Foo - Random question...Can you swim?

I never learned as a child/teen/young adult so I'm giving it a try in my 40's. This should be interesting considering I'm not that comfortable in open water.

So can you or can't you?

Not really. I can tread water and dog paddle. That's about it.

But hot dang if I can pull a cam out of car. :)

Yep, good thing because I do triathlons.

Seriously, be patient because swimming takes time to learn and even longer to build up endurance. It's all in technique and it's especially hard for beginners to learn because of the fear factor. But it's an excellent form of exercise and a great recovery from cycling.

Good for you. Enjoy, relax, and have fun.

Yep, good thing because I do triathlons.

Seriously, be patient because swimming takes time to learn and even longer to build up endurance. It's all in technique and it's especially hard for beginners to learn because of the fear factor. But it's an excellent form of exercise and a great recovery from cycling.

Good for you. Enjoy, relax, and have fun.

I plan to take my time and have fun with this. No reason to rush it.

I can't, but I think the wife and all of her offspring have otter DNA or something....

I haven't done so in years, but I can.

I went through YMCA day camp late enough into grade school that I could remember technique enough to pass my college swim test (if I didn't pass the swim test cold I would have had to take swimming for one (or more) of my 2 PE requirements). I still mechanically remember technique and try to think to make myself execute something close to it, even if I will never have fully internalized the bestest form of a competitive swimmer. But I stay afloat at least and don't burn too much energy doing it.

swim classes very very early on.. so it's close to walking in my nature ;)

swim classes very very early on.. so it's close to walking in my nature ;)
Best time to do it. Little ones are having too much fun to be afraid. As you get older, then the fear factor really starts kicking in. If you wait too long to teach the kids, you might as well wait until they grow up and decide to do it for themselves.

I can swim. I was decent as a kid but nowadays I can't stand water.

It's either that or sink.

I wouldn't drown, but anything resembling forward motion is mere coincidence.

Why? Going to come to the Oregon/Washington coast soon?

http://washingtondnr.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/ger_tsunami_evacuation_sign1.gif

I grew up around a lake so I can't remember when I learned. I am sure I was 2 or so. I took my son to swim class for infants around 18 months. It was fun. Take your time and have fun. Its fun and the best excersize around.

like a fish. Biggest hurdle for older 1st timers is to relax, not fight the water, and have fun rather than fear and apprehension. Process can be much easier in a lap pool w/o a diving well (ie all shallow and no deep end). Then one can just practice w/ relaxation and buoyancy w/o fear of drowning (just stand up). Once people figure out how to relax and float face down and up the process of learning to swim is MUCH less intimidating and difficult.

I haven't done it lately, but yes. In college, I did a fair amount of lap swimming. I can also bake a mean frozen pizza.

If I can learn to control my breathing while in water and underwater (and not freak), I'll be ok. I'm going to the pool tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it.

If I can learn to control my breathing while in water and underwater (and not freak), I'll be ok. I'm going to the pool tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it.

Are you taking a class? You learn to breathe properly with each style is my rememberance..

Are you taking a class? You learn to breathe properly with each style is my rememberance..

I will be taking lessons. Just having my head underwater and remaining calm is a first step.

Very cool! Much good vibes will be sent your way.

Very cool! Much good vibes will be sent your way.

Thanks! I will report back tomorrow on my adventure / journey.

I will be taking lessons. Just having my head underwater and remaining calm is a first step.
Former lifeguard and water safety instructor.
As noted earlier, relaxing and the security of the shallow end is the key until your confidence improved. Head under water? As you are sitting at your desk reading this, hold you breath...time it. Repeat. Now fully exhaled and time. You know you will survive. Now transfer that to the pool...in 3 ft of water. Notice how the air in your lungs provides boyancy...exhale and sit on the bottom, then stand up when you need air.

As they teach you the various kicks and strokes (some - like the breast stroke - later applied under water), initially, feel the power of the kick as you hold onto the pool wall and it pushes you into it. Likewise with the hand strokes, feeling the water it pushes around you - and they will teach you techniques like when to cup and not cup your hands during a stroke, etc. You will also learn which require more energy and which are more relaxing. My personal preference is the side scissor kick, vs the breast stroke (on surface) or the crawl both of which I find tiring and less efficient plus more difficult to visually hold a line. Your preferences may vary.

I was a good swimmer as a kid. Even won awards at summer camp and had my lifesaving certificates. Haven't done much as an adult.

I still remember the moment as a kid when I realized that swimming in the deep end was no different than swimming in the shallow end. It still took some getting used to. You just can't stand up. But you float.

I find that I really prefer swimming underwater than on the surface. It's much more fun.

I can tread water just long enough to get into a really good panic before I drown.

I can swim, but I'm pretty slow. I actually really enjoy swimming. I wish we had a pool so I could do it everyday in the summer.

yes, but I'd rather just float in a lounge with a drink.

I wouldn't drown, but anything resembling forward motion is mere coincidence.
Pretty much describes my abilities.

I can't remember a time when I couldn't.

When I was 5 a life guard had to pull me out of a lake. She taught me how to swim later that day. Now I love to swim and my last deployment to Qatar I swam 27 total miles.

You better dam well learn to swim.
75% of the planet is water not to mention all the Italian cruise ship captains.

I can swim well enough to survive an emergency water landing, or to get across the pool to where the beer is kept, but my technique is crap. I can do a passable breast-stroke & side-stroke but couldn't do a legit crawl for dookie.

Learned when I was 7 or 8 years old, and promptly forgot everything I learned.

Yep, good thing because I do triathlons.

Seriously, be patient because swimming takes time to learn and even longer to build up endurance. It's all in technique and it's especially hard for beginners to learn because of the fear factor. But it's an excellent form of exercise and a great recovery from cycling.

Good for you. Enjoy, relax, and have fun.

this

I swim pretty well but I never learned proper form so i'm probably not very efficient.

yes

yes, but I'd rather just float in a lounge with a drink.


Same here.

We had a pool and also stayed at the beach for vacations when I was a kid so I'm comfortable in still water or ocean waves.

I'm comfortable underwater and can keep myself from drowning, however on top of the water I'm pretty uncoordinated. Watching me do laps in a pool is reminiscent of a Jerry Lewis skit.

Yes. Pretty much could swimm before I could walk.

Not in great swimming shape anymore, but I'm still good enough in the water that if someone breaks in if I can lure them outside and into the pool they are going to die.

3 or 4 year letterman in college (I retired after my Jr. year but came out of retirement to finish 7th in the League Championship meet my Sr. year in hte 200 butterfly on 2 weeks training).

Water is my friend.

As others have said fear and panic are the major problems for most. Though sometimes the flip side gets involved. I've seen fools go in to water I'd have thought twice about even in my prime.

Grew up in Florida so I have been able to swim as long as I can remember. Being relaxed and comfortable in the water is important. It served me well as a kid when I fell off a dock in a boat house while wearing full winter apparel (okay, it was still Florida but at least Northern Florida). I sank like the proverbial stone and hit bottom in about 10 feet of water. The plan that evolved was to just walk the bottom up to the shoreline which I did.

Most of the planet is water. I think learning to swim is a good idea.

yes, but i'd rather just float in a lounge with a drink.

ibid.

I swim pretty well but I never learned proper form so i'm probably not very efficient.

That's me too. But I did make it through six years in the Navy. Then again, my ship never sunk. I found it funny how many Navy guys couldn't swim worth a damn.

That's me too. But I did make it through six years in the Navy. Then again, my ship never sunk. I found it funny how many Navy guys couldn't swim worth a damn.

All navy men should be able to swim well enough that they can swim out to a ship anchored in a harbor and climb up a rope dropped over the side, even if tehy are dead drunk, scratch that, especially if they are dead drunk.

I'm comfortable underwater and can keep myself from drowning, however on top of the water I'm pretty uncoordinated. Watching me do laps in a pool is reminiscent of a Jerry Lewis skit.

do you get the dry heaves?

do you get the dry heaves?

I am jet propelled.

I can swim well enough to survive an emergency water landing, or to get across the pool to where the beer is kept, but my technique is crap. I can do a passable breast-stroke & side-stroke but couldn't do a legit crawl for dookie.

Learned when I was 7 or 8 years old, and promptly forgot everything I learned.

^^^^^ This is about the same for me So a triathlon is ride to the party, swim across the pool for a beer, run to bathroom.

Grew up in Florida so I have been able to swim as long as I can remember. Being relaxed and comfortable in the water is important. It served me well as a kid when I fell off a dock in a boat house while wearing full winter apparel (okay, it was still Florida but at least Northern Florida). I sank like the proverbial stone and hit bottom in about 10 feet of water. The plan that evolved was to just walk the bottom up to the shoreline which I did.

Most of the planet is water. I think learning to swim is a good idea.

Cool story...

Like a fish. From a young age. I swam out of a rip tide around the age of 12. That was an experience.

I grew up in a state filled with lakes and surrounded by the great lakes. It was not an option not to be able to swim. We're making sure the kiddos are comfortable in the water and they are starting to learn proper form this year.

I can swim but I'm not very good.

I was a little resistant to learn and was probably 10 years old or so before I did take lessons. Swimming is easy, easier than riding a bike. Don't get a mental block that it is hard. Swimming well or swimming fast or swimming pretty is a lot harder, but basic swimming is very easy.

better than some, worse than others

236814

plus i hang out in the tri forums for fun