Swimming for fitness (part 2). Jump in!

[rightsofwomen]

We've filled up the first Swimming for fitness thread, so here is the new one.

Everyone welcome.

rights - 25m. Would be damned impressive in a 33 or 50m pool! Even managed a couple lengths of backstroke without bashing into the side or the end of the pool. Thanks to a woman standing in the way so I bumped into her instead...

NotCitrus I hit the pool EVERY time I do backstroke at masters, the pool edge is partial and white and I can't see it.

My coach laughed and said "you know those flags don't move, right?" and then told me how to count the stroke from the flags to the end, deduct 2 strokes and then when you pass the flags turn your leading arm across your body and then go to tumble or touch the end and return.

Had a great session last night. Ok, could hardly walk, drive home etc, at one point wondered if I'd actually make it out of the car and pondered getting my son to just bring me a blanket..

I'm getting there. My coach says he can see an improvement since I started 3 weeks ago, that I was not that far behind everyone else and they had fins....

So I have ordered fins. and a kickboard. and a mesh bag.

I even swam something like a total of 500m with a pull buoy!! it did actually help the rotation/core afterwards.

Wanted to be really impressed at people's swimming yestersay but the mobile app wouldn't let me post!

I've done 1k!!!!! (20m pool so 50 lengths for me) aqua was cancelled and I just went for it as it was much quieter in the pool.That's so not a distance I thought I'd do but oh it felt soooooo good. Took me an hour, but I was steady.

Love this thread. :)

(so yes, I'm soooo impressed at the fast people in here!!! I'm not fast but I'm obese so I'm so pleased I'm getting somewhere :))

The flags at each end are about 5m away which is anything between 3 and 12 strokes for me. Consistent, I aint. I really hurt my hand a few weeks ago despite being convinced I had at least three feet spare!

I'm definitely getting fitter but so far have gained weight rather than losing any...

Caterpillar I'm very impressed!!! You only came on here very recently saying you were totally out of practice and you've sailed (or swam) right past me!!! Well done! Just shows doesn't it that you just need to crack on sometimes I'm blaming my DH being away so much recently and therefore me being stuck at home with the kids in the evenings for why I'm not better yet!

I also couldn't post yesterday (wanted to comment on Chris Cornell thread ) thought it was my phone's fault!

Westsuit arrived yesterday. Two pairs of string gloves arrived with it, need to wear them when putting it on - I'm so going to rip the bloomin thing just doing that aren't I!

Hi all, can I join you?

Long time lurker here but I've recently started swimming again after a long break and I'm finding this thread very inspiring!

I started back a month a go with the aim of learning how to do the crawl. I used to do it as a kid but at some point dropped it and now it's completely alien to me. I've had one lesson and it's SO HARD!

Since my lesson I've been working on building up my stamina a bit so that my heart doesn't beat out of my chest so much. I'm so unfit, but I'm hoping that just turning up and doing it regularly will have some effect.

I'm swimming three times a week in a gym pool 25m x 10m, but it gets quite busy in the lanes. I wish I could always just have space to do what I want! Today I was there when it opened at 6.30am and I did about 28L, and some practice with a float. There was may be a tiny tiny improvement in my freestyle. I felt like I was perhaps pushing the water a bit more efficiently and getting a bit more movement. Still only got about half a length before coming up for a splutter though!

You're all pretty awesome but I'm particularly impressed by the open swimmers. I can't every imagine being able to do that - WOW.

So anyway, I've really enjoyed reading all your tips and following links to tutorials. Great thread, THANK YOU!

Its brilliant seeing everyone improving!

Busy day today as I've been away since Tuesday for work and it is DS's birthday tomorrow. So just fitted in a quick 1600m at lunchtime, where as I was late I got to share a lane with my favourite 80 year old swimmer.

Sunday is my swim event at the lake! Found out on Monday that a friend is doing the commentating which may be entertaining - at least I won't be able to hear him till I'm out

Looks like next week may be the first week of my social wild swimming group too I absolutely loved this last year - a casual group dipping in the river, for a chat and a splash

igotta

PLASTIC BAGS!!!! Put them on your feet and hands when trying on the suit!!

Remove jewellery, watches etc and if you have nails best to pinch the inside of the material and pull than pull the outside

Have a look on YouTube for a video

I hope I won't be the only one looking like a total plank with plastic bags on my hands hissy!! But thanks for the tip!

