drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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Since Jan last year ive been to the swimming pool twice a day 5 or 6 times a week as part of my whole get fit thing, but had no intention of training or competing. Last week though, a lad in the pool here in A Coruña who was swimming in the lane next to me, asked me if i would be interested in joining the swim team. To be fair i dont go to enough lectures as it is so i think joining the swim team would be a bit silly this year, but i am thinking about it. How often are you expected to train? How far do you swim? How often do you usually compete? 
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bigdan
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Registered: 4th Jan 07
Location: Jarrow (Newcastle)
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my best mate swims for the county and he trains a mon wed and fri and its just like running i think ya get people who are the sprinters and people who do distance and competing its about once a month iirc
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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Ah right, so Im already doing a lot more than the basic training cos im already swimming about 25km a week. I might give this some more thought...
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MatthewR
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Registered: 21st Oct 02
Location: Rickmansworth
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do it
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vaux-tech
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Registered: 28th May 06
Location: Preston, Lancs. Drives: Astra SRI turbo.
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i used to do it when i was younger, still swim now, 3 or 4 times a week, it can be really hard work.
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Rob E
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Registered: 1st Jan 06
Location: Madeley, Stafford....I want to live back in Wales!
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I swam competitvely up until the age of 13 then gave it up. Used to train 3 times a week on a monday, wednesday and sunday. Used to compete once a month. Still love a good swim though but im well out of shape comapred to what i used to be capable of 
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Carl
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Registered: 9th May 04
Location: Jimmy Bennett's la la land.
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quote:
Originally posted by drunkenfool
How often are you expected to train? How far do you swim? How often do you usually compete?
All depends on the standard at which you are at, the level you want to reach etc etc.
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Craig W
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Registered: 31st Oct 00
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Speak to Andy Stocker.
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Andy Stocker
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Registered: 31st Aug 00
Location: Herts Drives: Porsche 911
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At my 'peak' I was training around 10-12 times a week, clocking up on average 60-70k metres a week.
Competition wise, you would normally have a club gala weekly, and then there were 'Open meets' as well where you compete individually. Also the big meets like nationals where you would normally taper a week beforehand to make sure you were fresh for the event.
While I was swimming, I made a national final, swam for the county, was a county champion 5 years in a row, and broke a county record.
If you think it will be easy to join a club, i'd think again. It is alot of hard work as you will be doing proper sets of swims rather than just plodding up and down a lane doing your own thing. The coach designs the programme and normally you will be working off set times, worst session I ever did was 50 x 100m swims off of 70 seconds!
Obviously you will start in a lower group, and possibly work your way up, it's good scoially as well 
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Doug
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Registered: 8th Oct 03
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I am a competitive swimmer. What do you want to know?
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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Cheers for the info Andy, to be honest I think I wont bother while im out here in Spain, but I will definately give it some thought when I go back to uni for my final year.
I do the half mile in under 13 minutes which isn't bad going (I dont think), but Ive never really considered myself an athlete by any means
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
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Like Andy says i trained 4 times a week, Galas on a Sunday, regionals and time trials etc
But good point abut coaching, its not easy imo. We were doing things like 400m free, 400m back, 400m breast then 400m fly
How i ever managed 400m fly is beyond me now!
Go for it when you get back
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Richie B
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Registered: 18th Apr 04
Location: Newcastle
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Best I even got was a 5 and 10m badge at first school.
They never did get sewn onto my trunks.
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whitter45
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Registered: 15th Nov 02
Location: Norton
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Used to do it years ago
got to national level - 5th in the counyry at 14 years old for 200 metres freestyle
Doing 10 sessions a week clocking up aboput 36 miles a week in full duration over a 25 week training pattern
100 metres freestyle was 53.9 and 200 metres was 1.59.8
Swam at county level for liverpool and district and also Lancashire
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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Ive just been watching some videos on youtube about freestyle technique and common "mistakes", i cant wait to get back to the pool tomorrow cos i noticed two things that i do myself. Shame its closed now  haha
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Andy Stocker
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Registered: 31st Aug 00
Location: Herts Drives: Porsche 911
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What have you been doing wrong then?
I was a breaststroker 
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Daimo B
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Registered: 20th Mar 00
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"and hasn't stopped breast stroking to this day"
Boom boom. Some childish fool had to say it 
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Andy Stocker
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Registered: 31st Aug 00
Location: Herts Drives: Porsche 911
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But it's always you 
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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quote:
Originally posted by Andy Stocker
What have you been doing wrong then?
I was a breaststroker
I do freestyle, but from watching the videos Ive realied that when placing my hands back into the water, they cross an imaginary line extending forwards from the spine, ie crossing over to the other side a bit, so thats causing a bit of body roll, and then the poor placement in the water is affecting the powerstroke too. With a slight bend in the elbow, the forearm can also be used as a pushing surface as opposed to using mainly the hands. so im gonna concentrate on correcting it next time im in the pool
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Andy Stocker
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Registered: 31st Aug 00
Location: Herts Drives: Porsche 911
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Also look for drills to practice your stroke, as well as getting yourself a pull buoy and a kickboard
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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Just did 128 lenghts, it was too much trying to concentrate on correcting both errors at the same time, i found myself completely losing my rythm cos i was trying to concentrate on too many things, i decided to just concentrate on the return hand position and its started to get better. Give it time, hey
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Andy Stocker
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Registered: 31st Aug 00
Location: Herts Drives: Porsche 911
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What size pool is that?
I only get to swim @ the one in the gym which is 20m. I do 3 strokes on breaststroke and i'm at the other end
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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The pool itself is 50m olympic size, but during the week its split in two with a barrier, so 128 lenghts of 25m (2 miles, or 1600m)
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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Casa Del Agua Thats teh website of the place I go to, im sooo lucky! It only opened in September, brand new €30M complex with 3 pools, gym, classes, hydrotherapy, physios, massages etc etc and it only costs me about £16 a month. 4 minute walk from my flat too, double bonus
[Edited on 25-02-2008 by drunkenfool]
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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