Where does the time go?

I can't believe it has been two and a half months since I last posted, so what have I been up to since then.  Well for about 6 weeks training went out the window because of my A level exams.  I often wonder why I open my mouth and agree to things, because for almost every minute of that 6 weeks when I was not working I was revising.  I can safely say I hate revising, but hopefully it will be all worth it, when the results come out next week. 

I did a little bit of training in July, but I was working away for a couple of weeks which stopped me and then out of the blue I developed a depressive episode, scarily I was that bad I could not even face going to work.  All I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry.  It took so much will power to pull my self out of it, and I have spent the last few weeks working through the depression and now feel I am coming out the other side thank goodness.  I think the scarey thing about this episode is that I had no warning and could not put it down to being caused by anything in particular.

I am pleased to say that for the last couple of weeks training is back and I have entered the open water event at lakeside in september to give me a bit of a push, I am only doing 3.8k but really looking forward to it.

So back in the pool building up time and speed, and back out in open water on friday.  I have also been going to exercise classes at riverside ice and leisure these include different types of Zumba (totally rubish at these), body combat (still need co-ordination which I don't have but did enjoy it) and today I did a body pump session (this was brilliant) followed by a 1600m kick session in the pool.

Next week I need to achieve a distance of 3.2k to ensure that I am on schedule for my channel swim next year.  Hopefully will post at least every week from now on to let you know what I'm up to and how my progress is going for my second attempt next year.

Would be good it you could publish a comment and let me know what you are all up to at the moment.

Update Sunday 27th May 2012

Didn't get home from work until later than expected so was late getting down the crouch. Yet another beautiful evening, managed 50 minutes and went about 2k so really please with that.

And Lorraine I kicked the entire 2k, can't say how effective they were but the little legs were working .

Continuing on my observation s of open water swimming from yesterday I forgot one factor and that is dirt up your nose.  You seem to spend the next 24 hours getting with dirt coming from your nose every time you blow it.

But being a real saddo I couldn't wait to get home and get back in that green scummy foul tasting water.

Lorraine thanks for your comments they really make me smile.  Down the pool tomorrow at some time and exam on Tuesday.

Have a good week everyone

Saturday Update

Spent most of the day out in the garden revising for my next psychology exam and then went to the crouch for a swim.

I've decided that open water swimming is like giving birth once it is over you forget about the pain that you have gone through.  This came to mind whilst I was swimming against the tide this afternoon.

I'd forgotten how hard it was swimming against the tide, with the wind blowing across the top of the water and every time you take a breath your face is covered with spray.  Then there is the buffing as the current under you pushes you in all directions as you are trying to keep to a straight line and on top of that the churning in your stomach starts as you succumb to motion sickness.  Not to mention the green water, loose bits of seaweed and the numb tongue you get due to the salt in the water.

But wow what a swim, the sun was shining and it felt great being back in the water, I was in the water for 40 minutes and swam 1 mile, and I am happy to say that no effects from the cold.


Hoping to go back out tomorrow going to try and get there for about 4.30pm, so if you fancy a dip I'll see you there.

meet Nessie from out visit to Scotland the picture above shows just how could it was out on the loch

This is a picture of Loch Ness and I have swam in that (well dipped), the water is black which is apparently due to there being a large quantity of peat in the water.

Pool Session

Sat my first Psychology exam this morning, seemed to go ok.  Following this I then went off to the pool for my first distance swim.  Completed 2k as planned in 46minutes, not a brilliant time, but that's the first of many distance sessions out the way.

Planning to up the distance by approx 500m a week.

I am going to have to do a search on kicking as mine is rubbish mostly because my arms and legs don't work in harmony with each other, which is quite important if I am going to improve my swim strength.

In a bit of a mood at the moment, studying for my exams, beginning my training and also on a diet.  Normally when I study I eat, not the healthy stuff, but lots of lovely sweets, which I have now cut out.  Most focus on a slimmer me.  I want to lose approx 3 stone although I need to ensure that I can still comfortably increase my time in open water without getting too cold.

Working a long day tomorrow and Friday so no up date until Saturday when I am hoping to have a swim down the crouch.

Back in Open Water

What a beautiful evening, it was so nice I decided to go for a swim.  So I took myself to the chelmer and spent 15 minutes testing my cold water resiliance and I am please to say it went really well, I could have spent at least another 15 minutes in the water but I only had land support not the kayak.

So on Sunday I am going to swim in the crouch for at least 15 minutes so if anyone fancies a dip with me please come along.

Down the pool tomorrow night for some distance work.

And so it Begins

I have now officially commenced my training programme for my second channel attempt.  I kicked off my open water training by taking a dip in Loch Ness.  I would like to have said that I spent a good length of time in the water, but unfortunately I think I spent more time getting in than I did swimming, the water was so cold it felt like I was being stabbed with lots of little knifes.  I spent about 3 minutes in the water and managed to do a few breast stroke pulls before turning around and getting out.

On getting out of the water my skin was bright red, but I felt elated that not only had I done my first open water dip of the season but it was Loch Ness and what a view (no sign of Nessie though).

Last night I spent 30 minutes in the gym doing carido work and then straight into the pool, unfortunately by the time they had sorted it out from the swimming lessions I only had about 30 minutes to swim.  I managed 800m not much you might think, but 600m was kicking with only 4 lengths using a kick board and those who know me know that I hate kicking.  I have a real problem co-ordinating arms and legs efficiently.

I actually swim faster when I just pull, but from experience from my first attempt it is not about speed (not that I am fast), its more about strength to get though the tides.  I will have greater strength it I can get an efficient kick that compliments my arm pull.

I learnt such a lot from my first attempt that I feel confident that this time I will be able to complete the swim.  One of the biggest things I am going to have to work on is my mental attitude, as this was my biggest failing factor from my first attempt.

The vomitting during the swim got to me so much that my mind seemed to switch off and would not let me continue.  I know I had the stamina as two days later I was out running.  I felt so emotional following that failed attempt that I could not watch the video that Lorraine had compiled for me until that November.

Lorraine was brilliant all through the training (scary but brilliant) and an absolute gem during my attempt.  I would definately recommend having her in your corner when attempting a challenge.  I only wish I could have upheld my part and completed.

I should be down the gym and the pool again tonight, but I am also studying for a couple of A levels with an exam tomorrow, wish me luck.

C-day approaches

I am now just over one week away from the start of my channel swim slot, am I ready I would love to say a resounding YES but in truth I have no idea. My training has been sporadic because of my work.  I am a ward manager for a private hospital so it is not a 9 til 5 job.  Last week I went to work at 07.30am and left at 16.00 the next day managed to get a few hours sleep.  Although I may not know if I am ready I have no doubt that I will complete.

A couple of weeks ago I went to Dover harbour to complete my 6 hour qualifying swim, my husband Roger came along to support me with my feeding and Nick a fellow swimmer came to swim and be my official observer. 

The moment I got in the water I convinced myself it was not happening the water felt freezing and over the next hour and a half I was convincing myself that I would not be able to complete.  Then something strange happened I started to think of reasons why I should continue.  Nick had taken the day off work to observe, Roger had come down on his day off to support me and the car was loaded with everything I would need to complete.  So I decided to kick hard to try and warm up a bit but to no avail, at the end of the second hour I had decided to give up, I was swimming in to shore when I saw Roger waiting on the beech looking cold with my first feed in his hands, I came in to the beech took my feed drank it turned and got back into the sea gave him my instructions for the next feed as I did.  I am still not sure what made me do it but I was really glad I did as I went on to completed by six hours. 

I wouldn't say it was easy I had pains in my back and groin from the cold and, I felt sick but I had done it.  I wish I could say when I got out of the water I felt elated but I didn't all that was going through my mind was if I felt this bad after 6 hours how was I going to be able to last 14.  I got to the car  dressed and was promptly sick all over the road but I felt better.  The week before I had been sick in the sea which was a first for me and a huge learning curve on how not to be sick in the sea.  My worry did eventually turn to glee when Roger later told me that the sea temps had been between 12 and 13 degrees at Dover that day not bad I was quite proud of myself.

We spent a weekend at Dover when I was hoping to complete a six and seven hour swim back to back, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.  Unfortunately Saturdays was a bust not sure why I was just unable to complete I managed to get to four hours and then got out and sat on the beech crying (bloody women). 

Sunday dawned to the sound of the fog horn quite a dense fog had rolled in over night, initially I was hoping that the swim would be cancelled but as the membership rules state "reasons for not swimming NONE".  Tentatively we got into the sea just able to see the shore.  So many things can make or break a swim its difficult to say why one day you fail and the next achieve.  I completed my 6 hours and felt really strong cold was a bit of an issue but not as bad as the previous 6 hour swim, shoulder only started to hurt at the 5 hour mark which is excellent so I know I have to take pain killers every five hours whilst I am swimming.  But the best indicator possible for me is that my last 1k was only 1 minute slower than my first 1k how good is that.  So on that statistic I now feel really positive that this challenge is mine.

Unfortunately I have been a poorly bunny recently, hot weather, bad food, too much salt water who knows, but I am feeling better now, would have swum tonight but not sure about swimming in a lightning storm.

I should be in my tapering down mode at the moment but as Lorraine my coach said recently I haven't tapered up yet so will just carry on until I get the call.