Swimming

anyone else up for some cally masters training tonight? cally pool at 8.

what levels are there?
i'm nowhere near your level.

hey dude, sorry just saw this.

hey just cos i spaff on about it all the time why would you assume i'm any good? i'm doughey and out of shape at the moment! i'm just trying to convince myself that i can't live without it in the vague hope that the feeling will take hold and i won't want to duck out of training to drink beer and smoke fags every single week instead... i'm ALWAYS glad i went afterwards though.

to answer your question, there's 6 lanes split according to speed/ability. if you're catching people up all the time you go up a lane, or if you're getting caught all the time you go down a lane. simple. it's pretty easy to find somewhere you're comfortable (or even flit between lanes as different drills suit your strengths/weaknesses).

the sessions are split into three main groups (slower 2 lanes, middle 2 and fastest 2) each of which gets a subtly different set of instructions.

the guys and girls in the top two lanes are county or higher level, super fit and hack it up and down making the whole thing look ridiculously easy and graceful. worth watching for techniques.

the middle two lanes are where i live (usually in the slower middle lane). it's mostly people who can hold their end up at frontcrawl, breaststoke and back but maybe struggle with a lot of fly. as a barometer i'd say about half the people in these two lanes do racing turns. the rest of us just flap at the wall and turn with our heads out of the water. also it's mostly women in the middle two for some reason. ages range from late 20s to 50s i'd say.

the lower two lanes have quite a big range of ability, from nearly being ready to keep up with the middle two lanes and... some pretty rudimentary swimming for fitness. the slower two are definitely the busiest and they also seem to have more fun than the rest of the pool put together, chatting and joking away...

it's all good fun. there's no "official" guidance on technique or stroke just a set to follow and times to keep to. other people sometimes give tips and advice though.

i still find it quite intimidating rocking up with my fat bits peeking over my trunks to meet a load of fit and toned people... and then to be push myself to just about the limit (most weeks i don't think i'm going to make it to the end of the session without spewing or passing out) but i'm always really glad i went and happy i made it to the end.

Work summer party this eve, but count me in for next week. I'm so bored of doing my standard laps. The fitness benefits have definitely plateaued. I could do with a kick up the arse and some inspiration.

you know it makes sense.

it'll be like fakenger soup.

I was getting really demorailsed swimming a few nights ago - a lane full of 7 year olds were doing lap after lap of front crawl at about 100mph, then I realised that they were all wearing tiny little flippers on their feet, the cheating brats.

the feeling will take hold and i won't want to duck out of training to drink beer and smoke fags every single week instead... i'm ALWAYS glad i went afterwards though.

I think this is how most people feel about any training/exercise.
Every Wednesday I have to push myself to go to Herne Hill. Especially if the weather is great and there is wine and bbq waiting at home. But as soon as I get there and start racing and especially afterwards I feel great and can't believe I was even contemplating not going. Its the same every bloody week.

Will let you know how the Hampstead Lido is

I was getting really demorailsed swimming a few nights ago - a lane full of 7 year olds were doing lap after lap of front crawl at about 100mph, then I realised that they were all wearing tiny little flippers on their feet, the cheating brats.

haha. i will be debuting these little beauties tonight.

I have 1 shoulder that works.
It hurts like fuck for 45mins of every swim.
which reminds me I can't make tonight, as I'm in Putney. but must go for a swim and a run tomorrow now as swimming has been neglected from my training regime- due to a massive cut on the back of my right leg which didn't heal for ages.
bollocks.
i'm fucked for this triathlon, I'll finish it but god knows the time.
like 8 hrs maybe!

also flippers are for people who are serious.
i haven't worn a pair in years.
I miss the massive acceleration and that huge dissapointment when you do the first lap having taken them off- your like- WTF?
i was so fast, now i'm shit.

and pull aids- or what ever the hand paddle thingys are.

stupid rugby- you've destroyed me.

painful session tonight. butterfly main set of 16x25m of fly on 30 seconds... x4. ouch.

weirdly seemed to get easier as it went on though.

anyway, i'm dead. sinuses and ears full of water.

jelly arms.

bed.

have started swimming again. breaststroke is not too bad, but i can't get my breathing right doing front crawl. end up nearly drowning.....

dooks thanks for all this stuff, you are inspiring me to investigate masters swimming. I live in Newington Green though so I'd be looking at Clissold which swims at Clissold and London Fields. You can just turn up to one of their sessions and it all seems very open to anyone and friendly. They have Masters ‘Lite’ for swimmers who can "swim two strokes and have an appetite to improve stroke-technique and to increase speed on all four strokes". Not quite sure what this means?

