60sPanda Member

I generally swim in a fasted state - like Aquatic its because I swim first thing in the morning. I don't even have a drink of water before I swim, so I am properly "fasted"! On the weekends I don't eat before swimming and normally just have a cup of tea first. I really couldn't comment on how it affects the body as I…

I think I need to get some fins - my kicks are non-existent. Never heard of the forearm fulcrum things - will get googling.

Good morning - trying to incorporate the flip turns (every over turn) is taking it out of me! I know I am working extra hard as my face is beetroot after a swim session, where as it was only like that for the first 6 months I re-took up swimming. So, new goal is to be able to do flip turns without a red face at the end of…

Well done Robertus - now you know you can do it it will be easier next time!

Swam two miles in exactly one hour yesterday. Another two miles this morning, slightly slower as threw in a few flip turns (got to start somewhere) and a few breast/back lengths too. Felt good after not swimming all week as not near a pool.

No swimming until Saturday for me now - off to Madrid with work and no pool in the hotel. Will be trying to do more flip turns on Saturday though - thanks for the advice McStraw - I will follow it.

Zoggs ladies air fusion goggles are the best thing that ever happened to my swimming! They are tiny and very light - I don't know how they stay on but they are brilliant. Even doing a 5km swim I never have to adjust them and they don't leave any marks round my eyes.

Yes! Yes! yes - 5km in 1 hour and 40 minutes!!! At last I have done it. And that included tiny rests after each km :) Now to do this with flip turns - that's going to take some time as flip turns drain me.

The way I built up to three stroke breathing was to spend some time two stroke breathing, but one lap to the left and the next lap to the right to get used to breathing on the "wrong side". Now its as natural as anything, but my first breath is always a righthander.

GentlyGently - If you want a land based exercise then Thai Chi is a very good choice - good for the core and overall co-ordination and gentle on the joints. You will also be very surprised at how much energy it takes for such a peaceful looking (but deadly) martial art.

Bruce is racing past me as well - I am on 33.4 miles so far this year. What's worse is that there are quite a few days in Feb where I am travelling and the hotels don't have pools. I think I will have to do some marathon weekends just to get back on track.

Girlwithgirls - that is brilliant. Well done - pushing yourself to go the extra lap is so rewarding and before you know it you will be doing longer and longer sets.

Yeah - 5 km swum in 1 hour and 41 minutes. Just got to shave off one minute to reach my goal!!

Been having shorter swims the past couple of days (30 mins only) as need to get into work a little earlier than normal. It just doesn't feel right.

I lost 44 lbs by calorie counting and swimming for exercise.

Yesterday and this morning did 2km in 40 mins, then a 5 min cool down. Felt good. Thanks for the tips McStraw on kicking - I know I have a fairly good speed, but its all in the arms as my kicks are really, really weak. I too shall look up that video and get my kickboard to the pool with me from now on.

Bruceapple - I think I will join you on this one - currently at 12.17/365

Just had a peak and this looks good. Will read it more thoroughly when I have some spare minutes.

Great goals Noel - mine are: " Swim 200m butterfly nonstop (this might be beyond me...) " Build up to a five stroke breathe for crawl " Swim 5km in 1 hour and 40 mins * Finally do some wild swimming somewhere!

Thanks for the comments - I am doing a 5km charity swim in April and really want to complete it around the 1 hour 40 mark. Now if I can just do the additional 2km in 40 minutes I will be spot on.... Hope to get the time to do a 5k practice over the weekend so will see how that goes. Been in the pool again the past 3…

I am with gentlygently on this - I am in the UK mainly use a private gym pool where there are 3 lanes for slow, medium and fast and we all circle swim. This morning there were 5 of us in the fast lane for a bit and it worked. Also used a couple of public pools in lap sessions and again, circle swimming with lanes for each…

Hello Ambymaries and welcome. Go for the lessons - I had some one-on-one tuition last summer to brush up technique and it was brilliant. Looking forward to seeing you on here.

Morning everyone - I have been swimming regularly while I haven't been on the site, but will be reporting swimming as normal from today onwards. Good news over the holidays in the I achieved a PB and swam 3 km in exactly 1 hour. Very pleased with that.

Did 1.5km of back and breast stroke this morning. Was not able to do any crawl or fly as when I lifted my right arm out of the water I got an annoying shooting pain in my bicep. Think that was linked to the weird variations on push ups that we were doing in kung fu the other night. Hope its OK by my next swim on Saturday.

Mixed in 6 20m Lengths of fly this morning. Felt very good. What is surprising is that after a length of fly, crawl seems soooo much easier. Aiming for 8 tomorrow.

Thanks Noel - I finally learnt how to do the fly over the summer and only attempted it a few times in my pool because a) I didn't want people to think I was showing off and b) its soooo splashy and needs room. But I was talking with a swimming friend last night who does fly a lot and he said just go for it and don't worry…

Good morning - haven't posted my swims on here for an age but have still been swimming most days. Thought I would attempt the fly again this morning after not tackling it for a few months. Managed 3x20m lengths which is good for me (with backstroke in between). Tomorrow am aiming to do 5 lengths.

Well done Clive - that's fantastic! Back in the pool this morning for a 45 min swim for the first time since last week. Had to go to Ireland for a funeral which, as you can imagine, isn't the best but it was a good send-off. Put on a few pounds as well due to me not refusing to partake in Irish hospitality, so am…

1 mile free this morning in 31 minutes. I seem to be stuck at that time. After that swam back and breast for another half hour.

Macstraw - good to hear you had a lane to yourself. This morning I had the ENTIRE pool to myself! Normally Wednesday's are busy, so I have no idea what was going on today. So, I spent the entire swim luxuriating in the middle lane and swam 800m back and 800m breast.