How do you swim?

[Shell]

Outdoor 50m pool - its anything between 26 and 28 degrees generally. I swim all year around. Actually prefer it during winter.

Once you are in its fine, but standing outside preparing to go in when its 2 degrees, dark and you've only got your bathers on can take a bit of getting used to !!!!

Jesus.. no dont think i could do that all the time.

I do remember one time it was a pretty cold day, everyone was in the indoor pool (full with kiddies ), so me and the bf went in the outdoor pool even tho we were the only two out there lol.

Remember it being so cold, i could barely breathe, and was breathing really fast. But then, yeah you get used to it. The lifeguards out there kept saying we were crazy swimming out there, but eh what was the alternative- would rather have a whole pool to myself than swim in one with screaming kids.. and god knows what else.

 

[BACCS]

Do u still swim competatively BACCS? I quite 2 or 3 years ago. Did u ever make nationals or anything?

Nah mate, lost the passion for competing. My brother has competed at nationals, not me though.

 

[BACCS]

I only breathe on the right side as well but I can see how it could put stress on the neck & shoulder muscles if you continued doing that for sessions of 1500m or greater.

One good tip I've found is to always swim first thing in the morning. For some reason I find afternoon sessions a bit more of a struggle I guess due to the food and drink I've been consuming during the day.

Its a good discipline thing too. If you can get up at 6am on a cold morning to go swimming and push yourself through that barrier then it puts you in good stead mentally for the rest of the day

My sessions are 4000m or greater, and I only swim with one sided breathing, hasn't ever been a problem for me. And great point regarding morning sessions. I'll always feel better after getting up at 4:45am for swimming (struggle later in the day though), than if I were to sleep in until 11. I quit afternoon sessions a while ago, mainly because I'm not as awake later on in the day, and more tired.

 

[BACCS]

Outdoor 50m pool - its anything between 26 and 28 degrees generally. I swim all year around. Actually prefer it during winter.

Once you are in its fine, but standing outside preparing to go in when its 2 degrees, dark and you've only got your bathers on can take a bit of getting used to !!!!

I know those mornings all too well!

 

[BACCS]

He's fine while he's swimming, can hold his breath easily for 20 seconds (they pull them up after that), but has to hold the weight to stay under the water. They've just started teaching the butterfly stroke. Hopefully that will make a difference.

Or (as my PE instructor said to me in high school lessons) - "I've got 25 kids out there drowning, and you're complaining you can't sink? Go Away."

Just sounds like he needs to develop other strokes, namely butterfly, and he should be fine. I wouldn't worry, it won't affect his swimming at all.

 

[Power King]

I only breathe on the right side as well but I can see how it could put stress on the neck & shoulder muscles if you continued doing that for sessions of 1500m or greater.

One good tip I've found is to always swim first thing in the morning. For some reason I find afternoon sessions a bit more of a struggle I guess due to the food and drink I've been consuming during the day.

Its a good discipline thing too. If you can get up at 6am on a cold morning to go swimming and push yourself through that barrier then it puts you in good stead mentally for the rest of the day

I'd love to be able to do this with exercise in general, but I find it to be one of the most difficult things to motivate myself to do. My mind can't comprehend working out at this hour when I can just do it later in the day.

 

[Daytripper]

I'd love to be able to do this with exercise in general, but I find it to be one of the most difficult things to motivate myself to do. My mind can't comprehend working out at this hour when I can just do it later in the day.

Mate - if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

I just find it good mentally. Facing a challenge first thing in the day and pushing yourself through it, can set you up to meet other challenges that you face during the day as well.

 

[yeah_nah]

I never really understood why swimmers trained so early in the morning?

 

[pacemaker]

I never really understood why swimmers trained so early in the morning?

Yeah.....nah

 

[TRAWP]

Yeah.....nah

Thread ruined.

 

[Kahuna]

Probably already mentioned but just remember that you dont have to necessarily swim free style, sure the other strokes arent as fast but if you just want to finish it doesnt matter as much .

I struggle to get 50m with freestyle but can do 200m+ breast stroke and maybe a little bit more side stroke.

 

[Pavs Nose]

Yeah.....nah

Nice comment chaps.

 

[BACCS]

I never really understood why swimmers trained so early in the morning?

Many sports have early trainings. I guess though, it is so the elite swimmers can get their 10 sessions in a week.

 

[Freakie]

Many sports have early trainings. I guess though, it is so the elite swimmers can get their 10 sessions in a week.

Nah it's because we/they do 2 sessions a day and it allows sufficient recovery between sessions.

 

[TRAWP]

I think its largely a mental thing too, I used to train at 4am when I was doing state football. It makes you go to bed early and not hit up the piss the night before... And some of those cold mornings you ask yourself. Why are you here? ARE YOU MAD?

Then you think about your goals!

 

[rocker_oz33]

I'm thinking about adding swimming to my little fitness kick I've got going on.l struggle to swim well l did 6X25m today 3Xfree 3Xbreast l know l don't look good doing these stokes but l have to start somewhere l guess.the girl in the lane next to me was lapping me.

 

[nicky]

I want to enter a triathlon in a few months, but I can't swim. Well, technically I can, but only for around 50 metres. Then I die. I don't really want to be rescued from an amateur triathlon in front of hundreds of people, if that was the case I'd probably rather they just let me drown.

I'm just going to practice & hopefully something clicks, but if anyone has some secret swim tips do share.

hahaha i'm in the exact same position. I've entered a triathlon in Feb11 and cannot swim 50 metres. I've been googling swimming lessons but can only find them for kids

 

[Freakie]

hahaha i'm in the exact same position. I've entered a triathlon in Feb11 and cannot swim 50 metres. I've been googling swimming lessons but can only find them for kids

Google your local triathlon club, they usually have squads of all abilities that train together. If you were in Melb I could teach you.

 

[nicky]

i live in melbourne.

 

[Freakie]

i live in melbourne.

PM where abouts and I'll point you in the direction of your local squad or Triathlon club

 

[BACCS]

Nah it's because we/they do 2 sessions a day and it allows sufficient recovery between sessions.

Exactly, and allows them/us to get 10 sessions in a week. Swimming is a sport that requires a shitload of dedication to training. So are you a swimmer Freakie? I've just started going to 3 sessions a week again, for the first time in months. Trying to get my fitness levels back up. I used to swim 5 when I was at my peak, but that aint happening now!

 

[Opportunity Cost]

Racing sports like running, swimming, rowing and cycling seem to have a lot more training needed to be put in even at quite an amateur level compared to ball sports and the like.

 

[Freakie]

Exactly, and allows them/us to get 10 sessions in a week. Swimming is a sport that requires a shitload of dedication to training. So are you a swimmer Freakie? I've just started going to 3 sessions a week again, for the first time in months. Trying to get my fitness levels back up. I used to swim 5 when I was at my peak, but that aint happening now!

Triathlete, swim 4 times a week, ride 4 and run 4. Been injured for the past 12 months and only been back training for the past 3 weeks. Dropped from 1:35's 3 weeks ago back to 1:25 per 100. Need to get back down to 1:15 though

 

[ClarkeM]

Used to be able to beat a kid who was a state swimmer doing breaststroke as he did freestyle. Then I broke my leg and I can't do that kick anymore as my knee clicks in and out. So now I mostly breaststroke without kicking and I can still go a pretty fast pace

 

[jallyward]

I just lay on the river water and move my hands and feet up and down.