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Swimming: Open Water and Training etc.

Father's Day "treat". Open water swim down at the local swimming lake this morning.:thumbs:

New wetsuit was good. Breathing better today too.
 
Idaho said:
Can I make a confession?

I am a 45 year old grown man... And I get the massive fear in open water! As soon as I can't see the bottom I tend to panic and wildly swim back to the shore. I really want to be one of those people who go into the sea and swim out to a distant buoy and back... But the sharks and jellyfish and killer whales and Moray eels :eek: :oops:
Click to expand...

I surf most days and get in the water all round the world and I still have the “fear of the dark patch” :D

I swam over a stingray in Abu Dhabi a few days ago in my wee cove in super shallow water and i now don’t want to paddle without shuffling my feet and making a lot of “noise”

My current daily swim


I’m trying to get some interest in regular swims in Cornwall. Where I am there are loads seeming interested but no one wants to pull the trigger and just meet and get in the water. It’s as if everyone want to form an organisation, vote a committee, have meetings, decide on policy, plan stuff order special printed hats. No one wants to just get in the water and swim :D i’m Just going to start picking a time and location and say see you there.

You do need other people to swim with so the sharks can eat the slow ones
 
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I only learned to swim when I was 65, and have quite diminished lung capacity.

My only 'open water' swimming has been in the sea on holiday. Much easier in the sea that in fresh water.
 
bellaozzydog said:
I surf most days and get in the water all round the world and I still have the “fear of the dark patch” :D

I swam over a stingray in Abu Dhabi a few days ago in my wee cove in super shallow water and i now don’t want to paddle without shuffling my feet and making a lot of “noise”

My current daily swim


I’m trying to get some interest in regular swims in Cornwall. Where I am there are loads seeming interested but no one wants to pull the trigger and just meet and get in the water. It’s as if everyone want to form an organisation, vote a committee, have meetings, decide on policy, plan stuff order special printed hats. No one wants to just get in the water and swim :D i’m Just going to start picking a time and location and say see you there.

You do need other people to swim with so the sharks can eat the slow ones
Click to expand...


:eek::D
 
I can report that Claerwen reservoir, in the Elan Valley, was sufficiently temperate as to make my testicles retreat some 3 feet....
 
Got my regular swim mapped out now, can walk to the water from house in 7 minutes :D happy with all the landmarks/outcrops on the way

700 meters out 700 back

Just need to try it when there is a swell as Only done it while it’s flat as a pancake

Water was full of purple jellyfish and sand eels last night
 
This is my local beach. 10 mins walk...sheltered and lovely allnyear round. Great for surfing. My only problem is that I have a fear of water from a near drowning incident when I was 3.
But I really wish I could swim here.
watch-swimmers-take-a-dip-at-11p.jpg

People were swimming last night right up to 1am.

My aim... is to overcome my fear* and swim here...I've done water sports like canoeing and wind surfing (just didnt tell anyone I couldnt swim :D...possibly very stupid)



*I've been to loads of swimming lessons but as soon as the aeroboard is taken off me I sink like a stone :(
 
Lupa if you swim in a wetsuit (a swimming one) most of them give you extra buoyancy so it's easier to stay afloat without that much effort.

You can also get tow floats. Designed to be high vis and warn boats etc of your presence, but I've seen people grabbing hold of theirs to have a rest.
 
chilango said:
Lupa if you swim in a wetsuit (a swimming one) most of them give you extra buoyancy so it's easier to stay afloat without that much effort.

You can also get tow floats. Designed to be high vis and warn boats etc of your presence, but I've seen people grabbing hold of theirs to have a rest.
Click to expand...


Oh the buoyancy isnt a problem. I've enough body fat to float for Ireland. I just tense and panic and that's it...I sink. But I do like the idea of bringing along a float. I'd manage that quite well, I think. :)
Once I have something to hold onto....it's definitely psychological...
 
Went for a dip at man sands South of Brixham yesterday. The wind had whipped the waves up too much. I stood waist deep and a wave knocked me off my feet. I thought it was safer to get out.
 
chilango said:
Understanding Tow Floats – Outdoor Swimming Society

No personal experience of them yet, but I'll give one a go at some point.
Click to expand...

They can be slightly annoying as they tend to bang your legs with the leash sometimes.

When I go “off piste” i.e trickier or more unpopulated swims mine is full of kit

Pencil flares
Tow rope bag
Rescue knife
Hand held VHF

Possibly over the top but just what I carry in my day sack when i’m rock fishing or kayaking. Safety isn’t a dirty word:D
 
I’m starting to realise how swimming (training twice a day) when I was a teen was incredibly meditative

It’s all about rhythm and I count my strokes. Totally clears the chattering mind. The minute you start thinking about anything you loose rhythm.

About five years ago I did some total immersion training to try and alter my lifetime (competitive) stroke style. It’s taken getting in the sea to actually start applying the principles of total immersion.
It makes a massive difference on effort spent versus speed



It’s very counter intuitive doing the drills but you Seriously feel the difference

Total Immersions Swimming
 
Yeah, I changed my stroke quite a bit inspired by total Immersion. Can't claim to be doing it properly, but even the few changes I made have had a massive impact.
 
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