My main question though, is as there is no official element of tuition, how would I get better? I can do front crawl fine but my breast is terrible, can't do anything else - have never learnt fly or tumble turns or anything. My fitness has peaked at a mile of front crawl in just under 35 minutes.

Would I be better having some lessons first?

dooks thanks for all this stuff, you are inspiring me to investigate masters swimming. I live in Newington Green though so I'd be looking at Clissold which swims at Clissold and London Fields. You can just turn up to one of their sessions and it all seems very open to anyone and friendly. They have Masters ‘Lite’ for swimmers who can "swim two strokes and have an appetite to improve stroke-technique and to increase speed on all four strokes". Not quite sure what this means?

My main question though, is as there is no official element of tuition, how would I get better? I can do front crawl fine but my breast is terrible, can't do anything else - have never learnt fly or tumble turns or anything. My fitness has peaked at a mile of front crawl in just under 35 minutes.

Would I be better having some lessons first?

ah now that's interesting. what days/times do clissold train?

there is a dedicated technique session with coaching on sunday afternoons. i haven't been myself yet so i can't say what format it takes.

in "normal" sessions the coach does give general pointers or reminders of what he does and doesn't want to see but generally it's just getting stuck in and trying to keep up!

at my first session, i was nervous having not swum fly since i was about 15. another guy who was also starting that week said to the coach that he'd never swum fly before... the coach just said, "well no-one's born knowing how to swim fly, we all have to learn at some point, just give it a go!"

then it's just a case of trying to keep up while learning by watching the good (and bad) swimmers. people give you tips and pointers and i've found myself checking out online tutorials and guides too.

front crawl set from last night:

crawl and own choice warm up (15-20 mins), say 500m?

fly kick drills (all with fins):

8x25 on the back, arm extended
8x25 diving underwater, coming up with a single arm stroke to breathe.

2x25 on the front arms my the side
2x25 on left side
2x25 on the back
2x25 on right side

backstroke drills:

7x50s (1st 25 of each 50 holding arms at full stretch for 6 kicks, 2nd 25, starting slow and accelerating to sprint).

main set, crawl:

300m (12l) pull with bouy
3x100 (4x4l) with hand paddles on 2m10s each 100 faster than the previous.
repeat that whole cycle 3 times.

just made it in the 90 minutes. guess i started about 5 minutes late and just snuck in the last 100 at a couple of minutes past the finishing time.

what's that lot...3250m? not bad going. bit less than previous sets but significanty further than i could be arsed to do on my own on tuesday at london fields.

http://www.allabouttriathlons.co.uk/races_swim-super-series.html

3.8k- 4th Sept
anyone want to join me?

Would anyone care to recommend me some goggles, or a place where I might get a well fitting pair?

I could do with some that will not come off when I screw my courage to the sticking point and throw myself into the water during a triathlon.

Awesome to the max and worth every penny, best goggles I've ever had by far:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/swim/9/Aqua_Sphere_Kayenne_Goggles/5360042409/

dooks thanks for all this stuff, you are inspiring me to investigate masters swimming. I live in Newington Green though so I'd be looking at Clissold which swims at Clissold and London Fields. You can just turn up to one of their sessions and it all seems very open to anyone and friendly. They have Masters ‘Lite’ for swimmers who can "swim two strokes and have an appetite to improve stroke-technique and to increase speed on all four strokes". Not quite sure what this means?

My main question though, is as there is no official element of tuition, how would I get better? I can do front crawl fine but my breast is terrible, can't do anything else - have never learnt fly or tumble turns or anything. My fitness has peaked at a mile of front crawl in just under 35 minutes.

Would I be better having some lessons first?

I go to Clissold in evenings post work when i can (Shuts early on wednesdays, at 8pm), but is otherwise open til 10pm. yus. any sessions i've seen seem to be a trainer standing on the ends of the lanes and at the sides watching swimmers and giving them pointers as they finish a run.

