Swimming for fitness (part 4). Everyone welcome.

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Old thread here

Anyone interesting in swimming for fitness welcome here.
Newbies, experiences, the fast, the slow - we're all sharing, learning and most of all supporting each other.

Our lido was busy even at 7.30am today.

I think I did 1,500m. For once I wasn't counting my laps. It felt good to let my mind wander.

What's the opinion on overtaking very closely down the middle of the lane? Surely it's bad etiquette to not wait a few strokes for a proper gap?

lamb have a look on Swim fit website or swim England have different rountines. Do you add in any drills like broken arrow, or other FC drills like tap hands, sometimes that mixes it up. 100m sprint sets then rest 30secs and go again? These are the sorts of things my daughter does at club. Me I’m much more of like you listed above, bit of arms with pull buoy, some legs with float, mix abit of breaststroke in and then mostly FC with couple of lengths of backstroke at the end to switch the rotation on my shoulders.

@TriSkiRun99 thanks. If I go with my friend (didn't today she was busy) we do two sprint, two slow, that certainly gets the blood flowing as we are quite competitive

I also have hand paddles and use them for crawl and breast, I have found they have really helped with my recovery, much better than any physio.

Had a good swim today 1550m, thoroughly enjoyed over taking the man in "my" lane. Why don't they ever seem to kick properly?

What's the opinion on overtaking very closely down the middle of the lane? Surely it's bad etiquette to not wait a few strokes for a proper gap?

The original definition of "few" meant 2 or 3.
Then the BBC used "few" to mean 41 or 43, some number like that.
Only needing 2 or 3 strokes before had clear space, assuming very limited space, then could have waited; but waiting 41-43 strokes is too much to expect.

If they overtook without kicking or scratching/hitting anyone, then they had enough space to overtake, imho.

Sorry Lamblossom, I'm slower than you & can't do anything but front crawl so can't advise on routines. I bet there are loads online to try out, and then there are pull buoys & kickboards & sprints & so on.

1k for me last night. Pool was lovely and quiet.

Feels like I'm going backwards at the moment, not quite sure why buy it's dispiriting. Hopefully get a dip in the sea next week though

What do you mean tiz? In what way backwards? More tired, loss of technique, lost your mojo?

The dip in the sea should help.

Feels like more effort and I'm slower. Struggled to do my 100s off 1:45 this morning and that used to be my steady pace. I think I'm just not fitting enough swims in, seem to need 3 or 4 a week to actually improve.

Not all that keen on proper swimming in the sea - too floaty!

What fitness trackers, if any, do you use? I’d like to treat myself to one - ideally one that counts lengths

I've just got the Fitbit version, seems pretty good at the moment, you can set the length of the pool and it counts lengths,

Sorry that should say Versa

If you do lengths of just legs holding a float would it still count those lengths?

I shall try tomorrow for you and let you know, I know it doesn't count if you do flip turns you need to touch the wall.

I had originally a flex2 and now have a charge3. Neither will count lengths if you are just kicking.

Mine will count fine if you do tumble turns however, no need to touch turn.

Been quiet on here of late. I’m swimming 1-2k most weeks. Had hoped to do more sea swimming this year but the enormous barrel jelly fish have freaked me out too much. Off to the Alps next week so hoping to do some lake swimming with no scary wildlife.

God yes the jellyfish! They freak me out too. Did you see that one off Falmouth? We live near the Gower coast - I walk the dogs regularly on the beach and every time there are dead, washed up barrels. One day last year there were over 50 , the smallest of which was about 50cm in diameter. Apparently the sting is not too bad though.

Good luck with the lake swimming

I’m doing 1k twice a week at the moment.

Yes I saw the massive Falmouth one on bbc link, that’s very freaky and not that far away from us on the Devon coast 😱. I’m looking forward to an outdoor 50m pool on hols hopefully it will be good for swimming and the lakes.

Hello, can I join in too? I swim a couple of times a week with a masters club, but am pretty average for my age group.

I normally do a bit of open water but just not had time this year. Not the sea cos I am a wuss and it scares me!

Just recovering from a mile of evil backstroke last night - I loathe backstroke!
Tizwozliz - what age group do you compete in? Am just wondering if you've beaten me recently as your 100m fc is faster than mine!

Sorry for the delay getting back about the Fitbit, poorly sick kids means no swimming for me.
I tried a few option of just kicking and the Fitbit did not seem too pick up the laps at all, though my friend suggested wearing it on your ankle?
It picks up all other strokes and I'm really enjoying having it count for me because before I'd always lose count

If you wear ot on your ankle would it pick up the arm movements (sorry if that’s a stupid question).

I'm not sure the fitbit would recognise it as swimming if worn on the ankle.

@Goldrill - currently swimming in 35 -39 age group, will go up an age group next year where there are a lot more swimmers who are faster than me. For some reason my age group isn't hugely represented hence the medals :-)

Just waiting on seeing whether the OH will have to go away with work in August or not. If not thinking about a trip to Copenhagen to coincide with a swim event round the parliament buildings in the canals! (2km)

copenhagenswim.com/eventen/?lang=en

Also going to do the Nottingham Big Swim in a fortnight, i've just not decided on what distance yet - options are 1.5, 2.5 or 5km

@Goldrill a mile of backstroke??!!! OMG

Fab swim in outdoor 50m pool on hols, nice 1.2km before kids took me on the water slide.

Another km in the fab pool, hoping to go every day this week as I’m loving the 50m pool.