swimming

Hi guys, I'm looking for some advice from any swimmers out there.

I have signed up to use the local council pools which is very handy because there's one across the road from my office and I can go on my lunchbreak (being a dad of a tiny person limits how much I can get out in the evenings so i'm trying to get some exercise in without it impacting on home life) ANYWAY . . . .

I was really enjoying swimming, mixing up breaststroke and freestyle, but lately, I've found it really quite boring - I'm not sure if I might have reached a plateau. I've stopped feeling after a swim like I've had a good workout.

I'd like to keep at it because it's convenient but I'm feeling like it's a bit of a waste of time going if I'm just burning empty calories - does anybody have any suggestions for me?

Thanks a million.

Hi- swimming is just like any other sport in that you can hit a plateau. I find the trick is to treat it like running or cycling and have different days for differetn things eg intervals, long distance, skill/form work.  Look on triathletes world or 220 triathlon websites or get a triathlon magazine as these have lots of plans and advice for sets you can do. Triathlon generally involves trying to get the best workout from minimal time so tri sites and mags are really good tools.  If you can front crawl (which it sounds like you can) then keep it up as this is a great way of improving your general fitness as the  technique involved massively improves your breathing. I would find a plan that involves using toys such as fins, a snorkel or paddles as it allieviates boredom and makes it more challenging.  You can also do intervals in a pool to liven things up.  Swimming can get boring but there are ways to make it more interesting and challenging!

I love swimming, but I agree, it can get boring. I just wish I could listen to music/watch tv while swimming!

That's a great idea Evil Fred. I never thought about checking out a triathletes' site. I suppose the amount of time a triathlete has to give to swimming is minimal - good thinking.

Hi Beth, you can actually get headphones to listen to music while swimming! The wonders of technology . . .

Ah brilliant! I might have to invest in some of these! Thanks.

I'd never heard of them either - will have to have a look for some tonight. I've done lots of running recently, so going to ease of on the legs for a bit with some swimming.

I do a lot of swimming and can relate to getting bored doing lengths in the pool, particualrly at the moment as I am ramping up the distance.  My longest swim last week was 4 hours!

Here's a few things that I do:

1) Arrange to swim with friends.  Even though you can't talk when in the water, you will encourage each other to keep going as nobody likes to be the first one to stop!

2) I go to Masters swimming classes that are held at my gym.  They are aimed at people who can swim for around an hour but who want to improve their speed or technique.  It really breaks up the session to be doing sprint work (I use the term loosely) and different drills as well as more than one stroke.

3) If I can't get to a masters class then I follow a training plan.  Sometimes they leave the one up from the previous masters class, but otherwise I take one along from www.swimplan.com and follow that as closely as possible.  You tell the website a little about yourself - speed, strokes you can swim, length of your pool etc - and it creates a swim session customised for you.

4) Get out of the pool and into the open water.  There are loads of places in the UK where you can swim for free.  Have a look at www.wildswim.com for a location near you.  If you are new to open water and worried about safety and the cold then take a look at www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com for some tips.  You can even find other like mided swimmers in your area if you join their facebook page.

5) For motivation it might help you if you had a goal to work towards.  Why not have a look around for swims in your area?  There are various charity ones that you can do from your own pool, or you could give an open water event a go.

I've always enjoyed swimming and I found it became boring and I really hated public swimming baths.  So I've recently taken to inviting my mum along and it really helps to have some company, I also swim with music it's a really good motivator.  I've also cut back on my swimming so I don't tire of it I try and mix in some other sports I enjoy throughout the week.  Running is always a sport you can easily fit into a busy routine- it helps clear your head too! 

Hi Helen, that's a good idea. I'd love to listen to music whilst swimming but I have no idea how i'd do it in public because I couldn't really take an ipod dock to the side of the pool and obviously couldnt go in the pool with my ipod. How do you do it Helen? x x x x

This is really useful advice - thank you! I'm going to try point number 4 

You're brave happy_healthy_life! I couldn't swim in open water, my friend has spotted basking sharks in the waters near where I live and with the water being so dark I think I'd be too scared- the fear of the unknown would definitely take over! I'll stick to swimming pools thanks! haha

Oh my! That's scary! Definitely not trying this after all!

Basking Sharks - no way - where abouts do you live? I would not like the idea of swimming in dark waters, esepecially if there was a possibility of sharks...

Basking sharks are totally docile, wouldn't hurt a fly!

Haha soooo scary.

Open water swimming is a lot more interesting. When I was up in cumbria last my girlfriend told me about this sport people do where they on a hike, seal all their gear in a waterproof bag and wear a wetsuit. AThey then basically hike the fells, go down to the lake swim it before hiking up the other end. It sounded very cool.

Still wouldn't like the idea of one swimming next to me in dark waters...

An average adult basking shark reaches 6-8 metres! as if- I'll take a swimming pool any day

Went for an openwater swim yesterday to pratice for my upcoming aquathlon - really glad I did. It was totally different from swimming in the pool, no doubt partly because of all the discussions we've had about basking sharks in this forum. You couldn't see more that a couple of feet in front of you under the water so I was convinced that at some point I would see either a great white, a piranha or the girl from "what lies beneath" coming towards me.

Need to get another practice session in before the event to try and subdue some of my worries cos I ended up creating my own swimming stroke so that I didn't have to put my head under the water (if you can't see her, she can't get you), which ended up as some sort of cross between breaststroke and doggy paddle. 

I therefore suspect that there is some degree of likelihood that I won't win on Sunday.

Haha that's hilarious. I'd be so scared though -I'm laughing now but that does actually sound quite creepy!