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.