The Swimming Thread - Pool/OW

[944fan]

I know there are a few swimmers on here, although most probably hidden in the Triathlon thread. According to Sport England's latest survey it is still the most participated in sport despite numbers dropping from last year. Open Water swimmer is getting more and more popular each year.

I love swimming. Only started a couple of years ago and couldn't swim very well then. Getting good now.

This year I am swimming Coniston end to end in September. Also doing a 3Km Sea Swim at Eastbourne in July.

Anyone else?

[Ben Jk]

I used to swim at a decent standard as a kid, but since had done nothing serious until a few months ago (I'm 34 now). Training to hopefully start Triathlons so working on my swim again.

Slowly getting my mojo back. Seems to be getting my crawl breathing righ that's taking time.

[Dimski]

Good Stuff! I thought about starting a swimming thread last year but never did.

I did my first Open Water swim in 2013 (Ironman distance to practise for Tenby to Caldey charity swim), loved it and entered a few more.

Last year I did two 3.8kms, a 5km, a 10km, 15km and the Caldey to Tenby one again.

I've committed to an Ironman this year so my focus is divided, but I am entered for the May bank holiday (Monday 25th May) Eton 10km. There are a few different distances, anyone else there?

[Cos18]

What's the date of the Eastbourne swim? Sounds like a good one!

[944fan]

Cos18 said:

What's the date of the Eastbourne swim? Sounds like a good one!

11th July. Info here:

http://www.mcsuk.org/support_mcs/Fundraise+for+MCS...

Only 30 notes for the longer distance.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Did anyone here do the ASA T30 challenge?

How far you could swim in 30 minutes. None of us are really that fast where I train, but one guy managed 2400m. I decided it might be fun to see how far I could do if I did backstroke. Managed 2100m. No it wasn't fun.

When I was younger I'd have been able to do closer to 3000 m (freestyle). I remember a training session once that had 3 x1500m in it. We had them done and dusted within the hour no problem. It'd be cool to see how far people like Sun Yang could go in 30 minutes. I am guessing he'd be well beyond 3km.

[dangerousB]

944fan said:

11th July. Info here:

http://www.mcsuk.org/support_mcs/Fundraise+for+MCS...

Only 30 notes for the longer distance.

Thanks for that - it's just up the road from my bruv and perfect timing for an IM warm up for my mate (who although is extremely fit in every other respect, can only just manage 100m of f/s currently) . . . may well get involved

[boyse7en]

Hi guys,

Sorry to butt in, but I've dropped back on my running training recently, and I am thinking about doing a bit of swimming so I don't completely lose my fitness.

Can anyone recommend a plan for a beginner to follow? I can swim OK, but don't have much upper-body stamina so need to build up. Not going to be doing any races/competitions or record attempts

[944fan]

boyse7en said:

Hi guys,

Sorry to butt in, but I've dropped back on my running training recently, and I am thinking about doing a bit of swimming so I don't completely lose my fitness.

Can anyone recommend a plan for a beginner to follow? I can swim OK, but don't have much upper-body stamina so need to build up. Not going to be doing any races/competitions or record attempts

There are a few on the web and there is usually some in Triathlon magazines. However, I think these plans are too messy and focus far too much on kicking and pulling. There is also the Speedo/British Gas website which has some plans on. Not looked at those.

I have a swim coach whom I see every couple of months, he checks my technique and gives me a plan. Sessions vary between endurance, speed, technique, and threshold.

Some of my workouts will look like this:

5 x 400m with 30-40 seconds rest. Aiming for 6:40.
18 x 100m with 10 seconds rest
4 x 100m 30 seconds rest @ 70%, 6 x 75m with 20 seconds rest @ 80%, 8 x 50m with 15 seconds rest @ 90%

The key with any workout is to know what the appropriate pace is. So for example when I am doing 18 x 100m I go off every 1:50. I am aiming to complete the 100 meters I between 1:35-1:40. You need to find a pace where you can complete the full set with the allocated rests.

I've been swimming 5 times a week for sometime now so those workouts might be a bit much for you. Start with maybe 10/12 x 100m with 20 seconds rest. and 3/4 x 400m with 40-50 seconds rest in between.

