Swimming for fitness (part 3). Dive in!

[rightsofwomen]

Ohh la la....2nd thread filled up. Hopefully this Subject line will make it easy enough to find.

Everyone welcome.

1K done.

I love swimming, I'm never going to break any records but I really enjoy it! So hello fellow swimmers!

For the last few weeks I've been trying to do 1km 2-3 times a week, but I can only go early before work, and sometimes I struggle with motivation

Due to an old injury I have to stick to breaststroke, so 1km usually takes me 25-30 mins. If I'm honest I'm not really looking to improve my time or push myself to do loads more distance, I just enjoy what I do. I find myself in an odd place between the head-up swim-in-pairs crew and the very serious types - anyone else find this?

Oh great, from 0 posts to 3! Good old glitchy internet! I'll ask MNHQ to remove the duplicates...

Welcome coffee. Wonderful that you enjoy your swimming. I'm really rubbish at breaststroke so impressed you can do it! My motivation has been spurred on from making 'friends' at the pool – people you start to chat to who notice if you aren't there. And more recently I've been giving a neighbour a lift so can't let him down. Also there are only three (early morning) slots when the pool is at 33m so that is a bit of an incentive to go! Let us know how you are doing!

I'm telling myself I'm going to go tomorrow morning...we'll see how enthusiastic I feel about it at 6.30am!

Go swim coffee! The advantage of an early morning swim us you can put your costume straight on under your clothes. Just remember to pack bra and pants!

That's about my breaststroke rate. My challenge for spring is to try and put a couple of lengths of front crawl in there - I already do backstroke 1 in 10 just to stretch the other way for a minute.

Off you go coffee and please report back!

DD, DS and I are doing the Swimathon this year. We are a bit out of shape. Any tips on improving our times/distances?

Frog with your user name I think you're good to go!

Tell us what you all do at the moment and I'm sure we can advise.

You know, I think I might do it too!

Do about 30 lengths breaststroke twice a week. Need to do a bit more maybe! We are entering as family DH is quicker than me . Maybe DH to do 2000m, DS 1000m, me 2000m . I have done Swimathon before but this was when I was a young fit thing.

Sorry its DH and DD that are doing it!

Just found this thread! I can do a length of front crawl and then collapse exhausted at the end. I’ve bitten the bullet and started lessons and I need to slow right down and practice some drills! My ambition is to swim up and down smooth and steady for 30 minutes. I’ve certainly a way to go but I’m enjoying the challenge. Making myself “long” in the water has already helped-and now I need to work on turning from side to side instead of laying on my front . Very inspiring reading the swimming skills and ambitions here!

sugarbowl I was you a couple of years ago.
I could do one (25m) length of crawl super fast and then have to flop on the side like a beached walrus.
Turns out that (unlike running) the harder you try in swimming, the slower you go and the more knackered you get. I learned to calm the fuck down, focus on my breathing and then just went 2 or 3 times a week.

I've just put a shout out on my running club FB page to round up all the swimmers for the swimathon.

Frog with running, the suggestions are mix it up, some shorter, faster sessions, some longer slower ones. That might be worth a go?

PS rights ran intervals yesterday. Knacked today!!!

Ooh this thread got busy!

Hello swimmers, I'm back again! I've just got back swimming after a couple of months off hibernating I was a bit worried I'd have forgotten how to do front crawl (leant from scratch this time last year, took me a long long time to string two lengths together). But it was fine, I did a 30 min and a 45 min session this week.

My aim don't laugh is to complete another triathlon in June. The swim is 1500m in a lake I'm gonna need some support!!

Thanks Theorig it’s so great to hear how others have progressed. That’s exactly what I do. Thrashing about like crazy! I’ve a way to go but I’ll persevere-and slow down!

Well done sands. You will soon feel the benefit (maybe not today though!).

Cheering you for your triathlon already Bee! Welcome Sugarbowl and Froglet. Never done the Swimathon …

Thank you singing I like your optimism that I'll even get there

Second lesson tonight. Haven't done much this week at all as have been stymied by working away and then three nights (and therefore too knackered in the morning/day) of ill children. I will get back to it.....

bee - you'll be fine!

Pleased to report I hauled my butt down to the pool this morning and did 1km breaststroke in a shade under 27 minutes. I'm pretty happy with that as the pool was crowded, so couldn't quite go the pace I wanted to at all times.

Bee - I feel quite wobbly at the thought of a 1500m lake swim! You're amazing to be contemplating it!

Also - thanks for the encouragement upthread! 🙂

Well done coffee. When are you next planning on swimming?