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Swimming for fitness (part 2). Jump in!

999 replies

rightsofwomen · 15/03/2017 09:05

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

Everyone welcome.

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13
Hissy · 09/08/2017 10:16

Huge well done!!! Amazing!!

TheMShip · 09/08/2017 12:14

Amazing, rights! You're inspiring. I'm dead scared of open water swimming but you make me want to try it ...

rightsofwomen · 09/08/2017 12:37

Thank you both!
I'm not scared of the open water bit, it's more that I am really new to swimming competitively.

The lake had a coached session earlier this year which was brilliant for newbies.

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lljkk · 09/08/2017 17:13

Are there simple tips for swimming a proper stroke in open water? Thjis is new to me.

I feel well chastened, swam maybe 1.6k in lake today. But gosh was it hard work. I couldn't get into a rhythm at all for first 10 minutes, as though I never knew how to crawl at all. I had to adjust for the waves, basically. Got cold by the end.

I had goggles & a bright pink hat on... glad for the pink hat since there were boats about!

HSMMaCM · 09/08/2017 18:27

I'm off to do my 40 lengths tonight. Do any of you have a foolproof way not to lose count?

SkiBike007 · 09/08/2017 19:00

Well done rights sounds great achievement. I'd also be really scared about open water swimming that feeling of not being able to "see" the bottom. But I enjoyed reading Heminsey Leap In book about her journey learning to do open water swimming, one day lll get around to trying it!

I tried my first cycle/run session today in training for a Go-Tri in 5wks time, I need to try sprinting from the swim pool next time & cycling home but fear I'd look a numpty getting through reception in wet clothes Grin
HSMM I'd like to know too as I recently stopped counting and just swim for a fixed time but I have ordered a tomtom watch which is supposed to be able to track swims as well as run/cycle should be here next week. I'll let you know how it goes. Some folk on here have a swim tag system but my pool doesn't do that.

Igottastartthinkingbee · 09/08/2017 21:04

Well done rights!! Sounds like you did really well, 4 mins slower than your pb having just got out of a bloomin lake is pretty good!!! I find sighting/swimming in a straight line so hard in open water, definitely the hardest thing about it.

CorrigansDoorKnob · 10/08/2017 01:58

Well done rights, that sounds like good fun!

llikk it took me a few goes to get used to open water swimming. I found it quite easy to get panicked and lose my breathing and rhythm. Practice definitely helps. If you find yourself panicking then turn on your back and kick (freestyle or breaststroke legs), catch your breath and calm down, then carry on again.

rightsofwomen · 10/08/2017 08:55

The first open water race I did I was a bit panicked for the first 50m or so - a combination of the mass start and nerves. Gave myself a good talking to; knew I could do the distance, there was a boat if I got in trouble, I had my wet suit on for buoyancy and the water was clean.

Once I calmed down and got into my rhythm I felt better and then I reminded myself to actually try and enjoy the experience.

It helped that my first few goes I went with some friends and essentially we just had a great laugh.

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rightsofwomen · 10/08/2017 08:58

HSMMaCM I'm afraid I don't really have a foolproof way. You can get very basic counter 'watches' where you just press a button each lap.
I do 4 lengths crawl and then 4 lengths crawl with my pull buoy and that helps break it up.

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rightsofwomen · 10/08/2017 08:59

lap counter

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rightsofwomen · 10/08/2017 09:01

Oh, it goes on your finger. Cute. I think you should get one and road test it for us!

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progfan · 10/08/2017 09:44

Hello, is there room for one more in here. I found this thread by accident and have been inspired by you all. I used to swim a lot as a teenager, but have not swum for years. I'm going tonight with 3 goals to work towards.

1 Go at least once a week.
2 Manage 16 lengths each time.
3 Work towards 100m without stopping.

I'm worried that I'm going to find it really hard at first and that my first swim will be my last.

SkiBike007 · 10/08/2017 11:14

Welcome progfan there's all levels on here, just go and enjoy the swim I started from a Min level last year and have really progressed by going twice a week where possible. Would going with anyone else help with motivation or just committing on hereSmile my daughter makes me take her so I thought sod it I'll swim too, and it really relaxes me now.

CMOTDibbler · 10/08/2017 11:25

I always lose count - so I have a Garmin watch which sorts it out. Sometimes it misses a length, but it's pretty good.

Welcome Progfan! In 2014, I could do 5m of front crawl (relearning after acquiring a disability). Now I do 2km in an hour, and am doing a 5km swim in October. Oh, and swimming a mile down the Serpentine Smile this September.

First time I did an open water event I had a panic attack, and ended up doing breaststroke with a kayaker by my side (he was lovely). Slowing your breathing is the biggest thing as the cold water on your face makes you breathe faster and then that makes you panicky. I love open water now and find it super relaxing - apart from sighting, but have new mirrored goggles which may help!

TheMShip · 10/08/2017 12:09

I use the Swimtag system provided by the pool I go to. Love it. The Garmin watches are supposed to be really good too.

HSMMaCM · 10/08/2017 13:12

Rightsofwomen I've added that to my birthday list (next month). I also added the swim MP3 ear things. If they're rubbish I'll upgrade.

I did about 30 lengths last night. Haven't swim for a few weeks and could really tell the difference. Also, my goggles decided to leak Angry.

bruffin · 10/08/2017 13:54

Ive just bought the bone conductor waterproof mp3 finis duo to replace my cheapo one i used for a year because it broke.
Its more comfortable but not so clear but overal better.
I use a misfit ray for my laps, very simple and i cant see how much ive done until i synq afterwards, but its nicer looking than any other fit bit

progfan · 10/08/2017 23:50

Thanks for the welcome, Ski and CMOT, I had a lovely swim this evening only 7 people in the pool. I took it easy and managed 20 lengths of mainly breast stroke. Now I have to persuade myself to get up early on Saturday and go again.

rightsofwomen · 11/08/2017 09:31

Hello progfan

I think you have good and realistic goals. The thing with swimming (and running and cycling) is that it's really quick and easy to see even tiny improvements.

For me, it's consistency in going which results in the greatest improvement ie better to go once a week if that's all you can manage than 4 times one week and then not again for another few weeks.

With swimming, as you improve, you can choose to either go further or faster (and then both!) depending on how you're feeling and how much time you have.

I was NOT a swimmer at all 2 years ago. Pretty good over all fitness so I knew it wasn't that, but no technique and I didn't really enjoy it. An injury (from running) forced me to find other sports and I slowly found a love of swimming. I'm now a not bad swimmer but best of all I get a buzz from it and really look forward to going.

This group is fun and very supportive (whatever your level).

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lljkk · 11/08/2017 10:47

Hi Progfan, I hope you enjoy catching the swimming bug. :)

Keeping Count; I am useless! If swimtag isn't working then I estimate from total time (assuming that 10 minutes almost non-stop = 400m). My son had a system where he swam 5 lengths front crawl+1 length breaststroke & he only counted the breaststroke lengths while in pool, then figured out total. Somehow this worked for him. I was thinking of some kind of counter system (pots & tokens) at the end every 4 lengths (I typically lose count after 4).

Or you can time individual lengths occasionally using poolside clocks, figure out your rough avg, & then calculate likely total, as long as you deduct rest times.

I'm very keen to hear how you like the bone-conducting finis, Bruffin.

Do you find it works fine with front crawl when you wear a hat?
Do you only use it for music or for speech podcasts, too?
When you say it's not as clear... how much is it not clear, would speech podcasts be ok?
Can you download podcasts or how does it work? It was a lot of money so I'm keen to hear first-hand experiences.
Sorry for all the questions!

TheMShip · 11/08/2017 11:01

lljkk I count as I go using my strokes/breathing. 3 strokes to the breath, and say to myself with the rhythm, "x of y" where x is the lap (I count 50s) and y is the set. So for 400s I count "1 of 1, 2 of 1, ... 8 of 1", then "1 of 2, ..., 8 of 2", etc till I'm done. It's quite meditative, which is a big reason I swim. I very rarely lose count.

lljkk · 11/08/2017 11:16

My mind wanders too much for that! Wandering mind is something I like during swimming. Can't meditate, either.

bruffin · 11/08/2017 14:17

lljkk
Im the same, lose count after 10, so set to swim for 40 minutes to an hour, and then check my misfit ray phone ap after.

Re the finis duo, if you are anywhere near London i would recommend going to Ocean Leisure on Embankment, as you can try finis duo there.

Do you find it works fine with front crawl when you wear a hat?
Seems ok for front crawl, but i dont like hats, but i cant see a problem, as they sit on your cheek bone, or behind your ear.
Do you only use it for music or for speech podcasts, too?
if it can be converted to mp3 then it should be iok
When you say it's not as clear... how much is it not clear, would speech podcasts be ok?
I would have thought it
Can you download podcasts or how does it work? It was a lot of money so I'm keen to hear first-hand experiences.
manual here on how download

Sorry not to be more helpful, the previous mp3 i had was in ear, which was clear until water got under the ear phones. I dont have this problem, but obviously as these are not in ear so I can hear other sounds, including the water swishing etc.
The suggestion in the manual is that you wear ear plugs, which would make the sound clearer, i may try that.
I am pleased with them as they are more comfortable to wear than the in ear ones and the sound is adequate. Also dont have trailing wire like my old ones did.

SingingAvocado · 11/08/2017 20:02

Welcome progfan.

I took my girls swimming this afternoon. We went to a different pool from the one I exercise in – one with rapids and slides and it was, as a friend describes it, 'people soup'. Made me appreciate my quiet lengths and that when I say it was crowded it really isn't that bad! There was another pool for lengths / swimming lessons but I couldn't have taken the girls in there. I hadn't realised that there was an outside pool (not one suitable for lengths). We tried it and it was cold so sadly headed back inside!