You can do something called a Critical Swim Speed test (CSS). You CSS is your threshold pace, which is suppose to indicate how fast you could swim each 100m of a 1500m. Checkout the swim smooth website for details on that. Basically you do a 400m time trial and then a 200m time trial and do some maths with the results of those.

[Sarkmeister]

I'm currently training for an Ironman as well (Outlaw in July), so will be spending a fair amount of time in the pool over the next few months.

I learnt to swim "properly" a couple of years ago when I fancied doing triathlons. I went from never having done any front crawl/freestyle to being able to "get round" the swim stage of triathlons by having a few sessions with a coach. Sadly, I never really trained enough, or continued the coaching so I'm still pretty slow (a 1500m OW swim takes around 33mins).

I'm pretty sure my technique is awful, so I've got a 90min session in a continuous pool (with cameras etc) with a coach at the end of next week. Hopefully doing that a couple of times, and actually swimming more regularly will make it all a bit easier/quicker.

I'll report back on how the session goes.

[TheAllSeeingPie]

If you're into swimming or even just getting started out Swim Smooth (http://www.swimsmooth.com) is a great place to pick up a few tips.

I used to swim quite regularly but working away somewhere that didn't have a pool meant I've been a year without a decent swim. Hoping to get back into it now I've changed jobs. Doubt I'll break my 1:05 for 100m PB I set 2 years ago anytime soon

[SR48]

any water polo players here?

[944fan]

Sarkmeister said:

I'm currently training for an Ironman as well (Outlaw in July), so will be spending a fair amount of time in the pool over the next few months.

I learnt to swim "properly" a couple of years ago when I fancied doing triathlons. I went from never having done any front crawl/freestyle to being able to "get round" the swim stage of triathlons by having a few sessions with a coach. Sadly, I never really trained enough, or continued the coaching so I'm still pretty slow (a 1500m OW swim takes around 33mins).

I'm pretty sure my technique is awful, so I've got a 90min session in a continuous pool (with cameras etc) with a coach at the end of next week. Hopefully doing that a couple of times, and actually swimming more regularly will make it all a bit easier/quicker.

I'll report back on how the session goes.

Technique is so important in swimming. I've not done the continuous pools before but know people who have. Having someone find the flaws in your technique and giving you drills to correct them is invaluable. A couple of years ago I couldn't do two lengths at the pool. A couple of coaching sessions and I could do 400m in 6:22. Hoping to break that 6 minute mark this year :-)

[krallicious]

I started swimming again before my first, and only, triathlon in 2013. Managed to do a 29.15 for the 1.5k swim.

I started swimming again on the 30th October last year and 1.5k takes about 27minutes in the pool now with 2.25k taking 45 minutes. I'm looking to get 3k done in 50 minutes before the end of the year and 1.5k done in under 23 minutes.

I has been nice adding swimming back into the training program as I used to swim for my local club when I was little.

[TheAllSeeingPie]

SR48 said:

any water polo players here?

Retired. I was st ...

[madbadger]

Last weekend.





1.5 degrees.

[944fan]

madbadger said:

Last weekend.
1.5 degrees.

Mentalist.

I had a panic attack in the Thames when it was 16 degrees. :-) Must MTFU for this season

[944fan]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Did anyone here do the ASA T30 challenge?

How far you could swim in 30 minutes. None of us are really that fast where I train, but one guy managed 2400m. I decided it might be fun to see how far I could do if I did backstroke. Managed 2100m. No it wasn't fun.

When I was younger I'd have been able to do closer to 3000 m (freestyle). I remember a training session once that had 3 x1500m in it. We had them done and dusted within the hour no problem. It'd be cool to see how far people like Sun Yang could go in 30 minutes. I am guessing he'd be well beyond 3km.

Not heard of that. Hardest part I imagine is knowing how to pace yourself. I am so used to having a set distance and target time and pacing myself accordingly. Not knowing what distance to aim for will make that hard.

Still going to try it though :-)

[SR48]

TheAllSeeingPie said:

Retired. I was st ...

Which team did you play for?

[madbadger]

944fan said:

madbadger said:

Last weekend.
1.5 degrees.

Mentalist.

I had a panic attack in the Thames when it was 16 degrees. :-) Must MTFU for this season

You get used to it. Beats the pool any day.