Does anyone child do comparative swimming?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Dd has been given the chance to try out for a swim club which claims it's the first step towards eventually competing

She trys out this week and obviously I know she may not make the cut this time around however I'm interested to know what goes on. Before I rearrange everything work etc wise in order to try and accommodate this is it really something worth doing that can lead to other opportunities or is it just more money and waiting around at pools

Great news

@ealingwestmum thank you, DS had a good time at regionals. We all learned loads- nothing like the county level swimming we were used to! It was a bit alarming because they are all so serious! DS was still 11 but treated like an adult really.

Still, we were pleased with how he got on, he's had a week or so of relaxed training and is now back on it for county and regional times on the next age group up!

Lovely update Queen, he's done phenomenally well to be at regional level at 11! We only experienced counties and regionals this year as DD's first year of qualifying in 14yr old category (same as you, swims up a year from her actual age). Hope the gap continues to close for her as she gets stronger...

I had a sweaty 8 hours poolside at an open meet yesterday, but at least DD got a couple more county times. I made the mistake of letting her venture out to look at the "fancy FINA-approved suits" (I fear her £10 Speedo Endurance will soon be a distant memory).

Well done Queen (or rather your DS). Ealing DD sometimes does a junior parkrun (just 2k so pretty much over after 15-20 minutes). I am sure she would prefer an athletics club (but can't imagine how on earth we would fit it in).

Ahhhh- the happy days of Speedo Endurance, although I still have these around for training. DS prefers Maru for funkier designs though (my bank account doesn't however!).

He's been asked to give open water swimming a go this summer, Dover are waiting for a wetsuit to arrive now- great! This means I'll end up sitting beside a lake for a change- not a pool. My greatest concern is how the smell of lake water will mingle with the aroma of chlorine that pervades the whole house. I'd better invest in some new reed diffusers.

Mine started competetive swimming at the age of 7 (well training with the club, back in those days you had to be 9 to compete), I spent many long. drawn out, monotonous happy hours at the pool. She diversified into triathlons too and at the grand old age of 27 still hauls her sorry backside to the pool 6 times a week to train and competes at quite high levels still. She is still doing the odd PB too which is bloody good for an asthmatic 27 year old. Her asthma is chronic and can be very difficult to control but her consultants reckon it is her commitment to training and swimming that keeps her out of hospital as much as she can be. I have never regretted being a swimmer's mum and all that it entailed (I even learned to officiate at events to hlep pass the time).

Forgot to mention that DD's Maru ("it's on the sale rail, Mum") was not too pricey. How on earth can some legsuits cost £300+ (luckily DD knew better than to even wonder whether she could try one of those on)! She was grinning from ear to ear all afternoon and swam beautifully for a change, so I suppose it has earned its keep.

I'm in the wrong job: I should just go to galas and sell swimwear! Our excuse was it is DD's birthday in a couple of weeks, but the number of children who arrived at the afternoon session in fancier kit was astonishing!

Well done to "hellhas*'s DD. I often worry that DD would simply give up squad swimming like so many mid teens (so hopefully bi's and tri's will persuade her to keep training).

That's impressive hellhasnofury, good for her keeping up a sport that she maintains at high level whilst helping her health. Lots of asthmatic children in DD's club too that find swimming really helps.

Agree Madcats that swim apparel is a massive business, lots of new brand entrants, the Aussies are particularly good at developing brands that spread quickly. Thankfully not all are too expensive, I can vouch for the quality of Funkita costumes for example vs speedo endurance. The girls then pass them down to smaller peers when they've outgrown them...may not be everyone's thing but I don't mind it and they all know which design is which season, where retro ones are highly sought bit like top trumps

DH is the soft one when it comes to the swim sale rails, justifies it by saying it keeps her motivated. Mmm...

Open water went well, especially the hot shower and the Mars Bar at the end! Hoping that'll give him a bit of a new interest and help with the stamina he needs to build up. Apparently it was much better than swimming loads of lengths- especially when he was joined by some ducks!

Wetsuit is dripping nicely, glad we'd held onto an old pair of trunks to go underneath it.

Lovely updates

Oops, please don't be offended queenof. I chose the wrong name to reply to the pricey swimwear sub-groan.

Given the weather this week, I don't want to suggest open water. DD is going through a Haribo phase (but I am sure she'd swim faster for chocolate)

No offence taken!!

It absolutely hammered down last night, I think I was nearly as wet as DS at one point. Still, the cafe by our lake does a good coffee.

The bathroom now smells of an exciting mix of washed neoprene, lake and chlorine. It's a good job I'm not hoping to sell the house!

I've also just had the happy thought that I don't need to explain to you all why I'm up at stupid o'clock, you'll also be getting DC up for training all get it. anyone?