Are you a strong swimmer?

[jonks]

Junior lifeguard for two summers!!

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
3-4 laps underwater in a normal lap size swimming pool

I call shens. I was on a lot of really good swim teams when I was young, and NONE of us could even do 3 FULL laps in a "normal" (25 yards indoor/25 meters outdoor) sized lap pool, let alone 4.

Anyone else want to chime in on this one?

2 is easy, 3 isn't difficult, 4 I could see being possible. You just have to over oxygenate yourself and move without excreting too much energy.

 

[Electric Amish]

No. I'm lucky to be able to swim in a swimming suit.

I have a mental problem with having water on my face.

 

[thegimp03]

Yes, swim team, etc.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
3-4 laps underwater in a normal lap size swimming pool

I call shens. I was on a lot of really good swim teams when I was young, and NONE of us could even do 3 FULL laps in a "normal" (25 yards indoor/25 meters outdoor) sized lap pool, let alone 4.

Anyone else want to chime in on this one?

2 is easy, 3 isn't difficult, 4 I could see being possible. You just have to over oxygenate yourself and move without excreting too much energy.

Two is not all that easy for everyone, and three IS difficult. We were competitive swimmers in top shape, and we all knew the drill about oxygenating first and good, easy form underwater.

I suppose if you rigorously trained for it. The only experience we had were spontaneous competitions between us that broke out before or after practice.

I was a good swimmer. I've held pool records, team records, league records, and was on a relay team that set a Pa. state record.

In competition, in the live lane (you competitive swimmers know what I mean) I swam butterfly, freestyle, backstroke, and even the IM, as well as anchoring relay teams.

 

[radioouman]

I exercise by swimming while pulling our 19' foot Bayliner when we are at the lake. I love to swim, but I am not a distance swimmer.

 

[MichaelD]

What's with all the talk about swimming while fully clothed...in jeans and sneakers no less?

Swimming = having a bathing suit on
Trying not to drown after boat sinks = fully clothed "swimming"

What's wrong with you jokers?

I can swim...i.e. keep from drowning. Floating is difficult for me. I can swim roughly 50 meters in water over my head, before I get tired. I know how to dog paddle so I don't drown until I'm rested enough to swim further.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I don't float, but I can tread water forever. Also, I have no problem swimming distance. I don't swim very fast any more though since I am out of shape.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: radioouman
I exercise by swimming while pulling our 19' foot Bayliner when we are at the lake.

But do you pull the 19' boat with your teeth while swimming?

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
What's with all the talk about swimming while fully clothed...in jeans and sneakers no less?

Swimming = having a bathing suit on

What's all this talk about swimming with a bathing suit on?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Perknose
Two is not all that easy for everyone, and three IS difficult. We were competitive swimmers in top shape, and we all knew the drill about oxygenating first and good, easy form underwater.

I suppose if you rigorously trained for it. The only experience we had were spontaneous competitions between us that broke out before or after practice.

I was a good swimmer. I've held pool records, team records, league records, and was on a relay team that set a Pa. state record.

In competition, in the live lane (you competitive swimmers know what I mean) I swam butterfly, freestyle, backstroke, and even the IM, as well as anchoring relay teams.

Well I could stay underwater for a few minutes so it wasn't a problem. Heck part of the scuba requirement is swim 50 meters under water, most of the class struggled with it but I had no problem at all and could have kept going. Maybe some are just better at holding their breath and knowing that when your body says to go up for air, just let some air out and keep going. It's not that you're out of oxygen, it's that you have too much CO2 and need to get rid of some of it.

 

[Jeeebus]

I was a lot stronger of a swimmer before I dislocated my shoulder in a pool back in law school. Definitely a mental aspect of not wanting to look down at my shoulder again and see things pointing in directions they shouldn't be.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider

Originally posted by: invidia
Strong, as in I can swim and stay float by myself with sneakers + jeans + shirt. Also want to know how many people out there can actually even swim.

I have never attempted this.

its not exactly easy, i also wouldent recomend doing in in march/april in a lake in maine right after the ice thaws

not fun times

 

[Kelemvor]

I don't swim often but was on the swim team in high school and can still swim laps if I feel like it.

So Yes, I'm a strong swimmer per your definition of strong swimmer.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Jeeebus
I was a lot stronger of a swimmer before I dislocated my shoulder in a pool back in law school. Definitely a mental aspect of not wanting to look down at my shoulder again and see things pointing in directions they shouldn't be.

I gotta ask: How...just HOW did you dislocate your shoulder in law school? Too much pounding the gavel?

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: rbV5

Originally posted by: buck
Strong swimmer because of surfing. Grew up having to paddle out almost 1/4 mile to the outside waves. I have had my leash along with friends break about that far out, you learn not to panic and just take your time getting back in. I could swim a good distance in the ocean, even in a wetsuit... As for speed, I dont have a clue.

Yup, me too. I don't surf like I used to, but surfing the Oregon coast makes you an expert swimmer, and pretty fast too if you want any waves at any crowded spots

A certain "point" there is my favorite wave in the world when its on. Thats even factoring in the horrible localism and cold water.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: Anubis
i also wouldent recomend doing in in march/april in a lake in maine right after the ice thaws

Anyone who hasn't experienced this would be hella' surprised. The ice cold water grips your chest like an IRON CLAW, and I don't care how good a swimmer you are, you aren't going all that far before fatigue sets in.

Really cold water drains you fast. Very fast.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: Anubis
i also wouldent recomend doing in in march/april in a lake in maine right after the ice thaws

Anyone who hasn't experienced this would be hella' surprised. The ice cold water grips your chest like an IRON CLAW, and I don't care how good a swimmer you are, you aren't going all that far before fatigue sets in.

Really cold water drains you fast. Very fast.

<- first hand expirence with this, yes its scary as hell, luckily i was not that far from the shore ~50 yards

 

[preslove]

My favorite stroke is the butterfly, but I can't do more than 100 yards without stopping.

 

[UTmtnbiker]

Training for a sprint tri (400m swim, 5k run, 20k bike). I'm a competitive cyclist so my cardio is in pretty good shape and I'm used to doing long distance riding. With that in mind, I thought I was in good shape. Swimming is completely different from cycling. Even though my cardio is in good shape, when I first started, I couldn't do more than 2 lengths of the 25m pool without feeling winded. I'm now up to 400m (16 lengths of the pool) although I'm not speedy.

That being said, I still enjoy it more than running.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Cogman

Originally posted by: rh71
no i can't swim more than a lap because I hate putting my head underwater. I never learned to swim - they expected you to just jump in the pool and do laps in HS... a few of us said 'fuck that' and got doctor's notes. No they don't teach. Anyway I took a class in college and I know how to swim and can float and all that... I just dont' like the experience of breathing in water so I don't ever put my head under... which leads to early fatigue... which leads to not being able to swim for a long time.

Maybe I'll do it right when we teach our kids.

Your not supposed to breathe in water . Theres a reason we gag when we try and do that.

Really though, I have a hard time understanding the fear of putting your face in the water. Can you just not do it? Or is it getting the breathing rhythm down that gets to you?

It's definitely the act of accidentally breathing in the water thru my nose. Once that happens, the session is over. I've tried laps with my head under and the instant I feel something up my nose I come up for air and stop swimming completely (in the deep end)... it's not a fun experience. My wife who's a decent swimmer says you just gotta get used to it. I'm sorry but I'm not getting used to that feeling no matter how hard I try. I need to get the breathing process right and that's my problem. But it turns out that you'll end up breathing in water regardless no matter how careful/experienced you are... no? Do you people just get over it?

BTW, I think some people are just naturally more buoyant than others and thus it's easier for them. I remember a much older thread that asked how you float in the water... some people said it just happens. WTF? I can float on my back (if I don't breathe much) but I can't tread water, at all.

 

[TridenT]

I can swim quite well but like I can't breathe out my nose underwater at all. (Really, I can't at all) So, I have to wear a mask with a thing that covers your nose when I go underwater or else I can't go under without holding it closed.

I would assume I could swim fully clothed but I have never tried because I don't like my clothes to get soaked.. <_<

 

[Jeeebus]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Jeeebus
I was a lot stronger of a swimmer before I dislocated my shoulder in a pool back in law school. Definitely a mental aspect of not wanting to look down at my shoulder again and see things pointing in directions they shouldn't be.

I gotta ask: How...just HOW did you dislocate your shoulder in law school? Too much pounding the gavel?

few days late, but just seeing this now.

I really can't explain. Was swimming in a pool. Must have brought my arm down too hard/the wrong way... something. Out popped shoulder. Down Jeeebus went.

 

[sdifox]

I can swim with cement shoes on as well as with cement shoes off.

 

[BoberFett]

I was a lifeguard back in high school. I doubt I could pass the lifeguard test nowadays, but I can swim just fine.