Not a Lot...

As expected/predicted, not a huge amount to report this week what with the school Easter holidays and work. I have only managed three visits to the pool, one on Tuesday when I swam more or less continuous 8000m (2 x 2km plus 4 x 1km) over 2hours and 22minutes. Followed by Thursday morning when I swam with Mike from work (he is a fish) We covered 4600m on our morning session mainly 400s and 100s.
However come late Thursday afternoon I was bored and decided to head back to the pool alone for another blast. Didn't bother with a warm up deciding to race 4km as hard as I could by way of a little time trial. I was delighted with how I felt physically and mentally after the morning set and managed the distance in 64 minutes. Other than my swim down that was the last pool visit of the week, that said I was happy with the quality of the 17,000m over three sessions for this stage, and who knows I may even get there on Sunday if KGB looks after Charlie.

Today 'Coach' Charlie and I travelled the short distance (around ten miles) to Seaton Carew, the sea looked to be miles away but once we got there, the conditions were near perfect beyond the breakers, we discussed the plan and agreed for a little longer effort than previous. Remembering to take what's left of my timex wristwatch for a temperature reading I entered the water, it was biting cold on my skin as normal. I was hearing Lewis Pugh in my head as I ran through the shallows shouting 'Commit Commit' as per the Robson Green TV swimming show. Charlie was standing on the beach looking after our things armed with the camera again, laughing as I dived through a cold wave.

It was probably the nicest day of the year thus far and I swam for eighteen minutes, the watch read 49f (about 9.5C) front crawl seemed much more doable than last Sunday and other than the usual ice cream head ache there was no major side effects or shivers. Except that is for my appearance, which was noted by a female passer by who stated " You look like the tango orange man from back there" Charlie was great during my after swim care handing me towel, woolly hat and clothes before together, we jogged up the sand and back to the car. Thanks again Char x

No matter the resulting skin colour I was well pleased with todays effort despite looking like a baked lobster!!

I am definitely ready for more OW but must keep up the pool work with both interval training and longer mentally demanding (boring) swims.

Good News or Bad News

Given the choice, I always take the bad news first hoping the good news will outweigh the negatives..The bad news is that the owner of Bishopton Lake has said no to swimming, he stated that he was on dodgy ground as far as insurance, despite my persistence the answer remains a firm 'no'. I am very disappointed as the proximity couldn't be better. That kind of put pay to getting outside at the back end of last month, therefore I continued to count the laps at the pool.

Speaking of counting laps in the pool, Charlie had a sponsored hour swim at the club a fortnight ago during which he swam a fantastic 88 lengths of the 25m pool, I was very pleased and proud of him as he continues to improve. He also made the Town, then County finals for the schools gala and was a creditable fourth in the final. Well done son x

Last week after some quite severe back pain I made an appointment with Simon at Bodybalance where, after an intense hour I emerged pain free, my training however has taken a little step back mainly due to school holidays and child care commitments.

That said, the good news is that yesterday Charlie and I drove to Seaton intent on taking the briefest of dips, when we arrived the wind was blowing and the previously blue sky was now grey and dull. The North Sea looked totally uninviting with its swells and dark chop, I suddenly thought what on earth am I thinking. I seriously considered going straight back home.

Young 'Coach Charlie' had been told as we walked down the beach that only positive comments were allowed...that said it still came as a surprise when I was debating my sanity that he said 'Dad, stop talking and just get in!' so...I stripped to my speedos and ran like a man possessed into the waves, it was awful, painful and numbing to enter, I kind of bounced out into deeper water where I finally began to breast stroke, followed by a small amount of front crawl (and ice cream headache). I was checking on Charlie to see he was safe, a few people had stopped and were speaking to him, questioning if I was mad. I then saw him clapping his hands above his head which gave me a massive lift. It actually felt OK when I was fully submerged or swimming and the mental anguish beforehand was much tougher than the actual doing.

After just ten minutes I exited as agreed and dressed for the drive home. I was delighted not to get the shivers and shakes as I fully expected them going on previous experience. The dip has certainly left me hungry for more and I cant wait for my next outside swim, its just a case of building up the time again like in the good old days!!