Questions for swimmers

[KanyesLunchbox]

I've remembered how much I love swimming. I am going to try to go 2/3 times a week. I'm up to 50*25m lengths. I did it in 38.16 today, but I'm hoping I actually did 54 lengths in that time as I lost count a couple of times

Anyway, I've some questions, if i may? How do I get faster? I am very much a plodder and no idea how to improve. I'm going to try a coached lane swim next week but is there anything I should work on first?

Lane etiquette: how close should I let the person behind me get before I stop to let them pass? I've been lucky so far with usually only one person in the lane with me, but I was thinking maybe 5-10m? Also lane etiquette, if I stop, which side of the lane should I stop in? I was doing a clockwise lane today got annoyed when my lane "partner" stopped in the top left corner, I would naturally go for the top right in that round. Which of us was right?

Finally, something whimsical, what do you think about when you swim? I find I'm counting a lot and doing mental arithmetic, counting lengths, working out the percentages and fractions, distance so far, etc. And writing AIBUs in my head about the guy stopping in the right spot in the lane. It's nice not to have anything pumped at me for a while.

Hi, I started swimming again about 2 years ago.
I think you are right to initially build up a little bit of stamina by swimming continuously but if you want to get faster you need to incorporate some 'sprints' into your workout too- a few one lengths at max effort. Build up to 2 lengths max effort etc.

Have you got a local Masters (over 25) Swimming Club? Joining one is the best thing I've done. Varied and interesting programmes; a trained coach to advise on stroke technique; and people of all ages and abilities.

Not sure about the etiquette questions - usually if there are lanes roped off in a public session, my pool puts a sign saying clockwise or anti clockwise for each lane. Another pool marks lanes for fast/ medium/ slow too. If no guidelines, I guess people just play it by ear.

There is an Everyone-Welcome swimming thread for pool swimmers.

How do I get faster?

You could try intervals, do one length in six as hard as you can. Idea is that you teach yourself how to go faster & it spreads to the otherwise slower lengths.

Sounds like bottom right & top left would be best places to let others overtake, tbh. You need a diagram

To let someone pass, I only stop at the ends, otherwise it's up to them to find an opportunity to overtake. As I approach ends, I look behind to see if someone needs to get by, and otherwise I swim on the 'outside' to maximise what room others have to overtake. My pet peeve is slow people who don't try to maximise overtaking room.

I have never observed any rules about where people stop if the stop is just a rest for them, but like I said, I would stop somewhere to make it easy for others to overtake quickly & clearly & I think that's what others do, too, when they want to let me pass.

Finally, something whimsical, what do you think about when you swim?

Same as you! Esp. The other swimmers. I make up life stories for them. Else any problem that I need to sort out. Or calculate something.

Thanks ragged, I have read some of that thread but didn't want to just barge in and start asking questions!

I was talking to a swimmer friend over the weekend and she suggested making sure my breathing technique is spot on before doing anything else, which makes sense so I'm going to do some coached lane swim lessons (it's like a group drop in class with an instructor) and get some tips there. I'll try some sprints too. I only really do front crawl so in should probably mix up my strokes too.

I go to two different pools and they have very different demographics (one lunchtime power swimmers, the other a mix of rehabbers, social swimmers (who actually stop for a chat mid lane ) and some like me just there to do lengths) so I'll have to figure out each pool's etiquette I think.