A couple of swimming questions

[runaways]

I've added swimming once a week back into my routine, starting last week, so today was my second time after about a year of not.

1. Flip turns. I can do them but I get SO out of breath. I'm guessing this is just an adjustment/lung capacity thing and it will get easier with time and practice?

2. I know this comes up regularly but I've forgotten where you all have said to shop. I have a Nike suit and the tag says "34/WMS8." I think the size is totally fine but it's definitely too short. I've been wearing it anyway for a while but I kind of want to get one that fits more properly. Can I do that online based on that size? Is it easy to figure out my length? Is it like bras where the size changes with length?

Thanks so much!

[Susie]

Yes, flip turns will get easier with practice. You have to exhale while you're flipping to avoid water going up your nose, but as you get more skilled at them you'll flip faster, which means less exhaling. It's easier to hold your breath with full lungs. Plus, you'll finish the flip turn faster, so win there on the breathing aspect. Swimming also tends to increase your vo2 max hugely, more than running ever has for me, which helps.

As far as swim suits... I'm not sure what to say because I think it depends on your perspective. I have the "lifelong competitive swimmer" mentality about swimsuits, which is that Speedos (or other brands of the same competitive style, including TYR, Nike, etc.) are what you wear, and you wear them tight. You pick the size that fits you best, usually several sizes smaller than your bra band size. (I'm a 34B/swim in a 28.) People who are tall (like you?) stretch them lengthwise, people who are rounder or have huge boobs or huge shoulders stretch them the other way. You pick the size that fits your combination of features best. They don't come in petite or tall, they just fit different people differently. So the concept of something being the right size but too short, doesn't equate to me. Either it's too short (i.e. small) and you'd be better off with a larger size, or you're in the right size and aren't used to how competitive swimwear feels/fits, and/or it just needs to stretch a little (it will). There are minor variations from brand to brand, but that's basically it.

There are plenty of people, though, who are not "swimmers" who would argue with me that they have special snowflake bodies that can't be accommodated by competitive swimwear, and they must have tall sizes, bras built in, or other non-standard competitive suit features. If that's what's more comfortable to you, something like Athleta is always an option.

For someone who wants to give masters swimming/tri's a shot, I'd give the heads up that really, competitive styles are the way to go in the same spirit that Sadlebred might give a heads up that something would seem really out of place or dorky to show up with on a group ride. But for casual lap swim? Pick what you're comfortable with.

Most swimmers here who wear competitive swimsuits and know their size order from swimoutlet.com, but you might do well trying some suits on in-store to figure out what you like first. Then once you know what brand/size fits you well you can order online - just like buying subsequent pairs of the same running shoes.

[mainewifey]

I love swimoutlet.com, they have size charts for each brand I think. I have found that Nike suits are bigger than Speedos, TYRs are slightly smaller than Nike's, but bigger than Speedos. But I think it probably varies from style to style.

The flip turns will get easier with time! What part of the turns do you think makes you out of breath, like/as in where do you feel that you lose your breath?

[runaways]

Apr 10, 2014 14:12:30 GMT -5 Susie said:

Yes, flip turns will get easier with practice. You have to exhale while you're flipping to avoid water going up your nose, but as you get more skilled at them you'll flip faster, which means less exhaling. It's easier to hold your breath with full lungs. Plus, you'll finish the flip turn faster, so win there on the breathing aspect. Swimming also tends to increase your vo2 max hugely, more than running ever has for me, which helps.

As far as swim suits... I'm not sure what to say because I think it depends on your perspective. I have the "lifelong competitive swimmer" mentality about swimsuits, which is that Speedos (or other brands of the same competitive style, including TYR, Nike, etc.) are what you wear, and you wear them tight. You pick the size that fits you best, usually several sizes smaller than your bra band size. (I'm a 34B/swim in a 28.) People who are tall (like you?) stretch them lengthwise, people who are rounder or have huge boobs or huge shoulders stretch them the other way. You pick the size that fits your combination of features best. They don't come in petite or tall, they just fit different people differently. So the concept of something being the right size but too short, doesn't equate to me. Either it's too short (i.e. small) and you'd be better off with a larger size, or you're in the right size and aren't used to how competitive swimwear feels/fits, and/or it just needs to stretch a little (it will). There are minor variations from brand to brand, but that's basically it.

There are plenty of people, though, who are not "swimmers" who would argue with me that they have special snowflake bodies that can't be accommodated by competitive swimwear, and they must have tall sizes, bras built in, or other non-standard competitive suit features. If that's what's more comfortable to you, something like Athleta is always an option.

