Catching up...

OMG it's been such a long time since I wrote in here and no doubt you are all probably thinking...she's given up!

I haven't, i now have less than a month to swim 10k..lol

Perhaps I had better recap on my journey to here...I last wrote in here in August.

I was under a lot of stresses and strains and although I lost my mojo for writing this blog, events sort of took over, and I know that is no excuse!

But I have emerged a much stronger person.

I did do my 5k swim at Eton Dorney in September. I completed it in 2 hours 5 mins and 4 secs. The boost to my confidence was second to none.

About a week later, when I was at the pool...I was struggling a little bit, feeliing lethargic...but I told myself..you are a 5k swimmer, you can do this and the surge of pride and knowledge that I can do these things pushed me just that little bit further!

So that was my longest swim completed. It is still my longest swm and I have to swim 10k in four weeks. If I said I wasn't nervous that would be a lie. I am incredibly nervous!

Since that swim I formed a new friendship with someone very much like myself. It's amazing in life how when doors close, others open. Sometimes there is little bit of effort to opening the door as it hasn't been opened before and sometimes it opens like it is well oiled and used daily. My friendship with Carol was the latter.

We went away for a swim in Dorset...Durdle Door to be exact and slept in a Pod. Pod Number Three is one I shall never forget as that was where Bimbel was born. More about Bimbel on a post dedicated to it..! It deserves it..!

For now, this is just to let you know I am still here, and I will be updating regularly! Oh by the way...I am still the same height and weight!! Some things just don't seem to change lol

all aboard....

Well since deciding not to pursue my 10k at Eton Dorney, things have changed. Now have my swim buddy back, have a team for Blenheim Palace and have received my entrance info for Great London Swim...which is NEXT Saturday.!!!!

Things are looking up....watch this space!

It's over....

Well today must be the worst of my life so far....
My swim buddy has pulled out of Blenheim Palace swim and Eton Dorney 5k...
I am gutted, so gutted that I can't even be bothered with swimming any more
My life is so full of let downs and this is just one more.
So signing off...not that I think anyone reads these posts anyway.

Double Dip Sunday

I woke this morning with a headache and I know I promised myself I would start training in earnest for my ultimate goal of 10k...but it's so easy to just roll over and forget about swimming. I think it's because things aren't going too well for me personally and it is spilling over into my swimming. I know I shouldn't let it, because my swimming will be with me for the rest of my life whereas my issues won't be. The saying "you are one swim away from a good mood" is so true...but sometimes, just sometimes, it doesn't work out like that.

Nevertheless, my dedication kicked in and I knew that if I didn't go for an early morning swim, I would regret it. SO I had to force myself to go. It wasn't easy...I went out of the front door three times before I had everything in my bag. Forgot my tablets, forgot my swim hat, forgot my shampoo...!!!

Eventually I got to the pool and sluggishly started to swim..it is so different to swimming in the sea and I have to say it isnt as enjoyable...but if I want the prize I have to do it. If I want something bad enough..I usually go to the ends of the earth to get it. A 10k medal is no different!

I managed to do a mile...1600m, but because I had a load of rests, I had to get out of the pool while they took the lanes out and then get back in again to do just four lengths...that'll teach me for hanging around the pool edges! LOL

my stats were:

Linda has completed a 1625m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG
Swim Time: 43min 8sec | Ave Pace: 159.3sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 23strokes/min | Calories: 417 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.61m/stroke

I didn't actually do 65 lengths, so when I edited the final length of backstroke (where swim tag got that from I don't know!) the time came in at 42min 37secs.

You know, all I want is to get round London in under 40 minutes...it's just beginning to look further away...sometimes all this monitoring is demoralising!!

Tonight I went back to the pool and swam with Bayside Tri...we had the whole pool available, so it was nice to just have one other in the same lane and for that person to be about the same speed!! Luxury!

My stats tonight were:

Linda has completed a 1600m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG
Swim Time: 40min 52sec | Ave Pace: 153.3sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 26strokes/min | Calories: 410 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.50m/stroke 

Picnic and a dip at Stokes Bay

Late afternoon and a liesurely swim and picnic at Stokes Bay with my grandson Adam and dear friend Becky and not forgetting little Harvey!...lots of lovely food and chat but not a lot of swimming...just a quick 10 minutes to the buoy and back:

yes that triangle thing and back again...the head in the sea is Adam...!

Then a big liner powered through the channel :) I will find out it;s name and post it here!

Going to start training properly again tomorrow...promise!!!

Just a simple swim with Oliver

Arrived at the Shack and had forgotten my float...Oliver saved the day and gallantly put my shoes into his float and enables my access and exit from the water to be much more elegant than leaving my beach shoes on the pebble beach...ouch!!

We did our usual swim to the 500m buoy, which I am sure kept moving to the right!! Actually we were drifitng to the left and it was extremely hard fighting against the tide. We didn't quite make the buoy as one of the jet ski was once again tearing up and down outside of the jet ski area. It's a shame but the risk is too great...one hit from them and your numbers up!

Fighting to get to the last beach hut against the tide was hard work...but as we moved towards shore it became easier...then back to the shack and out...took us about 40 minutes..so a good work out.

Came home and couldn't face the drills at Bayside..so I am ashamed to say that I didn't go

that is all....

Swollen Eye!!!

Woke up this morning and the swollen eye is still very swollen. The eye itself is fine and not sore it's the area around the eye!! Got to work and started to worry that I wouldn't be able to swim this evening, but Oliver happened to be passing and called in for a chat about swimming...that convinced me...I couldn't miss going in for a dip...it would make me feel incomplete for the day!

So the time to go arrived and my day has been terrible so what to do...? Go swimming? stay home??

I went and met Oliver, who always makes me feel better...we swam out towards the buoy at 500m, but we stopped short as a jet ski was up and down around the buoy...we headed for the sandbanks and then back to the shack...about a mile in all.

I feel guilty that I haven't been in the pool, but I suppose that will change tomorrow when I turn up for Bayside Tri drills :)