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Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
TheMShip · 30/08/2017 19:57

Fran tumble turns are only done for front and back crawl. Breaststroke and butterfly are touch turns, as the rules require you to touch the wall with both hands together prior to turning. See this BBC info for details.

I'm at 13.25km into the Channel crossing, knocked off another 2km yesterday and 1km today.

FranKatzenjammer · 30/08/2017 22:14

Thanks for the information @TheMShip. I can't believe I hadn't noticed, when watching breaststroke events in the Olympics etc. on TV, that they weren't doing tumble turns! Well done on your Channel swimming challenge- more than halfway now. I haven't yet attempted to go swimming on consecutive days- I think my legs would give out...

CorrigansDoorKnob · 31/08/2017 14:55

I am STILL struggling with the bloody turns. The problem is all in my head though I think. I spent an hour at the pool on Sunday trying to work it out (amongst other things).

I've also made the decision not to join a swim squad this spring. I lost the whole of last summer training for 2 marathon open water swims and DH got very cranky. I'm a bit sad though as it was good fun and I made lots of friends. It's all or nothing with that squad though. The all-time worst session was 55 x 100m on 1:55. I bloody made it all the way through but had to be resuscitated after...

Hissy · 31/08/2017 17:18

Oh my god corrigan! You hero you!!

That's astounding pace! I can but hope! I'm nearing sub 2minute 100s, but 55 of them???

Turns are bastards, but it's practice that will make us better

I have to get my head tucked in for the turn and get the position off the wall consistent

lljkk · 31/08/2017 18:25

Apols if I have missed this, if discussed before.

Ape Index? What is yours? Do you reckon you swim how you should for your AI ? AI < 0 (like mine at about -1.4) apparently means should focus more on cadence (front crawl) & less on long reach (but long reach still good otherwise, if I understand correctly, which is always dubious).

I found a load of other interesting articles linked to from Swimtag (this morning, slow work day Blush ). Mostly I find swim advice too much, too confusing, too much jargon, too easy for me to misunderstand & follow it all wrong. But there were a few ideas I will try.

rightsofwomen · 31/08/2017 18:30

-1

OP posts:
TriGirl007 · 01/09/2017 07:13

I had to drag my weary bum to the pool last night I really didn't want to go, but then I got SO in the zone it was fab my highest total for a while 50L in 35mins mix of FC &breast stroke. Lovely quiet pool just before the ladies session so zero splashy blokes Grin

indulgentberries · 01/09/2017 07:24

I'm new as well, I'm planning on starting swimming next week when school starts again. Any tips for a breast stroke swimming unfit newbie would be much appreciated as long as I can face the walk of shame to the pool as I'm not anywhere near skinny

lljkk · 01/09/2017 07:41

Most people in our pool are overweight & some are far into the overweight zone. During lanes at least, nobody cares. They care if you swim considerately, how your swimming affects ability of others to get lengths done is about all that matters.

Oh, and nice-ness. Most people pause a few times so like somebody to chat to!

indulgentberries · 01/09/2017 08:25

I'll be sticking in the slow lane so it should be ok then.

TriGirl007 · 01/09/2017 09:13

I agree once you are in the water nobody can see your body and being a considerate swimmer is far more important. Smile and thanks when people pass or wait to pass I find friendly Smile and getting a costume & googles you feel comfy in. I really struggle to find supportive costumes for big boobs but the other day I wore my sports bra under my costume it was fab made me feel SO comfy! And because it was a black racer back it hardly showed.

FranKatzenjammer · 01/09/2017 17:19

OK, I've got a WWYD for you experienced swimmers. Since I sorted out my whip kick (only this week really) I am now much too fast for the medium lane at my local pool. This is not a stealth boast at all- the overall speed of the medium lane is really slow, and the slow lane goes at a snail's pace! Lane discipline is very variable- some swimmers will happily let me go before them, sometimes with a smile and an encouraging word, while others are completely oblivious to those around them. One person suggested today that I should try the fast lane, and actually today it was full of head up breaststrokers, some backstrokers and even someone sculling, but surely I- and they- shouldn't be there! I don't know what the solution is- I'd hate to hold anyone up, because I know how annoying it is! I'd be most grateful for your words of wisdom.

FranKatzenjammer · 01/09/2017 17:28

NB I can only really swim breaststroke at present (crucial point which I forgot to include!).

BestIsWest · 01/09/2017 18:09

My ape index is -5! No wonder I'm so slow. Going to get DH to do it too. He can't swim but he can reach much higher with a paintbrush and we're the same height.

lljkk · 01/09/2017 18:36

If you swim no wider than other breaststrokers in the fast lane, & just about barely as fast, sounds like you belong there as much as anybody, FranK.

I am the fastest in the medium lane or the slowest in the fast lane (typically). I try to go in whichever one is less crowded. Seems fair to me.

Speaking for self, I don't mind being "held up" as long as people create opportunities for overtaking. Most people pause at the wall & look for anyone who needs to overtake (& gesture to allow them to go ahead). Our fast lane is almost 4m wide, set in a circuit this can mean 2 nested loops in the nominal fast lane. Slower swimmers in outside loop & faster swimmers in inside loop. Most slower swimmers get this system & keep to outside loop also occupy a small pool space so others can get by ok.

The random not-so-aware swimmer swims slowly & not near the edge of the whole lane so basically across both outer & inner loop with a really wide scratching kicking breaststroke I want to avoid being in contact with so they are hard to overtake, except when approaching the wall .. only then they may cut the corners and don't look for faster swimmers, so still difficult to overtake unless lane is almost empty FFS.

(Thank you for getting me off my chest)

We have a regular swimmer who swims in the correct circuit direction but otherwise does WTF he likes. Non-stop Slowly almost down middle of fast lane, fast turnaround (never looks for anyone else), his breaststroke is about 2m wide & I can attest that he doesn't trim his fingernails. He's a character & a grumpy old codger, has a beautiful form breaststroke just no power in it. I am perversely fond of him, he's kind of like an irritating pet you look after out of kindness. My benevolence doesn't extend to anyone else, though.

lljkk · 01/09/2017 18:37

getting that

TheMShip · 01/09/2017 19:54

I am 170cm tall and my armspan is 178cm ... my ape index is 1.047 in ratio form, or +3 in inches. I've never calculated that before. DH measured my span with my sewing tape, he looked at me like I was nuts. But it does explain why the long smooth slow style suits me well.

I haven't swum since Wednesday as DH has had elective surgery that day and I've been off work handling all the child wrangling (he's SAHP and youngest is a toddler - much lifting required). I hope to get in the pool tomorrow and knock off another 2-3km from the Channel crossing.

berries yeah don't worry about how you look, just be a considerate lane sharer and you'll be everyone's friend. Grin I've only finally just got myself under 14st, and even at 16st I would happily waddle my way along the deck every time.

SingingAvocado · 04/09/2017 11:48

Hello, and welcome to the newbies! I'm back after a two week holiday. I managed to 'properly' swim 6 times on holiday (the rest of the time was spent playing with the children). The trick was to get there when the pool opened and before it got busy and I sometimes had it all to myself. It was only ±17m so I had to do 120 lengths to get to around 2k. Keeping count was a bit of a challenge, and I gave up on backstroke as it was dangerous without any bunting to let me know the end was in sight(!), but it was so lovely swimming in the open. I went swimming in the leisure centre pool this morning and got my 2k done. An early start and I felt a bit sluggish but glad to have got going again.

rightsofwomen · 04/09/2017 22:58

120 lengths Grinwell done!
It's so nice to swim somewhere different isn't it.

1K done this evening.

OP posts:
CorrigansDoorKnob · 05/09/2017 05:31

Hissy it was an epic set, and I'm not sure I can ever do it again!! I was doing a LOT of training at the time - about 12k+ per week. I'm really not a gun swimmer though. I only took this up 2 years ago. It just goes to show what you can achieve with the right coaching.

Lljkk I haven't ever done my ape index. Paul Newsome is an awesome coach and I've been lucky enough to go to his squad sessions a few times and I also had a 1-2-1 video analysis with him as an Xmas present. The Swim Smooth website is full of really useful info and you can also subscribe to his Guru which had session plans and videos of drills.

www.swimsmooth.guru

My ape index is minus. I have quite a high stroke rate for someone tall. Paul Newsome believes that a high stroke rate can be efficient, my other coach has always tried to get me to decrease it. I swim much better in the open water, and apparently a higher stroke rate can help you achieve that, especially if it's choppy.

TriGirl007 · 05/09/2017 13:59

Epic googles failure last night grrrrrr I SO needed a swim but they would not stop filling up with water, I ended up doing few lengths of float and back stroke. My DH had a look at the googles as they were only a month old but all the sealant glue around one lens had pulled away?! Hopefully I was just unlucky with that batch as I've ordered two more pairs as I do so like the women's aqua sphere kayenne ones. I'm going to try get to the outdoor pool tom before it shuts for the season in 2wks time.

FranKatzenjammer · 05/09/2017 18:43

lljkk thanks very much for the advice. I will give the fast lane a go some time, I just need to get my confidence up a bit. I went again this morning and did 90 lengths- I would have done more, but I get really fed up of one particular person never letting me overtake.

MyUsernameIsInvalid · 07/09/2017 10:55

Hey all, the last time I posted was on page 3 Confused
I said I was going to try getting a routine of swimming going, well, it didn't happen. Been such a hectic year, anyway, I needed to go today as my back is slowing me down at work and causing some worry.
So read through what everyone said last time and it helped me go back in for the first time AGAIN. Hope you're all well, and thanks again.

I'll be coming again tomorrow. No questions asked. I need to get strong again.

Raaaaaah · 07/09/2017 11:06

I posted many moons ago on here. I was training for Henley Club to pub. Well despite not ideal training (i.e. Very little opportunity because of childcare), I did it and totally loved it. It was really inclusive and friendly. I then did another river swim a few weeks later which was also lovely and have a couple of others lined up. Anyhoooo I am really struggling with my sighting which is frustrating as it really slows me down. I find that I just can't see enough when doing croc eyes but find myself doing unilateral breathing when I sight any other way. I usually do bilateral so it feels really awkward. Any top tips?

lljkk · 08/09/2017 11:04

Hi Gals. When do you think a swim suit must be replaced? One of mine is looking tired, but how tired is TOO tired?
Am guilty of using tatty things forever, so need some voices of sanity to guide me. Thx.