Hey, solo swimmers! :wave: Welcome to the thread for all of us who train solo. Whether you train on your own due to a lack of a Masters team in your area (or for any other reason), this is our virtual locker room. Please post training tips that you think would be helpful, or anything else you would like to share with the rest of us. Have a rant? Go ahead and vent here! :rantonoff:
I'll start with a tip:
The most frustrating thing for me training solo is not having a coach on deck to evaluate my stroke and keep me on track, so I bought a waterproof camera and enlisted the help of my husband to periodically shoot video of all four strokes. Shooting underwater video became a knee/back buster, so I bought a camera mount and attached it to PVC pipe, so my husband could stand up straight to shoot underwater video. The camera gets dunked underwater, and he twists the pipe to pan the camera as I swim by.
Today, I bought a 2-pack of 12-inch "Gear Tie" reusable rubber twist ties (available at Home Depot), so I can tie the PVC pipe to the pool ladder (located in the corner of the pool) and shoot video myself. (If I angle the camera just right and keep it on wide angle, I can video me coming and going.)
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After each video session, I upload the videos to my desktop computer and compare my stroke to my favorite Go Swim stroke videos to see what I'm doing well (or not). I also post them on the Forums for feedback.
Ok, solo swimmers, what's your tip?
I hear you, Elaine. I went to pt before my surgery and for months after, and kept up the stretching exercises, too, but I just overdid the packing.
I did ask about the size of the pool in my new community, which was under construction (of course). I was assured by several people that it was a lap pool. Hilariously, the hostess at the clubhouse tried to tell us it was a 50 meter pool. Ha, if only. I talked to the developer and told him I'd never use the pool, that IMHO it was for the shower cap and noodle set. The upside is that there are miles of biking/walking trails in and around the community, and some mediocre but serviceable equipment in what they laughingly refer to as a workout room.
I'm a member of LA Fitness, though, and there's one about 3 miles from me.
I'm sad to be giving up my incredibly awesome recreation department here in Fairfax County, where nine of the rec centers have Olympic sized pools (because it's where a lot of the high school teams practice).
My game plan is to try and get a job with UMd so I can use the wonderful natatorium where the Masters meet was held a couple years back (where we met). There are two big swim centers in Anne Arundel County, they're just a bit of a drive. I'm headed back to the physical therapist next week and fingers crossed, my shoulder will be all right.
Your journey continues to inspire me. I swear I will get better and get swimming again.
Thanks for starting this thread.
I hear you, Elaine. I went to pt before my surgery and for months after, and kept up the stretching exercises, too, but I just overdid the packing.
I did ask about the size of the pool in my new community, which was under construction (of course). I was assured by several people that it was a lap pool. Hilariously, the hostess at the clubhouse tried to tell us it was a 50 meter pool. Ha, if only. I talked to the developer and told him I'd never use the pool, that IMHO it was for the shower cap and noodle set. The upside is that there are miles of biking/walking trails in and around the community, and some mediocre but serviceable equipment in what they laughingly refer to as a workout room.
I'm a member of LA Fitness, though, and there's one about 3 miles from me.
I'm sad to be giving up my incredibly awesome recreation department here in Fairfax County, where nine of the rec centers have Olympic sized pools (because it's where a lot of the high school teams practice).
My game plan is to try and get a job with UMd so I can use the wonderful natatorium where the Masters meet was held a couple years back (where we met). There are two big swim centers in Anne Arundel County, they're just a bit of a drive. I'm headed back to the physical therapist next week and fingers crossed, my shoulder will be all right.
Your journey continues to inspire me. I swear I will get better and get swimming again.
Thanks for starting this thread.
