Swimming: Open Water and Training etc.

[Sasaferrato]

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...

And there you have it. It took me months in the swimming pool to relax, once you get it though, you don't lose it.

 

[gaijingirl]

View attachment 176513
Shara pool, river dart this morning. 5 star rating. It was hard to summon the will to get out.

oh I'm very jealous of this - that looks gorgeous. I had a fabulous river swim last week in Warwickshire but there's not a lot of open water in South London. Although I am off to the opening of a new swimming lake in a few weeks not far from here.

 

[Idaho]

Hot sunny walk round to ladram bay. Sun goes in the moment we set foot on the beach.

A good swim across the bay and round one of the pillars. Visibility was good. The lack of sun meant we just did the one swim. With a sunny reheat we could have managed a second.

 

[Idaho]

Getting the tea ready before a dip in Tavy cleave. Lovely temperature. Refreshing without being super cold.

 

[chilango]

Got another lake swim in this weekend. Finding it easier every time.

 

[bellaozzydog]

Went in today at high tide, random lady I was swimming with had a tracking device so mapped the route. 2400m
Swim partner wasn’t particularly fast so I spent a lot of time floating breaststroking and diving to look at stuff

Good job I didn’t hammer it as I got in the water for a two hour evening surf later on

 

[Idaho]

Sea near teignmouth was lovely. Quite a few serious swimmers out. Some seem to be doing a long distance swim across the bay. I'm still too chicken to swim out to deeper water... But getting better.

 

[bellaozzydog]

Got keen today. Joined wrong group but they seemed fairly fast. Smashed out 4.1 km Great swim in amazing location

 

[chilango]

Another lake swim this evening, and managed to get my daughter in too

 

[gaijingirl]

So I went to the opening of Beckenham Place Park swimming lake yesterday. I signed up for the "First swimmers" group with my daughter (9). Sadiq Khan did a speech and it was all very jolly. The lake itself is great - I am a good swimmer but after an "let's swim to that island" incident in the Adriatic about 12 years ago I get panicky in deep water. This lake is very very deep and you have to swim on a circuit but if you stick to the edges it's shallow enough to stand in. So it's only really crossing the lake when you are forced to go out of your depth. Also this means obviously you get a longer swim before having to re-lap. Conversely if you only want to swim in deep water that's fine too. This is good for me personally to work on this phobia.

Going forward it will be £3 to swim here but with really quite limited swimming times as it's been outsourced to a water sports company who specialise in SUP/kayaking etc. I think that the company must have been told that they have to provide swimming as an activity so they're trying to find a way of fitting it in to their main purpose which is the SUP/kayaking and I'm not sure they're easy bedfellows. Also it's basically completely impossible for them to police it - the lake is completely open and although there is a pontoon to enter from, it's perfectly possible to enter from multiple places not least the beach area...

There is also an area which is roped off for a sandy "beach" for kids which is free. It would be possible to lap swim here too I think when it's not busy/in winter. The deepest section is about 6ft deep and it's quite long, so personally, I could see myself swimming in this section in winter if the current limited hours/charging system stays in place. Absolutely tons of people were just swimming over the rope and joining the main swimmers in the lake anyway and I can't see how they can prevent that without employing lots of people just for that purpose which I doubt is financially viable.

So it remains to be seen how it will pan out. I would expect there to be some changes over the next year.

 

[chilango]

Had planned a swim in the Thames this weekend, but didn't fancy it after torrential rain the day before.

Off to the Lakes later this week so hopefully will get in Windermere again, Grasmere and - just maybe - Stickle Tarn.

 

[Idaho]

Good sea swim at budleigh this lunchtime. Stayed in for 20 minutes no problem.

 

[Idaho]

Friday evening swim at Tavy cleave. Water was beautiful.

 

[chilango]

Lovely swim in Grasmere this morning

 

[Saunders]

I look at this thread from time to time. Huge respect to all who swim out in open water, particularly in not-the-sea: I’ve found that the older I get, the bigger the monsters that may be lurking seem.
Dunno if it is relevant to active swimmers, but I went to a talk by this guy (artist making work in remote existential marine environments) a year or two ago, and it was interesting. Works — Peter Matthews

 

[Grace Johnson]

Lovely swim in Grasmere this morning

View attachment 179204

Got a great spot for a swim up that way, just past windermere like. Will pm you the coordinates if you like? Its a steep 2 and half mile hike up there tho. Worth every step like. And the hike is through really nice woodland, loads of waterfalls and that.

 

[chilango]

Had another swim in Grasmere today.

 

[Idaho]

Really getting over the worst of my open water/deep water phobia. Swimming a couple of times a day in the bay, and going out further each time. Today I jumped off a boat in the middle of blue water and swam about and only had a gentle level of anxiety. For me, that is a big milestone. The thought of doing that always freaked me out before.

