Swimming

Hi Scooter love your name as I used to have similar nickname on another forum!! lol
Yes I also started swimming again last year, I started going to get bit of excersise, although I never really liked swimming and didn't learn until I was about 11, but once I got going again, I found it very therapeutic, at our local pool we have "early bird swim from about 7-30 to 9-30,(too early for me as have GS to sort out) so I tend to go around lunch time when it is nice and quiet, I have had to give up my swim for various reasons, but I am hoping I can get back to it soon..also I have developed Dowerges hump)widows hump and hope that the action of breast stroke make help! keep up with your swim

Hi Scooter glad you are enjoying your swimming , I've always enjoyed swimming and always try to book holidays near the sea as thats the place I prefer to swim. I swim in my local pool once or twice a week its the best excercise for someone with multiple Arthritic joints and allows me to keep my muscles and joints stronger I'm certain its how I've managed to maintain as much mobility as I have.
I go usually around 9am for an hour of laps there are usually half a dozen or so other over 50's some swim laps and some just potter around but any excercise in water is good as its not weight bearing , one lady walks up and down as she is waiting for knee surgery so is keeping her muscles strong. I used to river swim when I was young and would love the opportunity to try it again...

riverswim tanith lol oh you plucky gal lol

I learnt to swim last year as my 60th year challenge to myself. Haven't been in the cold weather but you have made me think of going again. we only have a small pool here and its off limits in school holidays - crammed to the gills so perhaps i'll go next week - empty between 3-4.

Hi Bikergran ,the user name came about due to me doing something else I hadn't done for a long time.Used to drive a Motorbike on a provisional license from age 16 to about 21, then gave it up but always wished I hadn't.Then about 3 years ago I decided I would give the CBT a try and passed it on a 50cc Honda.Now have a Honda 125 Scooter and I am in my element,any excuse to go the long way round lol.With my swimming and my bike I now feel like a recycled teenager at aged nearly 56 lol.

Bikergran,sorry to hear you have had to give up your swimming,fingers crossed you get back to it soon.Tanith,in my younger days I would have loved to have tried river swimming,think I may be too much of a scaredy cat to try it now though.I also have Arthritis(Rheumatoid) and I am certain my swimming is helping it.Sue,well done you,that's some challenge to set yourself,bet you were over the moon when you managed to do it .

Another swimmer here ! I only started 2 years ago after many years of thinking that I should learn but never doing anything about it. I can only do crawl and backstroke as breaststroke is not good for my knee but can now manage 100m if I do a mix of strokes. I still go for the lessons as the group have become friends and often finish up having coffee together. I can even jump feet first into the deep end and hope one day to pluck up courage to go in head first.

Tiggypro,my friend Aileen also learned to swim last year after many years of trying and failing,she was really scared and thought she would never do it.Like you she went to adult swimming lessons and really enjoyed it,also keeping going as she found it very friendly and not too pressurised,she is now really chuffed that she at aged 64 can at last go in a pool without her water wings.

I try to go once a week & do 50 lengths. There's usually quite a few others of similar age to me there.
You're brave tiggypiro, I can't even manage to jump into the shallow end cause I'm too scared

Scooter58 ahaa a fellow rider, sorry to divert from the thread...but I had a nickname "scootergran" in fact it may still be there.lol very much like you! I had a 50cc scooter..then sold it to help pay towards a caravan (about 10 yrs ago) then about 6 yrs ago..I decided I would love another scooter..so like you passed my CBT and got 125 piagio fly, loved it and then met up wiith a another lady scooterer down at asda one day..she had same scooter.we have been friends since! we used to go on trips out, then something happened and my scooter was no more! I then got a Yamaha custom 125 (lovely) and did 2 CBTS...then I decided at the grand old age of 55 to do my bike test!! it had changed and now involves Mod 1 & 2, failed my Mod 1 first time, took it again and passed...then got my Mod 2..whoopeee..and now have done my 2 yrs restricted licence and can now ride any bike...but have stuck with a Yamaha 250cc. my friend and I go out to the coast/town/picnics short rides/longer rides/but like the swimming I have had to put bike on back burner.
Sorry to divert but it was directed at Scooter58 keep riding

Ah Bikergran,so much in common,I have always wanted a caravan and ahm swithering whether to get a tourer(can't afford a static) or not.Problem is others would need to tow it as I can't with a scooter lol.Good on you passing your mods 1 and 2. I am thinking about trying to do that soon as I passed my theory last year and have 1 year of my CBT left.Unfortunately I don't know any other riders so go solo jaunts at the moment.Hope you are back on 2 wheels very soon.

Scooter yes the caravan was good, had a biggish one then got little 2 birth, but had to also give that up (story of my life lol) as DH not well, hence have had to curb things, I did same a you CBT then did my theory (couldn't get over that I had!!! to do my theory even though I passed car driving test 35 yrs prior)! but left it too late to take Mods 1 & 2 so had to do theory again...tut! I would go for it girl..as it is only going to get harder..as the yrs go...but if your quite happy on your 125 scooter..then stick with that. have you ever thought of another 125 bike! some smashing 125s around now and they look soooooooo BIG!!
not sure what area you are from,but the friend I have met was just purely coincidental, I just happen to park up to get some shopping at Asda and we got chatting (I do chat to anyone) and a friendship blossomed, it is nice to have a meet up, and we usualy end up at a Mcdonalds for a cuppa on route lol.
again I have deviated from the swimming thread lol..

I swim most days in the summer, but not so much at other times of the year. I pay a subscription to use the pool at one of the local hotels and I'm often there on my own or with just one other. In our town I'm still considered a youngster, so there are lots of people there older than me, many of whom swim on a regular basis.

Started a thread about swimming and end up talking about bikes lol,quite happy with my scooter but when I change it I will likely go for a Honda PCX 125, looks like a bike and drives like a Scooter lol.Nice to chat with a like minded rider Bikergran

Grannyactivist,that sounds great,a pool almost to yourself,a daily swim also sounds good,at the moment due to work etc I manage twice a week but hoping to increase to 3 or 4 soon.

I swim most days as we are lucky to have a pool at home. I used to teach swimming many years ago, my speciality was disabled children and people who were frightened of the water.
It's such an good form of exercise and relaxing too. I sort out all sorts of problems whilst I'm doing lengths

Yogagran,I envy you,how good it must be to swim whenever you want,like you I find it very relaxing and I usually feel quite refreshed and ready to take on the world once I have had my swim.My eldest grandson Calum (9) has now started coming along with me on my early Sunday morning swim and he just loves it.Your job as a swimming teacher must have given you a great deal of satisfaction when your pupils achieved their goals.

I love swimming, learned at 55 and I go once a week. It helps with joint pain, however Im very nervous so I just splash around swim a few strokes and do maybe 2 half lengths but it must do some good.. The only problem is that I'm in so much pain afterwards and the next day also I'm very tired and can only just manage to go to work afterwards. Anyone else find it so tiring and painful

Not painful Silverfish bit definatly tiring. My first 25m of front crawl is awful and I am so glad to make it to the end. I find myself saying 'Relax, relax, relax' and after a while I can and I have to say it does help !

so, tiggy, do you think its because im very tense. Im scared of getting my face under the water and I keep my head up. I will try to relax more next time I go

Try backstroke. I know it's scary, but once you learn to float on your back it's soooo much easier than all the front swimming strokes - and you don't even need to get your face wet!

no no no... I could not do it as there are kids in the pool and really fast swimmers and I would be scared someone would bump me and I would go under. Thank you though for the advice

Go to adult lessons Silverfish - mine are for the over 50's - there are no pesky kids trying their utmost to get in your way. I don't think I would like to go to a public session. I am the only one who does backstroke but because we all know each other I can keep clear of the others and they know I am coming and keep clear of me !
As for getting your face wet a good teacher will help you overcome your fears. And yes, relaxing makes things so much easier as you float better and can fill your lungs with more air and the muscles work better and best of all it seems to reduce the fear factor ! Takes quite a bit of practise though.

I am 71 in August and have never learnt to swim after nearly drowning in the Adriatic when I was young. I have a fear of water but often dream of being able to swim like a fish and it is such a lovely feeling but so disappointing when I waken and realise it was just a dream.

Is it too late for me to learn now and how do I overcome my fear?