The Swimming Thread

[psyang]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

We had 5 people in the pool last night between 8:30-9:30 at Acadia. Also, check online for Canyon's daily availability. It seems they don't have alot of school board lessons in during the day, so they slot in lane swim.

I go to the Churchill pool close to where my daughter's school, so it's convenient. The lanes aren't normally really busy - maybe it averages 2-3 people in the fast lanes.

Most people are good about letting faster swimmers go past, but there was one guy a couple months ago who wouldn't let my wife pass him. He was in the fast lane, but swimming pretty slow. When my wife saw there was no one in front, she moved to other side of the lane to pass. Once she passed, the guy just stopped, turned around, and started swimming the other way to make sure he was in front. I don't understand some people.

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[Simon96Taco]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

My buddy teaches a Triathlon training swim class. She's tough. But she VERY knowledgeable on stroke mechanics. She even picks apart my strokes for me. She is a past competitive swimmer and a current swim coach...not instructor which I think is what you need to improve times. Her next session starts in April at Acadia on Wednesday mornings starts at 5:35am. Sign up and COMMIT! I guarantee you will get better with her I think she is doing the one at Canyon Meadows as well? But those are Tues or Thursday from 6am-7am. I can check to see if she's doing those if that fits better for your schedule.
Seriously. You won't regret it. (well.. you may curse her name a little during your workout, which I have done when she's done my workouts, but you will appreciate it in the end.)

This sounds like a REALLY good option, and I think I'm gonna do it. I hope it's not TOO advanced for me. The website description says "must be able to swim four lengths without stopping" which I can do, just not very fast, and not doing any flip-turns.

Acadia is definitely the most convenient location for me, and 5:30am vs. 6am is no biggie, they are both so early in the AM I don't think it will make a difference!

Thanks for the heads up!

S

edit: I suppose I still have 5 weeks to get into the pool and start working!

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[Simon96Taco]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

You'll be fine. Tammy adapts the swimmers workouts to the swimmers needs and skill level. Not many people sign up because it's so early, so class size is pretty small. Just let her know at the beginning you want tonnes of stroke correction.

Edit: those of you in the North, she also does a drop in Conditioning swim at Foothills pool on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am-noon. A great workout!

Sounds great - I'm gonna do it. Wish me luck!

[Simon96Taco]

Update - finally got back into the pool. Got in 1000m in about 35 minutes, having not swam since some time late in 2017. Felt like I had completely forgotten everything - so slow, and no endurance. Figured I better get at least SOME of my lungs/arms back before being tested by these triathlon swim sessions starting next week! Should be interesting.

Speaking of triathlons, anyone here planning on doing any, of any length, this summer?

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Simon96Taco

Update - finally got back into the pool. Got in 1000m in about 35 minutes, having not swam since some time late in 2017. Felt like I had completely forgotten everything - so slow, and no endurance. Figured I better get at least SOME of my lungs/arms back before being tested by these triathlon swim sessions starting next week! Should be interesting.

Speaking of triathlons, anyone here planning on doing any, of any length, this summer?

I’m doing a sprint in June. 750 m swim. My swimming technique is pretty awful though. I have been working on it and getting slightly better. Did 400 m yesterday and the first 12 lengths felt great then the last 4 were so awful I had to stop haha.

[Ironhorse]

I'm starting off with a Sprint at Airdrie in May (might still be cold out), Olympic distance in June at the Chinook Tri Festival, and Calgary Ironman 70.3 end of July. Probably a fun Sprint at Chaparral in August.

[psyang]

Another personal best this morning, 19:33.

It was surprising because I threw my back out two weeks ago. Couldn't stand without support for 5 days. It is still sore, and I can't sit for long periods of time. But I wonder if my routine when I did start swimming again helped.

I did a light swim after about a week of recovery - just tried to concentrate on gliding, and tried to feel relaxed the whole time. At the slower pace, I could concentrate on technique, and I ended up doing 50 lengths without getting too out of breath.

