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.

[Mxflamingnoravera]

Ive lost my morning mojo, I've been going at 7 am mon-fri for the last month and loving it. But the last two days I have just lost my mojo. I'm awake, but cannot drag myself out of bed even though I know I'll feel fab if I go.

How to get it back?

[BogRollBOGOF]

Hello. Dipping my toes in...
"Love" the lane rage stories. I'm normally pretty casual about swimming so haven't been to a pool since March 2020, but have now found an open water venue. Went for the first time last week, totted up about 1/2 mile in 35 mins. Was going to head back again this week but the kids are now isolating off school. Sigh.

I really loved it. All the relaxing bits of swimming minus the stress, no humid changing rooms (a drafty container storage container is much better for my claustrophobia than a changing village!) No being on the cusp of medium/ fast lanes.

I normally alternate strokes when I can. Front crawl is my default. Backstroke is great if there is space. I hate it if I end up stuck in a busy lane having to keep at one stroke for an even pace, especially if it's having to match man front crawl because the middle lane is heaving with slow swimmers with grand delusions.

I was amazed at how mild the water was as it wasn't a particularly warm day and the water and air were pretty even.

[Biking0077]

I agree @BogRollBOGOF it’s the reason I’ve kept sea swimming this year SO much less stress n hassle. Plus no two swims are ever the same. I do still enjoy a quiet lane though head down not looking out for seaweed or jellyfish

[BogRollBOGOF]

Jelly fish shudders
I did gain some pond weed though

[TheOrigRights]

Hoorah! I did my first OWS last week. In a glorious lake.
There are 2 loops; 1 of 300m and one of 1500m. Me and my friend did 3 of the 300m loops, while our other friend zipped off and did the 1500m AND a 300m.

It took me one loop to get used to swimming in a wetsuit and in a lake, felt better by the second loop and really enjoyed the third.

I can't wait to go again now.

AND best of all the Snack Shack was open for coffee afterwards.

[Biking0077]

And zero lane rage @TheOrigRights I’m getting more nervous on my sea swims now having swam all winter the weed is increasing now and jelly fish have been spotted locally which both freak me out too much so I have been swimming closer to the shore rather than heading out abit.

[TheOrigRights]

Indeed @Biking0077, though I did get clonked over the head with a tow float a couple of times!

I have only swum in the Med which I imagine is a somewhat different experience to our own lovely coast!

I have been successful with 'mind over matter' when it comes to what I can't see hidden in the water, but I think jellyfish would cross a line.

I did a lane swim today and there were only three women in the fast lane so it was all very civilised and pleasant.

[BogRollBOGOF]

I've finally made it back to the outdoor centre. Would have been well up for it last week but we got hit with school isolations.

Water temp 20⁰C which should be great and it was noticibly warmer than the 18⁰C a couple of weeks ago, but with the humid air and hot/ cold spors from the recent sun and rain, I found the first lap quite hard and think it was the mix of temperatures to adjust to. Had a few minutes break did a short half lap and did the same again. Had a couple of brief chats too.
Really enjoying it

[Biking0077]

Great pool swim tonight, hadn’t been for a couple of weeks and didn’t plan to go tonight until 10mins before the session started. But it looked quiet on the app so was glad I went down swam a mile mostly FC. Also had a seaswim dip this morning so popped tonight now.

[TheOrigRights]

I also had a spontaneous pool swim this evening.
Perimenopause is doing bad things to my running at the moment and I'm just not loving it.
DS was being a git so I left him to it and went off for a swim and did 1.2K.
The fast lane had 2 really fast men in, but fortunately there weren't too many others and every one was nice and courteous so we all got to do what we wanted.

I used to love my 9.30pm swim; I hope they bring that back.

[BogRollBOGOF]

My adult swimming lessons were 9-10pm. I liked a late swim, it's a good exercise for good sleep.

[Biking0077]

Gosh I’m normally asleep by 10pm, I’d be no good with a 9pm it was bad enough picking up my eldest at 9pm from her swim session I’d be yawning away in the car. I’m much more a early bird. They do a Friday 7.15pm-8pm session as the last public session at the moment then it’s clubs in 8-10pm normally. Things may change again by Sept.
sorry to hear your struggling rights, peri is Fu*king shite at times. My HRT keeps me mostly on track but over the last few months I’ve been struggling more and more. the seaswimming over the winter has been a life saver for me. Just ten minutes of cold water swimming 3/4x a week has really helped my joint pain, & moods I few lucky to have that option so close.

[Welshgal85]

Can I join the thread please? 🙂 I’m trying to get back into swimming after not going since early 2020! I’ve put on a bit of lockdown weight and have lost my mojo with running lately so want to give swimming a go again. Went for my first swim last night and really enjoyed it! It’s a 50m pool and managed just over 2000m worth of laps so felt pleased with that. Had a lovely sleep last night too 😊

How often does everyone go? Trying to decide how often I should try and aim for a week to try and establish a good routine.

[lljkk]

hiya WelshGal -- 2000m is great, especially when you haven't swum in ages.

I try to go 2x/week to get good value from my membership (£21/month, single one off session cost is £5.50). I'm doing 40 minute sessions (I imagine that's about 1500m) each time because I have shoulder issues that I don't want to make worse with longer sessions.

Starting 19 July My pool has announced ... showers. aaaahhhh.... we can actually shower after swims again. Hall-ay-LU-luh. 🚿 🚿 🚿

[MinnieMountain]

I used to swim twice a week, upped it to 3 times a week after the first lockdown.

The main thing I find is make sure the time you go is convenient.

I only did 1km today as the lido has got busy. I’ll have to retreat indoors, or learn front crawl.

Lucky you to have showers Iljkk ours have been broken for months. At least we won’t have to book any more

[TheOrigRights]

Welcome welshgal

2000m is really good going after such a long break. You get fewer mini breaks at the ends to turn with a 50m pool as well.

I try and go twice a week. 1000m each time. I also run, bike and do classes when I can. Oh and the odd open water lark!

We've had our showers back for ages, which really makes a difference to me. There are 3 and one of them is crap - you have to press the button every 4 seconds, which is such a pain when you have masses of hair!

Fortuantely I can be quite flexible with times, but I do always try and go at the latter end of the session when it gets less and less busy.

[lljkk]

We still have to book, but I don't mind.

[BogRollBOGOF]

Had another open water swim. Annoyingly my GPS didn't pick up properly but I know I did more than the 0.5 mi last week.

I found breathinghard last week, probably due to the humidity, but this time, I did a shorter warm up, had a short shallow rest then a full loop and two shorter laps. I was expecting thevariations in temperature more too.

I'll have to book in a last hurrah before the DCs break up. Wonder what the water will be like in September...

[blue1000]

I had an amazing swim today. Got to the pool and I was the only one it it! A whole 25m and six lanes all to myself. Felt a bit self conscious with the lifeguard so I stopped and had a chat then it was much better. Water was silky and like a millpond. Didn't swim very fast, just concentrated on how lovely it was to be in the water.

[Biking0077]

Wow @blue1000 that must have been lovely I wonder why it was so quiet.

We have had showers open since pool opened which is good except the kids swim club they have to just towel on and go home for shower.

Had good mile swim tonight it was quiet just 3 of us in the lane all similar pace .. well I was out swimming the two fellas who had to keep stopping where as I just get in and keep going like the Duracell bunny they looked 20yrs younger too! But they were nice guys. It does make me grin inside as I’m a short fat middle aged woman I don’t look remotely fit 🤣but I’ve got good stamina just a shame I’m getting so flipping stiff getting out of bed in the morning now bloomin peri-menopause is crippling me at times.

[Biking0077]

Also had two seaswims last night with my youngest DD as we had one then got changed. Wandered down the beach and found a nicer spot so an hour later we put wet costumes back on and went in again at nearly 8pm as it was so warm so pleased I’m igniting an interest in Sea swimming in her.

[blue1000]

I don't know where everyone else was @Biking0077 - it was very strange. I'd booked for 2.30 but arrived early and asked if there was space and the receptionist said no problem it's quiet. I felt very lucky and pretended I owned the pool 😀

[Welshgal85]

Thanks everyone 😊 I’m going back again tomorrow and going to try and aim for twice a week!

[BogRollBOGOF]

I love having a pool to myself!

I've had a river to myself today, other than the swans, fish and dragonflies

We had a post-workout dip after my fitness class, and after, I got my bouy and did a couple of extra laps. The water flow and temperature were lovely and very consistent. Some parts are out of my depth, but most are up to chest deep at present.

It's a bit late being the last few days of term/freedom, but one of the main pools I use is still advance booking on quite restricted sessions only. I'm hoping they relax on family sessions for the holidays as the DCs haven't had a fun session for so, so long.

[Biking0077]

Nice swim tonight after 11d out the pool, had been sea swimming n dipping with kids instead. Got a good 1500m in tonight plus they have changed the sessions to one hour ones now instead of 45 mins so it felt less rushed but I still did a 40m mins swim