Bit the bullet and went for a swim tonight. Well, if I need a challenge, there's one right in front of me. I hadn't realised what a terrible swimmer I've become. But I guess if you don't practice a skill for 20 years then you're unlikely to maintain ability - not that I had much in the first place. My technique is so bad that I was unable to string together 50m front crawl without having to revert to breast stroke. This is not a good state of affairs. Never mind triathlons, a goal of just being able to swim 1km crawl at any speed would be a substantial challenge. Lessons beckon, methinks.
It's rather exciting though, like 10 years ago when I had no idea how to run - I just went out and did it.
(27-07-2011, 09:44 PM)marathondan Wrote: My technique is so bad that I was unable to string together 50m front crawl without having to revert to breast stroke. This is not a good state of affairs.
Know exactly where you're at Dan. I'm in much the same boat (odd choice of phrase, that, given the subject) myself.
Good on you for getting stuck in (er, ditto the phrase).
(27-07-2011, 10:45 PM)Mid Life Crisis Man Wrote: Know exactly where you're at Dan. I'm in much the same boat (odd choice of phrase, that, given the subject) myself.
Good on you for getting stuck in (er, ditto the phrase).
If I was in a boat, there wouldn't be a problem...
It remains to be seen if I will dive in headfirst (there we go again...) but I feel I ought to.
I’ve been doing a bit of swimming recently so maybe we could compare notes. I alternate 50m crawl with 50m breaststroke. In fact my crawl is only very slightly faster than my breaststroke! 1km takes me just over 30 minutes. I’m told this is quite slow.
1km took me more like 40 mins last night - but with some breaks. I'm sure I could have done it faster if I'd just stuck to breast stroke. But that's not the way forward; I need to sort out my crawl technique.
There was a guy in the next lane who I immediately noticed when I arrived, as he was making quite a slap with his arm entry. But he was already knocking out steady crawl laps when I arrived, and he was still doing so when I left. I could still hear the slap from the changing room.
I can't swim crawl at all; don't know how to do the breathing. I'm sure if I got some lessons and tried to master it then I'd feel much more inclined to swim more regularly.
Sounds like Dan will be talking about 'transition technique' before we know it.
I can´t swim well either. That´s why I find swimming quite boring although I find it quite good since you use many muscles and it is good to avoid injuries or get better from them when you´re injured.
Agree with all of this! My crawl is almost as slow as my breastroke because I too can't get the breathing right, which is also perhaps because I find the idea of dragging myself through the water incredibly dull and boring. Swimming in the ocean is a whole different ball game of course, being far more exciting as you mix it with sharks, deadly jelly fish and bogan surfers of mixed parentage.
There's no way I could swim a whole kilometre in a pool. I think I'd die of boredom before getting half way... which is just as well because I'd probably drown before getting close to a whole km.
(29-07-2011, 09:32 PM)Bierzo Baggie Wrote: Looks like it's just you and me then Dan...
Although we seem to all have common ground in that we're all crap swimmers.
I like your new thread; hopefully I'll get to to the pool again soon and contribute. Hope you got some new knicker elastic.
I should point out to MLCM that most triathlons are swum in open water. Apparently one of the delights is the risk of being kicked in the face / head as the water boils with several hundred thrashing limbs. But it takes skill to do that, and I need to practice it in the pool first. Enjoy the treadmill, by the way.
(30-07-2011, 09:25 PM)marathondan Wrote: I should point out to MLCM that most triathlons are swum in open water. Apparently one of the delights is the risk of being kicked in the face / head as the water boils with several hundred thrashing limbs. But it takes skill to do that, and I need to practice it in the pool first. Enjoy the treadmill, by the way.
The difference is that on the treadmill you can watch U2's Slane Castle DVD (as an example), listen to music, talk on the phone, eat, drink and actually generally engage with civilisation. Oh, and you can stop at any time without drowning.
Going up and down the pool staring at the black line to me is like inviting the black dog of depression to take over your life.
But at least you don't get all smelly and sweaty I suppose. I do like that bit.
(01-08-2011, 09:00 PM)Mid Life Crisis Man Wrote: The difference is that on the treadmill you can watch U2's Slane Castle DVD (as an example), listen to music, talk on the phone, eat, drink and actually generally engage with civilisation. Oh, and you can stop at any time without drowning.
Going up and down the pool staring at the black line to me is like inviting the black dog of depression to take over your life.
But at least you don't get all smelly and sweaty I suppose. I do like that bit.
I take your point. But at the moment there are enough technical difficulties to keep my brain active.
And I smell of chlorine. And as soon as I get out of the water, I start to sweat.
Although I'm confused by "Only half of the group received the alcohol-free beer, however; the other half got a similarly flavored placebo." Surely alcohol-free beer is a similarly flavored placebo?
In other beer-related news, it seems that Argentina is ultimately to blame for the decline in British (and world) civilisation.
(24-08-2011, 10:58 AM)marathondan Wrote: In other beer-related news, it seems that Argentina is ultimately to blame for the decline in British (and world) civilisation.
Now I'm confused ... how is that the decline of civilisation?
Because lagered beer is inferior to British cask-conditioned real ale. The majority of which is to be found in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire.
Although you seem to know what you're talking about when it comes to beverages MLCM. So I now have that uncomfortable feeling that I usually get when asking a question in French, knowing the reply will be beyond me.
(24-08-2011, 03:31 PM)glaconman Wrote: Because lagered beer is inferior to British cask-conditioned real ale.
My point exactly.
On a related note, I was given a load of home brew kit for my birthday back in May, and cracked open the first effort (a middle of the road bitter) today. Not at all bad - a bit too hoppy and a bit too weak, but quite drinkable and with an impressive head. Time to get cracking on a Christmas Ale I think. I've also got a couple of wines maturing under the stairs, and have just picked about 20 lbs of damsons for the next effort. And there's a nice crop of pears at the bottom of the garden that have "cider" written all over them. Busy times ahead in the brewhouse.
I like the sound of that pear cider Dan; that has real potential.
I've always ducked out of the home brew game. Living in a town that brews something close to the perfect pint I feel it may be churlish to try. MLCMan has had success as I recall, though sadly I've never tasted the fruits of his labour. I may get a chance to do so in November *licks lips*
I know even less about making wine. Are the damsons part of that process? It sounds a little less Chemistry 101 than the brewing shennanigans but I like the idea of adding other fruits to the grapes to guide the results towards a fuller, fruitier finish. Damn. All this talk has made me thirsty ...
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
The damsons are very much part of the process, 'cos it's damson wine. I have a couple of old paperback recipe books (one beer, one wine), the wine one being packed with interesting "country wine" recipes, ranging from the sensible blackberry, damson, elderflower etc to the more bonkers parnip, carrot or oak leaf. They take a year to mature, so I'm getting a few started in quick succession.
Totally agree regarding attempts to replicate commercial ale; I think it will be better to try and stick to speciality efforts, like fruit ale, alcoholic ginger beer, or perhaps something saleable to NASA as a propellant.
There will be occasional updates from the brewhouse over here if you're interested.
The rest of 2011 - between marathons
RE: The rest of 2011 - between marathons 
If I was in a boat, there wouldn't be a problem...
