Swimming

great time dude. i'll be stunned if i go under 90 mins this year. great work. fill yer boots!

Thanks Dooks, I hope the older I get the faster i keep getting :)

great work eyebrows. that's serious dude.

love the swimsuit nick-nack!

Some quality action going on here.
Biking on the road nowhere near the satisfying flow in the pool.
I'm only doing smooth 1ks, but its a great way to make your daily workout

I am totally in awe of your times! Many congratulations to everyone.

I realise I'm just an interloper on this thread of the sons and daughters of Poseidon.. I was just roped in at the last minute to support my friend who was nervous about doing 5k after 3 months in a wheelchair following her last accident.

If there are any normal people thinking of signing up for next year, I would suggest that you could aim for double the length you have trained for. It's like the Marathon or an Audax event where you are carried along by the occasion. If you aim for times like those above though, you'll kill yourselves...

My top tip is to have a clear idea of where your costume is at least 30 mins before you are due to leave the house, otherwise you'll forget to take your bananas and only have mini eggs to graze on until it's your turn. That makes you fret and be nervous.

That Logan's cute!

I'm a bit of a lurker on this thread but it's been a great help in training

Done the 2.5k in 46.10 yesterday after two years out of swimming due to surgery. Pretty pleased with that

Brilliant work there. Well done all. Getting nervous for mine now. 3 hours to go, better get eating.

Good luck dooks.keep your centre.watch the breath.enjoy it.

Woke up around 6.30am, so decided to carry on in sportive style and pop down to brockwell with the wettie.

11c !!!! FUDGING COLD ! Managed 600m then got out as i seemed to be slurring words.....
Really tired again now.

Forgot to mention, yesterday there was a bloke pretty much drafting me throughout the swim, it was sooooooooooooo annoying. If i let him go, then he was too slow, but he had a massive push off of the wall and didnt give me any space so was literally loving me doing all the work. He even admitted it after the swim ! Cheeky git.
Also got a massive migraine as soon as i left the pool yesterday.... im such a worrier.

Brilliant work there. Well done all. Getting nervous for mine now. 3 hours to go, better get eating.

You at London fields ? Gonna be awesome there ! Enjoy :) Goodluck.

I'm a bit of a lurker on this thread but it's been a great help in training

Done the 2.5k in 46.10 yesterday after two years out of swimming due to surgery. Pretty pleased with that

Very Good ! Weldone :)

www.totalimmersion.net

hours of stuff on there, I found it very useful.

Total Immersion, is very helpful. Especially, if you want to concentrate on technique. I think it's good at getting the swimmer to balance themselves correctly in the water and to focus on piercing the water and creating the least drag and to swim efficiently.

Dont make it the Law though. I personally think some people take it as the bible and it's not.... I think it has been one of the main causes for overgliding and pausing in strokes.
Great for drills, but would suggest moving onto www.swimsmooth.com
afterwards..............
(my opinion)

I am personally going to start more drills again from this week in my swimming.

http://www.swimsmooth.com/

This looks great. I've been looking for something as I'd bee using the swimathon training plan for the last few months and needed something new

Good luck everyone

Overgliding & pausing...

exactly me...

still I was ploughing through the water like a breeze block before...

I'll have a look at smooove, thanks.

Howdy. 5k in 1hr20(ish) here. Was a bit of a shambles at London Fields to be honest, no official times and very busy. Lots of very poor lane etiquette too. Gave up tumbles turns after a couple of near collisions. Swim was all good though, felt strong and steady for the most part. Probably could have revved it up a bit more as I didn't kick hard off the ends or really push till the last few laps. The sun came out just as we set off though which was sweet. I do love that pool.

Destroyed a hipster roast lunch at Pub on the Park after and am now horizontal with a glass of wine. The Mrs took a couple of pics from which I've already learned a few things. Will see if I can stick em up. Well done everyone who did it.

Good work!
I've just seen this thing called swim-trek.
Trying to see if they have non-swimmer options for the gf.

Cheers dude. A lady I know from Cally Masters runs... either that or something very similar. I'm quiet intrigued also.

Heres' a couple of my effort (red hat).

http://www.lfgss.com/picture.php?albumid=2256&pictureid=12994

http://www.lfgss.com/picture.php?albumid=2256&pictureid=12997

http://www.lfgss.com/picture.php?albumid=2256&pictureid=12995

Weldone Dooks. Good time.
Like the pics. :)

11c !!!! FUDGING COLD ! Managed 600m then got out as i seemed to be slurring words.....

11c? Luxury! It was 10c down in Folkestone (up from 8 a few weeks ago). Still only managing to last an hour, but one mate managed a full 6 hours with wetsuit and another managed 4 hours without. They are Channel swimmers tho, and have been in every weekend all winter.

Went in at 9pm last night for a shits and giggles bob in a Force 7 gale. Awesome fun, but didn't venture beyond the surf line.

That's a great time dooks. Congrats

Brrrrrrrr is all I can say.
Well done outdoorswimmers impressed.
Enjoyed a smooth k again today couldda done without getting as wet on the way home from pool on bike as in it but there you go

I'm overgliding too, as found out when an innertube band left me arms only and my legs sank like a stone. up tempo!

edit reply to ^^^^^^^ post about overglide and paws

I'm overgliding too, as found out when an innertube band left me arms only and my legs sank like a stone. up tempo!

I don't understand this, can you explain what you're talking about? I have a tendancy to overglide and am keen to correct. Found out from one of the missus' pics that i'm crossing over too which surprised me. much to think about.

going to rest the shoulders today and go for a run instead. back in the pool tomorrow.

Dooks that 2nd pic of you. I personally think you have great body alinement, good head position, legs, infact whole body is high. High elbows etc. Very nice.
You swam in 1.20 something and didnt train that much.... what more do you want ?

the other pic, your leading arm is crossing slightly, BUT you are approaching the wall plus i can see you are moving to the right to turn. (excellent lane etiquette). I dont think that should cause any concern.

Agree with Tiswas, easy to check arm and hand position by watching them while you are swimming for a few laps. Mine seem to get further apart the more tired i get....... like a fat cat waddling ! :)

11c? Luxury! It was 10c down in Folkestone (up from 8 a few weeks ago). Still only managing to last an hour, but one mate managed a full 6 hours with wetsuit and another managed 4 hours without. They are Channel swimmers tho, and have been in every weekend all winter.

Went in at 9pm last night for a shits and giggles bob in a Force 7 gale. Awesome fun, but didn't venture beyond the surf line.

I take it you live near folkestone then ?
i havent swam in cold water since last Sept, which was around 16c.
One day i will live by the coast again, and swim in the sea daily........#dreams#

overgliding = a pause between entry / catch / pull

this highlighted by swimming with ankle band, lost momentum not compensated by kick = legs sink

solution = faster arm turnover = feels strange (and messy and tiring), but legs not sinking as readily

I'm not overly fussed, as my ~1.50 per 100 @ 1500 pace is enough for my needs, but it's nice to have something else to think about in the swim.