Anyone up for a swimming challenge?

FitMama2013
FitMama2013 Posts: 913 Member
edited October 1 in Motivation and Support
Hi everyone! Swimming is my primary form of exercise and I'm looking for a few people to swim along with me. My August goal is 50,000 yards and I'm wondering if anyone else would like an accountability partner for swimming? I'm hoping to increase to 55,000 yards in September, but it doesn't matter how far or how long you swim, just that you're in the water.

If you're not up for the challenge, but are interested in swimming and want to friend me, please feel free!
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Replies

  • GladImTall
    GladImTall Posts: 65 Member
    i'm IN! I swim 3-4 times a week, usually for about an hour each. depending on what kind of drills or workout my workout buddy and I do- we usually average about 4K yards per swim... Friend me and we'll work out the details?
  • FitMama2013
    FitMama2013 Posts: 913 Member
    Looks like it's just you and me so far - I'm thinking we could do small challenges every week, like 4 X 100 free on the fastest interval you can make, or 8 X 25 kick underwater with no breath. Do you think that would be better than yardage challenges? We could take turns posting some challenges at the beginning of the week and report how we do! Just a thought...let me know what you're thinking!
  • boyflowerbird
    boyflowerbird Posts: 29
    i am in. .. like the idea of the themed challenges vs. the yardage (you kill me with 3000+!!!).

    cool! thanks for doing this. . . it'll be a good way to shake things up.
  • stelid
    stelid Posts: 60
    I'm in! I swam in high school and on and off in college (I just graduated). I love the set idea 4X100s, etc. I usually try to get at least 2,000 yards in per hour of swimming. Its been a few months now, so I might be a little slow now--but I want to get back into it!!
  • FitMama2013
    FitMama2013 Posts: 913 Member
    Woohooo we're up to 4 of us now! I know the week is already halfway over, but let's see if we can get a challenge in this week. How about we start with the 4 X 100 free on the fastest interval you can make. To hold each other accountable, let's post on here once we've completed it, and if you want to include how you did then feel free! For me, I think it will help motivate me to keep pushing harder if I know I have to post times on here :) But that's just me - y'all do whatever works for you.

    Starting next week we'll do 2 challeges per week, if y'all think that's a good number. Let me know if y'all have a set you want the group to do!!

    Also - is anyone interested in monthly yardage or time goals? I'll post my progress on here towards my monthly goal because I think it will help me stay accountable to y'all, but again, if that's not your thing then don't worry about it :)

    Let me know if y'all have ideas on how we can encourage each other when swimming in pools across the country!
  • GladImTall
    GladImTall Posts: 65 Member
    Sounds good! I've really only picked up swimming a year or so ago- mostly for exercise- so the speed work will be a fun change!

    So- that being said- I'm still learning the 'lingo'... a 4X100 free at the fastest interval you can make... do you want our fastest time out of all 4 sets or an average? Or- do you want us to list our times on each 100?
  • TroyBa
    TroyBa Posts: 57 Member
    I'm in for a swimming challenge! I like the weekly challenge and the total yardage/meters per month ideas. Swimming is my daily exercise and I'm training for a few open water swims coming up at the end of this month.
  • FitMama2013
    FitMama2013 Posts: 913 Member
    Awesome - welcome Troy! And GladImTall - sorry about the lingo :) I'm going to do the set on an interval of 1:25 per 100 - so, if it takes me 1:23 to do each 100 I only get 2 seconds rest before I do the next 100, but if I go 1:15 then I get 10 seconds rest before I go again. This set is short, but really good because you're basically sprinting as hard as you can and getting a little bit of rest. I'm going to try to hold 1:18 or better on each of the four 100s. Once I'm finished I'll post times for each of my 100s here so when I repeat the set in a few weeks I'll see how I progressed (and can hopefully do them on 1:20 interval next time). If you don't want to post times, then you can just post that you completed the challenge!

    Be sure to check the thread weekly because I'll post the new challenges on Sunday! If you have ideas for a challenge you'd like to do, please send it my way :)

    If you have a yardage goal per month, please post it here so we can hold each other accountable! My goal for August is 50,000 yards and I'm currently at 22,400. Gotta get my butt moving if I'm going to make it! I'm going to update my yardage on Sundays, so I encourage y'all to do the same if you're tracking it (or minutes in the pool, whatever you're tracking).

    As always, any other ideas on how we can do this are welcome!
  • TroyBa
    TroyBa Posts: 57 Member
    I'm planning on swimming the 4x100m @1:30 intervals tomorrow morning and I'll post my results. My goal for this month is to hit 60,000 meters by Sept. 1st, I'm currently at 39,000 with 21000 to go!
  • DelightfullyWifed
    DelightfullyWifed Posts: 70
    Em I can do 4x100s tonight. These thigns I can do, i just can't do the yardage yet. Most likely I will do them on 1:30 and see what i can hold.

    :)
  • TroyBa
    TroyBa Posts: 57 Member
    Finished the first challenge by swimming the 4x100 m @1:30! I've been concentrating on distance for upcoming open water swims so it was a nice change of pace to sprint a little. ;)
  • FitMama2013
    FitMama2013 Posts: 913 Member
    Great job Troy! How far is your open water swim? You're much braver than I am - I stick with chlorine where I can see the bottom, haha :) But what an accomplishment to swim outdoors!
  • stelid
    stelid Posts: 60
    I did the 4X100s on the 1:45 (don't laugh!). I could not believe how hard that was for me. I am glad I did it though. :)
  • emmabeckemeyer1
    emmabeckemeyer1 Posts: 298 Member
    I want to join! My name is Emma
    I will swim my 4X100 on 1:25 this afternoon.
  • FitMama2013
    FitMama2013 Posts: 913 Member
    stelid - we all have to start somewhere, and now you know where your starting point is. In a few weeks/months you'll look back and see how much you've improved!! Great job getting back in the water and I'm glad you're happy you did it.

    Emma - welcome!! good luck this afternoon - I'm doing my 4 X 100s tomorrow morning so I'll let y'all know how it goes!
  • stelid
    stelid Posts: 60
    Does anyone have any favorite sets that they would like to share? I have always loved transitional I.M.s. I usually do 8X75 yards Transitional I.M.s (when you do 1st 75 = 25 fly, 25 back, 25 breast
    2nd 75 = 25 free, 25 fly, 25 back
    3rd 75 = 25 breast, 25 free, 25 fly
    4th 75 = 25 back, 25 breast, 25 free
    Repeat pattern alternating fly, back, breast, free, fly, back, breast, free)

    I would like to know if anyone else has any favorite sets to break up any set routine I might get.
  • TroyBa
    TroyBa Posts: 57 Member
    emswanson - I'm heading up to Seattle for the Emerald City Open Water Swim event on Saturday the 20th and I'm entered in the 1 mile class. It's my first open water event this year so we'll see how it goes. I've been swimming in 80+ degree pool water and the race site is around 70...burr.
  • mdagenb
    mdagenb Posts: 49 Member
    I'd like to join! I used to swim/play water polo in high school, and now that 6 years have gone by boy am I out of shape! I swim here and there but not like i used to and i would love to get back into it. We used to swim 10 100's on the 1:30....no way i can do that now!! I've been working my way into jogging, but id like to mix up my workouts and do a little bit of both!
  • jenrod1118
    jenrod1118 Posts: 150 Member
    I've just started swimming and will try my best to keep up with you guys each week.
  • DelightfullyWifed
    DelightfullyWifed Posts: 70
    i did my 4x100s free yesterday. I did them on 1:30 and held 1:16s on all 4. Talk about being out of breath at the end. I also use to be a 200 butterflier so I did 8x25s butterfly swim on 30 afterwards. How in the world did I use to do that straight through?! My heart was beating out of my chest when I was through with all of that.

    All in all I did a 2100 yesterday in 40 minutes. I was proud of myself! :)
  • mdagenb
    mdagenb Posts: 49 Member
    Great Job! Isn't it crazy to think about what you used to be able to do and what you can do now! Its so easy to get out of shape! Ill do 4 x 100's today after work (I have a pool at home, too bad its not a lap pool, but i just have to do a few more flip turns....my time wont necessarily be accurate from that but oh well, a work out is a work out, right? lol)
  • emmabeckemeyer1
    emmabeckemeyer1 Posts: 298 Member
    emswanson - I'm heading up to Seattle for the Emerald City Open Water Swim event on Saturday the 20th and I'm entered in the 1 mile class. It's my first open water event this year so we'll see how it goes. I've been swimming in 80+ degree pool water and the race site is around 70...burr.
    I did a triathlon in June and the water was 72...SOOOO cold. I am a strong swimmer and I was struggling the first 100 yards or so to get my breath. Are you using a wet suit?
  • emmabeckemeyer1
    emmabeckemeyer1 Posts: 298 Member
    Great Job! Isn't it crazy to think about what you used to be able to do and what you can do now! Its so easy to get out of shape! Ill do 4 x 100's today after work (I have a pool at home, too bad its not a lap pool, but i just have to do a few more flip turns....my time wont necessarily be accurate from that but oh well, a work out is a work out, right? lol)
    I feel the same way. A couple weeks ago I found a workout that my swim coach had written for me to do in 2003! I was blown away.
  • emmabeckemeyer1
    emmabeckemeyer1 Posts: 298 Member
    i did my 4x100s free yesterday. I did them on 1:30 and held 1:16s on all 4. Talk about being out of breath at the end. I also use to be a 200 butterflier so I did 8x25s butterfly swim on 30 afterwards. How in the world did I use to do that straight through?! My heart was beating out of my chest when I was through with all of that.

    All in all I did a 2100 yesterday in 40 minutes. I was proud of myself! :)
    1:16 good job!
  • boyflowerbird
    boyflowerbird Posts: 29
    I will do my 4x100's tomorrow a.m. and I bet it'll be on the 2:00 mark. I am slow. I have been swimming consistently since April, but I have been focusing on long, slow swims b/c I started out very out of shape. I adopted the total immersion technique and it is very efficient and relaxing. I think, though, that is affecting my ability to kick it on these test sets. We'll see in the a.m. I did a test set of 50 frees on Tuesday and I was swimming 50 in like 50 seconds. . . Ugh, I used to be in the 20's.

    I am looking forward to the pool tomorrow for sure. I'll let ya'll know how it goes.

    Also - I am swimming an open water 1 mile race on Aug 27th. I am nervous about lake water, too, Em, but I guess that will make me want to finish faster if it freaks me out. I noticed the times last year weren't that all intimidating, so I hope I will at least feel like a part of the pack anyway. I think the water here will be warmer than in Seattle, thank goodness (I'm in NC).

    Happy swimmin'.
  • FitMama2013
    FitMama2013 Posts: 913 Member
    mdagenb and jenrod1118 - welcome! we're glad to have y'all :) no worries if you just started swimming or haven't been in the pool for awhile - we're all trying to get back into swimming and this is a fun way to do it!

    boyflowerbird - I think it's great you started off with longer swims working on your technique. That will help you soooooo much in the long run! Now that you've got a base built up, these test sets should really help with your speed. Be prepared to feel like you're dying though - at least I do :) But it feels so good when I'm finished!

    TroyBa - good luck with your swim! It sounds like you're in great shape so I'm sure you'll have no problems with your mile. Just enjoy the different scenery when you're taking a breath :) Hahaha.

    HonestyismyDiet - SUPER impressed with the 1:16s - you're a CHAMP! I guess you never lost that closing ability on the 200 fly :) It's funny you did the 8 X 25s fly on :30 because one of the challenges next week is 16 X 25s on :30 (or whatever interval you choose), so you're already ahead of the game! I did it this morning and it was rough, but I did better than I expected and was really excited I finished them all! Must have been that glass of white sangria I had with dinner that fueled me :)

    I'm so excited there are 9 of us doing this together!!!! Be sure and post when you've done the challenge for this week :)
  • DelightfullyWifed
    DelightfullyWifed Posts: 70
    i did my 4x100s free yesterday. I did them on 1:30 and held 1:16s on all 4. Talk about being out of breath at the end. I also use to be a 200 butterflier so I did 8x25s butterfly swim on 30 afterwards. How in the world did I use to do that straight through?! My heart was beating out of my chest when I was through with all of that.

    All in all I did a 2100 yesterday in 40 minutes. I was proud of myself! :)
    1:16 good job!

    THANKS! It's just hard to get your mind in a place were you aren't like "That SUCKED!" haha! I was trying soooooo hard on those and to think that was a time I could do with trying any day of the week at practice just blows my mind. I need to figure out how to wrap my mind around that I am no longer a "swimmer" and someone that is swimming to work out now. It will come I know, just need a bit more time.

    Thanks Emily! How'd your 100s go? That's funny about the 25s! That's okay I will probably do that many freestyle. My arms were barely making it out of the water after 8 butterfly. Hard to believe that I would do that over and over again no problem straight through at one point. I was just feeling good Tuesday and decided to go for the 25s. :)

    Thanks for the motivation! :)
  • GladImTall
    GladImTall Posts: 65 Member
    Argh! Arrived at the pool this morning and it was CLOSED for cleaning! I'll get some sets in this weekend fo' sho'...

    Thanks for explaining all the lingo to me :)
  • TroyBa
    TroyBa Posts: 57 Member
    Awesome job everyone!
  • FitMama2013
    FitMama2013 Posts: 913 Member
    GladImTall - I KNOW that had to be super frustrating this morning...nothing makes me madder than when the indoor pool closes for a little thunder outside. Don't they know I have a workout plan to follow? Haha

    Meghan - I made a last minute decision to wait until Saturday to do the official 4 X 100s for the week. I did them on Tuesday and wanted to wait a few days in between! I did the 25s fly instead as my test set today - I'll let you know how they go on Saturday!

    As a side note - if y'all haven't checked out Meghan's blog http://honestyismydiet.blogspot.com/ then you DEFINITELY should read her post today. VERY inspiring!!!!
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