(no subject)

[darchildre]

So, like many people, I suck at exercising. I think that a big part of this is that most of the exercise activities I have tried are things that, in and of themselves, I don't enjoy doing. So then I don't exercise. Thus, I have been trying to think of exercise-type activities that I actually like to do and would find at least sort of fun.

The list has basically come down to hiking and swimming and though hiking is great, it's not really feasible for a 2-3 times a week regular thing. Whereas there is a community pool 2 minutes from my house and they have reasonably convenient lapswim times.

The thing is, I have never done regular lapswimming before, outside of a swim class setting. Basic etiquette, I can glean from internet articles, but there's only so much the general interwebs can tell you. Do any of you guys swim? Do you have any newbie tips you could share with me or things I should definitely know?

Thanks in advance!

Comments

[jenett]

I have swum laps (and want to pick it up again this winter when walking outside is more problematic.)

Some of it varies pool to pool and time to time, and you sort of have to get a feel for it, but basically:
* Starting sometime between now and January will give you time to figure out how it works when it's not too busy (since a lot of people drop swimming for other outdoor stuff in the summer, and then you get everyone with heartfelt resolutions in January.)

* Look for instructions about the pool rules about lanes and speed and so on. Generally the lifeguards or staff can tell you when the busy and not so busy times of day usually are. (I always aimed for 'not so busy' because I hate circle swimming, and if I went before work, I could generally get a lane to myself or just split one.)

* Try and pick a lane of someone going about the same speed you are. This takes a bit of practice (and is hard if like me you want to rotate strokes a lot.)

* Some places circle swim, even if there's only 2 people in the lane. (You stay on the right hand side of the lane no matter which direction you're swimming). This doesn't work so well if the other person in your lane is swimming at a different speed. Splitting the lane is a lot easier (you each take half of it) but requires it not be terribly busy at the time.

* If you want to do things like water walking/water aerobics/etc. there may be a section set out for it, but you're expected to be aware of other people around you (and depending on your pool, there may be kids/etc. playing in the shallowest end.

* Good googles, good swim cap are both important. (even for short hair, it'll help protect, and most places want long hair covered). My current yearning thing for when I start again is is a swim MP3 player. But the decent equipment makes the whole process *way* easier.

I used to go swim before work, so I'd put my swimsuit on under my clothes, and bring underwear and bra to change into after. Places also have different customs about showering nude or in a stall or with your suit on or whatever - the YWCA I swam at people did everything, and it was just personal preference (my current option, well, I work with some of these people and am librarian with others, and yeah, not so sure I want to be entirely naked no matter what the custom is. We'll see.)

For related stuff, I've had good luck ordering from http://swimoutlet.com - their stuff has held up reasonably well for me, they have a decentish range of plus-size suits (relevant to my interests) and a wide range of things like swim caps. (I actually really like the dorky 50s style bubble ones that fasten under the chin: they did by far the best at keeping more of my hair dry: the trick is to seal around the ears.)

[darchildre]

Thanks so much! This is very helpful. 8)