Todays walk and swim

Continuing with the hour a day walking, but was a bit stuck on where to go..in the end i decided to just walk for half hour and then turn round and come back...it was fine doing it that way, but wasn't sure how far I had travelled, perhaps not quite a mile as my hip is still hurting today. But nevertheless an hour outside moving is good for the mind and body.

Tonights swim was tough. The pool was busy and there were five people in my lane which in a 25m pool is uite a lot when we are are all of different abilities and strokes. So kept stopping every two, but used it to do some sprinting, which is good.


Linda has completed a 1475m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 36min 5sec | Ave Pace: 146.8sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 26strokes/min | Calories: 390 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.56m/stroke

Calories eaten today      1598
Calories burned today     736

Getting really fit begins!

Yes today is, two weeks before I have my first event at Bournemouth, 9 weeks before I swim the Great London Swim, 11 weeks until I swim at Blenheim Palace and just 12 weeks until the 5k swim at Eton Dorney....time has suddenly become important to me and I feel the panic rising. I want to lose a few more pounds before the 5k swim, in fact I would like to have reached my 100lbs lost goal and also swim 5k.....what an achievemnt that would be!!

To that end I have added an hour a day of walking to my regime. This will also help to strengthen my legs, although you wouldn't think so today! After doing an hour at the steady pace of 3mph my hip is hurting bad and the tablets just aren't touching it...I can't wait for my first swim  so that I can get some relief!!

First swim done...in my new goggles..zoggs predator...oh the feeling of being able to see clearly...I even did some sneaky sighting..but was concentrating on my swimming really...wanted to get some good results! I came home, a bit despondent as I had lost count at 50, so my fate was in the hands of swimtag!!

And wow...I am happy...!

Linda has completed a 2000m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 51min 14sec | Ave Pace: 153.7sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 25strokes/min | Calories: 518 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.50m/stroke

 For my second swim of the day:

Linda has completed a 2050m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 54min 32sec | Ave Pace: 159.6sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 25strokes/min | Calories: 531 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.45m/stroke

And in the last few lengths, I was able to sight...albeit half drowning, half sighting...but it's a start I wasn't trying to breathe while looking down the lane...!

Calories eaten today:          1580
Exercise calories burned:   1342

One Mile Swim

This afternoon I did a one mile swim at Gosport Leisure Centre...or at least I thought I did...but swimtag shows I did 65 lengths instead of 64...I thought I had done 64 and I am gutted that I didn't do a sub 40 minute...nope it was 40mins 30secs..so disappointed. I was hoping it would be sub 40 and then I could concentrate on learning to sight. But it isn't which does set me back again as I won't be happy until I can do the sub 40.

The only thing I am pleased with is my DPS which was 1.76m...that shows that I am gliding more in the water and consequently my strokes per minute have come down to 22...but as usual I am still not satisfied!! Off to sulk now :(

Stats as follow:

Linda has completed a 1625m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 40min 30sec | Ave Pace: 149.5sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 22strokes/min | Calories: 419 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.76m/stroke

Friday Coaching Session with Bayside Tri

Gosport Leisure Centre seemed a distant memory as I drove into the carpark!! I really must get my bike out and ride to the pool...it is only 1.5 miles away! A distant memory because I haven't been there since Sunday!! I don't know...what with lakes and the sea, the pool isn't quite as attractive...but I do know that I am best practising things in the pool and taking them outside to the lakes and the sea!!

Tonight, I did feel stronger and since moving into the intermediate lane, I do feel I am pushing myself a little harder. It started with 12 lengths warm up, front crawl, breaststroke, front crawl...then into touching hips and head, which I find relatively easy as I do naturally swim like that anyway. Not exactly touching my hips and head as I swim, but I am naturally quite tight to the body...then came the harder one swimming catch up with fists...always feel like I am drowning doing this...only when I try to breathe...I just seem to sink. I do know why though! It's because I am not kicking and letting my legs drop...oh well, something to work on!

Then came the kick drills...this I am hopeless at!! 4 lengths front, 4 lengths one side, 4 lengths the other...then came the drill which I feel I have improved on the most...the 3, 5, 7 breathing drill. Whereas back in February when I first joined the group I was breathing every other stroke..and couldn't even do bilateral breathing...I feel I have come a long way! Tonight the breathing sets went well...of course it could have been the four puffs of ventolin I had before I had before I got in the pool..!!

Then it was slow up, sprint back sets...and I seemed to be a lot faster. It could be because I haven't been swimming as much this week, so I am more rested or just that I have improved a lot. It's very difficult to work out which sometimes!!

Stats for tonight...doesn't include kick drills:

Linda has completed a 1575m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 39min 44sec | Ave Pace: 151.4sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 23strokes/min | Calories: 423 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.66m/stroke

Stokes Bay sans Wetsuit!!!

Haven't done any swimming since Monday..and tonight I am swimming at Stokes Bay with Bayside Tri..lets hope I can see a lot of improvement from two weeks ago..when I sadly brought up the rear. I have been searching for a 5k training plan online and the only one that is appealing is the one I can't see! It's the 2014 swimathon 10 week training plan to a sub 1hr 40min 5k...! Now I know that I won't be reaching those dizzy heights by the 21st September, but it would be intense which as a fairly experienced swimmer is what I need!

My entry pack arrived yesterday for the Bournmouth Pier to Pier...this brought about an OH MY GOD moment, which passed quite quickly as I remembered I did have a swim buddy...but even so there is always that fear in the pit of your stomach, which surfaces every time I think about it...lol...Still nerves are good!!

I put a message on facebook last night in a group I belong to called Beyond the Blue based in Bournemouth....a real bunch of characters...their posts make me laugh so much!! Anyway my post was asking for advice about swimming a practice run for the Bournemouth Pier to Pier with a friend on 8th July...but they are happy to do one on the Sunday the 6th...so I will go to that one and then do a repeat on the Tuesday...well then I will be very experienced won't I ?? No excuses on the day :)

Just got back from my sea swim at Stokes Bay...it was a wet one tonight, not actually raining when I got there, but it had rained just before arrival. There were only four of us tonight, Erika, Eric and Stephen. I was horrified when I went to put my wetsuit on and found I hadn't brought it!! Immediately I visualised it hanging on the back of my bedroom door...decisions, decisions...do I go home and get it, or do I go without it? In the end I decided to go without it!!

We walked down to the waters edge and then off came the flip flops...for those who don't know, Stokes Bay is a pebble beach and they hurt your feet!!! The walk into the sea really hurts your feet...so the lesser of two evils was to just get in and boy did it take my breath away!!  Wetsuits really do keep you warm...I just wanted the comfort of my wetsuit enveloping me, like a pair of arms, giving me a big hug...lol...never felt like that before, I can assure you!! So no time for chatter, had to keep moving in an effort to warm up..we swam about 1200m and I brought up the rear yet again...but then I felt it was time for me to get out....

The upside of no wetsuit is that you keep moving, so my sea swim today was no stops! LOL Took me about 35 minutes I think!

I am still cold now, but came home to a lovely salad...why did I choose salad today of all days???

An evening at the New Forest Water Park ~ Monday 23rd June

Tonight I spent the evening at the New Forest Water Park at Fordingbridge. I have to say this is probably the best one around! The setting is beautiful and the facilities are good...nice hot showers and somewhere to buy a drink (alcoholic or otherwise) and have a cooked meal! The large lake tonight was closed, which was a bit disappointing, and we had to swim in the smaller lake. It wasn't very pleasant getting in...I'm always afraid of falling in or slipping up. But there was a friendly helping hand from a fellow swimmer to aid the entry...very gallant I must say!!

This has to have been the best swim I have done in open water this year, although less than a month since my visit to Eastleigh Lake...I feel I have improved immensely. There was some discussion as to how distance of a circuit of this smaller lake, but in the end the general opinion was 250m. I did do about 12 circuits, one in skins! (not allowed but hey it was a beautifully hot evening!)

Mark was trying to teach me to sight...but I can't get the hang of it...I will just have to practice, practice, practice!! As with all things eventually it all falls into place and you wonder how you ever couldn't do them in the first place. I have 3 weeks until my first event..The Bournemouth Pier to Pier which is 1.4 miles in the sea. 2.25km. I am hoping to do it in around an hour. I am trying to get as much sea swimming in as possible, in order to cope with waves, tides etc.

But tonights training was excellent...beautiful surroundings...next time...CAMPING!!!

Double Dip Sunday!

IT sure was a double dip today....here is a photo of my first dip :)

Photo by Tom Barnett of Wavephotography 

Yes, that's me at Hillhead again!! Today was really playing about in the water and not a lot of swimming....but did do some and a lot of treading water!!

Photo by Tom Barnett of Wavephtography

After an hour or so of skylarking with occasional swimming I felt that I should return to the pool and actually do some swimming. The meeting tonight at Gosport Leisure Centre was the Bayside Tri Endurance Swim Night. On arrival I purchased one of the new Bayside Tri swim hat...specially designed in our own club colours..very nice too. Went into the changing rooms and realised I didn't have my swimming costume....it was left on the bed!!! So home i had to go and get changed and get back to pool...I arrived 15 minutes late, but my stats aren't too bad...lol

Linda has completed a 1350m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 34min 39sec | Ave Pace: 154.0sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 25strokes/min | Calories: 346 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.53m/stroke

 

Despite the lack of swimming today...I do feel much more confident about the Bournemouth Pier to Pier and that really is the first event on my road to the 10k.....must think about losing some more weight!! LOL

Another swim at Hillhead!

This afternoon, I rushed home from work as the facebook group said they were swimming at 4pm. Today my Grandson Adam was coming to the beach for a swim too.  My neighbour caught me outside and wanted to chat...I didn't want to be rude but I was itching to get into the sea and I didn't want to be late! Eventually after saying a cheery bye on more than three occasions I managed to get indoors and swimming costume on and wetsuit gathered up....it barely has time to dry these days...then flung into a bag along with changing towel and hat and goggles!

My husband drove....but he is soooo slow....well he said it was the traffic, but I was already late and because the sun was shining and the round the island yacht race was taking place, the roads along the beach were jammed. But at last we got there and I jumped out and started pulling on the wetsuit...grabbed the flip flops and went racing down the beach with Adam and I could see in the distance a few orange floats...it was quite a distance!

I set off to catch them up and I could sense how much my confidence in the sea had improved...I thought nothing now of swimming out to meet them. Only a few weeks ago I was still paddling about within my depth. My stroke has improved as well...doing front crawl in the sea feels so natural now.

I caught up with Oliver, Deborah and Jeannie and we did our usual swim to the end of the beach huts and back to the second triangle marker on the beach. It was very warm and the sea had some intermittent cold spots and alos lots of very warm hot spots!!

The weather has been gorgeous and tropical...and I am so lucky to live by the sea! :)

So inviting!

Hillhead Swim

Met up with Oliver again tonight at Hillhead. The water wasn't as calm as it has been the last couple of visits. This made it rather tough going, but even though I was being bobbed about I still managed to do mostly front crawl. The wetsuit didn't seem to be collecting the water so much today!! Different day...different things happen I suppose!! We started off swimming to the second post as we always do...the tide was just going out. I reached it first and turned around to wait for Oliver, but he was difficult to see as the sun was in my eyes. Eventually he arrived and we had a quick chat and then set off heading for the end of the beach huts. I have no idea of the distance but it looks a fair way..lol I don't even know how long it took us, but we were swimming against the tide...it was hard work!! I reached the end of the beach huts and waited for Oliver, then we swam back to the second post and then back to our shoes on the beach!! I didn't feel it went as well as the previous two swims but nevertheless it was a lot better than my first sea swims a couple of weeks ago, so feeling more confident than then, but less confident than earlier in the week. Shall keep it up all the time the weather is good. But to be honest, swimming in the sea is a whole different ball game to lakes, rivers and the pool and although it is exhilerating, it perhaps isn't as enjoyable as other places to swim..

I am supposed to be at Gosport Leisure Centre this evening with Bayside Tri...but I;m not feeling 100%, so have given it a miss tonight :( Already feel guilty!! Do you think I am addicted!??

Not a good day...but a good swim

My swim buddy for London has pulled out. Gutted. Going to have to try and learn to sight now. More stress. so much easier to just follow someone you know. Oh well...

Met up with Oliver tonight at the Shack and again the sea was calm, it was high tide and the sun was shining, which made it warm in a few places in the water,,,a couple of hot spots :) t was a really good swim and confirmed everything I thought about Tuesday...confidence in my Bournemouth swim!!
The two of us swam up and down the beach stopping for a chat at our distance points! My wetusit filled with water and it felt like I was swimming in a carrier bag!!! the water poured out when i had finished!!

Unbelievable Triple Dip Day!!

Didn't swim last night...doing that 5k last week did take it out of me and although I continues to swim almost daily it finally caught up and I just didn't want to go last night....however this moring I woke with that feeling of having missed something...well there are plenty of things missing in my life, but I knew this missing feeling was because I hadn't swam the night before...so for the first time in a year or more...I got up and went for a swim...did a nifty fifty before work:

Linda has completed a 1250m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 31min 39sec | Ave Pace: 152.0sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 23strokes/min | Calories: 328 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.67m/stroke

It did make me feel good all day..but again a hot day and the lure of the sea was calling!! So another Hillhead visit!...The sea was calm, it was high tide and I met up with Oliver and Paula and we did a good swim..it was lovely and my confidence has soared...I think I can do Bournemouth!! I know I can do Bournemouth!!!

Then not content when I got home to play Candy Crush or watch TV...I went up to Gosport Leisure Centre and did a mile..in under 40 mins!!! :)

Linda has completed a 1575m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 39min 7sec | Ave Pace: 149.0sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 24strokes/min | Calories: 409 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.63m/stroke 

Just wish I could sight, then it will all be fine on the day...otherwise I will have to revert to breaststroke and now that would feel like a step backward! Must ask Erika to give me some tips

Sunday night Endurance swim with Bayside Tri

Felt jaded after staying up until 1am to watch England lose last night...nothing to do witht he big chinese meal and couple of drinks we had!!

Tonights swim went well considering...check out the DPS !!!

Linda has completed a 2050m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 52min 58sec | Ave Pace: 155.0sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 22strokes/min | Calories: 526 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.76m/stroke

England game tonight..but managed a swim first!

Needed to swim today...so although not normal for a Saturday..off to the pool I went.

Linda has completed a 1400m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 35min 18sec | Ave Pace: 151.3sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 35strokes/min | Calories: 425 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.11m/stroke


Not the best of swims...but a swim nevertheless!!

Follwed by this:

 

then this:

 Then had to snuggle up in a blanket as I was cold..lol

oh and england lost by the way 1-2 to Italy!!

Friday night coaching with Bayside Tri

I have moved up a lane now...I'm no longer in development...I think my stroke has improved dramatically. When  I think of all those years and those swims I did in breaststroke..I just can't believe that now I hardly ever do anything other than front crawl!! And it's all thank to our Bayside Coach Erika Tavener! But of course along with the new stroke comes other fears..will I still be able to do The Great London Swim in under 40 minutes...I can't sight!!! But i am doing it with a friend for the first time, so I know he will pace me round and I only have to sight him. It's so nice to be doing these swims with a swim buddy...this year I feel that swimming has taken on a new level for me and it is all to do with all the help from my swimming friends and of course the Bayside Tri...:)

this is tonights effort:

Linda has completed a 1000m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 24min 11sec | Ave Pace: 145.1sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 25strokes/min | Calories: 271 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.60m/stroke

Doesn't look like much...but kick drills don't show up on swimtag..and i think that's because when using the float your arms don't move...maybe lol

Also took a photo of my name on the swimtag board as I was leaving...having been in positions 5 and 3 on previous months..it looks like I am slipping as I am number 8 for May!! Have to work on that this month..I think it's distance by the way! 

 

Stokes Bay Swim with Bayside Tri

Oh my....well another sea swim! This time at Stokes Bay with the Baysiders...parallel with the beach... :)

Again this was a struggle...When asked why, I didn't know..I blame all sorts of things..the wetsuit, the sea, my breathing...I just struggle with the actual swimming. You wouldn't know from this picture that i was way way way at the back of the pack and Anna, who is behind me in this picture kindly stayed there with me to make sure I was alright...!

I'm really nervous about the Bournemouth swim..I really am. I am doing the swim with Jan's brother Richard. He lives in Bournemouth and I will meet him on the day!! I might actually arrange to go down before and have a swim with him...lol!

Another Solent Swim

Met up again with some Shack Sharks and again the sea was rough...it didn't feel any easier but nevertheless it is exhilerating!! Met some more nice new people and swam to the post on the rocks and back up to the end of the beach huts...did breaststroke and front crawl, struggled a bit as it was as rough as yesterday...still feeling nervous about going out of my depth!

Followed my swimming with an hour of Zumba....just around the corner! lol

Another double dip!

Today I went for a spot of sea swimming with The Shack Sharks This group swim regularly at Hillhead most evenings and it's nice to swim with some company. I have always found swimming fairly lonely...as none of my friends swim. Although they are always willing to walk along the beach while I swim...I hasten to add! Usually with a dog or two in tow!

I joined Oliver, Giles and Karen at the beach...it was a bit choppy and rough...I may as well be honest...I didn't enjoy it! It was hard work and tough going! It's funny how things like this knock you back so quickly. More doubts fill your head. now I'm thinking based on this swim and previous sea swims that I won't be able to swim the Bournemouth Pier to Pier... !!

Don't get me wrong I enjoyed being in the sea...it's just the thought that I may not be able to do it that I don't enjoy. My confidence is easily knocked....maybe that's a personality thing!

So to restore my confidence I made a trip to the pool a couple of hours later and I swam for almost an hour without stopping...here are my stats...see I can swim in the pool!!

Linda has completed a 2200m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 55min 39sec | Ave Pace: 151.8sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 21strokes/min | Calories: 564 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.82m/stroke

Liking that DPS at 1.82m/stroke...that means I do less strokes = less tired :)

A well needed rest with Jan!

Tonight being a Monday, I follwed Jan up and down the pool and it was a slow restful swim, just what I needed after yesterdays feat!

Linda has completed a 1200m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 32min 59sec | Ave Pace: 164.9sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 22strokes/min | Calories: 313 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.59m/stroke

OMG I swam 5k!!!!

I haven't done any swimming since Petersfield Lido on Thursday and today as I sat in my pyjamas I was mulling over whether or not to attempt a 5k swim at the pool. It was infinitely more appealing to carry on being a slob for the day....but at the same time the idea was festering and growing. I started working out what time I should arrive at the pool. There is only laned swimming from 4:30pm ish. But prior to that there is one lane and Sunday afternoon is usually quiet. So...if I was to attempt a 5k swim I would need at least 2hrs 30 mins. This would include a 5 minute break while they put the lanes in...hnnnnm really need to be at the pool for about 3pm...that gives me an hour and a half before the break and an hour afterwards...! Yep it's decided. I will give it a go!

At 3pm I entered the pool area with a bottle of lucozade!! This was to have in my "break" while lanes were going in. I started swimming the one lane was empty which was nice...I started slow and worked my way up and down the pool trying to count the lengths. I had to do 200. I have got lazy with counting lengths since having swimtag, but the downside to it is you can't see how many lengths you've done until you've got home and switched on your pc!! So I couldn't afford to make any mistakes.!! All was going well and at about 22 lengths a woman joined the lane and proceeded to do breaststroke...you know the type...make up and hair never gets wet! I had to keep passing her as she wouldn't wait at the end of the lane even if I was right behind her. After about four lengths with her for company another couple joined the lane, one doing breaststroke and another doing front crawl. I wanted to stop and get out. So after a couple of frustrating lengths I stopped at the shallow end and had some lucozade and despaired over what to do...i was in the mindset for a 5k...right they weren't going to stop me...I was going to have to weave in and out of them....so that's what I did! i carried on, and got to 100 lengths then started counting from 1 again. I was getting tired, I could feel my arms getting heavy, but I had to keep going. I was also losing count, every so often I would forget completely how many I had done, so I would spend the next length trying to work it out. I felt I was going backward instead of foreward. By the time my break came I thought I had done 140 lengths, I was pleased with that. I had to get out of the pool while the lanes went in and I did feel that it interfered with my rythmn. On return to the pool I had 60 lengths to do...I was too tired for the fast lane so chose intead to go into the medium lane. I eventually reached 200 lengths or so I thought, but i couldn't be sure as I had on more than one occasion lost count. I would have hated to have missed out on doing 5k by a couple of lengths, so i decided to do a couple more...then a couple more...eventually doing ten extra....I couldn't wait to get home and see my stats! On leaving the pool I handed in my swimtag and went to my car...wouldn't start, i had left the lights on!!! Had to phone the AA and wait...meanwhile it came through on my phone 5100m and within the cut off time!!! Joy of joys...I was elated!!

These are my stats! Look at those calories burned!!!

Linda has completed a 5100m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 2hrs 10min | Ave Pace: 153.9sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 26strokes/min | Calories: 1,332 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.49m/stroke

  

200 lengths in here...thank goodness I added the extra 10 as i was 6 out!

Oh....I didn't do the Bayside Tri endurance session tonight!! :)

Petersfield Lido Thursday 5th June

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day and in the evening I travelled to Petersfield Lido and enjoyed an evening outdoor swim with my friend Mark...who is also an inspirational 10k swimmer! I managed to do approximately 70 lengths before getting the most awful cramp in my thigh....it has to be the most painful I've had as I couldn't relieve it by standing up...the swim was very restful actually as there is just something about swimming outdoors but in a heated pool!! Lovely, beautiful and very very pleasant...so was the company and the ladies running it were a fantastic duo too. Very friendly place..Well worth a visit!

Stokes Bay Swim

Today I have been reviewing last nights stats...it felt a really slow swim but I did swim 1250m and I did swim this in 34 mins. So calculator came out and if I multiply everything by 4 I get a 5000m swim. I have been really worrying about this 5k swim since 5 minutes after I entered it...wishing I hadn't and wishing I could feel confident about it, but I can't. Is it too far? So in order to alleviate some worries I realised that by muliplying it by 4 and getting the 5k I would do it in 2 hours 16minutes and 52 seconds!!! That is within the cut off time of 2hours 20mins! I would be mortified if I had to be pulled out of the water!! In fact I think I would refuse to go!! So I feel abit more confident about doing it...phew!

So tonights swim...well that wasn't very good...met up with some fellow Baysiders at Stokes Bay

I don't like swimming out to sea, preferring to swim adjacent to shore....I'm worried about things like cramp, asthma and basically drowning...it only takes a few seconds to get into difficulties and then who is going to swim out to you?? At least close to shore you have a chance to get on dry land! However it was decided that we were swimming out to a post and back again...ooh err! Oh well, safety in numbers!! However one of us got into difficulties and we had to come back in against a fast ebbing spring tide...exhausted myself getting back in...and vowed never to swim in the sea again!!

But of course I have already signed up to the British Heart Foundation Bournemouth Pier to Pier...so I have to get used to swimming in the sea. Sometimes I wonder why I set myself these challenges...as I dread each and every one of them. Even the ones I have done previously and survived!!

Todays swim was watched at the beach by millions or at least it felt that way....as there was a D Day flypast...some photos below :)

Following Jan

Tonight I swam with my friend Jan. I met Jan in the pool back in February just after I joined Bayside Tri. She kindly allowed me to follow her up and down the pool very closely so I could see her toes...she is very much like myself where she isn't a fast swimmer, but more of a plodder like myself...but whereas I had always been conditioned to sprint doing front crawl, she had a nice easy pace that I could keep up with. Initially when following her I concentrated on my breathing as I couldn't do bi lateral breathing. Her steady pace became a godsend as it stopped me racing from one end of the pool to the next and consequently having to stop and catch my breath! :) I have continued to follow her up and down the pool every Monday ever since...and it has done wonders for my stroke as I am able to slow right down, not worry about my pace and just concentrate on the things that Coach Erika Taverner has been teaching me on a Friday...!

Tonights stats are:

Linda has completed a 1250m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 34min 13sec | Ave Pace: 164.2sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 23strokes/min | Calories: 321 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.57m/stroke

As you can see a nice leisurely pace and swim 

Double Dip Day!

Two swims today....felt good after first swim, so went back for more. Trying to build up my stamina...

The stats for my first swim at 4:30pm are:

Linda has completed a 1800m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 45min 33sec | Ave Pace: 151.9sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 29strokes/min | Calories: 504 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.32m/stroke

Theses are the stats for my second swim of the day at 8pm with Bayside Tri Endurance session:

Linda has completed a 2075m swim at Gosport Leisure Centre with SWIMTAG

Swim Time: 51min 4sec | Ave Pace: 147.7sec/100m | Ave Stroke Rate: 24strokes/min | Calories: 532 kcal | Ave DPS: 1.64m/stroke

I did have to force myself to return for the second session, but that was because I had settled on the comfy sofa and didn't want to get up. But knowiing how important this 10k is to me, gave me the push to move myself back to the pool and I'm glad I did!