Any swimmers here? (gym, legs, build, cardio)

[RunD1987]

I am thinking of joining the Y. I use to swim years ago just for exercise and looking to do it again. Haven't been swimming much, but on vacation started to do 10 to 12 laps in a 25m pool and .5 a mile in the ocean.

Definitely my stroke needs improvement, but superseded my legs with my back is better aligned then before. Also I feel I can take less breaths now per stroke, from 3 to 5 strokes now.

Question is any tips for someone starting to swim? Think it's okay if I swim in board shorts in the pool?

Appreciate the feedback.

[Luckyd609]

See if the Y holds a Masters swim class. They are great for getting your form back and improving your overall swimming. If they don't just get in the pool and go. Swimming is not something you forget how to do, you just need to build up your cardiovascular and breathing techniques. I would get rid of the board shorts and get proper swimwear for lap swimming.

[RunD1987]

Cool appreciate the feedback I have some speedo trunks that are like spandex shorts, but a little to big for them might scare people out of the water. I have speedo swim shorts and these tri swim shorts to get me by for first few weeks. Masters class is the winter will look it over it cool beans!

[jdhall1]

I swim about 2x a week outdoors in the spring/summer months in lieu of a cardio day at the gym. Its from someone I knows small private beach that no one uses. I usually where the square cut speedo trunks, but a couple of times the small traditional speedo that was given to me as a joke.

[Luckyd609]

Speedos no good on the beach, much better for the pool.

[mrpeatie]

A lot of people opt for jammers now intead of the bikini style speedos. But unless you are a competitive swimmer you should be fine with a shorter pair of trunk style swim shorts- meaning mid thigh and not baggy.

[arrieros81]

Originally Posted by RunD1987

I am thinking of joining the Y. I use to swim years ago just for exercise and looking to do it again. Haven't been swimming much, but on vacation started to do 10 to 12 laps in a 25m pool and .5 a mile in the ocean.

Definitely my stroke needs improvement, but superseded my legs with my back is better aligned then before. Also I feel I can take less breaths now per stroke, from 3 to 5 strokes now.

Question is any tips for someone starting to swim? Think it's okay if I swim in board shorts in the pool?

Appreciate the feedback.

I started swimming at my local gym 2 years ago.

I watched a ton of swimming videos, tried it out, but most importantly started watching other swimmers at the pool and mimicking what they did. Asked for feedback when I sensed someone was receptive; one person in particular was very nice and helpful to me as a beginner. Got better over time, the more time I spent thinking about each stroke and reading/watching videos. Am swimming pretty much daily right now and have gotten a lot better, and it's become much more fun.

My advice at this point would be to focus on getting a feel for the water and correct body position (streamline). Then you can work on the pull.

I like Sheila Taormina's book on the pull

https://www.amazon.com/Swim-Speed-Se...heila+taormina

Swim Smooth also has good info on body position and freestyle technique.

I wasn't too fond of the Total Immersion book; I thought the diagrams were really hard to figure out.

Yes you can wear board shorts to swim; it has more fabric than the jammers for men which will create some drag. When you decide if you want to swim faster and aren't so body conscious you can look into trying out some tighter swimsuits that won't create drag.