5k Swimming Challenge
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I find boredom the hardest part of a 5km swim. I always get 'bored' between 20 and 30 lengths no matter the distance. On a 5km, it hits again around 120, so that is when I pause and have a drink or a gel.
I swim along telling myself, you are not tired, you are bored - on repeat until I get back into the zone of just swimming.
Takes me around 1hr45 to do 5km but I haven't been training to decrease my time. I restarted swimming around 5 years ago, doing 30 lengths breaststroke, 2 front crawl and building from there. I would say it took a year and a half before I was regularly swimming 3km and a further year before I did a 5km in the pool. As I say though, I wasn't actively training for it.
This year I did a triple 5km challenge - 3 days in a row - 5km each day. That tuckered me out! Next year I am going to try and do two 5km sessions in one day and do the challenge over 2 days - that I will train for!
ETA - no real help here, sorry, just some info/experiences/waffle
That was actually really helpful, thank you! And consider me impressed! Triple challenge, just wow.1 -
Finafoshizzle93 wrote: »Is the goal to complete that distance without stopping? Or just be able to swim that far with breaks? I typically do 120 lengths in about an hour in sets of:
3 x 150 yards
50 yards kick (gives my shoulders which are tendinitis prone a break)
Repeat until 120 lengths, once comfortable up to 150, 180, 200 lengths.
Also agree hydration is very important. It’s hard to recognize how much you need to hydrate when you’re not sweating but it’s definitely necessary!
PS. Have you tried one of the waterproof mp3 players? I'm curious to know if they actually work!0 -
Would anyone be interested in joining me in a challenge to ultimately swim 5km? That's 200 lengths of my local 25m pool, which I reckon will be about an hour of swimming once I can sustain it for that long. I only got back into swimming a couple of weeks ago, not I'm finding it great for my mental wellbeing as well as for the muscles in my arms and upper body. I never feel to out of breath when I swim, and there's no yucky feeling of being sweaty, either I really like the idea of the Couch to 5k running challenge, but I'm not a fan of running at all. It occurred to me in the pool today that there's no reason I can't make up my own challenge to build up from my current 30 lengths (0.75km) to (eventually) 200 lengths (5km). I was hoping there might be some other swimmers on here who would be interested in doing the same? I'm going to try to make it less tedious over a longer swim by ordering this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B075DBCTX4/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_2?smid=A22BKOKNEQ424B&psc=1
Hope you can join in!
To give you perspective, unless you are an athlete, you are facing way more than 1 hour, more like 3-4 hours. So you migth want to readjust your goals. My daugther is in a swimming team, practice is 90-120 minutes, and on days when they are only swimming laps, they do not do more than 3000 meters. For me, who I am a typical amateur swimmer who started swimming as an adult, it took me 1 year to go from 1 k to 2k...
honestly - no offense but that is really slow for swim teams unless they are doing lots of breaks - consistently as a triathlere with about 1:55/100yds - i can do that in just shy of an hour (about 30 second break between 500yd sets) - 2.4miles for me in an ironman triathlon was 1:15 and i'm not even a prior college swimmer (or swim team type) - most of them finish in under an hour1 -
This whole thread is making me wish I had the time to do this!1
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Finafoshizzle93 wrote: »Is the goal to complete that distance without stopping? Or just be able to swim that far with breaks? I typically do 120 lengths in about an hour in sets of:
3 x 150 yards
50 yards kick (gives my shoulders which are tendinitis prone a break)
Repeat until 120 lengths, once comfortable up to 150, 180, 200 lengths.
Also agree hydration is very important. It’s hard to recognize how much you need to hydrate when you’re not sweating but it’s definitely necessary!
PS. Have you tried one of the waterproof mp3 players? I'm curious to know if they actually work!
I haven’t tried waterproof MP3 players but know a few people who find swimming boring without it. I find it’s a time to clear my mind and focus on how many laps I’m on (or else I forget haha). I basically just count in my head the whole time!
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Yes, I'm sure you're right! I worked out today that it would take me 200 minutes, assuming I didn't lose pace through fatigue! Maths never was my strong point
As your time in the water increases beyond 90 minutes or so, you'd probably benefit from taking in both hydration and nutrition during your swim to help maintain performance.
If you're in a pool, no problem, since you can store items on deck. If you choose to do an open water swim, then towing a floating buoy will allow you to store liquids and calories.
@Djproulx I always use a buoy with a self contained dry bag in open water, but it must take some practice to open it up to retrieve food or drink without letting water in. How does that work?
The key is floating on your back like a sea otter, lol. I tyically wear a wetsuit, so its very easy to float. I can then slide the buoy cord to the front where I can easily open the folded pouch and take out what I need. In addition, some of us will keep a gel packet under the collar of the wetsuit (or around the arm hole if a sleeveless wetsuit)in the collar so you can extract it easily. The same thing applies to a spare set of goggles. Not usually an issue, but I've had them knocked off in the scrum that happens at the beginning of a race. That is no fun, so I've begun carrying a spare set during races.
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Open water swimming is fun! Once you get comfortable with it, the whole experience is superior to pool swimming for me. There's beautiful scenery, fish to look at, the challenge of navigating to a landmark by swimming in a straight line, and the ability to do it as part of a group. There's even a chance to socialize, whether taking a break at a midlake island, or a stop at the "coffee boat".
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[/quote]
2.4miles for me in an ironman triathlon was 1:15 and i'm not even a prior college swimmer (or swim team type) - most of them finish in under an hour[/quote]
So @deannalfisher, my offer stands: You drag this 1:25 guy along to a 1:15 swim finish, and I'll return the favor by doing the pulling on the bike course. 0 -
I've been swimming three times a week for nearly a month now. I can now manage 1km (40 lengths) with relative ease, but I'm definitely ready to get out by the end of that, not least because of stinging eyes (need to find some goggles that don't annoy me!). While I'm still a long way off 2km, let alone 5km, I'm pleased with my progress. I'm stronger, faster, and - crucially - still swimming! I've also had to order a swimsuit in the next size down. Yay for MFP!4
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yay! congrats! if you are considering doing a 5k - i ghighly recommend you look for some Open Water swim training1
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Holy crap. I think the longest I’ve swum was the 1650 yards in high school. But I guess I did upwards of 5-5.5k (yards) in a single practice some days, and that was 90-120 minutes. Long long long sets of 100’s and 200’s, let me tell you.
I definitely want to work up to a mile or two in a single practice. That’s 1.6-3.2 km. I’m years out of practice and feel like a frail old lady (I’m a 23 yo and not a lady).1 -
deannalfisher wrote: »yay! congrats! if you are considering doing a 5k - i ghighly recommend you look for some Open Water swim training
Thank you, I definitely will. I think it's probably several months into my future, but it hadn't occurred to me until this thread, and now I really like the idea, especially as there's a proper (staffed) open water swim place only about 25 mins from my house! When I can do 2km (80 lengths), I'll go for a visit, that gives me an interim goal and reward 0 -
On another note, getting really fed up with going to the local pool(s) to find out they're (a) closed for swimming lessons, (b) closed for a party, (c) closed for staff training, (d) roped off for aqua aerobics, or (e) just too damn busy to swim a length, never mind 40! This morning (8.30am!), I thought it would be quiet because the kids are back at school. Didn't factor in the retired folk - about 30 in the pool, and nobody seemed willing to stay to one side and let the length swimmers (7 of us!) have the other. Got out more stressed than I got in (another vote for open water swimming on that score!). I know it's a public pool, but I just can't rely on it being possible, and it's not open straight after work when I need it most. For all those reasons, I'm joining my local Bannatynes gym tomorrow, and I can't wait. It's not the cheapest way to swim, but it's only £17 a month more than the local Council fitness pass I was going to get, and it's open from 7am to 9pm daily. I've been a few times as a visitor on spa days, and it's lovely. As swimming is as much about my mental health and wellbeing as it is exercise for me, I think it'll tick all the boxes and improve my experience as I work up to open swimming. I can't wait - roll on tomorrow!2
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Unfortunately what you just described is the bane to most lap swimmers...I plowed into a kid last weekend when I was doing sprints because he had gotten in the lap lane and wasn’t paying any attention1
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Yes, I'm sure you're right! I worked out today that it would take me 200 minutes, assuming I didn't lose pace through fatigue! Maths never was my strong point
As your time in the water increases beyond 90 minutes or so, you'd probably benefit from taking in both hydration and nutrition during your swim to help maintain performance.
If you're in a pool, no problem, since you can store items on deck. If you choose to do an open water swim, then towing a floating buoy will allow you to store liquids and calories.
It will also make you significantly more visible to other people who are sharing that body of water water with you which is a rather important safety issue. From a rowing shell, swimmers without buoys frequently don't actually look like people at first and thus don't look like things to be avoided.
You should also wear a brightly coloured swim cap as the float trails you by a metre or so.3 -
deannalfisher wrote: »Unfortunately what you just described is the bane to most lap swimmers...I plowed into a kid last weekend when I was doing sprints because he had gotten in the lap lane and wasn’t paying any attention
I feel your pain. Literally 0 -
On another note, getting really fed up with going to the local pool(s) to find out they're (a) closed for swimming lessons, (b) closed for a party, (c) closed for staff training, (d) roped off for aqua aerobics, or (e) just too damn busy to swim a length, never mind 40! This morning (8.30am!), I thought it would be quiet because the kids are back at school. Didn't factor in the retired folk - about 30 in the pool, and nobody seemed willing to stay to one side and let the length swimmers (7 of us!) have the other. Got out more stressed than I got in (another vote for open water swimming on that score!). I know it's a public pool, but I just can't rely on it being possible, and it's not open straight after work when I need it most. For all those reasons, I'm joining my local Bannatynes gym tomorrow, and I can't wait. It's not the cheapest way to swim, but it's only £17 a month more than the local Council fitness pass I was going to get, and it's open from 7am to 9pm daily. I've been a few times as a visitor on spa days, and it's lovely. As swimming is as much about my mental health and wellbeing as it is exercise for me, I think it'll tick all the boxes and improve my experience as I work up to open swimming. I can't wait - roll on tomorrow!
Does your local pool not have dedicated lane swim times? Maybe I'm just lucky but the pool I go to has adult lane swimming ( 6 lanes 2 each of slow, medium & fast) Mon Wed Fri & Sat at 6AM for almost 2 hours and then open lane swimming in the evenings..... I don't go in the evenings cause of the kids.
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BrianSharpe wrote: »On another note, getting really fed up with going to the local pool(s) to find out they're (a) closed for swimming lessons, (b) closed for a party, (c) closed for staff training, (d) roped off for aqua aerobics, or (e) just too damn busy to swim a length, never mind 40! This morning (8.30am!), I thought it would be quiet because the kids are back at school. Didn't factor in the retired folk - about 30 in the pool, and nobody seemed willing to stay to one side and let the length swimmers (7 of us!) have the other. Got out more stressed than I got in (another vote for open water swimming on that score!). I know it's a public pool, but I just can't rely on it being possible, and it's not open straight after work when I need it most. For all those reasons, I'm joining my local Bannatynes gym tomorrow, and I can't wait. It's not the cheapest way to swim, but it's only £17 a month more than the local Council fitness pass I was going to get, and it's open from 7am to 9pm daily. I've been a few times as a visitor on spa days, and it's lovely. As swimming is as much about my mental health and wellbeing as it is exercise for me, I think it'll tick all the boxes and improve my experience as I work up to open swimming. I can't wait - roll on tomorrow!
Does your local pool not have dedicated lane swim times? Maybe I'm just lucky but the pool I go to has adult lane swimming ( 6 lanes 2 each of slow, medium & fast) Mon Wed Fri & Sat at 6AM for almost 2 hours and then open lane swimming in the evenings..... I don't go in the evenings cause of the kids.
mine has lane time - but its only 2 lanes and then the rest of the pool is open for kids (local high schools have the publically accessible pools)0 -
deannalfisher wrote: »BrianSharpe wrote: »On another note, getting really fed up with going to the local pool(s) to find out they're (a) closed for swimming lessons, (b) closed for a party, (c) closed for staff training, (d) roped off for aqua aerobics, or (e) just too damn busy to swim a length, never mind 40! This morning (8.30am!), I thought it would be quiet because the kids are back at school. Didn't factor in the retired folk - about 30 in the pool, and nobody seemed willing to stay to one side and let the length swimmers (7 of us!) have the other. Got out more stressed than I got in (another vote for open water swimming on that score!). I know it's a public pool, but I just can't rely on it being possible, and it's not open straight after work when I need it most. For all those reasons, I'm joining my local Bannatynes gym tomorrow, and I can't wait. It's not the cheapest way to swim, but it's only £17 a month more than the local Council fitness pass I was going to get, and it's open from 7am to 9pm daily. I've been a few times as a visitor on spa days, and it's lovely. As swimming is as much about my mental health and wellbeing as it is exercise for me, I think it'll tick all the boxes and improve my experience as I work up to open swimming. I can't wait - roll on tomorrow!
Does your local pool not have dedicated lane swim times? Maybe I'm just lucky but the pool I go to has adult lane swimming ( 6 lanes 2 each of slow, medium & fast) Mon Wed Fri & Sat at 6AM for almost 2 hours and then open lane swimming in the evenings..... I don't go in the evenings cause of the kids.
mine has lane time - but its only 2 lanes and then the rest of the pool is open for kids (local high schools have the publically accessible pools)
Pretty much this, but only when I'm at work! On the rare occasions the lane gone and I coincide, it's 2 lanes for about 6 people. It's so frustrating.0 -
deannalfisher wrote: »BrianSharpe wrote: »On another note, getting really fed up with going to the local pool(s) to find out they're (a) closed for swimming lessons, (b) closed for a party, (c) closed for staff training, (d) roped off for aqua aerobics, or (e) just too damn busy to swim a length, never mind 40! This morning (8.30am!), I thought it would be quiet because the kids are back at school. Didn't factor in the retired folk - about 30 in the pool, and nobody seemed willing to stay to one side and let the length swimmers (7 of us!) have the other. Got out more stressed than I got in (another vote for open water swimming on that score!). I know it's a public pool, but I just can't rely on it being possible, and it's not open straight after work when I need it most. For all those reasons, I'm joining my local Bannatynes gym tomorrow, and I can't wait. It's not the cheapest way to swim, but it's only £17 a month more than the local Council fitness pass I was going to get, and it's open from 7am to 9pm daily. I've been a few times as a visitor on spa days, and it's lovely. As swimming is as much about my mental health and wellbeing as it is exercise for me, I think it'll tick all the boxes and improve my experience as I work up to open swimming. I can't wait - roll on tomorrow!
Does your local pool not have dedicated lane swim times? Maybe I'm just lucky but the pool I go to has adult lane swimming ( 6 lanes 2 each of slow, medium & fast) Mon Wed Fri & Sat at 6AM for almost 2 hours and then open lane swimming in the evenings..... I don't go in the evenings cause of the kids.
mine has lane time - but its only 2 lanes and then the rest of the pool is open for kids (local high schools have the publically accessible pools)
Pretty much this, but only when I'm at work! On the rare occasions the lane gone and I coincide, it's 2 lanes for about 6 people. It's so frustrating.
*the lanes and I0 -
Well, I'm seeing progress. This week, I got down from 1km in 27 mins to 20 mins, and I got my new distance record of 50 lengths (previous was 40, ie 1km). I'm feeling stronger, less tired (I can maintain my pace to the end now) and I've dropped a swimsuit size The pool at my new gym has really helped this week. It can still be busy at times, but they have a lane system that people seem to actually follow, and on my morning off it's practically empty - a swimmer's dream I'm also loving the jacuzzi and relaxation room. Best decision ever! Today, I'm going to try out my new waterproof mp3 player and ring finger length counter. Could use some advice on keeping my hair dry while I swim, though! I tried a fancy new swimming cap yesterday that's supposed not to leak, but my hair was wet when I took it off. I wouldn't care, but my hair is coloured and just one month of regular swimming has about killed it. I'm thinking of getting it chopped off, it's that dry. Hey ho. 1
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Swim caps actually aren't really meant to keep your hair dry. They are meant to keep it out of your face, out of the pool filters and make you more hydrodynamic. The best way to protect your hair is to use something like AquaGuard in your hair before putting your cap on or use a shampoo and conditioner that helps neutralize it after you swim. Some people also say that rinsing your hair through with fresh water before you put your cap on can help to keep the chlorinated water from absorbing in your hair as much. Good job on the improvements by the way!
https://www.amazon.com/AquaGuard-Pre-Swim-Hair-Defense-Bottle/dp/B01BMYYHAG/ref=sr_1_3?crid=WTDJ9NHR5P2V&keywords=aquaguard+pre+swim+hair+defense&qid=1567532843&s=gateway&sprefix=aquagua,aps,167&sr=8-3&th=14 -
tracybear86 wrote: »Swim caps actually aren't really meant to keep your hair dry. They are meant to keep it out of your face, out of the pool filters and make you more hydrodynamic. The best way to protect your hair is to use something like AquaGuard in your hair before putting your cap on or use a shampoo and conditioner that helps neutralize it after you swim. Some people also say that rinsing your hair through with fresh water before you put your cap on can help to keep the chlorinated water from absorbing in your hair as much. Good job on the improvements by the way!
https://www.amazon.com/AquaGuard-Pre-Swim-Hair-Defense-Bottle/dp/B01BMYYHAG/ref=sr_1_3?crid=WTDJ9NHR5P2V&keywords=aquaguard+pre+swim+hair+defense&qid=1567532843&s=gateway&sprefix=aquagua,aps,167&sr=8-3&th=1
Thank you so much for the support and the hair advice! I'll go straight to Amazon and look that up 0 -
tracybear86 wrote: »Some people also say that rinsing your hair through with fresh water before you put your cap on can help to keep the chlorinated water from absorbing in your hair as much.
I do this, plus I have a coconut oil and an argan oil light hair spray for after showering. Change it up each day lol.
That is an awesome time win as well! congrats!
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i stopped coloring my hair when i start swimming heavily for the season2
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Just adding that I made a new personal record today - 60 laps / 1.5km. Slowly building up to 2km. I'm no longer exhausted by the end, just a bit jelly like with tired eyes (must get goggles). It's progress.2
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awesome work!
-yes, get goggles!!
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No goggles??!! Change that fast! 1 -
Ugh! How do you swim that far without goggles! My nose piece broke halfway through my swim one day and I was like "Welp, I guess I am done for the day!". Moral of the story...have a backup pair.
I bet your times get even better once you grab some!2 -
tracybear86 wrote: »Ugh! How do you swim that far without goggles! My nose piece broke halfway through my swim one day and I was like "Welp, I guess I am done for the day!". Moral of the story...have a backup pair.
I bet your times get even better once you grab some!
Lol, you're all right, the reason I *had* to stop last time was my eyes hurting, and they weren't right for about 12 hours afterwards! Will have a concerted look for them in the morning before my next swim 0
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