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.

I've yet to be to an office in a nice part of the world (Except for the UK offices of DHs current company in Central London). Anywhere I've worked has been grot bag central!

Did my 2km . Wonder how long the water will stay warm enough?

Apple shaped lady checking in..normally swim to 30 min max lengths breaststroke..average 54 lengths ...then swim down and stretch.. regular swimmer for 30 yrs +. So preventing boredom tips..sing (not out loud), recite poems, plan work, chase the "fast" guy in the fast lane...help him improve his swim lane etiquette, count laps obvìously, count backwards from 20 in various languages, times tables, pick a pool with thumping loud music (unusual), pray, cry...think about pulling the water and gliding.

Megthehen oooh good tips, i’m an apple shaped lady just starting out. Also need tips on keeping motivation.

ha! (at improving swim lane etiquette).
There's a guy just barely faster than me, so as soon as he overtakes me I have to slow down a lot while drafting him for subsequent 3-5 lengths. But hey... it's good practice for drafting (which you do in competition), so I try to make most of it. He only kicked me once today (and not hard, being sincere, dodging strong legs is a valuable skill when drafting).

Back at the pool today after an enforced break over half term, good to be back. Have a range of swimming gear coming tomorrow for my birthday, really excited!!

How are you doing with your motivation @TeaAndToast85?

Ooo that sounds exciting Whattodowithaminute. Happy birthday!

Happy birthday, minute!

Ahhh thanks all!! Lovely new swimming headphones, paddles, pull buoys and fins (all the gear and no idea?!!) lovely lady at the pool yesterday recommended a local coach too so might see if I can schedule a couple of sessions in post Christmas to give me the idea

Another swim yesterday. Followed by hot tub, jacuzzi and then sauna. Stayed until I felt faint!

Still haven't managed to actually get outside for a run. Back home tomorrow.

Happy Birthday minute

Meg how do you manage to count lengths and do anything else at the same time?

I normally do 40 lengths (1K) alternating 4 with pull buoy and 4 without. I don't have my buoy with me at the moment and am really struggling to keep count.

Happy Birthday Minute
Safe flight Rights

Cant remember who asked, but
Motivation: 2 of us have agreed we will try to swim at 7 on Tuesday's. Its agreed that its no problem if we arent there (tho i dont like swimming totally alone in a pool with no lifeguard, there is normally someone else around). It turns quite a few "not sure I can be arsed" mornings into swims.
Counting: I do maths with the number. So if I'm on lap 6 of 60, I'm 10% of the way through. It's taken 5 mins, so the whole lot is going to take 50 mins sort of thing.

Been for a swim tonight, really need a swimming buddy to keep me going.

Anyone wear a cap? I have short hair but it still gets in my eyes. Only people that are really good wear caps though don’t they? I’m just starting out, having 1:1 lessons to get me going, only managing half lengths at a time at the moment

I wear a cap, with the vague hope it is protecting my hair. Most women I see either wear hats or keep their head out of the water.

I am horrendous at counting laps, luckily my Apple Watch does it for me. Very useful bit of kit.

I used to think that oddsocks but I’m a complete hat convert now as it keeps my hair out my eyes but I do prefer a fabric one as less hot and easier to put on over long hair.
I’m still out the pool & off running for a week with a throat/cold thing had hoped to get back on Sat but felt really ropey again today bit of a rebound virus.

I wear a cap. I have lots of hair so it's necessary if I want to see.
I look like a twat.

When I first started swimming properly I got a cap from the sports centre. It said "Swim Club" on it and I wore it the wrong way round (with the crease at the sides rather than front/back). Yeah.....totally rocked that look....NOT.

I might get a fabric one actually. Mine is a black speedo.

Thanks Trigirl007 and rightsofwomen - I’ll buy a cap! Just got to build up to swim a whole length!! If I keep my head out of the water when I swimming then I can swim further but I’ve having lessons to swim properly which I’m practicing but I can’t swim as far!! How does that work?

I wear a cap too. I used to just put my shoulder-length hair in a bun, but bits of hair got in my eyes and have found it much better to have the cap. It helps the condition of my hair too. I've got silicone one which is a breeze to put on (I had memories of unsuccessfully attempting to put on a cap at school).

I’m all for caps but even though I have one I don’t wear it (for the same reason as OddSocks). I just pile all my hair up into a bun or plaits. I should maybe wear it...

My absolute worst is anyone with long hair left loose. I don’t want to pick stray strands of someone else’s hair off me! ^^

fabric caps are rubbish, they loose elasticity & slip off -- or maybe that's just mine. But I still say don't bother. I actually use the swim caps DC got each time they moved a stage, we have so many that I think these might last me forever.

Breathing... Oddsocks. Swimming is all about the breathing. That's what lessons will teach you, how to breath & let face / head be in water. Once you master the skill of breathing while also allowing your face in the water, then a cap will become essential kit (unless you shave head, I suppose).

I love my fabric zoggs hat it doesn’t slip off and hasn’t lost shape in 6mths. Different things suit different folk my hair is curly frizzy thick longish so maybe that’s why it suits me.
I’m missing my exercise thanks to winter bugs but did half hr run yesterday so maybe energy is starting to rtn again & might get my Monday night swim in.

Got a freebie cap felt a bit silly wearing it but was easier to cope with my hair.

Breathing getting easier to master but my arms really ache.

Aiming for ONE whole length of crawl but only managed 3/4 ..

Link to your fabric hat, Trigirl? Mine looks like this. I have buckets of short fine hair on a big head. If my hair gets to shoulders I have to switch to XL size caps. My fabric hat just couldn't keep a grip once it was soaked thru.

I think it’s this one www.proswimwear.co.uk/zoggs-deluxe-stretch-spandex-cap-black.html?fee=14&fep=16095&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3I2hn_Gn1wIVhbvtCh18-gOmEAQYAiABEgL8k_D_BwE
I got it in a little sports shop when on holiday it was about £6. Think it’s just called deluxe zoggs fabric hat

Yes to the breathing and I think the breathing out hard underwater - blowing bubbles..is key. Oddsocks, once you crack breathing, you will be away and then you just need tips on stroke technique. Mastering the breathing also good for labour and I am sure it induces a zen feeling.

I hate swim hats, so dont wear one, but do find cloth ones more barable, but keep losing it at the pool.