Bought goggles and went swimming...

[johnpalmer]

... and isn't that enough of an accomplishment? Swimming sucked; I think learning to breathe is a good thing. On the plus side, I learned one trick that I don't think anyone taught me specifically... if you breathe *out* while breaking water, you're less likely to have water around your mouth when you breathe back in.

Any swimmers out there want to tell me if I'm getting the right idea? :-)

After realizing that I no longer have any swimming form I used to have, I just did some basic exercises that might have lasted 20 minutes or longer, and I've got that pleasant ache that says I worked out good and proper.

Really.

Okay, okay, I have that harbinger of the "you worked out too hard, you dolt!" feeling that I'm probably going to face tomorrow.

But two things about that feeling.

First, it's my limbs, not my heart. Work your heart out too hard, and you're asking to feel *really* lousy the next day or two, and you might not even understand why. You might feel tired and like you're moving through molasses, and the point is, your heart is too tired to pump as effectively. Your entire body is prisoner to its blood supply, don'tchaknow.

Second, *since* it's my limbs, and since it's only exhaustion, not pain, they'll be fine with another, much gentler, workout tomorrow. In fact, they'll probably appreciate that. If you overwork a muscle group today, work it gently tomorrow, and you'll probably not feel quite as achy as you would the day after tomorrow.

And more good news, my goggles don't feel like they're giant suction cups trying to suck... okay, I'm going to stop *right there*, because going any further is likely to gross folks out. Needless to say, if you ever get swim goggles that just cover the eyes, *make sure the strap isn't too tight*.

And, by the way, if anyone with a smaller head than I needs a pair of swim goggles, I have a spare :-).

Comments

[ljgeoff.livejournal.com]

And, by the way, if anyone with a smaller head than I needs a pair of swim goggles, I have a spare :-)

*hee!*

[mama-hogswatch.livejournal.com]

*grin* You knew I was going to say something.

Remember that your target heart rate is about 10% slower in the water than land-based cardio. If you've been used to that, you're going to feel like you're not really getting a workout because of that. (I know a runner who just despises swimming at least in part from this).

I actually blow my breath out in a controlled stream for three strokes before rolling to the appropriate side to take a breath. Note, rolling to the side not turning the head. Click on the videos to get the idea. Breathing out while breaking water will slow you down a lot, actually, and throw off your stroke. If you're getting a mouthful of water on breathing in and you're turning your head only rather than rolling, you're dealing with a neck flexibility problem. I prefer to roll because the rolling side to side helps with propulsion and makes for a much smoother stroke.

Swimming is sooo technique-based. When I started back after about a 30 year hiatus from lap swimming, I couldn't comfortably swim an entire length using the crawl stroke. I was working so hard that it was mostly a sprint. How I handled this was to mix up strokes -- do a few lengths breaststroke (not worrying too much about great technique), then a few back (which came back real fast), then crawl. On the lengths I'd do crawl, I'd really pay attention to technique. Thing is I was soooo out of shape that ANY movement at ALL was a good workout and the drills I did to get the technique going weren't setting my physical fitness back at all. In fact, they were helping a lot. If you're already non-sedentary, then you might find the drill process difficult to go through to get your technique up to where it is good cardio.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

*grin* You knew I was going to say something.

Well, kinda hoping :-).

Re: cardio, I didn't know that, but I did know that I have to learn a whole new set of signs for swimming. It just *feels* different. I think part of this might be that I don't swim well enough to notice that my body's getting oxygen starved. I'm *always* pretty slow.

Re: breathing - this is something that's driving me crazy. I've actually realized I'm hesitating trying a crawl stroke across the pool because breathing is such a pain in the butt.

But, just to clarify, what I meant was, "breathe out under water, but, make sure I have breath while clearing water to blow water away from my mouth&nose". I can't stand sucking in some water every time I take a breath (just my mouth, not my lungs... but it does tend to reduce how much air I take in as well). That, and that alone, is what makes swimming such a painful chore for me.

The videos helped... I'm starting to see some stuff I hadn't thought of, because I never actually watched slow swimming before. Thanks!

The technique issues are semi-frustrating, but that's also my goal... I'd like to be able to swim comfortably. No more flailing, no constant need to try to think of what I'm supposed to be doing, etc.. It's not great cardio, but then, as long as I'm raising my heart rate to a comfortably high level, and doing that several times during the workout, I'm going to call that good, until I can do swimming cardio, or until I can jog again.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

PS: The videos *did* help. Curious: do you just turn your body, or your body and your head? I'm doing both, wanting my nose to point to the sky, to avoid water-sucking.)

I did a lot of drilling, and only a bit of swimming, but by the end, I could swim two lengths of the (pretty short) pool stroking and breathing properly.

[droops.livejournal.com]

I'm really enjoying the swimming (or water-walking) that I'm doing, it will really help in the long run!

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Nod. I've also learned that walking in water where you can just keep your footing can teach a good bit about balance and power. Step too far, and you haven't got any power, step just right, and you can get some good exercise.

[cerval.livejournal.com]

This is actually pretty sad, coming from someone who spend so much time in Gulf-coastal Florida, who used to SCUBA extensively, and pretty much lived in the water before moving to Colorado and becoming land-locked.

I have never been able to swim correctly according to the technical rules. My Dad tried to teach me for years. As an adult, I finally figured out that it isn't physiologically possibly for me; due to the way my shoulders developed. I have a decent modified-breaststroke; but that's it. I water-walk, or swim underwater.

And I am with you on the goggles! When I need them, I wear a full mask; the individual eye goggles just creep me out!

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Nod. I finally found a pair of individual eye goggles that work, but that first... *eeew*. I'm glad I wasn't stupid enough to think "maybe they're supposed to feel like this".

The new ones are adjustable, and sometimes feel a bit funny, but only funny weird :-).

What's scary for me is, I used to think I knew how to swim, and I'm learning more and more than I don't. Oh, I've seen illustrations, but I've never taught my body to do anything like what the illustrations show :-). Now, I'm learning a bit. I'd love to be able to get in water and not feel like I'm constantly struggling with it.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

Yay, swimming! In the pool at your complex? Or at a gym?

If the former, I may be persuaded to bring my swimsuit with me next time I visit. (-: