Same format here in Aberdeenshire, but pools are eerily quiet. But there persists the usual strange interpretation of what “fast” means… nothing changes. If only I could show some of the plodders some drills I reckon I could increase their speed 20% in a couple of weeks. What was it Laughlin said, “fitness is something that comes whilst practicing good technique”, or words to that effect. 
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Just overtake them.
Then complain to the lifeguard that they’re not doing their job keeping the Lane speeds correct
Our lifeguards are normally dire… but fair play to one last week. Billy Breastroke wasnt even half a lap in and the lifeguard had already collared him and evicted him from the fast lane.
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Self allocated lanes via the booking system…
Top job 
We had Brenda in our lane this morning.
1700m done.
500 WU of 25s
10*100 PB off 1.50
200 25s WD.
Arms still falling off after about 50m continuous. Don’t think I could do a longer set right now even with determination
Getting a very clear demonstration of technique under fatigue. I may not have been able to swim very fast before but I could do 50/100m reps at the same pace until the cows came home.
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Managed to break the 25min barrier on a longer 1500 swim this lunchtime. Small steps, but definitely progress
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Some lunatic did 45 minutes straight this morning (about 1:20-5/100m with a buoy)
Gets out, stands under the shower, still with hat and goggles on (odd guy, I thought!)
Grabs a banana and towel.
Has a chomp and drink.
Gets back in for another 45 minute session.
Savages them folk are 
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I feel quite good about my swimming (considering the lack of pool time and the fact I’m cr@p) then come on here and dealt a crushing blow each time.
2x1km today. First free in a shattering 19:32. Second with pull in mind boggling 19:17 - have them apples!
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Right, so since we restarted a few weeks ago I’ve tried to incorporate my finger paddles a lot more. So much so that I’ve even completed a few sessions just swimming with them.
So when is too much, too much? I’ve really learnt to love swimming with them 
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Because it’s so much quicker for less effort?
How are the shoulders?
I did a “test” with my hand paddles this morning, so far shoulders feel good. We will see how they feel after wrestling a tub off
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Not necessarily the increased speed. I do feel like I’m pushing way more water back though, and as a result getting a better workout in.
I know there won’t be a definitive answer. So an increase chance of injury? Shoulders feel absolutely fine. I’m not putting in Funkster or chickenboy shifts in the pool though!
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It depends, type, shape of paddle, what the goal is but beware of just doing a “Brett Sutton” and swimming in them all the time as a) he doesn’t actually advocate this and says you should be doing at least WU and CD without so a good third of the session and b) he’s talking about elites with a reasonable technique not your average age group triathlete.
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What are the issues with doing too much with paddles? I appreciate no one has defined what that is, yet.
Overuse injury is the main one, adding a lot of additional stress on shoulder joints with what may be poor technique. Also like a pullbuoy they become a crutch. Great for looking good on Strava but if you don’t regularly swim without you lose that connection with the water, and you will not catch as cleanly. If you take one of Suttos plans, 3 swims a week first is 3k with 1k WU/CD no tools, and 2k pull paddles, second swim is 3.4k all without and third is 1k WU/CD without 2k with again. That’s 4k out of 9.4k with Paddles, even though he is often used as justification of always swimming pull/paddles.
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I feel personally attacked
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Nah.
Fins and buoyancy shorts are best for that 
1:20s you say. Pfft. Completed it mate.
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Cheese, thought it would be injuries as the primary issue. Like anything I guess, use it enough…
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I do like them don’t get me wrong, really good for feeling imbalances, and adding sport specific strength, but the latter can be achieved with sprinting also which has the added benefit of building a really good “feel” for the catch and pull phase when returning to lower speeds. I think Solar used to advocate a lot of sprinting for triathletes for those reasons.
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He did, his contributions were superb. As soon as I get back to not fading horrifically during my swims I plan to work through his progressions to get faster over short distances. I have what I think we’re his nuggets in a document that I ctrl&c ctrl&v off TT1.0.
I found longer sets with paddles helped with technique as well as fitness.
ETA: I think that technical demands of sprinting are also part of why your ‘stretch sets’ and USRPT can be helpful as well as the fitness benefits.
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I know @Hammerer loves CSS tests, so in his honour I did one today.
600m WU 200m 2m47s rest 400m Then as much PB as I could get in for 1518m
200 (194) in 03:23.40
400 (388) in 06:54.40
Which gives me 1:45/100 according to a website I’ve never heard of 
This brings me back to my usual in season CSS. The unusual thing is that I did 200m PB beforehand at 1:43, the 200m FS was also 1:43 - rate for me to be as fast as with PB. And also the 400m was at 1:45 much closer than I usually am.
So quite positive imo, now you can all tell me how worthless CSS is 
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