Swimming

We were done by 8.30, so didn't overlap. I'll be there again on 8 Feb at a similar time, doing this event, which I highly recommend - half-mara, 4 cold swims, very friendly and fun:

http://www.theswimmer.org/our-event.html

Can't do the Crisis Icebreaker at Parly Hill in 2 weeks time as I'm in Copenhagen, but will do Tooting Bec next Saturday instead - anyone else doing that?

https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/events/swim/icebreaker-tooting/

And anyone got any insight into winter swimming in Copenhagen?

The swimming bit looks good but alas, a half marathon would most likely kill me. Running and me do not get on and I have not run since the triathlon in June and am contemplating wether to ever run again.
Was thinking about doing the crisis swim but I'm hassling people to sponsor me for the Dart 10K so I probably won't be able to raise any funds other than my entry fee.
Was at the lido this morning, was lovely. I'm pretty sure I am addicted.

I just carried on from the summer so not sure how you would start now, perhaps just get in and spend 5 minutes at a time.

I swim everywhere with Aqua Sphere goggles because I find them more comfortable, hadn't considered they might help insulate my face a bit.

Yeah they really do, try swimming in cold water with the tiny eye only goggles, I get ice cream head straight away

Because it's last minute, I'm just paying the entry fee and not getting sponsorship. I feel justified as I've done the Crisis swim a few times and raised the most a few years ago - got some sweet Zogg's freebies for that!

Swimming in the Lido and Men's Pond this weekend has really reawakened the buzz. Last year I'd swim in Shadwell lido on the way to work, but since my bike and bag got pinched while I was swimming there last Feb, I've been less keen. Not easy to explain to work your laptop and phone were nicked while you left them on the side to have an illegal swim...

Yeah I lock my bike up at the lido and often leave my stuff unguarded in my bag in the changing rooms. I feel like they are OK at the lido but honestly, I wouldn't feel the same way in Shadwell.

I usually lock my bike, but this was a stormy day and I was preoccupied anchoring down my clothes so they didn't blow in the water. Just glad I'd left the clothes out of the bag so I could dress quickly - takes a special kind of arsehole to steal someone's stuff while they're in freezing water in February.

In case people want to engage with this consultation:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/swimming-fees-hampstead-heath-ponds-could-be-doubled-a4334591.html

I went swimming for the first time in 20yrs last week while on hols, not quite sure how I went that long but def want to get in the water again.

I actually used to pay before I realised noone else did. I think when we do the swimrun, the organisers pay on our behalf.

Charging was controversial when they introduced it and many vowed never to pay.
They will have to significantly increase the charges to cover the staff they will need to enforce it.

Similar consultation in 2012
https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/environment/swimmers-fury-over-hampstead-heath-ponds-charges-1-1237527

Ordered an OH1+ as my Garmin HRM-Swim strap fell off during my swim today, it also seems to have failed to record any HR during the swim (although I might have been blamed for that as I didn't connect with the watch it before jumping in the pool).

OH1+ on the goggle strap seems much less of a faff although I'll need to do post-process the FIT file to add in the HR data from the Polar.

Any update on the Form goggles @lowbrows ?

Had a bit of a fuckup in the gym and strained my shoulder on Wednesday last week.
(old fracture dislocation-one of the most annoying injuries I have- when it goes lax it subluxes in my sleep)

Supposed to be surfing Wednesday-Friday so have rested it.
Will be back in the pool water Saturday, probably.

Anyone use a snorkel to practise technique? I was a decent swimmer when I was ten, not very strong thirty years later so this year started late night visits to the local pool and had a few lessons to get me on the right path but really struggling to sustain consistent breathing in front crawl.

I briefly tried. Couldn't get on with it but should try again.

Girlfriend, who is a much better swimmer than me, has done a few times though. She found it pretty useful to not have to worry about breathing and just focus on a particular part of technique. We've got a 50m pool nearby and she was able to just put her head down and swim 1k at a time without lifting her head.

Thanks, it made sense when I watched too many YouTube videos but wondered if it was a thing in the real world. Picked a not too pricey one up in Decathlon today so we’ll see. And a few more microfibre towels for the rest of the family, I think they’re amazing value.

I was thinking about a snorkel but I've been lazy and got into a bad habit of only breathing on one side (every 4 strokes). I used to breathe every 3 strokes without a problem but since I've got older and slower and generally plod I don't need as much oxygen. The knock on effect is that my technique for breathing on my left is awful, almost comedic, as I'm so out of practice- it just feels so unnatural.

Of course, I just need to breathe on alternate sides on alternate lengths and I can continue to be lazy and breathe every 4 strokes.

Once I fix that, and get my fitness up, I was going to dedicate one or more sessions to drills to focus on technique, a snorkel might be useful (I've got most of the other toys already).

Tried my OH1+ HR sensor on the goggle strap today but messed up turning it on so it only recorded a 3 second activity and not the subsequent hour long swim - I thought I hadn't turned it on properly first time and my attempt to start it again only stopped it. Still, it sat there comfortably for the entire swim.

Have gone from barely managing 500m three weeks ago to doing 3km today relatively comfortably. Idea is to build up the long swim to 4km and then start the focus on technique to get the time down to an hour (currently doing ~19 minute/km) without completely rinsing myself.

I don't know if this is really a priority given all the other things that are going on, but it's good that someone is doing this:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/06/push-for-bathing-water-quality-hailed-game-changer-uk-rivers

Form goggles update.
Good but not worth it. They’re interesting, but the HR compatibility is annoying- the temple sensor just doesn’t work.
The inbuilt intervals function is great and it is nice to be reminded if you’re slacking.
The app is good, but limited and exporting is poor.
But- they don’t work if you’re a glasses wearer and forget your contacts, and I’ve had some issues with fogging.

All in all great potential, but definitely mk1 model scenario.

Swim Serpentine entries open again. Just doing the 2 mile event this year but I'll aim for under an hour (and under 50 minutes ideally).

https://www.swimserpentine.co.uk/how-enter/online-entry/

I had a mild hypothermic episode this morning, I can't recommend it. I've had a bit of a cold all week and hadn't swam much but I really needed to get into the cold water today. Did 600 metres in 5c and didn't feel too bad, got out as usual, sat down for a few minutes to prepare for the after drop. But walking towards the sauna, my heart did not feel right and my body felt odd and all of a sudden I felt like I was drunk, so I sat down again outside the sauna and it got worse and I found I couldn't think straight. So I went straight to the lifeguards office, told them the situation and they stuck me in a dryrobe and sat me next to the radiator. A cup of tea and 10 minutes of uncontrollable shivering later and I felt fine, went into the sauna to fully warmup.
They were quite impressed with how sensible I was, they tell me that often they have to literally put people in wheelchairs after they collapse!
Moral of the story, listen to your body especially when swimming in water this cold and don't swim if you have a cold as I think it puts too much strain on your heart.
It's amazing how your heart seems to set the equilibrium for your body. I'm fine now, better than fine :D

Formal recommendation for charges at Hampstead:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/hampstead-ponds-fees-swimmers-fury-a4372966.html

Does anyone else suffer with knotted muscles in their back? Gone from zero to twice weekly swims between one and two KM since Christmas but between my shoulder blades is killing me. Stretching advise welcome.

I'd have thought swims would help, not cause that. Has any other behaviour changed that might be affecting your posture?

Picking up on the snorkel question, I have been using one for a few months and love it.

No issues with breathing in any of my strokes but using a kickboard aggravates an old shoulder injury so kicking in streamline with snorkel has been great.

Feel like my body position is far better for it.