Swimming Updates

Welcome to the 7Oaks Tri Club - Swimming Section
     
HeatherOHeather Oaten 
Swim Rep
 

Hi, my name is Heather and I’m the Club swim rep.  If you have any queries regarding swimming issues at the Club, whether this be training or event related please let me know. I joined 7Oaks Tri Club 2 years ago after one too many capsizes during rowing training tested my swimming ability and deciding I preferred cycling and running to rowing and a heated pool to a freezing river!

We run open water swimming sessions at Haysden Lake in the summer months for you to experience open water swimming; we also have wetsuits available for members to hire/borrow. The Club is affiliated to the ASA.

I can normally be found in Lane 3 at swim sessions, please come and say hello.
 Peter_Balla
Péter Balla
Swim Coach 
     

 Any members interested in participating in ASA affiliated events – including Masters Swim Meets (for those over age 25) and Open Water Events – please talk to Anne Raymond about registering with the ASA and further information about meets and open water swims.   Anne's email at swimsec@7oakstriclub.co.uk
Swim Lane Etiquette E-mail

A few reminders on how to give yourself (and everyone else in your lane) the maximum space in which to swim your sets properly. Remember this is training, not racing!

  • If you’re rigorous about getting into genuine speed order at the beginning of each major set, you’ll spread out and get more, not less, space as you work through it. Don’t assume the order will always be the same (we all have good and bad days and are good at different things) and be prepared to change order on a set-by-set or repeat-by-repeat basis if necessary. Don’t assume you have to maintain your position in the same lane every training evening at all costs.
  • On every repeat use the training clocks to leave a sufficient gap behind the swimmer in front. The default gap is 5 seconds, which if you average 40 seconds per 50m means that 7 swimmers (much more than we’d like!) could fit in the lane before there was an overlap on the first 50m.
  • If you’ve left a 5 second gap and still caught up, then you’re definitely going faster than the swimmer in front! So on the next repeat suggest that you go ahead. Don’t put it off –there may be others queuing up behind you.  Of course, the more variation in swimmers’ speeds in the same lane, and the longer the swim, the greater likelihood of overlaps.
  • On long repeats (200m and up), the likelihood of either catching someone up or lapping someone in the middle of the swim is obviously greater. Always keep an eye on the other swimmers, and if someone’s reached your feet in the middle of a long repeat, let them by (at the end of the length you’re on) by going into the corner of the lane. Don’t stop halfway down the length if you can help it; it invariably causes a massive jam.
  • If you’ve caught someone and you don’t think they’ve spotted you, tap them on the toes so that they know you’re there and they should let you pass at the end of the length. 
  • If you're being passed, or need to stop for any reason, go into the corner of the lane on the side you're already on and let the swimmer behind complete their turn before you push off. Don't cross in front of them before stopping.
  • When you are turning at the end of the length, be aware of others swimmers and try and stay on your own side of the lane when you push off the wall.
  • Try and arrive on time to start with the other swimmers in your lane. If you do arrive late, avoid disruption by starting your swim at the same point the others have reached in the set. 
  • Sometimes lanes may be crowded. Remember to leave room for others at the end of the lane so they too can swim the full distance and not have to stop short as you haven't left enough room for them.