It's summer, go swim in the sea... put some fins on, and you can do 10kms in ~ 1.5hrs

I used to swim ~2km in a pool 3-4 times a week (winter).
1.- Farking boring in the pool.
2.- It's harder than the sea.
3.- Chlorine.
4.- Bastards in your lane.

If you're a self learner, you can correct your own form to an extent, ie not Thorpedo level.

southace said...
Sea
1.- Farking exciting getting chased by sharks. get real
2.- jellyfish irganji and box jellyfish. Bluebottles... but you should see them with a mask on.
3.-salt in eyes and seaweed. mask.
4.-surfies cutting in on your waves! you should be past the break.

A year ago i taught myself front crawl after years of breast stroke. After a couple of months i was swimming 1000m every other evening at my local pool at Riverton. Not a lot but i was stoked with my efforts. Pools are like fight arenas, you are either too slow or too fast. And then there's the swimmers wearing swim fins who give you no mercy as they slice you up.
Fark it, now i just swim the sea, cant be doing with the rush hour at the pool. Too many champs blasting the fast lane.

Swimming is the best excercise there is I reckon. Sydney's ocean rock pools are one of the best public features. Pity we can't have them on the goldy.

I swim a lap of the superbank (with sweep, definatly not against) which is 100x more interesting than a lap pool. Fins to start, saves you going flat out and messing up your rthymn. Slow and steady and you'll find what feels efficient and comfortable.

Having said that I don't think there's a person alive that couldn't use a bit of help to tune their stroke.

Plenty of youtube videos about technique.
Try swimming with mask, snorkel and fins at first then slowly ditch the gear as you get stronger.

Beaglebuddy said...
Plenty of youtube videos about technique.
Try swimming with mask, snorkel and fins at first then slowly ditch the gear as you get stronger.

I have a terrible swim style and swim with a snorkle. I told the oldy's who asked i had a kneck injury

Forget the Bum hungrys, get yourself tri pants or a suit.

Adult squad normally have 2 types - adults learning technique - and gradually building endurance and the top end of the training ladder.
1). happy to do 50 in 50-60 secs they might swim 2.5 kms mostly less a squad.
2). unhappy if a race 400 isn't under 35-40 secs - they follow what is on the swim board - they nearly always swim 5 kms a squad

Type 1) Good starting point & as mentioned = motivation - morning squad my way = 1.5 hours from 5:30.

The SLS bronze run/swim/run = 400m in 9 minutes. For a swimmer this is easy.
For a non-swimmer / un fit this is a push.

My goal was basic endurance so 20 laps in 20 minutes (1Km) then 40 in 40 but never pushed enough to achieved 60 in 60. As mentioned use any aids which help you, obviously goggles (rub a v.light smear shampoo on inside to stop fogging). Flippers - smaller the better - hand paddles load up your shoulders - and if you are bad at pacing URself a snorkle - can use your standard one but central one is excellent.
Normally find a kickboard to use at pool - U either have it or U do not - I do not so always flipper up.
Bottom line - felt better after - suggest U set realistic goal(s) so swim for an hour with range of activities and try to improve number of laps - 5 kms for a non-swimmer (over 40-ish) is a great goal but realistically likely to take 3+ months visiting 4 times a week.
Once U have 10 laps under your togs U do not care what U R wearing..

Cheers
AP

Flysurfer did say 10km in 1.5hours with FINS on.

Turns out my local pool has a masters club with training twice a week. They say they cater from beginners to advance. Looks like this fatty is buying some dicky togs :(