Monday 30 June 2008

Three week taper !

The joy of swimming in calm waters indoors this morning was hard to put into words . This week I am swimming gently just easing my muscles , so a short session this morning was perfect . I just wish that my sun burn would calm down I look like Rudolph - what will they say at the conference today !!! I also discoverd to my dismay that I did infact get got at by the jellies , just didnt feel them until last night when the itching started - all round my tum the little critters must have got inside my cozzie ....Arghhhhh

Back to Back weekend of FUN in the waves - NOT !!!

Saturday was the start of a long long weekend . A steady drive down to Dover , sun shinning all looking good so far ! The plan was a 7 hour swim today and I was mentally ready for it . Arrived at Dover and there was a stiff breeze whipping up the sea - well it wasn't flat calm !!!!
My only worry today was how my ankle would be , but after about an hour I was able to kick as normal. The swim was tough due to the washing machine sensation at one end of the harbour . My first feed at 2 hours was warmly received , mentally after that first two hours each hour is easier just counting down until I feed again . We had a variety of foods , banana, milky way and chocolate roll , and of course warm blackcurrant with maxim ......Yummy !!!!
Towards the end of my swim I really could feel the sun burning my face shoulders and back - great strap makes !!
4pm and I am finished , delighted that I made it and no jellies ...Hurrah. I headed up to my hotel and soaked in the bath watching the tennis for over an hour ! I had a very lazy evening , in fact I felt deadbeat so TV and an early night .
After 9 hours sleep I didn't feel too sore but mentally today was going to be tough . There was still too many waves for my liking and 6 hours wasn't going to be easy. The first two hours were the hardest , the washing machine cycle was tossing me all over - I thought at one point I wasn't actually moving forward !! The cold really got to my little finger and my toes during the first two hours and I had to dig deep and push my self to swim faster in order to get the blood pumping round to my extremities , thank goodness it worked. The last few hours I avoided the washing machine and swam at the other end of the harbour , much calmer .
3pm and I am all done , my back to back swims completed, mentally that test was just what I needed ....just need to keep awake as I drive back to London .

Tuesday 17 June 2008

Day two of a BIG weekend

Up bright and early after a great meal last night and a lovely sleep. The harbour was looking nice and calm and a high tide - that means no jellies so the regulars have told me. Freda was giving out instructions for todays swim , five hours for you and stay clear of any jellies ........she was looking at my stings and has a new nick name for me ' Jelly Fish Magnet ' Hum. Five hour swim yes I am happy with that and off I go . My body did ache after yesterdays racing , I intended to swim gently in the races but the competitive beast that I am I really couldn't help myself . Today however my shoulders were feeling sore after 10 Min's .......will I manage the full five hours . Once again we were fed after 2 hours then after each hour until completion . The first hour is always the hardest then after that I just get into a rhythm and let my mind wander , looking up at the sun when I breath , looking at the sailing school , keeping out of the way of the rowers .....it all helps keep you going and hey presto its four hours done and I only have an hour left , easy eh .
Next week I am unable to get to Dover so have passed on my apologies to Freda - wasn't too impressed and informed me that in two weeks time I have a HUGE weekend of swimming , Saturday 8 hours and Sunday 7 hours ooh lucky me ......easy swimming for me until then I think .

BLDSA Champion of Champions 08

We - that is Susan a member of my support crew and I had an early start from London down to Dover What a beautiful day , you could see the coast of France - very scary looks oh so close
This Saturday I was at Dover not for my usual training swim but today was RACE day . The annual Champion of Champions is held in Dover harbour , three races with times added together. Five miles , three miles and one sprint mile , with ample rest between each race . The five miles went well except for some idiot who insisted on swimming on my feet and hitting then nearly every stroke, it made me cross . Before the three mile I swapped the colour of my hat so the guys in the previous race wouldn't realise it was me , the plan worked I had a good swim no one on my toes . All going well until the jellies found me again , stings all down my legs my left arm again and the side of my body ......not a happy swimmer . The final race the one mile sprint was good and I managed a good finish too . The results showed that I came 3rd female , some fast young pups beat me , hey ho . One ocean creature I did enjoy seeing again was the return of the seal just to see what was going on in his patch, maybe I could strike up a deal and he'll help me get over to France .

Monday 9 June 2008

Jelly fish stings .......any suggestions

Monday , I have jelly stings all over my left arm some stings also on my thigh, the back of my knee, my neck and my right hand and they ITCH like mad .Help...................

Jellyfish in the harbour.....

The lovely sunshine disappeared as I left the M25 and headed down towards Dover , sorry Dull Dover .....with rain and clouds . Freda greeted us with the comment .......make sure you get an all day ticket for your car, oh dear I think a long swim ahead. At 9am sharp we set off for my swim - 6 hrs today. I had no one to swim with as Pim - the Dutchman had to have his appendix out earlier this week - how inconsiderate eh
So 6 hours on my own , no one to chat to except the seagulls . It was hard for the first hour and then you count down till your feed times . We were fed after 2 hours then every hour until we finish. The warm maxim is just about bearable but at 3 hours we also got a mini milky way...yippee. After about 90 Min's I felt a slight sting on my arms , was that a jelly , then again maybe 10 Min's later yes I have been got at by those jellies .....Ouch .
During six hours swimming up and down the harbour my mind tends to wander and all sorts of thoughts have passed through my head , chores that I need to do round the house , what I am having for tea tonight, whats happening at work next week etc etc
At last 3pm was nearing and time to exit the sea , phew I made it covering about 19.5k not bad I think to myself. On reflection the hardest thing was the boredom to be honest , the water temp was OK about 13 degrees , and not choppy at all just a slight swell.
I think Sunday will be a rest day and next week in the pool a steady week as next weekend I have two days , one racing and one training ........cant wait

Sunday 1 June 2008

Heron Lake

Sunday at 5.15am I was collecting Chris and heading to Heron Lake - just near to Heathrow - yes you can see the planes as they que up to land. 6.15am in we got I was very very muscle sore - cant think why !!!!!! Chris did 4 laps and I managed 7 - each lap is 1,000m approx.
As we were swimming it was great to pass with ease the triathletes in their state of the art tri suits ...hee hee hee. I used the swim as a gentle swim after yesterday however my shoulders were starting to cry out to me , hence just 7k this morning.
Back to the pool till next weekends trip to Dover ,Humm will it be 5 hrs or 6 hrs lets hope the weather is good

The calm sea at Dover

Saturday saw the return of calm seas. The early start at 9am meant a very early start for the drive down - alas no driver this weekend had to drive myself !!!!
The swim was to be 4 hrs as far as you can - oooo a race I think !!!! After ample vaseline and sun block I was ready . This week no partner to swim with - Pim was away for the weekend . Off I went at Nuala pace the water was about 12/13 degrees and was fine , the sun was up ....great conditions I wish I could have headed straight out over to France. Four hours swimming on your own no chat really was hard for me , after each length (1200m) I looked to see if there was anyone to chat to ...but no ! We had two feeds one after 2 hrs 15mins and then after 3 hrs 15 mins . Warm Maxim isnt really doing it for me ....Yuk !
After my second feed with only 45 mins to go I decided to try and catch some of the other swimmers at least that kept my focus - later on the beach I overheard a few saying who was that who passed us - was she lapping us once or twice ???
Felt good after 4 hrs could have done more but will save that for next week.......