For someone who wants to give masters swimming/tri's a shot, I'd give the heads up that really, competitive styles are the way to go in the same spirit that Sadlebred might give a heads up that something would seem really out of place or dorky to show up with on a group ride. But for casual lap swim? Pick what you're comfortable with.

Most swimmers here who wear competitive swimsuits and know their size order from swimoutlet.com, but you might do well trying some suits on in-store to figure out what you like first. Then once you know what brand/size fits you well you can order online - just like buying subsequent pairs of the same running shoes.

Thank you, this is helpful! I'm really okay with how my suit feels to be honest, it just cuts into my shoulders and the tops of my legs a lot so I didn't know if I was doing it wrong (and I thought I had seen someone mention them coming in different lengths on here at one point). I wear a 32 size bra and I definitely could go tighter on the suit, but it sounds like what I have may be the best compromise of length and width. I tried some in store and left with this one so it was the best of the ones I tried, but maybe I'll go try on a few sizes in some other brands too for comparison.

[runaways]

Apr 10, 2014 14:17:15 GMT -5 mainewifey said:

I love swimoutlet.com, they have size charts for each brand I think. I have found that Nike suits are bigger than Speedos, TYRs are slightly smaller than Nike's, but bigger than Speedos. But I think it probably varies from style to style.

The flip turns will get easier with time! What part of the turns do you think makes you out of breath, like/as in where do you feel that you lose your breath?

I just kind of feel like I'm gasping for air when I finally get to that first stroke. I'm admittedly very slow at the flip turns.

[mainewifey]

Apr 10, 2014 14:19:18 GMT -5 runaways said:

Apr 10, 2014 14:17:15 GMT -5 mainewifey said:

I love swimoutlet.com, they have size charts for each brand I think. I have found that Nike suits are bigger than Speedos, TYRs are slightly smaller than Nike's, but bigger than Speedos. But I think it probably varies from style to style.

The flip turns will get easier with time! What part of the turns do you think makes you out of breath, like/as in where do you feel that you lose your breath?

I just kind of feel like I'm gasping for air when I finally get to that first stroke. I'm admittedly very slow at the flip turns.

You'll get better with practice then! A friend of mine got so nervous getting up to the wall that she'd hold her breath forever going into the wall in anticipation of turning.

[Susie]

Apr 10, 2014 14:18:14 GMT -5 runaways said:

Thank you, this is helpful! I'm really okay with how my suit feels to be honest, it just cuts into my shoulders and the tops of my legs a lot so I didn't know if I was doing it wrong (and I thought I had seen someone mention them coming in different lengths on here at one point). I wear a 32 size bra and I definitely could go tighter on the suit, but it sounds like what I have may be the best compromise of length and width. I tried some in store and left with this one so it was the best of the ones I tried, but maybe I'll go try on a few sizes in some other brands too for comparison.

How many times have you worn it?  My suits are always kind of uncomfortable the first handful of times, maybe even 5-10.  But it's worth it to me to put up with it being uncomfortable 5-10 times because then it stretches and is perfect.  A suit that's perfect on swim #1 will be annoyingly stretched out in due course.

When we were kids, the test they gave us was that if you could pull your straps up to your earlobes, it was too big.  If you can't get them halfway there, maybe it IS too small.  In between, you're in the "it'll stretch out" zone.

[runaways]

Apr 10, 2014 14:58:48 GMT -5 Susie said:

Apr 10, 2014 14:18:14 GMT -5 runaways said:

Thank you, this is helpful! I'm really okay with how my suit feels to be honest, it just cuts into my shoulders and the tops of my legs a lot so I didn't know if I was doing it wrong (and I thought I had seen someone mention them coming in different lengths on here at one point). I wear a 32 size bra and I definitely could go tighter on the suit, but it sounds like what I have may be the best compromise of length and width. I tried some in store and left with this one so it was the best of the ones I tried, but maybe I'll go try on a few sizes in some other brands too for comparison.

How many times have you worn it?  My suits are always kind of uncomfortable the first handful of times, maybe even 5-10.  But it's worth it to me to put up with it being uncomfortable 5-10 times because then it stretches and is perfect.  A suit that's perfect on swim #1 will be annoyingly stretched out in due course.

When we were kids, the test they gave us was that if you could pull your straps up to your earlobes, it was too big.  If you can't get them halfway there, maybe it IS too small.  In between, you're in the "it'll stretch out" zone.

Probably 12+ times. I'll test it next time I put it on but it sounds close enough so I don't want to shell out for another one.