Swimming for fitness (part 5). The pools are open again. Dust off your goggles and dive in!

[TheOrigRights]

We're so busy counting laps we didn't see part 4 fill up!

Everyone is welcome here.

[CharlotteBog]

Very large man, very small Speedo.

I placed myself in front of him!

[CharlotteBog]

Hello Roller.
I think the weight that crept on you will soon drop off with that amount of exercise. You seem like a good swimmer.

I have Aquasphere Kaiman goggles. I've had other Aquasphere ones and they seem to work well for me. I think it's trial and error with goggles really as we all have different shaped head (and eye sockets?!).

I shall swim today. I have a lovely routine of meeting a friend for coffee and then we swim. It's a good start to our week.

I really need to work on my stroke so I'm not slapping the water with my hand.

[Jewel1968]

I use Speedo Women's Futura Biofuse Flexiseal. I find them excellent but I guess it depends on your head shape? I have very sensitive eyes so tried loads before settling on these.

[atlaz]

I use zoggs fusion air for my training goggles, think I'm on my 5th or 6th pair.

[Rollergirl11]

Hi there, I have just read the thread and would like to join if I may? I have been swimming for pretty much all of my life. I stopped for around 18 months recently just because life got in the way and restarted back in January. I have recently turned 50 and the weight has crept on since I’ve been inactive so needed/wanted to het back to it!

I am currently swimming 3 x per week and then doing 2 or 3 HIIT workouts on the other days. I swim 2k in 40 mins which consists of mainly FC with a bit of backstroke thrown in to mix it up and then some breast stroke at the end to wind down. I swim 100ms in 1.42 minutes.

What goggles do people recommend? Mine are seriously failing at the moment and leaking in the right eye. I usually get on quite well with Zoggs Fusion Air goggles (not what my current ones are) but just wondered if anyone had others that they swear by?

[Jewel1968]

Doesn't seem to be a masters class or anything like that in my area other than for children/teens. I just want to be able to go to the pool and swim in lanes with people who know their speed and have chosen the appropriate lane for their speed. I would like there to be enough opportunities in the day for lane swimming and that the pool isn't dominated by sessions that I suspect are better money earners for them. I would also like the lifeguards to enforce lane discipline too. I don't ask for much 😀

I just feel swimming as a form of exercise is not really respected. A much larger percentage of the time available is devoted to general messing about sessions, aqua, lessons and school.

[Gingerwarthog]

Just back from a masters' session. I am in the slower lane and it was a heavy kick session this evening, fly kick in particular. Fly,fly, back crawl, breast stroke and repeat. Knackered but energised.

[Countrylife2002]

That sounds a really interesting course. I noticed a front crawl course here at a lido which was £100 for 5 group sessions I think. I’ve started a budget pot to save for it hoping it will be repeated later in the summer.

I’ve dropped back to 40 lengths (from 70/80) and resuming my swimx3 days weights x2 days Mon-Fri with home yoga at the weekends, it just makes me feel so much better if I start the wfh day with something purposeful away from home! I got burnt out before so have cut the lengths down which is actually really enjoyable as it’s so quick. Had a lovely swim this morning.

[BonzoGates]

@seasally

Well I have done my first practical lesson of 5. It's very much starting at the beginning and floating in a lengthened position. I really enjoyed the lesson and I'm looking forward to getting to grips with this way of swimming. It was interesting to see the video of my swimming too, I am very much a pull myself through the water swimmer as apposed to pushing through so I have big changes to make.
I have to practice this floating along before the next lesson - I am sure someone might think I'm in trouble and try to rescue me!

Ooh that sounds exciting. Well done!

[BonzoGates]

Free 60 day returns...Anyway lesson learned. I'll go elsewhere in future.

[BonzoGates]

Very abrasive customer service too.

[BonzoGates]

Just watch buying from Speedo - I returned a swimsuit but they deducted the delivery charge from the refund because I hadn't ordered another to try on.

