Catch a wave...Or the swimming thread

[KSH]

Not me. Contact lenses and generally that would annoy the heck out of me and get my eyes all red.

Ah... yea, that plan would not work for you.

[rocknrollgirl]

Yee Haa baby....

Today was a planned pool workout, and all day long my students kept telling me how nice it was outside. I have no windows in my classroom, so I was clueless. I had been in since 6:30 am. So I figured...today might be the day, OWS.

I emailed DH and told him I wanted to go. He was not available to be my swim buddy and voiced his opinion that he did not want me to go alone. Noted and ignored honey!

I ran home after school and did a partial wetsuit wiggle, into the bottom half and drove the 7 mins to the lake. We have access to swim on a small, spring fed private lake in our town. It is really nice.

I got down on the dock and the wind was blowing pretty hard. I looked up and down and said...dang, was the lake this big last year?


I had a thermometer with me, just for bragging rights, but I could not get an accurate reading. It was cold, but not unbearable. A big gasp when the suit filled, but no loss of feeling or coordination in the extremities. So I put it at about 65 degrees or so.

I decided since I was alone to do a perimeter swim. Great idea from a safety standpoint, but it brought me in to the striking zone for two very, very large snapping turtles, that were sunning themselves near the edge of the lake. They scare me, alot. I figured that in my wetsuit, maybe I looked like a huge snapping turtle to them. I hope.

It was a bit tough coming back in to the wind, but it was fun. I swam about 40 mins. I would have done a bit more if DH had been along, but at the end, I was getting a little tired. Not like I am going to sink in my wetsuit. I float like a butterball in that sucker!

So all in all, a successful first venture in to the murky depths....

[Veronica]

2350 for me today after work.

warm up was 4 x 150, skps
main set 1650 ladder, starting with 275, then 250, 225, etc.
cool down 100

I was going to bike after... but I nicked the rear tire when I closed the car after putting the bike in this morning. Of course I didn't discover it until after I swam and was getting ready to take off. It was a hectic morning... I ran this morning too.

V.

[kelownagirl]

1600m for me today. Was supposed to be 1400m but I felt good and did an extra 200m. Tried out the wetsuit for 100m and LOVED it. It took 15 seconds off my 50m time. Did 1200m steady - my longest swim yet.

Did the first 750m in 19:00. I'm sure I'll be faster in a wetsuit and after I've had another 3 months of practice.

[jesvetmed]

Today I decided to just get in the pool and swim the distance I'll need to cover in my upcoming triathlon. 1500m... so I did it -- swam 4 laps crawl and 1 lap breast (as a rest interval) and kept repeating it. No stopping to actually rest. 31.5 minutes when I was done.

I found that without doing the intervals, shorter distances with rests, I lose focus and don't have good form. It took a lot to keep myself thinking about it all.

Overall I'll be happy with that kind of time. I still can take into account there will be no stop and turn arounds in the lake, and also I'll have the Wetsuit, which it sounds like will take some time off if all goes as planned.

At least I know I can survive 1500m. Now... if I can manage to bike and run after!

[kelownagirl]

I felt so bagged for the last two days I skipped my run and swim today and called in sick tomorrow. I need a day of sleep.

[Wahine]

good for you KG. a lot of the time rest is much more important. You've been going hard all year. You may even need a couple of weeks of light activity. Take care of yourself.

I swam about 2800 m this morning with 3 of my 100s hitting below 1:30.

[KSH]

Today I decided to just get in the pool and swim the distance I'll need to cover in my upcoming triathlon. 1500m... so I did it -- swam 4 laps crawl and 1 lap breast (as a rest interval) and kept repeating it. No stopping to actually rest. 31.5 minutes when I was done.

I found that without doing the intervals, shorter distances with rests, I lose focus and don't have good form. It took a lot to keep myself thinking about it all.

Overall I'll be happy with that kind of time. I still can take into account there will be no stop and turn arounds in the lake, and also I'll have the Wetsuit, which it sounds like will take some time off if all goes as planned.

At least I know I can survive 1500m. Now... if I can manage to bike and run after!

Great job! Yes, you can survive.

So, are you planning on breast stroke during your tri? Have you practiced some in your wetsuit? Have you swam close to that far in a wetsuit?

If not, I encourage you to get it in the pool and swim in it. I know for me the wetsuit changes my stroke some. You might also find it's not easy doing breast stroke in it.

I've also found that a wetsuit constricts my chest cavity and makes me feel like I can't breathe. It's a feeling that you have to get use to.

Good luck on your tri!

[Veronica]

1700 yards for me yesterday.

My wetsuit arrived at work just after I left. I'll be trying it out on my next swim I guess.

V.

[kacie tri-ing]

Hello!

I just finished my first sprint last weekend and loved it!

I really was training for the 600 m swim, but it felt so much harder than I expected. The bike went faster than I had planned, and the run was right on target.

I tried to calm myself down so that I could pace myself in the swim, but I started WAY too fast anyway. Then I felt claustraphobic in the lake (it was my first open water swim).

Any suggestions for endurance/fear/anxiety in the open water. I am sure that the first suggestion will be practicing the open water swim....if so, where do you practice? How do you do it? How do you not get run over by boats? (I live in atlanta, so our lakes have become smaller by droughts!)

Thanks so much!!!

[jesvetmed]

I just finished my first sprint last weekend and loved it

Congratulations Kacie! It sounds like things really went fine for you... the swim seems to always be what people are freaked about. I asked several people at the stores around here to see where to swim OW. If your local running store people don't do tri's, they know people who do and can usually direct you... unless you are lucky enough to have a tri store or tri club in your area.

KSH: Just saw your post tonight.

So, are you planning on breast stroke during your tri? Have you practiced some in your wetsuit? Have you swam close to that far in a wetsuit?

If not, I encourage you to get it in the pool and swim in it. I know for me the wetsuit changes my stroke some. You might also find it's not easy doing breast stroke in it.

I've also found that a wetsuit constricts my chest cavity and makes me feel like I can't breathe. It's a feeling that you have to get use to.

I'd like to say that I don't plan to do breast stroke, but in reality, it's how I catch my breath when I'm tired swimming. No, haven't swam in the wetsuit yet... that is my plan for next week! I'm heading to Coeur d'alene with a friend and will do a "mini tri" there. If I can get a short "get to know you" swim in earlier than next week around here, I will. Maybe I'll just go to the lake and float around and try some things out -- not really comfortable heading out for a swim across the lake alone.


Overall, had a great swim today -- first time I can say that. I felt stronger and smoother. Just attitude, probably. Got in 1700m today.

[kelownagirl]

How do I store my (dry) wetsuit- inside out or outside in?

[HillSlugger]

How do I store my (dry) wetsuit- inside out or outside in?

I store my right side out, on a hanger in the closet. I'm interested to hear what others do.

[Wahine]

I let mine dry inside out then flip it right side out for storage.

[teigyr]

I got a catalog in the mail last night and saw this:

http://www.finisinc.com/products-tr-...mfulcrum.shtml

Since swimming is mostly about form, does anyone think this would be beneficial? I know my form is sloppy no matter how hard I try. My mentality is to force through it which is wrong, I know. Even though this is a fairly simple toy, I wonder if it could help?

There's also something in there about a device that assists with rotation and core strength.

Does anyone use anything like this?

I've taken lessons and *can* swim, I just tend to forget important things and revert back to my Red Cross swimming days. Then I get tired