The Swimming Thread - Pool/OW
Discussion
Salted_Peanut said:
Garmin Swim 2 versus one of the Suunto range – any thoughts?
Interested to know this as wellR Mutt said:
Anyone get frequent colds from swimming? This isn't even from cold/ wild swims and the time I did feel rough after a coming out of the lido to freezing temperatures, it was COVID!
Not a cold, but often get like a runny/stuffy nose for a bit which I think is due to pool chlorine conditions because it happens much more at one pool than the other. This particular pool always have a problem chlorinating right and ventilation. The other pool is where a large contingent of the British Olympic team swim and so of course, it’s bloody lovely all the time!Anyone reading about this soulcap thing? Going mental on social media of course with plenty of “dats racist” bandied about and lots of comments that are clearly not from seasoned swimmers, but people who’ve had to wear a latex cap once and hated it.
If they’d have certified the hat, we wouldn’t be hearing of this or of the company because I dare say you’d not find an elite level swimmer (black or white) who’d wear one for the Olympics even if you paid them and so nobody would know about it.
If they’d have certified the hat, we wouldn’t be hearing of this or of the company because I dare say you’d not find an elite level swimmer (black or white) who’d wear one for the Olympics even if you paid them and so nobody would know about it.
Not a fan of FINA as they do make some daft decisions at times. But I can see why they didn't just wave this through.
It doesn't meet the criteria. They'd have to adjust the criteria and then make sure it's still fair. The conforming to your natural head shape is simply a way of trying to impart no advantage or disadvantage over and above your natural head shape.
If they need to do some work to prove the efficacy of the design and rewrite the rules then fine. But I'm guessing someone thought that was gonna be a lot of work for not a lot of gain. I.e. it's not going change anything at the FINA events and you can wear it already at anything else. And they certainly weren't going to rewrite the rules weeks out from the Olympics.
They could make an exception. But that's a can of worms isn't it. You'll get Arena and Speedo turning up at their door with "why can't we have a hat shaped like this?"
Cynical me says this is exactly the response the manufacturer wanted because social media cretins have thrust it into the news. I see FINAs decision as pragmatic but lazy. They should have said off the bat that they'll start the work to see how to include it. Still wouldn't have been OKd for the Olympics but they'd also be seen as accommodating instead of dismissive.
It doesn't meet the criteria. They'd have to adjust the criteria and then make sure it's still fair. The conforming to your natural head shape is simply a way of trying to impart no advantage or disadvantage over and above your natural head shape.
If they need to do some work to prove the efficacy of the design and rewrite the rules then fine. But I'm guessing someone thought that was gonna be a lot of work for not a lot of gain. I.e. it's not going change anything at the FINA events and you can wear it already at anything else. And they certainly weren't going to rewrite the rules weeks out from the Olympics.
They could make an exception. But that's a can of worms isn't it. You'll get Arena and Speedo turning up at their door with "why can't we have a hat shaped like this?"
Cynical me says this is exactly the response the manufacturer wanted because social media cretins have thrust it into the news. I see FINAs decision as pragmatic but lazy. They should have said off the bat that they'll start the work to see how to include it. Still wouldn't have been OKd for the Olympics but they'd also be seen as accommodating instead of dismissive.
Otispunkmeyer said:
Anyone reading about this soulcap thing? Going mental on social media of course with plenty of “dats racist” bandied about and lots of comments that are clearly not from seasoned swimmers, but people who’ve had to wear a latex cap once and hated it.
...
Read up and it's a cap used by some swimmers to protect their hair....
So if the swimmer is doing all their training with the soul cap, will it really hurt their hair that much in the odd race to go without a soul cap?
I recently started swimming as I have been diagnosed with a spinal condition and other forms of exercise (running mainly) typically results in a lot of pain. Front crawl seems to be the stroke I find most comfortable, as breast stroke puts pressure on my neck.
I’m gradually building up my distance, managed 1500m / 60 lengths this morning in 36 minutes, with pauses of around a minute between reps of either 10x25m or 20x25m.
As my sessions are 45 minutes long, I’d like to be swimming a mile per session but I’m unsure if I should try and do this daily? I’d welcome some input from more experienced swimmers, am I going too far too soon? I guess it comes down to pace too? I’m fairly fit (aside from the back problem and a belly!), weigh around 85kg and 1m82 tall.
I have to count my laps, which I find very tedious, so will be looking at some wearable tech (liking the Form goggles linked previously).
Cheers for a good thread.
I’m gradually building up my distance, managed 1500m / 60 lengths this morning in 36 minutes, with pauses of around a minute between reps of either 10x25m or 20x25m.
As my sessions are 45 minutes long, I’d like to be swimming a mile per session but I’m unsure if I should try and do this daily? I’d welcome some input from more experienced swimmers, am I going too far too soon? I guess it comes down to pace too? I’m fairly fit (aside from the back problem and a belly!), weigh around 85kg and 1m82 tall.
I have to count my laps, which I find very tedious, so will be looking at some wearable tech (liking the Form goggles linked previously).
Cheers for a good thread.