Big news for me tonight is that I swam 16 consecutive lengths front crawl!!!!!!!! My previous best was 4!!!! I think I must've been in what you proper swimmers call 'the zone' . I could've kept going but I could feel it in my shoulders from about 10 lengths. I kept going to 16 just to prove to myself that I'll be able to do the distance for the triathlon. My only problem is that I spend the first 15 mins feeling as though I'm absolutely crap at swimming. Can't even do one or two lengths in a row. Takes me a while to get going which I won't have the luxury of on the day. Either way though, I'm so chuffed with myself!

Well done Igot, that's a great improvement. Good that you didn't get too carried away if your shoulder was giving you some trouble.

I think it takes most of us a few lengths to relax into it. Busy lives we lead I think.

CMOTD How far is this lake swim? Best of luck.

I am not long back from my glorious late Friday swim. There was the tallest man in the world in the fast lane when I arrived. His head was above the water in the deep end. WTAF?!
Anyway, he got out so I had the lane to myself and did my 1K trying to focus on my form. My mate said my right arm was crossing over a bit so I worked on that, and kicking from the hips and engaging my core. The last 8 lengths or so I just relaxed and swam in a way that felt comfortable ie no form!

Igotta, in a large group of people putting on wetsuits, the majority will look like planks ime. So doing the well tried method of using thin plastic bags to help the process doesn't make you look any more so!

I'm doing the ladies half mile, so not far. But my first swimming medal ever!

When I did my open water induction, several of the people there thought it was genius to use plastic bags!

Can't remember where I heard it, think it was lovely boyf

So I've tried on the wetsuit, wore thin running socks and the gloves they provided. Didn't have too much trouble getting it on which makes me think it may be too big. Anyway, too late now, lake swim in the morning for me!! Excited and apprehensive at the same time!

Good luck this morning CMOTD ! Hope you had fun

Can anyone advise on swimming with fins please? Is it something that could help me with my technique as a beginner, or is it something you do once you've developed a bit?

Wowee it was cold to start with! My head!! But soon warmed up and putting my face in the water was fine. Did a few acclimatisation exercises and swam round a bouy. My sighting skills or lack of will be my undoing! Really enjoyed it though and met lots of lovely enthusiastic triathlon bods of all shapes, sizes and ages. Fun day.

Got a quick 1k before DDs gala, was super smiley as I had a lane to myself and did a few1L breaststroke then 1L frontcrawl and my DD said it was looking good . Frontcrawl has been my nemesis for SO many years I can't believe in my mid 40s I'm finally cracking it!! Still baby steps but did about 8L this time.

No idea about fins but I'm sure someone on here will know. My DD did try them out last year in a couple of lessons but not recently.

I had a great time! It was super friendly too. Got a huge round of applause as I exited (next to last)

Fins can be useful to support you when you are doing arm drills - no arms, fists, whatever. And can really give you confidence in open water. But they push you from the back so it can be tricky to keep good arm form when using them - you do feel super speedy though!

I have fins and a kick board coming sometime this week....

I'm off to a lake with boyf on weds evening too

I was sleepy this morning and didn't swim but hoping to go tonight. I've not gone at night before, I usually go to bed when kids do so I'm posting here to help keep me motivated!!

Think of it as a lovely wind down at the end of the day caterpillar your feel better afterwards.
My DD is swim training tonight so if the other lane is quiet I may pop in for a few lengths but I cycled to work n back today so legs bit weary it's 18m commute round trip.

I'm going tonight too Caterpillar because I couldn't go this morning. I'm hoping it will be quiet so I can have a lane to myself to practice my crappy crawl.

I'm going tonight caterpillar so that's 3 of us who need to check in later.

Is this of any interest to the open water swimmers - our club shared it.

www.swimming.org/masters/fina-guidance-on-wearing-wetsuits-open-water/

Reporting a 1K swim. Ladies night.
I don't know why lane etiquette seems to go out of the window on ladies night. When I arrived there was 1 fast swimmer and 2 pootling up and down in the fast lane. You'd think if someone (me) overtook you THREE times you'd realise you were in the wrong lane and move down.

Due to my tense mood I didn't want to ask them to move down, or ask the lifeguard. When the other faster woman left I ASKED (why??) if they minded if I just went up and down by the wall. It was fine in the end, but it does annoy me. To be fair it didn't take much to annoy me after Solero-gate and DS2, but that's a whole other thread!

Door to door in an hour (10 min drive) including stopping for diesel. A PB!

ski that was interesting. I note that below 15.9C we shouldn't be swimming at all - even with a wet suit. I'm not sure if my first ever outdoor wet suit swim in 12C makes me hardcore or stupid!