Swimming!

[Novowels]

I used to be an avid swimmer.

Daily trips to the local public pool to do laps and dive and was on the local swim team during jr. high and high school (I was in fact the only male on my swim team, and let me tell you: puberty + surrounded by toned, slightly older girls in swimsuits + wearing a Speedo = awesome); I even won a medal or two. But I always loved being in the water, even just a peaceful float, listening to the sound of the waves.

Around the end of high school however, I just sort of.... stopped. Partially due to an injury, but mostly because I moved away from my old pool and never found a new one. I have pretty severe social anxiety disorder, so going to to crowded new places tends to be pretty traumatic for me. None of my local friends enjoy swimming, so I'd always had to go it alone if I wanted to make like a fish.

However! I have decided that I'm going to start swimming again. So I have some swimming related questions if there's any other aquatic types out there:


It's been approximately 12 years since I've been in water higher than my ankles. Is swimming going to be like riding a bike, or am I going to be a fish out of water.... in, er, the water?

I've bought some swimwear, and whilst doing so I noticed that they make prescription swim goggles. I'm horrendously myopic, and it did affect me a lot doing laps in the public pool (although the fact that it didn't have marked lanes wasn't helping either). Good investment? Do they work? Or not worth the hassle/money?

Are there secret underground pool enclaves for swimming enthusiasts, or should I just go to one of the local YMCAs? One of my coworkers does part-time lifeguarding at one of them, so I'll probably go there, but options are nice; hidden options that don't have children in them doubly so.

Good swimming regiments? One of the reasons I'm getting back into swimming is to get into a little better shape. So, should I just swim 'til I'm tired or try to set up some kind of routine; or are there routines online? Treat it as a warmup and then make use of the exercise room, or is swimming enough for a decent workout?

Speedo freedom, or as I like to call it: Speedum; yea or nay?

:swim: ?

[Dingfod]

1. You won't have forgotten how to swim; it is indeed like riding a bicycle, you, not a fish.
2. I've never worn goggles, but I can seen how they might make the experience better, no chlorine burning eyes for one, better vision underwater for another.
3. Just go to the YMCA or local fitness center, but stay away from Family Night and Open Swim sessions, the kids just get in the way of decent exercise. Or, you could do what I did, put a 30' above ground pool in your yard.
4. ???? I just swim using a variety of strokes and swim until I'm tired. Swimming burns a lot of calories, but it's not a license to eat.
5. By all means, wear a swimsuit; your fellow swimmers and swimming pool management will thank you.
6. Have fun.

[LadyShea]

Please, no Speedo. You aren't a competitive swimmer and nobody else should wear Speedos, ever.

Welcome back to the water!

[livius drusus]

How about those speedo-short thingies Daniel Craig wore in the new Bond movie? You get much of the freedom but lose much of the goofy.

[Listener]

I love to think about my swimming days ...

see (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12507)

I haven't drummed up enough enthusiasm to start again (the nearest public pool is miles away and packed with kids!) - I hope you solve your problem!

[Novowels]

1. You won't have forgotten how to swim; it is indeed like riding a bicycle, you, not a fish. Well, that's good. I don't know how to ride a fish. (it's also been quite a few years since I've been on a bike, though. Egads!) 2. I've never worn goggles, but I can seen how they might make the experience better, no chlorine burning eyes for one, better vision underwater for another. I was more curious about the prescription part, I've used and not used regular goggles before, and never found them all that necessary. If the prescription ones really help both in and out of the water, though, I'd shell out for them.
3. Just go to the YMCA or local fitness center, but stay away from Family Night and Open Swim sessions, the kids just get in the way of decent exercise. Or, you could do what I did, put a 30' above ground pool in your yard. Luckily, the YMCAs around here keep a pretty meticulous schedule and it's all online too! Should make things a bit easier. As for the 'do it yourself' bit; I'd love to do that, but methinks my landlord would kill me.
5. By all means, wear a swimsuit; your fellow swimmers and swimming pool management will thank you. Well.... all right, if you insist.
6. Have fun. That's the plan. :shark2:Please, no Speedo. You aren't a competitive swimmer and nobody else should wear Speedos, ever. Ever? Not even if I looked like one of the guys on the Speedo website (http://www.speedousa.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.browse/categoryID/4c5cf9ad-0385-449f-b881-e5bb18a1edac/)? In any case, I'd most definately not be wearing the brief cut. (don't worry, I do have some small sense of decency.)Welcome back to the water! Thank you! Unfortunately, I haven't made it out yet, and my schedule this week looks pretty uncooperative. Soon, though!

[LadyShea]

Even the guys on the website shouldn't wear them. Seriously.

[Novowels]

Even the guys on the website shouldn't wear them. Seriously. Well, now you've got me all curious. I think it's obvious that men of... a certain body-shape let's just say... probably shouldn't wear something like that. But I always considered dudes in speedos akin to a women in bikinis- there's some I wouldn't mind seeing and there's some I think should be legally restricted from it.

