Swimming for fitness (part 4). Everyone welcome.

[TheOrigRightsofwomen]

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.

Dunno about fitbit, but I can't reccommend Swimmovate. Just didn't count properly.

One of the Channel swimmers (were regulars for 8 months in our pool) said they all had different length counters & none of them were perfect.

also did some front crawl arm drills, including 4 lengths just pulling with one arm (keeping other arm straight out in front) and then 4 with the other. Incredible how much stronger one side is to the other although I do have one arm (collar bone) recovering from being broken a few months ago. Also did 2 lengths doggy paddle, so head up, kicking hard, and reaching forward alternately, a lot harder than I thought it was going to be!

Phew @tizwozliz - I'm currently in the next one up and about to move to 45-49. Where everyone is, sadly, still really fast!

Is nice to be able to watch swimming on telly for once

Ey up!

I think I've found my thread

I adore swimming. I also run, but that's getting more difficult. Or at least I'm getting much slower! I swim several times per week, mostly open water in the summer. I'm lucky enough to live near the sea, and have a lake I can swim in. I love it. Are there other open water swimmers here?

Been swimming Four days in a row now on hols near awesome 50m outdoor pool and loving it.

sarahswims I’ve been trying to do more sea swims this year but the massive abundance of barrel jellyfish really put me off this year, I’m in Devon normally and I’ve not seen this many littering the shoreline for years.

Hello swimmers!

Since a big gynae op a few months ago Ive built up to doing 100 lengths of a 25 m pool in just under an hour - about 3 times a week, which I'm delighted with, as I used only to be able to do breaststroke for any length of time.
I am still having to mix front crawl with breaststroke lengths, but since I realised that kicking wildly just wears me out faster, my fc is much more sustainable. I'm working on breathing on both sides, but when I get tired I revert to right side only.

Just saying hi really- I'm determined to keep swimming when term starts again (teacher) but I tend to say that every year! Meanwhile I've got the most beautiful 25m outdoor municipal pool at my disposal til i go home mid August.

Hi @reticule
Kicking is for sprints, at least that's what I've always found and been told. I don't really kick at all - my husband says I swim like a penguin The leg muscles use so much oxygen that it knackers me out, and you don't get that much forward propulsion from a kick over distance.

Whereabouts do you swim? I love a good outdoor pool!

Sarah it's been a revelation! I have loved swimming all my life (on and off) but it's taken me til 45 to work out why I can't do fc for longer than a couple of lengths when I can keep going with boring breaststroke for miles.
I did a course with stephen shaw a couple of years ago when it first clicked, but I've only been able to put the minimal kick into practice this summer as my medical probs and work kept me out of the pool.

I'm in SW France at the mo- gorgeous. Sea swimming sounds wonderful

I'm doing a 1 mile sea swim in Pembrokeshire tomorrow. It's my first sea swim. I signed up for the 2.4 mile but I've found swimming in the sea so much harder than lake swimming.

Training for this has converted me to open water swimming though.

Good luck Minnie! Let's us know how it goes

It was rough sea but I did it Times tbc but I think I took an hour.

Well done minnie great achievement

I’ve really not been back in the sea much due couple of jelly fish encounters I lost my newly found confidence. Loved swimming on hols in the outdoor 50m pool every day did a km+ was heaven.

Congratulations Minnie!
I'm still enjoying my outdoor 25m pool swims and have been increasing the number of front crawl lengths in my 100 lengths. Got all 100 done in 56 mins yesterday. Stiff shoulders and back, but only from the workout.

I now have a brown back and backs of legs but whiter front!

Well done Minnie.
100 in 56 minutes is impressive reticule. Wow.

I think I've found my thread, I love to swim! I'm not overly fast, maybe a little above medium lane average, but I just love being in the water. I tend to rotate between swimming, yoga and running, and I'm planning to return to judo next academic year (kind of terrified but hey).
One thing that does bother me is that I've never really had back or arm muscles, which I find a shame because they look so gorgeous on others, I'm trying to balance uni work with physical activity though so I'm not sure what I could change (getting up earlier to swim perhaps), does anyone have any advice for balancing sport with life?

I go straight from work. I start at 7 am and am terrible first thing - all I can think of is tea at that time if the day. If I go home after work, I’m done for.

Best- thank you!

As for balancing sport with life, this is not something I manage well at all... i have made some well intentioned new (academic) year's resolutions though, involving adding swimming and Pilates sessions to my outlook work calendar and planning each week in advance.

I fit mine in around my eldest child’s activities, so if she’s at swimming club I go to a different club pool and swim or run. Or as part of my commute I cycle or run on my lunch-break. Luckily my DH is sporty to so we trade slots between looking after the kids.

Checking in. Hello regulars and newbies. All welcome.

I continue to swim twice a week, 1K each time.

Best news is that I've been having some 1 to 1 lessons and OMG, she is putting me through my paces. I've never had lessons so know my technique (front crawl) is bad. I'm loving it.

I also did my first Sprint Tri last weekend.

All good. I just love how toned my upper body is.

As for fitting it in - I am fortunate to work full time from home with both flexibility (I'm at my desk now) and a great boss so I just fit it around my working day, or if DS1 is home from uni and able to mind DS2 (aged 10) then I can go early morning (rare, cos I hate early mornings) or late (9.30pm - love it).

Oh dear haven't done any swimming for ages... and I'm not going to get to the pool for a while yet because of various domestic impediments but today I'll plan some regular weekly times for when term starts. Pilates later though.

Happy swimming all those who can make it to the pool/sea/river/lake!

I’m trying to keep my swimming ticking over during the winter. Spring is coming here and I had a great session with the Swim Smooth squad this morning (at 5.30am ) and the sun rose over the pool, which is magical.

I’ve also kept up swimming in the ocean too. It’s a balmy 16-18 degrees and so far I’ve kept the wetsuit at home. I’m trying to condition myself to colder water, in preparation for some longer ocean swims this summer.

I’ve also booked a lesson for Friday. Proper coaching makes the world of difference, if you have the time and money.

Well done on your sprint tri TheOrigRightsofwomen, did you enjoy it? I’ve always wondered about having a go.

Trying to keep swimming over the summer, the masters sessions I normally go to aren't running over the holidays.

Going to go on holiday in early October, trying to plan somewhere with plenty of swimming opportunities.

CorrigansDoorKnob have go! I started with a GoTri which was 300m Swim, 10k bike and 2.5k run, sounds short distances and they were but it’s surprisingly knackering 😂I’ve done 3 of the short ones and one Sprint. I’m not fast as middle aged & overweight but I have ago and it encouraged my daughter to do it too, which is fab as she was only 10 then. My challenge next year is a sea swim one, as I’ve only done pool ones.
Went for a swim tonight was a good session.