EFH189 said:
I recently started swimming as I have been diagnosed with a spinal condition and other forms of exercise (running mainly) typically results in a lot of pain. Front crawl seems to be the stroke I find most comfortable, as breast stroke puts pressure on my neck.
I’m gradually building up my distance, managed 1500m / 60 lengths this morning in 36 minutes, with pauses of around a minute between reps of either 10x25m or 20x25m.
As my sessions are 45 minutes long, I’d like to be swimming a mile per session but I’m unsure if I should try and do this daily? I’d welcome some input from more experienced swimmers, am I going too far too soon? I guess it comes down to pace too? I’m fairly fit (aside from the back problem and a belly!), weigh around 85kg and 1m82 tall.
I have to count my laps, which I find very tedious, so will be looking at some wearable tech (liking the Form goggles linked previously).
Cheers for a good thread.
I can’t see the problems with daily swims like that unless you’re actually getting injured. Like any sport if you get some pains maybe take a day off? I often get a slightly sore shoulder from an ill advised high diving injury I got when I was younger but I find with swimming it’s easy to slightly modify what you’re doing with your arms if anything flares up. I’m gradually building up my distance, managed 1500m / 60 lengths this morning in 36 minutes, with pauses of around a minute between reps of either 10x25m or 20x25m.
As my sessions are 45 minutes long, I’d like to be swimming a mile per session but I’m unsure if I should try and do this daily? I’d welcome some input from more experienced swimmers, am I going too far too soon? I guess it comes down to pace too? I’m fairly fit (aside from the back problem and a belly!), weigh around 85kg and 1m82 tall.
I have to count my laps, which I find very tedious, so will be looking at some wearable tech (liking the Form goggles linked previously).
Cheers for a good thread.
What you might find is that if you’re just doing this in a pool then you might get bored. Maybe mix it up with some open water swimming in the sea or a nearby lake etc?
I usually have a day off a week anyway from training which seems to keep everything ok.
Shouldn't be any problem swimming 1600m a day. Its low impact on joints, you can get shoulder issues, but unless you have an existing problem with your shoulder you will be unlikely to get much grief from that distance.
Swimming more so than other sports I think you can up the volume quite a bit, especially if you are keeping the intensity low.
ETA - I took up swimming later in life. Couple of years ago when I was swimming max I was doing it 5-6 days a week 3-4000m a session. Only issue I had was a bit of a niggle in the middle shoulder but sports massage sorted that,
Swimming more so than other sports I think you can up the volume quite a bit, especially if you are keeping the intensity low.
ETA - I took up swimming later in life. Couple of years ago when I was swimming max I was doing it 5-6 days a week 3-4000m a session. Only issue I had was a bit of a niggle in the middle shoulder but sports massage sorted that,
Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated.
I hadn’t even considered open water swimming. Stupid question maybe, but would I need a wetsuit for it?! I can see how doing a mile a day in a 25m pool may become boring, although I’m constantly thinking about my technique, breathing etc. Would love to be able to tumble turn too!
I hadn’t even considered open water swimming. Stupid question maybe, but would I need a wetsuit for it?! I can see how doing a mile a day in a 25m pool may become boring, although I’m constantly thinking about my technique, breathing etc. Would love to be able to tumble turn too!
EFH189 said:
Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated.
I hadn’t even considered open water swimming. Stupid question maybe, but would I need a wetsuit for it?! I can see how doing a mile a day in a 25m pool may become boring, although I’m constantly thinking about my technique, breathing etc. Would love to be able to tumble turn too!
openwater swimming is pretty regulated inland in lakes and quarries etc in the U.K. and all have different rules, some mandate wetsuits. I hadn’t even considered open water swimming. Stupid question maybe, but would I need a wetsuit for it?! I can see how doing a mile a day in a 25m pool may become boring, although I’m constantly thinking about my technique, breathing etc. Would love to be able to tumble turn too!
In the sea though it all depends. In summer the sea is around 15c which for most is ok for a swim but In winter it drops to around 7c which you’ll need (at least) a wetsuit for longer swims.
I swim in three different open water inland venues which are all lakes, one requires a wetsuit and in the sea I usually wear a wetsuit.
Up until this year most lakes closed in the winter but more are staying open now after the explosion in popularity of open water swimming during covid when pools were closed.
I actually quite like swimming in a wetsuit but some people hate it.
EFH189 said:
Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated.
I hadn’t even considered open water swimming. Stupid question maybe, but would I need a wetsuit for it?! I can see how doing a mile a day in a 25m pool may become boring, although I’m constantly thinking about my technique, breathing etc. Would love to be able to tumble turn too!
The other thing to do is mix it up with intervals. Almost no one training for any type of swimming improvement just does endless lengths. I hadn’t even considered open water swimming. Stupid question maybe, but would I need a wetsuit for it?! I can see how doing a mile a day in a 25m pool may become boring, although I’m constantly thinking about my technique, breathing etc. Would love to be able to tumble turn too!
