Up'ing it

The last few weeks have been killers in terms of hard pool sessions. The outcome is a comfortable raising of my base to about 4.2km per session. This feels comfortable and I don't feel overly tired the next day which is nice for my workmates!!

Today was cold and raining and there is nothing better than swimming on these days. Actually it's probably my favourite conditions to swim in. The pita pata on my back and the warmness of the water below is so relaxing.  I pushed out just over four km before deciding that I also wanted to go to swim squad. So off I trundle to kick out another 60 hard laps.

So the 7km training session went something like this:

1. 1km warm up
2. 500 pull buoy
3. 500 paddles
4. 1km medium speed hard pull
5. 1km medium build
6. Sighting and duck diving practise
7. Warm down

An hour later:

1. 600 warm up
2. 600 builds
3. 8x75 kick, drill, freestyle
4. 4x50 max 25 mod 25
5. Repeat 2
6. Repeat 2 again
7. 400 warm down

Until Saturday, then I do it all again!

Hard training days ahead

A hard training day on Tuesday with 3.8km done at nearly full pace. Can expect the same on Thursday!

5km in the lake - Sri Chimnoy

An early morning swim in the Sri Chimnoy 5km Lake swim. A beautiful morning treated us this morning along with lots of smiling faces. Nt sure if the smiles were for the lack of wind or the warm water.

I took a safe start and decided for this event to stick behind two swimmers going stroke for stroke. They gave put me in a great position however, on the last buoy of the first lap they took off in a strange direction. I decided my tow was was end and off I went in clear water.

I rejected food and a drink at the 2.5km mark as I was feeling pretty good. I made good time but about the 4km mark I hit an energy wall. I should have had that drink and a mouthful of gel. I was also feeling dehydrated from the warm water. Anyways I have learnt that i can last about 4km in warm water it hour refuelling.

I finished in 1 hour 36 minutes which is an improvement on the Penrith regatta swim two weeks ago.

A Tough Training Week

A huge week of training with two tough squad swims and one hard session of kicking and build sprints at Dickson Pool. Should leave me in fantastic condition for the 5km'er on Sunday in the lake.

3 Events in 3 Days - Monday

Done...!

Onto Penrith early in the morning to compete in the 5km flat water swim.

After a turbulent start amongst 300 other swimmers i managed to get some clear water at about 500m. The next 3 km was fantastic and i managed to myself into a very nice stroke pattern and rate. After a quick drink and feed it was into the second half. After two events in the previous two days I felt fantastic and did the lap easy; could have easily done the whole thing again!

I finished in 1 hour 35 minutes which was an average swim and 8 minutes above where i need to be this time next year!



   

3 Events in 3 Days - Sunday

Made it...even though i was 100m off

Off to Palm Beach for the annual Big Swim from Palm to Whale Beach.

A day of big surf greeted us with the NE swell running at 4 to 5 feet and the waves at 6 to 9 feet. A tough day and in the earlier 1km race a lot of swimmers came out vomiting; not a nice confidence builder before my race. I knew i had to be switched on today so i picked my line, and along with a few others we ventured out into the angry ocean. I got out very easily by diving under and most importantly taking my time to get out past the sets.

From there it was into the 2.5km race around the cliffs to Whale Beach.  The NE'er was pushing us toward the rocks so all of us took a deeper arc to the turn buoy. Navigation was difficult today as the swell was significantly larger than the buoys so it was important to time my looks at the top of the swell.

I was feeling strong and full of energy at the large buoy. I have been working lots of kick training so my little motor was powering me ahead.

The real fun started on the way into Whale Beach. I could hear the waves crashing before i was in the zone so i knew I was in for it. I managed to get into the first wave and over i went, around i went and out the other end i popped. I knew i had about 6 seconds to pull myself together. I ducked under the next wave (far to big) and then managed to ride the next wave to about 20m from the shore. To my surprise i could stand up...I ducked under the next few waves then caught a nice folder into the shore. It was not without the slight panic moments but I managed to keep my goggles on my head - unlike 90% of the punters...!

A great day had by all and a true Ocean Swim test.