Lap swimming advice needed - YouLookFab Forum

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Lap swimming advice needed

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Hiya. Does anyone swim for exercise? I'm a member of my local YMCA (joined in February; how's that for good timing?) which has opened back up. I'd joined in part to have the option of using the treadmill during the summer, as it gets really hot and humid in my new environs. I am not a sunrise runner/walker and with my work shifts, right before sunset isn't that practical either.

I'm not comfortable in the gym part of the Y yet, even with reduced capacity, since I've read so much about harder breathing in an enclosed area being one of the key determinants of passing on coronavirus. But they do have a pool in a couple of their locations, which I'd consider as the chlorine is sanitizing and you're not breathing other people's air nearly as much (correct me if I'm wrong, please). I'm a passable swimmer at best; I can keep myself from drowning and do a marginal freestyle and backstroke. But I've never done a lot of lap swimming. Is there a good way to learn? The Y offers adult lessons but say they're for someone who has never spent time in the pool before. Are there good YouTube videos, or a book? And I've never used nose clips or a swim cap - worth it? Any advice, even "no don't do that," is appreciated.

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14 replies

Latest reply was from Runcarla

Sal

Veteran

I am an average swimmer who has recently started again after a few years off. I started back at the pool before the gym as I also felt safer there.

A good cap (silicon) and goggles are a must. Plus pool slides or jandals and a costume that is comfortable and stays put. I also have a pull-buoy and flippers and might get a board.

I split my swim into 10 or 12 lengths groups and mix it up.

Eg 10 freestyle, 10 with the pull buoy, 10 with the flippers, 10 sprints etc Or 10 freestyle, 10 breaststroke, 10 freestyle, 10 breaststroke etc

I find doing 40-50 lengths of the same stroke quite challenging. I have a dodgy shoulder so backstroke is difficult for me.

Good luck - it can take a while to get in the swing of things but such a good sustainable all round exercise!!

Anonymous

Yes! Our pools aren't open yet but I love to swim Chlorine gets me really sick though so just backstroke for me. Minimum 1 mile (36 laps back and forth at my pool) but as much as 2 sometimes.

The key for me is to slow down to speed up. Remember most of the stroke is under the water, so you can move farther without much effort. Many people try to swim fast and splash a lot. Lot of wasted effort. They may be faster than me, though often times not, but tire out in a couple of laps.

I like latex caps more than silicone, they're thinner so don't feel so tight. Silicone is more durable, but really uncomfortable for me.

Runcarla

Veteran

Lots of laps swum in the past 15 years - mainly as training for triathlon, but for fitness only the past 3 years. You will need:

-a decent stay-put one piece bathing suit (around $80)
-decent goggles (Speedo Vanquisher are pretty much all I’ve ever used) (around $20)
-a swim cap (silicon is nice - easier on hair) (around $20)
-a water bottle

Most community pools have pull-buoys and flutter boards that you can use for different drills. If you really get into lap swimming, you can buy your own (I never bothered). Some folks use flippers, hand paddles, and snorkels.

I’m surprised your Y doesn’t have different levels of adult swim lessons. From the sounds of things, what you need is a ‘stroke improvement’ program. You might want to enquire about private lessons. There are also ‘masters’ swim clubs - but workouts can get pretty intense and range from 2000-4000 meters 80-160 laps over 60-90 minutes.

DS#1 lifeguards and teaches at the local pool. He is being called back to work for training on Covid protocols with plans to open early July. He has taught adults privately for just what you want - to be able to manage a 30min to 60 min lane swim for exercise and possibly join a masters club. He makes up training programs for me. TBH, I usually swim 2000-2400 meters/1 hour, but after 4 months out of the pool, I’ll be starting with 1000 meters or 30 minutes.

Edited to add - not sure if devices will be available like in the past, but you don’t really need do-dads to,get a good swim/water workout.

JAileen

Veteran

I used to swim laps. Yes to goggles, cap, etc. Here’s the the thing: you don’t have to be good. If you can manage to get down the lane, you’ll get exercise. Bad swimmers get more exercise than good swimmers for the distance. And the more you do, the better you’ll get. Be sure to drink lots of water afterwards.

Runcarla

Veteran

LOL! What Jaileen said!

Anonymous

My best friend is a daily lap swimmer. She ended up with shoulders in so much pain that she could not lift her arms above her waist. Daly torn rotator cups were the result of the repetitive swimming strokes. She should have varied them and a coach was suggested. She did lots of physical therapy and can move ore easily but rotator cup surgery is in her future. Just saying...vary the swim strokes.

ClaraT

Veteran

I swim (but only open water these days—pools in my California town are still closed). Others have your gear covered. Re: starting. I learned to swim as an adult. If you have your own lane in the pool, don’t worry about anything! Just get in and swim one lap. Feel ok? Swim another. And so on. No one will care if you are slow or take lots of breaks the best way to learn is to just do it. I recommend a cap: keeps hair out of your eyes and out of the pool, easier to wear goggles over a mask, and offers some protection from chlorine. Good luck and enjoy!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

JAileen, that sounds like just my speed - the worse I am, the more exercise I'm getting, ha.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I did a bit more online research and it looks like there are some semi-local options that normally offer adult classes - right now it's all private lessons only if they're reopened.

I think I'm going to order a cap and goggles (probably Sporti brand from SwimOutlet, since they're not a big investment) and try it a few times at the Y before I invest in lessons or anything.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

The local outdoor pool is opening tomorrow. It will be reservations only, 1 per lane, swimming in the middle of the lane to maintain distance.

I suggest not necessarily stopping when you first feel tired as I often get tired quickly and if I keep going, after a little bit I end up going at least twice as far. Getting into a rhythm helps me. I definitely don’t mean pushing past pain/discomfort.
DON’T stop because you compare yourself to others. Do try to go a little farther or longer each time until you get to something that works for you. However consistency is more important than distance or time.
Good luck. I love swimming.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I love swimming and swim regularly with a master's team. (Which is not as competitive as it sounds; many of us don't compete but like the camaraderie and structured workouts.) Our pools are not yet open again, so for now I'm concentrating on bicycling when I can.

You've got lots of great advice. I like how you describe your swimming ability: you can keep yourself from drowning and do a passable version of two strokes. You are on your way! Now is a good time to start, since you won't have to jockey with other lap swimmers for position in the lane. There should be at most 2 people in a lane, starting/stopping at opposite ends. That might mean that you will need to swim to the other end and back without stopping too long at that opposite end from yours, as you might be required to stop and rest only at one end. If you enjoy it, you will probably be able to find some lessons after a while, to help you with technique and keep you motivated.

K.M.

Veteran

Coming late to this post... and I'm curious: those of you who've gone back to the pool recently, does it feel safe? I really miss swimming.

Re: tips... in addition to all the excellent ones above, I'd say: try to keep your legs from going down too low/deep into the water. You want the body to be afloat and horizontal. And use your arms more than your legs to propel yourself (less tiring). I also second the advice to vary strokes.

elpgal

Veteran

Our pool is asking people to stay 10feet away from each other, no locker room use, one lane per family for 1.5 hrs and then they wipe everything down. The only part that makes me nervous is hanging out at the edge of the pool between laps when people in adjacent lanes are doing the same.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I have decided I didn't feel comfortable going back to the pool at the Y, as cases in my area started going up significantly a few weeks ago and have only just now started to plateau again. I volunteered to work a local election precinct at one of the local Ys last month and was underwhelmed by their lack of precautions, tbh. So I can't speak to the logistics of how they're handling the pool.

Runcarla

Veteran

I’ve been swimming at our community Sportsplex pool 3 x a week since it opened 4 weeks ago. The practices they are following make me feel super secure. The Sportsplex consists of a pool, an ice rink, and meeting rooms where different community events can take place, including exercise classes. Only the pool is open ATM.

You have to book in advance (I book 3 slots on the first day (Thursday)) that bookings are accepted, for the following week. Masks required by everyone on entering the facility. Follow a path marked on the floor to check in and confirm your spot and receive a room assignment. The family change rooms are being used - they have individual chambers with cement walls and a full door. Each swimmer is assigned 1 lane for 45 minutes, and 15 minutes in change room. Between swims cleaning staff wipe down all the surfaces, and mist the room with a disinfectant fogger contraption. The lifeguards are masked, and swab down the pool rim, banisters, and deck between swims. Chlorine levels checked every 2 hours poolside, and 4 x daily by maintenance at the pump station.

The YMCA (one town over) is focusing on it’s summer camps and day-care, but did start fitness classes last week. The gym is scheduled to open in some capacity middle of August, and the pool middle of September. I’m sticking with my current regime of swimming until the fall, when I’ll reassess based on how we are doing. We just progressed to stage 3.