For technique the Swim Smooth website is a good place to start for some tips. If you really want to get in to it, its worth having someone look at your stroke and give you some tips to improve. It will make you faster and also less injury prone. Tumble turns I have never mastered. I got my coach to teach me but I just couldn't seem to get them right.
As El Stovey says for OW swimming wetsuits are personal choice or mandated by the operator of the site. Place I go they are optional. Its a shallow lake and can get into the 22-23c region quite often. I still think that's cold and will pretty much always wear a wetsuit. Benefit of a wetsuit especially if you are on your own is if you get into trouble or get cramp you can roll on your back and will float with no effort. They will invariably make you swim faster,
Took the boy (9) for our first OWS session on Sunday. Why haven't I done this before?! Life affirming stuff and we both really enjoyed it. The lad especially once he got used to the fact he can't see the bottom. 600 metres and he's desperate to go back next week. Absolutely brilliant.
EFH189 said:
Would love to be able to tumble turn too!
Definitely learn to tumble turn. Once you have learned it's just a nice, satisfying thing to be able to do, even if you are never going to race, and you have many, many opportunities to practice. A few things that I can recall helping me:
- When you approach the wall, on the last stroke it is like reaching under yourself to touch your toes and that initiates the flip
- Again, to initiate the flip a single butterfly-type kick gets your feet in the air
- It is a *flip* so at the point you start pushing off the wall you are still (at least mostly) on your back - don't try to flip *and* turn over all in one - you can turn face down as you push off the wall
Otispunkmeyer said:
Anyone reading about this soulcap thing? Going mental on social media of course with plenty of “dats racist” bandied about and lots of comments that are clearly not from seasoned swimmers, but people who’ve had to wear a latex cap once and hated it.
If they’d have certified the hat, we wouldn’t be hearing of this or of the company because I dare say you’d not find an elite level swimmer (black or white) who’d wear one for the Olympics even if you paid them and so nobody would know about it.
I listened to a BBC podcast about the obstacles to swimming faced by people of colour. A lot of it obviously goes back to segregation in the States however that didn't get much of a mention, instead a lot of airtime was given to a woman blaming Western ideals of beauty e.g straight hair exacerbating the issue of hair care associated with swimming, with hair care also being the reason for the Soul Cap. If they’d have certified the hat, we wouldn’t be hearing of this or of the company because I dare say you’d not find an elite level swimmer (black or white) who’d wear one for the Olympics even if you paid them and so nobody would know about it.
Eczema posed a problem for me swimming as a child and I distinctly remember getting aggro from classmates when I pulled out of a sports day for that reason. I still have to apply a ton of Vaseline to protect from the chlorine.
Sorry for not giving a f
k about athletes hair.Otispunkmeyer said:
Salted_Peanut said:
Garmin Swim 2 versus one of the Suunto range – any thoughts?
Interested to know this as wellWith some of the Suunto range they can't read HR underwater, or during a stroke, unless you also buy a HR belt, I'm not sure if Garmin have overcome that or not.
The latest of the Suunto range also looks great, albeit slightly smaller than previous versions, but have a look on DCRainmaker for the in depth analysis of pretty much every model
Bowside said:
With some of the Suunto range they can't read HR underwater, or during a stroke, unless you also buy a HR belt, I'm not sure if Garmin have overcome that or not.
Garmin's Swim 2 has overcome this issue and can read HR underwater. However, I gather they all need a HR belt for accurate HR reading.Salted_Peanut said:
Bowside said:
With some of the Suunto range they can't read HR underwater, or during a stroke, unless you also buy a HR belt, I'm not sure if Garmin have overcome that or not.
Garmin's Swim 2 has overcome this issue and can read HR underwater. However, I gather they all need a HR belt for accurate HR reading.The straps are annoying. Was in a lane once with some t
t wearing one, kept pushing off then having to stand up to adjust it. Was close to strangling him with it.Ultimately I dont see the benefit of HR data for swimming. I love gadgets and data and swimming but I don't see the need.
R Mutt said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
Anyone reading about this soulcap thing? Going mental on social media of course with plenty of “dats racist” bandied about and lots of comments that are clearly not from seasoned swimmers, but people who’ve had to wear a latex cap once and hated it.
If they’d have certified the hat, we wouldn’t be hearing of this or of the company because I dare say you’d not find an elite level swimmer (black or white) who’d wear one for the Olympics even if you paid them and so nobody would know about it.
I listened to a BBC podcast about the obstacles to swimming faced by people of colour. A lot of it obviously goes back to segregation in the States however that didn't get much of a mention, instead a lot of airtime was given to a woman blaming Western ideals of beauty e.g straight hair exacerbating the issue of hair care associated with swimming, with hair care also being the reason for the Soul Cap. If they’d have certified the hat, we wouldn’t be hearing of this or of the company because I dare say you’d not find an elite level swimmer (black or white) who’d wear one for the Olympics even if you paid them and so nobody would know about it.
Eczema posed a problem for me swimming as a child and I distinctly remember getting aggro from classmates when I pulled out of a sports day for that reason. I still have to apply a ton of Vaseline to protect from the chlorine.
Sorry for not giving a f
k about athletes hair.Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff