Starting Swimming

There_Goes_Trouble

Gers wrote: »

http://fastskin3.speedo.com/en/racing-system.aspx is what the swimmers were wearing - or their own suppliers similar options.

I'd be worried about the legs rolling up or pushing rolls of me down!

Blimey, have you seen the price? The cheapest one of those with legs is £150!!

I haven't looked in the stores, I just had a quick google when saw this thread but was thinking about upgrading to one myself if I keep up with the swimming I've started. Found this one on the Sports Direct website so maybe they'll have them instore? I'll have a look next time I'm there.
http://www.sportsdirect.com/slazenger-boyleg-swimming-suit-ladies-354065?colcode=35406522

Mingle

The_One_Who wrote: »

Brilliant! I honestly didn't know such things were available outside of professional swimming, I'm obviously not in the know. Do you happen to know if there are any sports shops selling them, just so I can get an idea of fit and such like?

I was about to say that sport direct do them in a wide selection of colours by Slazenger but I got beaten to it. If you do buy online don't forget Top Cash Back :money::money:


The fit on them is OK- having the legs on them certainly anchors the crotch- when I used to swim I always found the crotch came up which i'm sure you'll appreciate is a problem. As a rule they won't roll up around the legs so long as you get the right size- i've gone for one bigger just to be on the safe side.

May I say thank you very much OP- i had an accident in a swimming pool resulting in extensive surgery and rehabilitation (don't let this put you off!) and this thread has got me excited to get back in to it!

The_One_Who

jayII wrote: »

The pool attendants don't allow that here, and nor should they! Why should the elderly or other slow or unconfident swimmers be 'practically mown down' by some selfish individual?

I've seen fast swimmers firmly told to move into the appropriate lane at both pools I use.

To be fair though, if someone is in the wrong lane then they should move, or expect to be asked to move. I know people like to have their own systems in place, but you do need to take in to consideration other pool users. Having said that, I won't be using lanes for a while!

There_Goes_Trouble wrote: »

Blimey, have you seen the price? The cheapest one of those with legs is £150!!

I haven't looked in the stores, I just had a quick google when saw this thread but was thinking about upgrading to one myself if I keep up with the swimming I've started. Found this one on the Sports Direct website so maybe they'll have them instore? I'll have a look next time I'm there.
http://www.sportsdirect.com/slazenger-boyleg-swimming-suit-ladies-354065?colcode=35406522

Don't worry, I'll be getting a cheaper version! £30 is an absolute limit, I think! Thanks for the link, Sports Direct isn't normally a shop I have on my radar, but will pop in next time I'm in town.

Mingle wrote: »

The fit on them is OK- having the legs on them certainly anchors the crotch- when I used to swim I always found the crotch came up which i'm sure you'll appreciate is a problem. As a rule they won't roll up around the legs so long as you get the right size- i've gone for one bigger just to be on the safe side.

May I say thank you very much OP- i had an accident in a swimming pool resulting in extensive surgery and rehabilitation (don't let this put you off!) and this thread has got me excited to get back in to it!

Rolling up around the legs isn't as bad as something rolling up the bum! I've seen people start with pants and end up with them squeezed into their crack. Not pretty!

I'm sorry to hear about your accident, and it's really great that you aren't letting it put you off.

~Chameleon~

jayII wrote: »

The pool attendants don't allow that here, and nor should they! Why should the elderly or other slow or unconfident swimmers be 'practically mown down' by some selfish individual?

I've seen fast swimmers firmly told to move into the appropriate lane at both pools I use.

But then the elderly or unconfident swimmers shouldn't be in the fast lane in the first place!

Idiophreak

tyllwyd wrote: »

I'd go at a time when it's not lane swimming. I quite like just hanging out in the shallow end, holding onto the side of the pool, floating, kicking my legs, treading water, and swimming an occasional width. It's less daunting than trying to swim a length when you haven't built your strength up.

And I'd go during a 'family fun' session or similar - at least that way if you want to potter and float about slowly, you won't be mown down by fast swimmers doing lengths.

I quite disagree..If you go to a lane session, you can just stay in the slow lane and potter about harmlessly and be left to it...In a family fun session, you'll have kids swimming at you in every direction, adults swimming lengths at various speeds across the pool and people generally jumping/splashing about. I'm building my confidence with swimming, but I still find the family sessions a bit overwhelming / scary. The whole point of a lane session is that the fast people who would mow you down are kept well out of your way.

I'd also note that, in my experience, pools are also *much* cleaner in other sessions. I've seen things in "family" sessions that have caused me to get straight out of the pool and leave for the day - tissues and nappies floating in the water, kids blowing their noses and letting it float off, I've got whole mouthfuls of matted hair..It's just disgusting. :eek::eek::eek: I find the early morning adult lane sessions to be the cleanest - I guess they must clean the pool overnight.

PasturesNew wrote: »

I would say, of lanes, that you should always stay out of the fast lane and probably the medium lane.

Bah, humbugs. I always use the middle lane. In my experience, the fast lane is occupied by people churning out long distances of front crawl at pace and the slow lane is populated with older people doing backstroke, breaststroke with their head out of the water and, a lot of the time, just floating along. I find most people who're swimming either breast stroke or crawl for fitness wind up in the middle lane.

OP, just to back up what everyone else has said...Nobody cares at all what you look like. I had a similar (although not as significant) issue recently - I was training for a triathlon and had to practice swimming in my (skin tight, lycra) tri shorts, rather than the massive baggy things I normally wear...Being quite a podgy guy, I view this very much as "something nobody wants to see" and was very self conscious about it..But I went once and did it...and it was fine...and then I went again..and it was fine...Now I wouldn't hesitate to do it again...It's fine

I would be lying, though, if I said certain people never turn your head..I've seen a couple of older gent rocking "the banana hammock" in a way that's *horrifically* hard to tear your eyes from

The_One_Who

Idiophreak wrote: »

I'd also note that, in my experience, pools are also *much* cleaner in other sessions. I've seen things in "family" sessions that have caused me to get straight out of the pool and leave for the day - tissues and nappies floating in the water, kids blowing their noses and letting it float off, I've got whole mouthfuls of matted hair..It's just disgusting. :eek::eek::eek: I find the early morning adult lane sessions to be the cleanest - I guess they must clean the pool overnight.

I would be lying, though, if I said certain people never turn your head..I've seen a couple of older gent rocking "the banana hammock" in a way that's *horrifically* hard to tear your eyes from

I don't know which is more disgusting! In all honesty, reason tells me I shouldn't have issues with my body (size 8, just under 8 stone), but I do, my mind just goes into overdrive!

I have phoned up a local sports shop (they do almost everything) and they have some legsuits in stock, so I'll pop in there and try them on. It's also pretty cheap. So if I buy one it means I have to go swimming, otherwise it's a waste of money.

beadgirl87

Hey, I just wanted to say to give it a shot
No one else will be as bothered about it as you. My friend started training to swim the channel and dragged me swimming with her a couple of years ago. I've never really done swimming apart from lessons at school. First time we went in, I did 1 1/2 lengths and nearly passed out. Next week managed 3 etc etc. I did stop for a year or so and just picked it up again 4 weeks ago, I did 30 lengths yesterday, which I was quite pleased with.
Just do as much as you feel you can, have a 5 min rest every now and then and it will be ok.
i'm really enjoying swimming at the moment.
Also I would avoid the family times as they are full of kids at the moment and they all spash around and get in your way. Go just as a session time is starting or 1/2 hour before one is ending, or late at night it is less busy. You don't want to go when it is crowed or in busy lanes as you will probably stress yourself out.
Good luck and have fun