[seasally]

Well I have done my first practical lesson of 5. It's very much starting at the beginning and floating in a lengthened position. I really enjoyed the lesson and I'm looking forward to getting to grips with this way of swimming. It was interesting to see the video of my swimming too, I am very much a pull myself through the water swimmer as apposed to pushing through so I have big changes to make.
I have to practice this floating along before the next lesson - I am sure someone might think I'm in trouble and try to rescue me!

[Jewel1968]

Masters is I suspect too much of a stretch for me. I didn't know it existed though so will check it out. I don't do breast due to back problems so couldn't meet that requirement.

[sazza42]

I would love to join something like a Masters Club but I'm far too slow.

I managed to swim fast (for me) in my first open water event last summer but that was a mix of panic & the extra buoyancy of wearing a wetsuit. I was still shaking from the adrenaline half an hour later 😱😂 Not sustainable for everyday swimming sessions...

[sazza42]

@seasally I'm so pleased! Sarah is brilliant & you'll really enjoy it I'm sure. Let us know how you get on!

[Countrylife2002]

@CharlotteBog

That's pretty hight level I think - at least I would be excluded on every count!
I would have said I was semi decent at crawl (1K in 26 mins).
Not that I want to join a club. I would love some lessons though.

I’m in exactly this position. I can only swim crawl (not risking breast stroke anymore due to dodgy hip muscles). I really want someone to coach me as I am self taught but I looked at the masters here and they want 3 stroke so that’s me out !

[CharlotteBog]

@atlaz

The club I used to swim at would expect you to be able to swim front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke (there was some leniency on fly). The slowest lane would probably require being to able to swim 100m front crawl in under 2 mins

That's pretty hight level I think - at least I would be excluded on every count!
I would have said I was semi decent at crawl (1K in 26 mins).
Not that I want to join a club. I would love some lessons though.

[Gingerwarthog]

@seasally
Yes - basically the same as what Atlaz said but my club only requires you to do 2 strokes to a reasonable standard and be willing to have a go at the others. You need to have decent endurance and be able to swim for an hour to 90 minutes.

I'm in the slower lanes and we get 4 max to a lane plus some good feedback. I've found it invaluable in improving my stroke.

[atlaz]

The club I used to swim at would expect you to be able to swim front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke (there was some leniency on fly). The slowest lane would probably require being to able to swim 100m front crawl in under 2 mins

[seasally]

@Gingerwarthog What do you class as a semi decent swimmer? I think trying to practice as a novice is so intimidating in the lanes. I'd love to be good enough to join a masters class but have a way to go yet!

@sazza42 I have taken your advice and start a 5 week course this week with Sarah. Very excited.

[atlaz]

I trained with a masters club about a decade ago but their session times don't suit right now unfortunately. Six to a lane isn't any quieter than the public swims either although admittedly it's easier when everyone is doing the same set.

[Gingerwarthog]

If you're a semi- decent swimmer you can usually join the masters section of your local club where you'll be able to access quieter lane sessions for swimming training. You get great coaching.

[atlaz]

Good swim today, although only a 45 minute session which means everyone gets out at the same time and a huge queue for the showers

300m Front Crawl
300m Pull
200m Kick with fins
200m alternating backstroke/breastroke

8 x 100m Front Crawl off 1:45

100m Breastroke
50m Pull
50m Backstroke

2k total

[Countrylife2002]

It’s strange as mine is a council pool but there is always plenty of space. I go on a weekday morning though, always around 9/10/11. I’ve not been for a bit so I am thinking of trying it on Sunday morning at this time, just to see how busy it is as it would be super handy if that was also quiet - so far I’ve avoided it assuming it was busy.

We have a 50m a bit further away but I know that is always super busy so I’ve not been. There are also a couple of Lidos but all 3 of these are about a 30 min drive, compared to the council pool which is 15. I do go to a gym that is 30 min drive tho.