Helps that it's 35c and in this:

 

[Idaho]

Walked a 1.5kms along the bay and swam back home. In the pool I do a lot of crawl. In open water I seem to do 30% crawl and lots of breaststroke interspersed.

 

[gaijingirl]

Really getting over the worst of my open water/deep water phobia. Swimming a couple of times a day in the bay, and going out further each time. Today I jumped off a boat in the middle of blue water and swam about and only had a gentle level of anxiety. For me, that is a big milestone. The thought of doing that always freaked me out before.

Helps that it's 35c and in this:
View attachment 180419

I have this problem too. For years I swam across lakes/rivers/docks - you name it and then I had a HUGE panic attack swimming out to an island one year - I was alone with my husband - no boats/tow floats or anything and a kilometre or so out. Since then I can't do it anymore.

Panic disorder just takes everything away. Most of the things I used to enjoy in life have been taken away.

I just keep finding more instead though.

 

[gaijingirl]

Beckenham Place Park:

we would like to say a big Thank You for all your support over the last month.

We can finally say that we will be Open tomorrow morning (18th August) from 7am to 6pm

All you need to do is go to the Purple Tent to enter. There is an entry fee to gain access to the area this will be £3 for adults and £2 for Children, under 3's go free.

Paddle Area - is still closed for the moment

Swimming - Will be running throughout the day split down in to 2 hour sessions;

7am to 9 am
9:15 to 11:15
11:30 to 13:30
13:45 to 15:45
16:00 to 18:00

With the paddle area being closed we will only be able to accept those 8 years + to go swimming. Due to safety re-evaluations everyone will be required to wear tow floats in the lake. Don't worry though as these will be provided in your entry fee, if you have one at home you are always welcome to bring that along as well.

Boat Hire - Will be running in the pontoon end of the lake all day, you can still hire boats from 2 years +. You will still need to go to the Purple tent to hire either canoe or paddle board, this is where you will be issued a wrist band which you show to our staff running boat hire.

All Sessions will have a 15 minute warning and will be cleared by then end of session time to allow staff to reset the area between sessions.

Pre-booked Swims - Those of you that opted for swim passes the duty manager on site will have a list, Please bring your original booking email with you as well.

Many Thanks

 

[gaijingirl]

Spoke too soon.

Closure!
Hi Everyone,

I am extremely sorry to say after talking with the Council this afternoon there have been some unforeseen circumstances which mean we are unable to open this weekend.

I would like to take this time to Thank you all for your support but I feel like we have let you down again! we are working very hard to get everyone back in the lake again soon! please keep your eyes and ears alert for updates.

Many Thanks

The PTP Coaching Team!

 

[Red Cat]

So, can I have some tips please? I am not a regular swimmer cos i hate indoor pools, and there is no choice of outdoor here. There is however a lake 30 min drive from us, open from may to oct, that looks good. I usually only do breaststroke so would have to work on my front crawl and presumably have to be able to swim a certain distance without stopping?

 

[RubyToogood]

So, can I have some tips please? I am not a regular swimmer cos i hate indoor pools, and there is no choice of outdoor here. There is however a lake 30 min drive from us, open from may to oct, that looks good. I usually only do breaststroke so would have to work on my front crawl and presumably have to be able to swim a certain distance without stopping?

If the lake is formally run as a swimming lake, do they have a policy about who can use it, what they have to wear etc? Some of these places are run for the benefit of hardcore swimmers who are training for triathlons and so on, rather than those of us who just like swimming and want to improve their general fitness. So for instance you might have to swim a whole fairly long circuit and/or wear a wetsuit, tow float etc.

 

[Red Cat]

If the lake is formally run as a swimming lake, do they have a policy about who can use it, what they have to wear etc? Some of these places are run for the benefit of hardcore swimmers who are training for triathlons and so on, rather than those of us who just like swimming and want to improve their general fitness. So for instance you might have to swim a whole fairly long circuit and/or wear a wetsuit, tow float etc.

It says all abilities, wetsuit or not, but reviews talk about swimming a circuit (although the description says you can get out at any point as sloping bank all round). It's probably best I contact them directly, but I thought I'd dip a toe here first

And yes, formally as a swimming lake.

 

[Idaho]

Get used to the temperature first. Get your shoulders in and wait for your breathing to settle. Other than that... No specific advice other than enjoy it!

Was swimming in a river on Dartmoor yesterday and heading to the beach this afternoon. Always was to nervous to swim out to the buoy at budleigh, but reckon I'll do it no probs today.

 

[Red Cat]

Do you use a wetsuit?

 

[Red Cat]

Ok, i have read the website more closely and there are two courses - 300m and 650m. So I guess i need to practice some length swimming indoors first

 

[Idaho]

Do you use a wetsuit?

No, I like the cold water! Takes a while to get into it. I even have cold showers for pleasure now... A bit odd I suppose.

 

[Idaho]

Just swam out to the buoy and back 3 times at budleigh. Lovely!