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.

I I tried closing my eyes tonight but ended up going diagonally. I need to follow the lines on the bottom of the pool.

If your’re swimming in open water is it very murky? I would like to try some this year.

1440 done tonight.

I went diagonally when I closed my eyes but my breathing was fine even if I couldn’t “see” when mouth out of the water. I think I’ll work on it as I too would like to swim more in the sea this summer and the lack of seeing the bottom freaks me out a lot so maybe this will help? And keep me on track...

Quick lunchtime swim and practiced the eye shutting when face in water and strangely as I was swimming on the other side of the lane rope I stayed straighter I wonder why? Anyway it amused me to practice whilst going up/down

It depends @BestIsWest some lakes I swim in are murky, some are just so deep it's blackness!!

Others are crystal clear and shallow enough to see the bottom

Frangipani it's nice to know that some open water is clear. I've only done a couple of triathlons in the same lake and the water was yellow brown and you are unable to see a thing. I think it is that fact that panics me a little, I'm too used to being in a pool and being able to see the bottom and know where I'm going!

Did 2200m yesterday, my longest swim and fastest time 2.27mn/100m. I think the fact I did 3 short sessions of plank exercises in the week (3 reps of 1mn front back and 2 sides) helped, my arms felt stronger than usual. Core strength is so important and the exercises so boring to do

Which lake have you swam in?

When I first started I hated it, but after a whole summer of only swimming in open water when I got back in the pool in October I realised I actually hated swimming in a pool more ?!!

Frangipani it's a little lake here in Brittany where I live, the Etang de Boulet. Far away from mountains and healthy clear water!

Does anyone find lane swimming frustrating? I tend to use the 'medium' lane and then assess where I am most suited moving to fast lane only if I think I am speedy enough for those already there.As a result I will swim in any lane depending on speed of those already there.

I am astonished at how many swimmers seem oblivious to their comparative speed or lack thereof. This leads to swimmers overtaking (I don't) and clashes in the lane. I wonder if it might be better to have a word rather than overtaking?

I prefer swimming in the open swimming bit if it is not busy.

Hi all, I’m at the pointy end of training for my 20k open water swim in March. I’ve done a couple of long ocean swims at the weekend with friends and there were about 20 of us at the weekend swimming up to 12k (I chose to do the whole 12k). It was a lovely swim and we saw dolphin and pup, a seal, a ?pod of stingrays and lots of fish. No apex predators thank goodness! My shoulder is quite sore this week. I’m aiming to swim about 25k per week between the pool and the ocean.

I did my 100k for the month of Jan. Taking it easy for Feb.

MGC31 wow! I managed a 10th of that. I'm definitely not a great swimmer although I ran 420km and cycled 150km in January, too much sport

I've started Masters swimming, did my first one last night and absolutely loved it!

I'm feeling it today though, definitely know I worked hard

Well done on the masters frangipanblue hope you continue to enjoy it. My DDs club has a masters session but they swim 9-10pm which is just far too late for me and obviously everyone else’s as they have hardy any members left.
I’ve not managed to get back in pool for a week as somehow cricked my neck 🙄fed up tbh as was already resting from running due to calf issue grrrr!

This ones at 7.30 so I nice time I think!

I'm a newbie swimmer, what's the best way to build up? I've just got a swim membership as worked out cheaper than keep forking out for classes.

I'm overweight, unfit and no Becky Adlington!! I can only manage half a length of front crawl!! Breast stroke is obviously easier.

How do I improve? Work on my technique or my fitness? There are adult improver lessons at my local pool, seen a few of the people who go, and i don't feel "good enough"

Definitely go to improvers - it was the best thing I did. I could swim a couple of lengths but in terms of water confidence it was brilliant. I remember the instructor saying if you can do 10 lengths you can swim a mile. I’m still very slow though.

Agree focus on technique initially. Makes a huge difference.

Swimming is mostly good technique. Don’t be put off, of course you’re good enough.

I can only manage half a length of front crawl!! Breast stroke is obviously easier.

This was me 4 months ago - tonight I did 1.6km at a masters swim class!

Took me a while to get it right, I found slowing my pace and breathing every 2 on the same side helped massively. I'm now starting to do some drills to learn breathing on the other side and eventually try it bilaterally again.

As the famous fish says - just keep swimming 🏊‍♀️

Tip for anyone wanting coached swims - find out whether your local Swimming Club or Tri Club do masters sessions.

My local swimming club do them at £3 per session and my Tri club do them as part of the membership, which is only £15 per year!!!

We also get discount on Better Leisure memberships, win win

Build it up slowly sandwiches. I started about 4 years ago with Masters swimming. And now I’m up to the level of already swimming 45k this month. Swimming in a squad was what really sold swimming to me. It’s great to have some fun and chat, breakfast and coffee after is always fun at the weekend.

My first time back in pool after 19d break as crooked my neck. Did 50L so felt ok and think it’s helped my neck muscle (fingers crossed!), I’ve had to take a break from running for a couple of weeks due to suspected shin splints so need to do some exercise and cycling in my shed is just SO boring it was good to be back in the pool again. Think I’m going to use the pool for leg work kicking etc as it didn’t appear to aggravate the shin pain tonight.

Sorry to hear of your shin splints @TrySki. I got those when I tried running, so know what it's like! I'm very injury prone these days, I injured my knee within 2 weeks of starting to swim but at least with swimming you can work round problems like that.
I went to my first lane session this week. I'd been avoiding them because I thought that I wasn't good enough yet and was worried I'd get in the way because I have to stop for a breather every few lengths still. It was fine though there were people of all abilities and I feel more comfortable to go again.
Had a good week this week working on my freestyle. I had been getting really tired and could only manage about 3 lengths a session. Good old you tube has helped massively with that and I'm getting better. Swam most of my 45 mins f/s yesterday The only thing slightly pissing me off is that I don't seem to be losing any weight, which is a bit of a bugger, but I'll try not to dwell on that too much. Happy swimming everyone!

7.5k today. 3k in the pool followed by 4.5k in the ocean. Now feel knackered and have the hunger of a nation!

Wow corrigans those distances seem huge to me I’m in awe. I can’t imagine ever swimming that far but then I used to think the same about running so I guess never say never 🤣 well done. What are you training for this year?