The Swimming Thread - Pool/OW

[V-spec]

Just back from the Luxembourg Masters Open at the weekend, good meet, great facilities, would have liked some better times after the amount of training I've been doing, but made small gains everywhere so can't complain.

I borrowed some racing "jammers" (speedo fastskin) and spent most of the time needing the toilet but not wanting to try to take them off! Now looking to buy some of my own but wiggle only have two speedo ones on offer and they are expensive! Any recommendations?

[944fan]

V-spec said:

I borrowed some racing "jammers" (speedo fastskin) and spent most of the time needing the toilet but not wanting to try to take them off! Now looking to buy some of my own but wiggle only have two speedo ones on offer and they are expensive! Any recommendations?

The pro racing kit like Speedo Fastskin/LZR and Arena Carbon Pro are all fking expensive.

The mid range base kit like Speedo Endurance are all reasonably priced but are just normal jammers.

Perhaps ask Santa for some?

[Highway Star]

Proswimwear.com sometimes have race suits at good prices and do plenty of online sales. I get/got all my stuff from them.

Been out of the water for two years now, but having seen my FB feed with all my old club mates up at Sheffield for the Masters Nationals this weekend, I think I might take a trip back to the club...

[Otispunkmeyer]

Highway Star said:

Proswimwear.com sometimes have race suits at good prices and do plenty of online sales. I get/got all my stuff from them.

Been out of the water for two years now, but having seen my FB feed with all my old club mates up at Sheffield for the Masters Nationals this weekend, I think I might take a trip back to the club...

Its a good event up at Sheffield...Though I never went this year as after having a duff shoulder injury for most of summer, training has not really been going well lately. Only just starting to feel normal again, but I seem to have lost a lot of strength in the shoulder and now I am re-correcting stroke technique as it changed to "swim round" the pain. My relay 50's are around 0.5 to a second slower than normal, though I did manage a mid-24 50 free last time out. I was down in the 23's though.

[944fan]

Dr says I am ok to swim again.!

Last time I swam was 1st August so quite a gap. Really looking forward to getting back in the pool - tempted by a running bomb from the changing rooms.

Probably going to be utter fked after 100m

[Otispunkmeyer]

Well

New girl at the pool last night. Spotted the Olympic rings on the back of her neck. Its Melanie Nocher, Irish Olympian (2008 and 2012), 100 and 200 backstroker.

She'd basically not swum or at least not swum properly since retiring in 2012... now she's swimming in our pokey masters squad! Got a beautiful back stroke so will be tapping her up for some pointers in due course!

Nice to know that these people are human though, she's quick, especially for someone who hasn't trained for such a long time, but we can keep up with her. For now. Hopefully she is going to hang round long enough to get some Arena/Leicester league in and do the masters events too. Handy person to have around for female and mixed relays.

Her PBs are 61.something for 100 back and I think, just under 2:10 for the 200. She was a little off her 100 best in London and way outside her 200 best, but even so, great news for us!

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Wednesday 18th November 16:26

[Monch]

Nice to see a swimming thread on here.

I thought I would just say hi, and let you know what I've been doing

Raced in the Brownsea swim this year, did a 1:41 I think, top 50 finisher
Also raced at Bedford in the 3.8km races, never won, but finished in under an hour, which is always my goal.

Been off for two months, started swimming again last week, todays session was pretty tough on me, did a pyramid of:
50/50/100/200/300/400/800/200 sprint/400/300/200/100/50/50. rest of 20 secs between sets and the 200 sprint was done in 2:51. down on my PB, but I am getting back into the swim.

[944fan]

Monch said:

Also raced at Bedford in the 3.8km races, never won

Is the Box End Park Mass Start Series? I did one of those last year 1:07 which I was pretty happy with. Might do a couple of them next year.

[Monch]

944fan said:

Monch said:

Also raced at Bedford in the 3.8km races, never won

Is the Box End Park Mass Start Series? I did one of those last year 1:07 which I was pretty happy with. Might do a couple of them next year.

Yes, that's them.
I won the 3 race season, so I believe I have all next years races free as a prize! So I will be doing them all again next year, as well as Brownsea swim, if I can get an entry, which are pretty hard to get......

[Highway Star]

Monch said:

944fan said:

Monch said:

Also raced at Bedford in the 3.8km races, never won

Is the Box End Park Mass Start Series? I did one of those last year 1:07 which I was pretty happy with. Might do a couple of them next year.

Yes, that's them.
I won the 3 race season, so I believe I have all next years races free as a prize! So I will be doing them all again next year, as well as Brownsea swim, if I can get an entry, which are pretty hard to get......

Brownsea is ridiculously popular these days, I did it back in 2010 and 2011 and won the non-wetsuit class both times. It's my favourite open water race as you can really use tactics in picking your line around the island. Had a couple of years out of swimming and am starting to get back into training now, but given it sells out within an hour of being opened for entries which is always in working hours, I'm not sure I'll get to do it in future.

[Monch]

Just to let anyone know.
Galeforce events that run the Bedford 3 race Mass start swims have a Black Friday weekend sale on with 20% off entry fees.
just google galeforce events, code for discount is friday20

Edited by Monch on Friday 27th November 14:17

[944fan]

Cool thanks. I was supposed to do the 10K last year and ahd to pull out so they are letting me carry over. might book the other two though. Think I might do 3.8 and a 5.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Bantham Swoosh anyone?

Might do this next year. Its 6km, but it is down a river and if you time it right you can get a nice boost as the tide goes out (hence the swoosh part!).

[Monch]

J

Otispunkmeyer said:

Bantham Swoosh anyone?

Might do this next year. Its 6km, but it is down a river and if you time it right you can get a nice boost as the tide goes out (hence the swoosh part!).

Where's Bantham?
6km is no problem, did that in training this morning!

Doh!!!
Just googled Bantham, about four miles from my home in Devon......
Cheers
I'm doing this one

Edited by Monch on Friday 27th November 19:51

Edited by Monch on Friday 27th November 19:52

[Merp]

Back in the pool last week for the first time since I broke my knee in January. Its also ~7 years since I raced.
I managed 100fly on friday afternoon, and a cruising 100f/c in 1:15ish, so not bad!

I really want to get back into racing, but there isnt a local Masters team
Alternatively Cheltenham has a reasonable Water Polo team

[FunkyNige]

Right then, I could do with a few pointers from people who swim longer distances... For some reason I've gone and signed up for the Sport Relief 5k swim in March but 5k is well over double the distance I've swam before.
I currently swim 2k twice a week so I'm reasonably happy I can finish without drowning, but what else should I be worried about? I'm guessing it will take me about 2 hours (2k takes me about 40-45 minutes) so will I need to leave a banana at the end of the pool to munch on every now and again? Or just a bottle of Lucozade?

[Otispunkmeyer]

FunkyNige said:

Right then, I could do with a few pointers from people who swim longer distances... For some reason I've gone and signed up for the Sport Relief 5k swim in March but 5k is well over double the distance I've swam before.
I currently swim 2k twice a week so I'm reasonably happy I can finish without drowning, but what else should I be worried about? I'm guessing it will take me about 2 hours (2k takes me about 40-45 minutes) so will I need to leave a banana at the end of the pool to munch on every now and again? Or just a bottle of Lucozade?

Never swam 5K myself continuous...But I did once have to do 3x1500 for warm up when our coach got peeved that we didn't get in on time. That took us about an hour with rest in between each. Then we did the rest of the set, we probably did over 7K that day. All I had were two , 1 liter drinks bottles with sports type drink in them.

Think you should be alright with just a drink to be honest. Just make sure you have eaten a good stash of slow carbs before hand.

[Flipatron]

I've been swimming regularly now since Summer 2014.

I try to do an hour each evening 4-5 times a week (work depending). Seems to be the ideal way of keeping fit without wearing my joints out and also avoids me getting bored in the gym.

Currently takes me an hour to do approx 2300m, I do nothing but front crawl. I've watched videos on YouTube about technique which I think has helped me, feels like it anyway. I don't exactly push myself during the hour and I feel there's more speed within me.

Now I've just hit 47 but would love to take my swimming more seriously. I'm based in south Cheshire and use the 20m pool at the Bannantynes in Crewe. Would love to get some coaching to improve my technique and times, would also love to compete but feel I'm probably too old.

[MrsMiggins]

I've just started swimming again (not that i was ever good at it before).

I decided to start working on my technique before I get too comfortable and am following the Total Immersion training method. It's early days, but I feel more comfortable in the water and I am going faster with less effort. Still way slower than most on this thread I bet!

Think I might buy myself a TI workshop day for Xmas and accelerate my progress. Anyone here a TI enthusiast?

[Monch]

FunkyNige said:

Right then, I could do with a few pointers from people who swim longer distances... For some reason I've gone and signed up for the Sport Relief 5k swim in March but 5k is well over double the distance I've swam before.
I currently swim 2k twice a week so I'm reasonably happy I can finish without drowning, but what else should I be worried about? I'm guessing it will take me about 2 hours (2k takes me about 40-45 minutes) so will I need to leave a banana at the end of the pool to munch on every now and again? Or just a bottle of Lucozade?

Well done!

Is the 5k in a pool? If so that's bit easier as you've no need to plan a route and sighting.

If you're thinking of doing this in one go then I would recommend.
Aim to reduce your cadence, long gliding and reducing the kick to a balancing motion, whilst obviously maintaining a perfectly level body position, head still, bilateral breathing and a good tumble turn for a nice kickoff each time.
Easy !

I generally swim 4K ish every weekday, and vary my routine into pyramids and various 10x sets for example this week
Pyramids of 25/50/75/100/200/300/400/800 and back down
Or a set of 100/200 10x 400 200/100
Drills will be done within the different modes, so some will be catch up, salutes, pull bouy, paddles, finger dragging, zippers etc. And then these will be done with different breathing times, every 2,3,5 and 7 strokes per breath.

I would focus heavily on body position, a still head, gliding and not kicking too hard.

Then build up the pyramids and increase the 10x sets to a point where 5k is done in a 'broken' swim and then hopefully before March you will get a few 5k continuous swims in.

And a week before the event taper down in the week to say 500-1000m easy relaxed swim, so on the day your bursting with energy....

Oh, and for drinks, I make my own cordial drink with a twist of salt in it for during the rest bits, and then make a shake drink to be drunk as soon the swim is finished in the pool, which is....
Oats, honey, peanut butter, banana, strawberries and milk, smoothied up. Delicious!!!
N
Good luck