Any swimmers on here ? A Tricky challenge

Originally Posted by mattSV

64 lengths of a 25m pool is more or less 1 mile.

I occasionally go for a swim during my lunch hours - 32 lengths (1/2 mile) of breaststroke takes me 16 minutes (with pushing off ).

I used to do 2000m (80lengths) in 50 mins, every day. But I do front crawl, so in theory should be faster.

Now cut down to 1000m (40 lengths) twice a week in about 25 mins. Without pushing too hard, and concentrating on stroke technic (oh er) rather then speed. I like front crawl .... when done nicely it is sleek and tidy, but when done badly it is really ugly and splashy!

I think you are going a good pace there tricky, especially without using you legs. Dont push too hard else you will spoil it for yourself. I used to love to swim, but think I did the overkill and got a bit fed up with it, thats why I cut it down, and am now starting to enjoy it again. I would say if you can get into front crawl, it is great for learning to control your breathing, and when you get the stroke nice, you feel like a fish!!

I do like to use a float, between my knees, so that my whole stroke is with arms and torso, really good for your 6 pack ! It slows down the stroke, and exagerates the movement, maybe that could be of interest to you if you want to swim without legs, so to speak

Originally Posted by Tomcat

I used to do 2000m (80lengths) in 50 mins, every day. But I do front crawl, so in theory should be faster.

Now cut down to 1000m (40 lengths) twice a week in about 25 mins. Without pushing too hard, and concentrating on stroke technic (oh er) rather then speed. I like front crawl .... when done nicely it is sleek and tidy, but when done badly it is really ugly and splashy!

I think you are going a good pace there tricky, especially without using you legs. Dont push too hard else you will spoil it for yourself. I used to love to swim, but think I did the overkill and got a bit fed up with it, thats why I cut it down, and am now starting to enjoy it again. I would say if you can get into front crawl, it is great for learning to control your breathing, and when you get the stroke nice, you feel like a fish!!

I do like to use a float, between my knees, so that my whole stroke is with arms and torso, really good for your 6 pack ! It slows down the stroke, and exagerates the movement, maybe that could be of interest to you if you want to swim without legs, so to speak

I sometimes do a few lengths with no leg kick. I've never been comfortable with the float between my legs so do a sort of feet together "Man from Atlantis" thing. TBH my breast stroke leg kick is so lazy it doesn't make a lot of difference anyway My original comment was about doing a big push off the side of the pool at the start of every length. I've never really seen the point off this as you "waste" about a fifth of the length. I'm swimming to get fit so want to maximise my time in the pool.

My actual front crawl stroke isn't bad its just I struggle with the breathing (end up taking big gulps of water) plus I find goggles really irritating (I suppose I could try using my snorkeling mask )

I agree with you about people doing bad front crawl, its like trying to swim next to a paddle steamer.

I would really like to encourage front crawl, it is almost like metitating under water. The breathing is hard, dont hold your breath when under the water, gently 'hum' out the air.

I also breathe every 3rd stroke, to keep the stroke even, and I find it better timing for the breath. I see people breathing every 2 strokes, which personally I think is too fast and frantic. Also when you take your breath, if you touch your shoulder with your chin when the arm is pushing back, take your breath as the arm carries up and forward, and put your head back down as the arm touches the water ........ you will breath neatly with the stroke, none of this high head business, and you shouldnt drink any water

Give it a try, and let me know!

Sorry, I have gone on a bit there, there obviously is still a bit of passion in swimming for me, which is nice to realise, as I thought I was losing it!

I might get some coaching on my crawl.
It would be nice to have the choice and work a wider range of muscles.

I used to do 1000m twice a week at a fairly gentle pace and get really bored.

I'm enjoying it more now I'm really pushing hard. There's also a nice sense of accomplishment if I knock a few secs off my PB too.

I've gone a bit mad with my training of late, I signed up to this a few weeks ago http://www.sportnottinghamshire.co.uk/shapeupnotts.php and I have a bit of competition with my mate to stay ahead in the league table

[Luckypants]

Reading this makes me realise how far I've let myself go.......... Can't be @rsed to do anything about it though!

Competition is always good! I used to record what I did, in a diary, for about 3 years. But you do end up constantly wanting to improve, rather then maintain ..... which is good, but tiring!

I have chilled out loads now, I miss the drive, and I'm not as fit as I was, but hay ho!

Glad your swimming rather then running, running is good for your fitness but not for your body, if you get what I mean!

Coaching would be a great idea, you will be able to tweak those little things that you maybe wouldnt think off.....also someone watching can see your slight errors, when it may feel ok to you. I now know I drop my left hip slightly when doing brest stroke, which makes the kick uneven, as soon as it was pointed out to me I could feel it, but I wouldnt have known otherwise.

Guess its the same with everything though, if you are serious about, learn more from an expert, its good to learn!

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Reading this makes me realise how far I've let myself go.......... Can't be @rsed to do anything about it though!

But you are an active paddler arn't you ?

(I had to use that term, someone said it to me and as a newbie I went "what? " But now I know what it means! )

Reading this I'm seriously supprised that the thread hasn't been dragged deep into the gutter.

I'll play nicely though.

Originally Posted by Baph

Reading this I'm seriously supprised that the thread hasn't been dragged deep into the gutter.

I'll play nicely though.

I have to say even I have managed to remain serious for this thread, and talk like an adult, see I can do it, if it floats my boat (tee hee )

I was doing a little bit of running as well, 3-4 miles twice a week but starting to get sore knees in the last few weeks so have knocked it on the head for a while.

I spoke to a physio friend of mine the other day and it seems my knee problems are more likely to be caused by the little stepper I have at home.
(I am oncall 1 week in 4 for work and can't really go to the Gym).

It would be nice to find another cardio exercise that doesn't have so much inpcat on my legs.

I should really dust my my pushbike off and get some miles in on that. But that can bugger your knees as well.