Hey everyone!

FitMama2013

Hey! I thought it would be easier to have a group instead of a thread to find I'm sorry I've been slacking on posting challenges - back on track this week!

This week's challenges:

200 free for time - this will gauge where we all are!

16 X 25s fly on the fastest interval you can make.

As always, please post your results if you'd like

BrettPGH

Hey there!

I swim 4-5 days a week in the mornings at my local Y for 45 minutes to an hour. It's helped me lose a ton of weight and really helps me start my day off right!

TroyBa

I like the group idea! I'll pick up the 200 tomorrow.

Misiaxcore

Yay a swimming group

Ironically I was doing 200s yesterday. Does that count ?

BrettPGH

See I'm not a "real" swimmer.. I don't know from 100's and 200's and the like.

I just swim freestyle up and down the lane for as close to an hour as I can. I don't do flip turns, I need a second to catch my breath at the end of each lap. But I get better everyday!

FitMama2013

See I'm not a "real" swimmer.. I don't know from 100's and 200's and the like.

I just swim freestyle up and down the lane for as close to an hour as I can. I don't do flip turns, I need a second to catch my breath at the end of each lap. But I get better everyday!

you're a "real" swimmer if you get in the pool glad to hear you're improving more and more each day. some of us here have monthly yardage goals (or timed goals) to try and hit, so that's always an idea too! 1 lap is 25 yards (or meters, not sure which kind of pool you swim in), so when we talk about a 100 it's 4 laps, or a 200 is 8 laps.

so, the challenge this week is to swim 8 laps as fast as we can and see what our time is. in a few weeks, we'll do the 200 (8 laps) again and see how much we've improved.

the other challenge is 16 X 25s butterfly (so 16 laps, but we stop at the end of each lap) on a fast interval. do you have a clock where you swim? if so, an example would be to do the 16 X 25s on 30 seconds (you can do freestyle). so, you have 30 seconds to do each lap - if it takes you 15 seconds to do the lap, then you get 15 seconds rest. if it takes 20 seconds, then you rest 10, and then go again on the 30. does that make sense?

there's a place for everyone in this group, so if you have a specific goal in mind (swim 5 hours a week, 50,000 yards a month, etc) then post it here so we can support each other

Icewolf_The

And so if it takes me longer than 30 seconds to do the lap then I'm doing 16 straight? Which isn't a problem. I can do 16 straight. Just.

Hello Usually swim half a mile at clip. Part of training for sprint Tri. Well that and I like swimming. Hard part now is getting in the water at 46F *chatters*

sara709

See I'm not a "real" swimmer.. I don't know from 100's and 200's and the like.

I just swim freestyle up and down the lane for as close to an hour as I can. I don't do flip turns, I need a second to catch my breath at the end of each lap. But I get better everyday!

I'm with you! :drinker: I try to swim 1 - 3 times a week for 45 - 60 mins. I'm pretty new at it so I'm not great but I feel like I'm getting better each time I go. It's good to know some people are in the same boat.

Thanks to @emswanson for clearing up what all the jargon means :flowerforyou: My goal is to get in on some of these challenges!

electriq

Hi Everyone,

Great to see the swimmers group here (nice move from the thread). I'm pretty busy again with my studies just at the moment, but I'm still swimming about 3 times a week, just not posting much. I'll see how I go with the 200 and post my time. Not sure whether I'll do the other challenge or not, will see. I've officially started training for my first triathlon and it feels really good not to be too worried about the swim which really wouldn't have been the case just a few months ago. I really appreciate all the support and community I have felt from the swimmer's thread, thanks guys, and I look forward to getting to know more of you.

Now, where's the pool?

bluemist248

I love the pool! I go twice a week out of term time, but whilst I'm at uni I only get to go once a week. I aim for 40-50 non-stop lengths each week. A few months ago I could only manage 32 lengths so I'm slowly improving Can't say I've ever worked it out to distances, purely because I use a waterproof lap counter in the pool so I record in lengths and timings.

redstuff

Yipppeeee! A swimming group! I swim (usually) 3 days a week at the Y with a masters group. We've got a good coach & he's really helping me improve! I'm pretty slow. I didn't start swimming regularly until last year. I had to find something else to do besides run b/c my knees couldn't take the constant pounding anymore. I still run, but not too much. Swimming has been a great way to burn calories and work out with friends.

bregalad5

I've had to cut back on my swimming due to not being able to get to the gym as often since I started working. I've increased my running and decreased my swimming. Had to choose and running took the cake because of upcoming races.

Thanks from me as well for clearing up the jargon I'm also one who calls a full down and back a lap instead of one length. So my 25 yd pool is a 50 yd lap. That's how my swim coach taught us when I did swim team, so forgive me if I type it out wrong!

As for where I am: I tend to do breaststroke, as it's my most comfy stroke and gets my HR just as high as freestyle. My average mile time is 55 minutes. Yeah, I'm pretty slow :embarassed:

delilah514

Hi everyone! I was very excited when I saw the swimmers group. I have been trying to motivate myself to get back in the pool. Have been out due to a sore neck/shoulder & it hurts worse if I swim to much. Sucks since swimming is my favorite! I need to get back into it though as I want to do the 2K swim in Sydney Harbour this year (did the 1K the last 2 years) so time to get back in the water & get training again

spottedlee

Hi, I am Lee. I have a question for you.....

I am more of endurance swimmer, not racing for time but take it easy and in doing so, I can swim the whole hour without stopping. Now here's the problem I have. I can't do challenge cuz of my shoulder injuries 11 years ago and the only strokes that works for me wihout geting pains is back stroke.

So which is better,, racing for time or endurance?

A bit of myself,, I swam in local swim team as a teenager. Went to college on swim scholarship. but alas, broke my ankle just before swim season started! that was 35 years ago... I never went back to lap swim again until about a month ago. My daughter was surprised that it didn't take long to do what I am doing,, I would kept on swimming and she would stop every few hundred yard and still can't figure out how I kept on going for a hour... oh well,, Like me, she swam in high school team.

You guys can add me to friends, keep in mind,, all those WTG awesome burn, blah blah without really meaning it is NOT acceptable in my view..... I like it when someome means it,, like one person (bless her heart),, she would say,, 'YOU HAD ICE CREAM AGAIN??!!" Now that is my kind of encouragement! :bigsmile:

Take care gang!

Dory_42

Hi

I am new to MFP, but really keen to get back into a healthy lifestyle. I have some knee challenges which limit exercise options but I have always been a water baby and that is great for knees, so I plan to get back into swimming. I swim in the sea as I prefer it to some pool I have to pay for that is stuck in some building, and you never know what you will see when at the beach. I have no idea of distance though, so will not take part in any challenges based on that. My first goal is to swim at least three times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes each time... My bigger goal is to swim the local Mile early next year! I live in South Africa so summer is just starting and it is perfect timing to get into the ocean!!

FitMama2013

Hey everyone!

CaptainBoing - welcome! I have knee issues as well, so swimming is great for me...so jealous you are able to swim outside though! I think your 3 times a week for 30 minutes goal is a great start, so good luck

Lee - to answer your question, in my opinion I think both are great for different things. I think you should do what you enjoy most - for me, I get super bored after about 400 yards so I choose to do smaller sets where I really work on speed, but I think it would also benefit me to throw in some longer, endurance type swims. I know some people who swim for 2 hours and never stop and love it. So I think it's your personal preference. If you're asking about weight loss though, again, I think there's a place for both, but probably working on speed would be a great thing to do since it's like intervals on the treadmill - burns more calories! Either way, I'm so glad you're back in the pool after so long!

Delilah - I'm so sorry about your injury, but hopefully you can get back in the water with less pain soon. I think you have a great goal, though!

NicoWoodruff

Hi everyone! I'm new to the group.. YAY I FOUND THE SWIMMERS!

I was a lifeguard as a teen and I LOVE to swim. In recent time I've been getting back to it gradually. I started water exercise classes at my new local aqua center and I love it. After working up to it, I can finally swim 10 laps again (sidestroke, backstroke, elementary backstroke).

I was never a very fast swimmer, but for me swimming feels closest thing I can imagine to flying. It makes me very happy, the pool is/has always been a very peaceful and tranquil place to me.

Best wishes!

spottedlee

I was never a very fast swimmer, but for me swimming feels closest thing I can imagine to flying. It makes me very happy, the pool is/has always been a very peaceful and tranquil place to me.

Welcome Nico, You described it very well! I view the pool as my home. I hate doing the dry land stuff.

NicoWoodruff

Thanks spottedlee!

At my pool, there's more classes available on Mon/Wed/Fri than there is Tue/Thur so.. I try to go at least twice a week on a Mon/Wed/or Fri and usually I get in an hour of mild aerobics in the cold water (class title: "Morning Fit"), and 2 hours of gentle stretching in the warm water (class title: "Warm Water Exercise")

And when I'm done with all that, if there's no one in the lanes I try to do 10 laps which include sidestroke (hard, but fun for me), modified back stroke (easy for me), regular back stroke (somewhere in between easy and hard) as well as 3 minutes or more of treading water.

I love to tread water. Back in my lifeguard days they called me "The Tread Water Queen" because I had no problem with the requirements with treading water, in fact unlike most of my classmates back then I could double (or more) the time required with water treading. I just seem to have a body style that's made for it.

I do dry land exercising too but I find the more I do in the water, the more graceful I am on land. After awhile moving normally in air starts feeling like moving in the water does, more fluid and graceful.

lucor001

Hi,
I'm new to MFP (about a month now) and I'm a 4X week swimmer. I swim because I can't really tolerate other forms of exercise (I'm a couch potato ). I know that sounds bad, but I enjoy swimming, I don't enjoy elliptical machines or weights. I never was a really good swimmer - although I did learn as a kid. Now it's 20+ years later and I want to improve my fitness, and hopefully become a better swimmer in the process. I live in MN where lakes abound, so during the summer at least being a decent swimmer has it's advantages. So far I've been working through Ruth Kazez' 0 to 1650 in 6 weeks site:
http://ruthkazez.com/swimming/SwimWorkouts/ZeroTo1mile.html
and I'm on week 6 so I feel like I'm making progress (my first day I thought I was going to die after 275 yards).

I'm hoping I can get some new ideas here that will help me establish my next goals so I don't lose interest. I'm also hoping to get faster (my 100yd time is pretty slow - 190 seconds) but I think that will come if I do some form of interval training.

Mostly I'm just hoping to chat with like minded people and continue making progress on losing weight! - oh and I really look forward to trying the "challenges". Even if I can't come close to doing them, that's OK .

tiedye

Hello Swimmers!

I swim 4 days a week at the Y. I used to be a lifeguard but you only have to swim a 500 for the lifeguard cert, and I thought that was hard at the time. Now my goal is to swim a mile at each gym session and depending on my asthma it takes 45-60 minutes to swim 72 lengths (1800 yards) and then if I still have energy I'll swim to 80 or 90 lengths. My goals are to swim 15 miles in January and 100 lengths in one session. I can't do flip turns, I can't swim butterfly, and I don't swim backstroke because my heart doesn't beat hard enough. So I'm a very basic swimmer. I love it though, I love that I don't listen to music when I swim so it's quiet and peaceful and it DOES feel close to flying.

I record it in a google doc, and put notes about anything that affected my workout that day. I hate the weekends because the gym is crowded and there are classes taking up valuable pool space! I don't have lap lanes until 12:30 today

Nice to meet ya'll!

NicoWoodruff

>depending on my asthma it takes 45-60 minutes to swim 72 lengths (1800 yards) and then if I still have energy I'll swim to 80 or 90 lengths. My goals are to swim 15 miles in January and 100 lengths in one session. I can't do flip turns, I can't swim butterfly, and I don't swim backstroke because my heart doesn't beat hard enough. So I'm a very basic swimmer. I love it though, I love that I don't listen to music when I swim so it's quiet and peaceful and it DOES feel close to flying.

Thanks for this tiedye, (btw I have asthma too, heriditary/childhood onset acute environmental/viral type)

Anyway, thanks for the yards calculation, I had forgotten and I had been wondering how to calculate that. Makes sense why I felt it important to be able to do at least the 10 laps (500 yards) again. I think I'm more basic than you! Backstroke does get my heart pumping but I use the backstrokes to cool down from the sidestroke. I also can't swim butterfly and although I can do crawl or breast stroke I prefer to do them modified if I do them at all.. although between those two I like modified breast stroke and have been using some of those type movements again more in my classes.

And yea, there's a bit of an uneasy peace sometimes at my pool too between the class folks and the other swimmers although at least at mine we have a whole separate competition pool for laps anytime if you qualify for it. (ours is 3 pools in all, the regular cold pool with a few lanes, warm water cove, and competition) I do laps in the cold pool only when lanes are open, I've never been confident enough to deal with that whole lane sharing thing, I feel too likely to be "all over my lane".

The tension at my pool is just one guy really who resents how many classes take place in the warm water "Cove" even though he's fine to come in and work out while we're in classes.. apparently it's right at the time of day when he'd really like to have the cove to himself. And I can sort of understand having had it all to myself once or twice on a slow day, that was heaven.

Nice chatting with other swimmers!

scoobydoojoe

Glad to find this group. I hate running and at my size it is hard on the joints and causes pain, even though I don't have any specific ailments to keep me from other exercise.

The Y near me has an Olympic sized pool, each lap is 25 yards. A mile swim is approximately 36 laps, or 72 lengths.

I swim 3 times a week, 2 of them right after weight lifting, and 1 where it is just swimming and nothing else. This morning I was able to do 18 laps, or 1/2 a mile, in 32 minutes, stopping once to put on my glasses and check the clock and then go again. 2 weeks ago when I started swimming regularly, I was barely able to do 2 laps without stopping to catch my breath, and 5 in a session.

What I have been doing is 1 lap breast stroke, 1 lap free style. Occasionally i substitute a side stroke lap for a free style lap. When it comes time to put my cardio into MFP, I just split the time it took me in half and give breast stroke half, give freestyle half.

Glad to have a place where swimming is the primary cardio discussed, rather than running. I do still have 2 days a week when I do other cardio, but swimming is where all my goals oriented pushing is coming from.

At my Y, 6:30-7:30 in the morning there is maybe 1 other person in the pool. I do my swim days before work so I avoid the circus that the pool becomes later.

tiedye

Hey nice to meet you scoobydoojoe, I too am happy there is a group who swims, as I don't hardly run at all, and I get so bored on the elliptical.

Today I got called off work because we didn't have any patients, so I swam at 7-8 am. What a great time to swim! I wish I could always go early, it's so invigorating.

scoobydoojoe

Good way to use your day off tiedye. I managed 24 laps non stop doing my alternating stroke routine, took 42 minutes. I need to get better at kicking during the freestyle, and my new swim goggles might help speed me up as right now I have to keep wiping my eyes to see anything. The goggles should be here by Friday's swim workout.

FinallyFindingLisa

So happy to have found this group! I am not a great swimmer but I am dedicated! I started swimming because I have a bad knee and everything else (even walking the grocery store) causes me extreme pain. I'll be getting a knee replacement soon but wanted to do something to keep my weight loss on track. I've been swimming 3-5 times a week for a month or so now. I recently bought a waterproof mp3 player and the hour swimming just flies by now! Looking foward to seeing the challenges and perhaps some time this year being fast/strong enough to participate in them.

tiedye

How much was your waterproof mp3 player? i've seen people with those and considered it. I kind of like the silence of swimming, but someday I might get bored and want some tunes. Or to block out the jazzercise type music of the water aerobics class.

FinallyFindingLisa

I paid $60 for it, shipping & handling were free, I think. Divermp3.com. Other than it takes a little fiddling around to get iTunes converted to mp3 (there's a free shareware download you can use) it's great.

tinkermommc

I'm so excited to find a group of swimmers!! I've been swimming and it seems that runners monopolize the other conversations. But there are more swimmers!!

Okay so me. I was a pool rat that turned lifeguard. So I was in the pool from 8(can't believe my mom let me ride my bike 2 miles to the pool!) until I was 19. And I was in great shape. 19, I broke my neck in a car accident, I'm fine but lots of different exercises would make my neck sore. So I just stopped. So I'm back in the pool and losing the weight. I haven't tried to dive yet(scares me) and I can only breaststroke for now. But I'm hoping if I do that long enough I can build up those neck muscles and then I can do everything again. So I'm 32 and swimming through my daughter's swim lesson! She loves it and can swim to the flags, I think she's going to be a swimmer too!!