This past Tuesday, I pushed the pace a little more, but had to take a break after length 12 and length 28. Even so, I did 40 in just under 22 minutes, then did another 10 at a very slow pace.

This morning, I felt great, and was able to push the pace a little and maintain it. It helped that I had the lane to myself - no distractions.

One other thing I used as motivation this morning. When I swam on Tuesday, I had to swim over the lunch hour at a different pool. In the lane beside me was a guy who was just motoring. He was swimming when I got there, and still swimming when I left about 30 minutes later. I casually timed his length as I was leaving - 20seconds! I figured he must have done close to 100 lengths in the time I was there, and he still looked fresh as a daisy. It was both humbling and inspiring.

On the plus side, my back feels noticeably better after a swim. I think being supported in water, and in a mostly stretched out position is great for the back. I think I will break my two weekly swims into a slower longer distance swim, and a faster 40. I'd like to add a third swim per week sometime, but it's hard to fit in the schedule right now.

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[Shazam]

I did ten lengths this week (at once). A personal best. Also I figured out how to breath from either side. Whoo.

[Wormius]

Hey Puxlut, was that you that was coaching / coordinating at the Mini Meet last Sunday?

There were some people in the stands talking about the coach that has competed in the commonwealth games, and I remembered this.

Anyway. It was a really great event you guys put on. My kids loved it. If you are at the year end wrap up party, I will say hi.

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[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Was it some 44 year old chick that can whistle like a missile and swim like a fish? Yah. That was me. The supervisors were busy in the office doing... something. So I just kinda took control. I know what I'm doing, my expectations of meets are a little high and my passion for the sport drives me. So me and my type A personality, just kind of took over. I hope the kids had fun and learned something?

It was likely my last meet with the City of Calgary. I'm in talks with SAIT to start a Lifesaving Club. Because with the City, the program kicks you out after 17, so i wanted to develop something for people of all ages. It would be cool to see parents and kids developing their lifesaving skills together.

It's a great program that kids that may not be the fastest swimmers can still have fun, learn skills and be healthy.

As for the end of year party, I should be there. They are only allowing one coach per site to go. They get paid for the time that they are there. So I will likely let one of the other coaches go and I will "volunteer" my time and pop in

Yes, that whistle. That is something I would like to learn.

So is that the JLC advance program then that you're going to be developing, or something else? My kids still have a ways to go before 17, but they got tired of the usual swim lessons, so they have been doing this for a few years now out of the Thornhill pool. Everybody likes it, and they come out of the pool exhausted. When do you think you're going to get your program up and running?

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Is anyone doing the Chapparal Open Water swim today? Glad I only signed up for the 1500m... the air quality doesn't look great. Meh. It should be less than 24 minutes and then I can go home and have a beer inside.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Is anyone doing the Chapparal Open Water swim today? Glad I only signed up for the 1500m... the air quality doesn't look great. Meh. It should be less than 24 minutes and then I can go home and have a beer inside.

I’m doing the triathlon there tomorrow. My son did his this morning, and the smoke had cleared off the surface of the lake quite a bit. Hoping for better conditions tomorrow though.

[red sky]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Is anyone doing the Chapparal Open Water swim today? Glad I only signed up for the 1500m... the air quality doesn't look great. Meh. It should be less than 24 minutes and then I can go home and have a beer inside.

Humble brag...

Originally Posted by red sky

Humble brag...

Nope. Just truth. Finished in 23:57. Did alot of backstroke to catch my breath. I don't think that had anything to do with the smoke, just being out of shape. There were a few people that swam today that are doing the tri tomorrow. It was a little choppy when you go into the cove down at the SW end of the lake. Water was great. I didn't use a wetsuit.
I came 3rd overall and was the first woman. But I think it was flawed because I think one of the kids that beat me cut off the last buoy because he was sick and just swam straight in from the end of the lake.

[red sky]

Okay. Truth brag then.