Swimmers check-in

Well, I am no master swimmer, but I am working on building up to a good routine. I'd like to see how much, how long, what stroke everyone is doing.

Last night I swam 15 laps (375 yds) combining freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke, it took 15 minutes.

How about you?

Hey! I use to be a competitive swimmer but I haven't done it in... 2 years at least :(  I know, I'm a shame :(

How long is the pool you are going too? 1 min./laps seems weird to me...

I'm a competitive triathlete...hence I do tons of swimming.  I generally swim around 3-4 miles per week.  If anyone needs good swim workouts, let me know.  I just don't go in the pool and swim back and forth...I do some really cool workouts!

25 yds = 1 lap

Hey neeners, I would actually LOVE some pointers/reccomendations on swim work outs.  I have decided to do a triathalon next summer (not a full fledge Iron Man- but a smaller one) and while I know the strokes and form of swimming I haven't done it in a good 8 years (when I had to take PE in high school). 

Could you let me know what you think a good work out would be for me- someone who is just starting out but wants to get into it for the triathalon.  I would really appreciate it!  Let me know if you want my e-mail address to send them to or if you'd prefer just to post them here.

I LOVE to swim! Its so relaxing and a great workout- its not hard on your joints either! I try to go Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for about 40 minutes of constant swimming. I alternate between kickboarding with fins (to get another muscle group), kickboarding without fins, and then swimming (without the kickboard) for ten minutes each, then the last 10 minutes i alternate. For as tired as i feel when i am done, i would think i would be burning more calories than it says I am in the Activity link though!

I hope this helps!

The usual today - 5km (100 laps of an olympic size pool) of freestyle and then one extra lap of backstroke and one of butterfly...the backstroke was entirely because it was sunny and I wanted to at least attempt to even up my tan! I was going to go for 6km but the pool was getting crowded due to the unseasonably warm weather.

I think it took about 1hr 45 - I never remember to look at my watch when I take it off! But it was a little under two hours.

neeners, would love to hear some workouts!

I wish I could swim, the closest place to me to swim is almost twenty miles away. 

oh lfae~ I wish it were sunny in my indoor pool.... almost 2 hrs swimming, you are a real trooper!! Keep up the good work!

I swam for 20 minutes after my H2O yoga class which is 45 min. I don't know exactly how many yds. I swam, but I did a combination of freestyle and breaststroke. My goal is to add 5 min/week until I am up to 60 minutes swimming.

Actually, I swim (ironically enough) during my son's swim lesson.  I do mostly breast stroke with some freestyle.  I swim the whole 45 minutes of his lesson.  I love how it clears my mind - its very soothing.  Wish I could do it more often but those are the trials and tribs of a working mom!

boo hoo... I can't swim right now per Dr. order. I have an ear infection.  Swim some for me, I'll be working out on the machines in the mean time.

I would like to know how long you should swim and what you can do if you have an in-law that insists on going that can not swim but just wants to walk in the water how long should we walk for it to benifit both of us I can swim but she can not and she just walks half length and she stands 4'11"tall we go to the YMCA I have to do something in the water that is not high impact on my hips because my hips are out of alignment since giving birth and it hurts to do regular aerobics. and the class times do not agree with my sons preschool hours he will not stay in the nursery. I can use one of the boards at the YMCA pryor to her getting there I usually get there before she does and can get some time in the pool before she gets there. 

Oops, only went half the distance today - 100 laps of a 25m pool...I was aiming for 3km (120 laps) which is my usual short day, but I left the house too late and after 100 I looked at the clock and I just didn't have time for another 20 laps :( because I go to the pool before work and I like to get to work about a half hour early so I can sit down nice and eat my lunch...and damn, because it was so nice and uncrowded and I easily had the energy to go up to 200, but not the time!! Note to self: leave around 1 means leave around 1, not quarter to 2!

Good for you lfae! half the distance is better than none at all!! I can't wait to get back to swimming and upping my laps. How long did it take you to swim the 100 laps?

Bigmomma~I wish I had an answer for you. I imagine to burn some calories you would have to walk 45-30 minutes at least. If you can get swim time in you should ;) You are important and other people shouldn't stand in your way of reaching your goals. If your in-law insists on going, can't she do her thing, you do your thing and then you can get together and walk together for a bit?

When I started triathalons after college, I had no formal smimming experience. I could swin very well but had never been on a swin team or anything like that. I hired a personal coach and swam with them for about 6 months. It was very difficult but without that personalized help I never would have learned. A swimming education lasts a lifetime so make sure you do it right!

My first tri was the danskin tri. Open water swims are their own experience and nothing in a pool can prepare you for that. Also you are being kicked by some people and run over by others while in the water.

Make sure to practice open water swims and practice transitions. I had a great experience with my first tri and went on the do many others even up to a half-iron man.

It took me an hour, I was going a little slower than usual as well because I'd bruised my knee and it was one of those amazing bruises where you only have to THINK about moving and it hurts! :p Usually I allow myself at least two hours but I left the house too late and I'm trying to keep on the good side of my boss so being a touch late for work wasn't an option ;)