You seem to have a pretty flat out veto in all cases, though! Do you mind if I ask why, or is it a sensitive subject?

(I was really joking about myself wearing a speedo, as I don't really have much resembling 'it' at the moment. Speedo offered itself as an easy target for a Newsradio quote, something that I as a member of Jimmy James Rockin' Ranger Brigade am required to attempt whenever the opportunity presents itself.)

[Crumb]

Shameless speedoism... :offended:

[Novowels]

:swim:

Whelp, I finally made it. I gots my prescription goggles, and I gots my SPEEDO (ok, Speedo brand boardshorts, very nice though) and I went up on Tuesday afternoon to the South Suburban YMCA to check out the place, sign up, and SWIM.

Unfortunately, a child had vomited in the pool and it would be closed for 4 hours while they drained, cleaned, and refilled it.

:eww:

But I signed up anyways, and took a little tour where I saw the most pitiful rock climinbing wall EVAR and looked at the pool schedule, where I decided I'd come back around 11:30am the next day and have a little swim before work!

11:00am - :yawn:
11:30am - :yawn: :yawn:
12:00pm - I suck at getting out of bed. HRMPHPH.
12:30pm - HOORAY, YMCA
12:35pm - OH SHIT I'M IN THE WATER WHAT DO I DO
12:40pm - Hey, I remember how to do some of this! This isn't so ba- OH GOD IT HURTS EVERYWHERE I DON'T REMEMBEMBER IT FEELING LIKE THIS
1:00pm - Gasping, weezing, shaking, aching, etc

After which I limped home, showered, and prepared for a long and pain filled day of moving about...

I can't wait to go back tomorrow morning and do it all over again.

:ffboogie: :swim:

[Dingfod]

Unfortunately, a child had vomited in the pool and it would be closed for 4 hours while they drained, cleaned, and refilled it.I'd almost bet money they don't drain the pool. That's an awful lot of water to waste when just adding more clorine, vacuuming the sediment, and skimming for chunks would do just fine.

[Novowels]

:twitch: Probably true.

[LadyShea]

Even the guys on the website shouldn't wear them. Seriously. Well, now you've got me all curious. I think it's obvious that men of... a certain body-shape let's just say... probably shouldn't wear something like that. But I always considered dudes in speedos akin to a women in bikinis- there's some I wouldn't mind seeing and there's some I think should be legally restricted from it.

You seem to have a pretty flat out veto in all cases, though! Do you mind if I ask why, or is it a sensitive subject?


Sorry I missed this several weeks ago. "Distracted" is my blanket excuse these days, as my title says.

I dunno, maybe it's just me, but I think Speedos look silly on everyone. Though I will happily appreciate an athletic guy's chest, shoulders and ass, I don't want to see his package, as I am not particularly interested in looking at genitalia.

I also have a thing for "sporty" guys. I prefer lean but toned, with the appearance of being highly active, to bulky muscle bound physiques....so surfers in board shorts are more visually appealing to me than a champion weight lifter in a Speedo.

Personal preference I guess.

Speaking of boardshorts, I'd like to take this opportunity to pimp my fave brand, Xelos (http://www.boardshortworld.com/), handmade in California, fast drying, stunning choice of unique fabrics. I like supporting microbrands and their shorts kick ass in general. I have two pairs, hubby has two pairs, and Kiddo is about to get his first pair.

[Novowels]

Sorry I missed this several weeks ago. "Distracted" is my blanket excuse these days, as my title says. NP here, it was more friendly banter than serious inquiry anyways.

I dunno, maybe it's just me, but I think Speedos look silly on everyone. Though I will happily appreciate an athletic guy's chest, shoulders and ass, I don't want to see his package, as I am not particularly interested in looking at genitalia. I guess I never considered that. Perhaps as a guy, I know that package-while-swimming isn't very representative of the 'real deal' anyways. I'm also more of an ass person, myself, so perhaps I'm just tuning out the front!

Speaking of boardshorts, I'd like to take this opportunity to pimp my fave brand, Xelos (http://www.boardshortworld.com/), handmade in California, fast drying, stunning choice of unique fabrics. I like supporting microbrands and their shorts kick ass in general. I have two pairs, hubby has two pairs, and Kiddo is about to get his first pair. Some of those do indeed look very sharp. If I hadn't already spent a bundle on my Speedo brand ones, I'd definitely lay a few dollars down for those. (I also tend to prefer microbrands, but Speedo has a little bit of a soft spot in my heart; they sponsored the recent Triathlon in Des Moines and I got to meet a few reps who were really nice and gave me some cool swag.)

[Dingfod]

I wear Columbia brand board shorts as swimming trunks, in highway department yellow.

[LadyShea]

Everyone here wears Columbia fishing shirts. It's my fave boating shirt and beach cover up.