London Fields is also fantastic, unless you appear on a weekend a bit before lunch, when it is heaving with children. and that's when they reduce lane swimming to about half the pool, which is rubbish.

It is worth going along, and you could always go to the tutored courses, see what support you get from instructors and whether or not they think you would benefit from the teaching.

I need swimming lessons but am....
1) too tight to pay
2) far too embarassed to join a class (I maybe pretty fit from huge amounts of running and cycling but I swim like a brick)
3) and I have about as much arm/leg/body co-ordination as a lump of jelly

Should I:
a) swallow my pride and go to the local swimming club with a bag over my head
b) get a larger bath and just splash about a bit more
c) flood my basement and practice there till I can do two laps?

Just read Dooks', and SoperRiva's post, and nearly cried with a combination of personal frustration and general admiration.

I'm not the only one on here me thinks with this problem, having seen other posts re: us runners/cyclists wanting to triathalons but let down by the swimming!

dammit, i like these but i think a lot of the attraction is aesthetics. they never leak though, no matter how casually i put them on and are comfortable for anything up to about 90 minutes. plus they're mirrored which is cool.

http://www.swimshop.co.uk/Speedo-Speedsocket-Mirror-Goggle-PSPEEDSOCKETMIRRORGOG/

Bagheera, sounds like you could do with one or two lessons followed buy a bit of self-study and practice. Why don't you get down to 5pm sunday technique session at cally pool. an hour's tuition for £4.10 isn't too shabby is it? They have have a big range of abilities. Everyone has to start somewhere. I get humbled in the pool nearly everytime I go. I'm still in no kind of physical shape either. Got pwned by a girl in a red suit last night just when i thought i was absolutely on it, she started passing me like i was doing doggy paddle.

The other alternative is maybe to arrange a bespoke lfgss session somewhere. Or even buddy up and maybe meet at each other's regular pools to try some sets or share tips?

Really been enjoying this swimming thread but their are a few things wrong with it;

Numerous disparaging remarks about "mister macho-splashy-man". There is a big chance these people are waterpolo players. Swimming with a ball requires a shorter stroke which produces more splash.

Also the knowledge of London pools is ropey at best. The Shell building has a 33m pool, Parliament Hill lido is a massive 60m (unheated) and even St. Georges Pool by is 25m.

If you want to have some proper fun in a pool ditch the "zen" swimming and start playing polo. Nothing beats sprinting for the ball against another swimmer and being able to give them cheeky elbow while you're doing it.

Really been enjoying this swimming thread but their are a few things wrong with it;

Numerous disparaging remarks about "mister macho-splashy-man". There is a big chance these people are waterpolo players. Swimming with a ball requires a shorter stroke which produces more splash.

Also the knowledge of London pools is ropey at best. The Shell building has a 33m pool, Parliament Hill lido is a massive 60m (unheated) and even St. Georges Pool by is 25m.

If you want to have some proper fun in a pool ditch the "zen" swimming and start playing polo. Nothing beats sprinting for the ball against another swimmer and being able to give them cheeky elbow while you're doing it.

thanks man. didn't know about the shell building pool. can't think why? and a cheeky elbow in the face to you too.

Last year I seem to recall there was race between Brockwell Park Lido, and 'ampstead 'eath Lido, on bicycles, there and back... and of course the chance to swim at the end of it.... I did it on my geared and was a bit rubbish, compared to my mates who insisted on RLJ'ing... but the swim afterwards in Brockwell Park was just epic..... though per earlier posts I wouldn't really call what I was doing 'swimming' in the Michael Phelps nature of the word.

It said Parliament Hill is 60m up there ^^. I can also tell you from personal experience it is indeed unheated!

That aside though, I didn't know the Shell one was 33, I thought it was 50.

Also the knowledge of London pools is ropey at best. The Shell building has a 33m pool, Parliament Hill lido is a massive 60m (unheated) and even St. Georges Pool by is 25m.

so how do you get into this shell pool then?

You can't AFAIK. Not open to the public. Shame as I've always fancied a go.

I know someone who goes but she uses it as part of a diving club - she's an advanced diver and trains others all over the place. Don't know if there is a swimming club which uses it.

It's under the Shell Centre (60s building) which is the one next to the eye. This is the only pic I could find of it: