it is quite an effort to get out the house for it, but it sounds easier than your juggling!

So day one of week one if o-mile done. It actually felt fairly comfortable so I'll do twice more then move onto week 2. I want new goggles sooooo badly.

Good morning! I started swimming when ds has his lessons and now trying to aim to go one to two times a week (have a busy life and can't manage anymore than that). I managed 1250m the other day.

If I wanted to book a coach to improve my stroke technique as a one off, do you think they'd do it?

Our pool does one-off private lessons (I asked!). They can't do worse than say No when you ask.

I managed 800m today, that's all I can manage during ds's lesson. I wish I could sort my breathing out, I try it when swimming every now and then and end up freaking out slightly and feeling very pushed for breath.

Another 700 today, and without trying the breathing was a lot easier, managing to get very close to the 12 and 8 breaths

Just need to find a quiet lane and take it slow and I think I'll hit it.

When I was young, everyone had an uncle Bob... today there was an old guy in our lane who looked like My Uncle Bob. But this Bob looked scared... then he swam, very slowly and widely in the fast lane for 40 minutes (scratched me when I overtook).

Three of us asked the lifeguards to have a word with Bob! Poor lifeguard (looked about 17) passed matter up to management. Who have spoken to Bob before, to no avail. I feel bad for Bob. Still, it's not on to be inconsiderate of others.

I felt really good in the pool, this evening. Getting hang of putting my hands in at a narrow fast angle.

Hi everyone can I join?

I have always been a fairly crap swimmer, but since being pregnant I've very recently started again (currently 16 weeks).

I forgot how nice it is to swim. I am only doing breaststroke in the slow lane but enjoying it. My DH is part fish so he's been taking me to get my confidence up.

I managed about 500m last week and am trying to go twice a week

My swimming pool has swim tag - anyone know how it works? I'd like to give myself little challenges and try to go a bit further each time

500m is great.
I cba today and only did ten lengths, I don't swim well after two hours sleep and nothing to eat or drink first.

Hope you get a fest in today Enola. What kept you awake?
I've built up to 500m today and am well chuffed as I managed 200m of that freestyle. Still resting 30 secs every 2 lengths, plus I included 100m with the kickboard, as per week 2 of the Zoggs 'calm' programme.
Feeling smug as all the shoulder work at the gym is paying off and I actually feel like there's some strength to call on even though I'm as slow as a tortoise.

or should that be turtle?

I've got a swim watch and it's telling me that my stroke is inefficienct, I am conning myself that it means I am working harder!

Month Target for October is 10,000m

Had sept been a 31 day month, my 700m would have put me within 550m of it. Had I known this, I'd have reorganised my swims a bit.

But it is what it is. I'm happy with what I've achieved. August was 4350m, so 8850 is good enough for now.

I'm going to focus on 100s and getting the breathing intervals down, roughly a ZeroTo1650 programme and extend if I'm able.

In the countdown month to my workshop too! Excited and hopeful that this will transform my distance/performance.

That is my decision, too, Enola. After momentary thought of "WTF am I supposed to do with that info".

That sounds good Hissy I started swimming at the end of the first week so was pleased to hit 15k, I think I'll fall short this month as I went mad the first week and did loads!

1K done early doors. Forgot hair bobble, took WAY too much time to shove hair in hat!

Two in my lane for most of swim, nice.

Been running more as well.

Swam yesterday, beautiful day here again today so will open the pool up shortly and swim again later.

I also did some serious walking yesterday coz I want to get fit for skiing.

Welcome Charly and congrats. I've got quite hooked on Swimtag. You just wear it like a watch on your wrist and it is linked to your membership. After the first use you return it to the dock then log into their website back at home, find your pool and put in your number to create an account. It picks up on what stroke you are doing, how fast, total time, rests etc. I lose count and almost always do another couple of lengths 'just in case' but Swimtag keeps a record for you.