First lake swim of 2019
19th May 2019
On 06-Jul-2019 I am entered to swim 2.4k in the sea in Bournemouth. Not really sure why I entered it but I had to defer so many running races and then haven't entered any more, that entering a swim felt like a suitable alternative. But 2.4k is a long way, further than I've swum in a pool and considerably further than I've swum in open water. Let alone the sea. So it'll be a challenge, it won't be fast but the aim is to complete it without requiring rescue...
So that's seven weeks away. Which will go so fast. The first swim of the year had to be some day, so today was the day. I went to Reading Lake, which will always be my favourite place to go. I know it. I know what to do and where to go without having to ask anyone or talk. I can do my own thing, with the exception of asking someone to zip up my wetsuit. I paid, changed and got in the water and acclimatised for several minutes, trying to control my breathing and get comfortable before setting off. I completed the full loop, 750m (although my watch showed 800m, either inaccurate or accounting for the fact that I don't take the racing line, and let faster swimmers go inside). But more than completing the entire loop, I didn't stop to adjust anything or catch my breath at all. A few times the weeds hit me, and once something hard hit my face, but after a brief pause in stroke, I carried on each time. It took until I rounded the second buoy and started on the back straight, before I started being able to breathe out underwater and from then on the swim was quite comfortable. I was pleased with my sighting, I don't think I veered into the bank half as much as I have in the past. The new goggles were amazing; let in no water and I could see perfectly. Not that I wanted to see the weeds.
I finished in just over 21 minutes which is on a par with what I've always done there. It isn't about the time though. I don't think I've ever done the whole loop before without having to stop so this was massive. Maybe not for someone else but I HAVE to not compare myself with others, especially swimming and cycling. It is hard though. I saw on Strava straight away that someone else had done further and a lot faster in a different lake and immediately my pride diminished and I felt quite pathetic. It's going to be a long road and I don't know how I'm ever going to finish that sea swim and be happy.
So that's seven weeks away. Which will go so fast. The first swim of the year had to be some day, so today was the day. I went to Reading Lake, which will always be my favourite place to go. I know it. I know what to do and where to go without having to ask anyone or talk. I can do my own thing, with the exception of asking someone to zip up my wetsuit. I paid, changed and got in the water and acclimatised for several minutes, trying to control my breathing and get comfortable before setting off. I completed the full loop, 750m (although my watch showed 800m, either inaccurate or accounting for the fact that I don't take the racing line, and let faster swimmers go inside). But more than completing the entire loop, I didn't stop to adjust anything or catch my breath at all. A few times the weeds hit me, and once something hard hit my face, but after a brief pause in stroke, I carried on each time. It took until I rounded the second buoy and started on the back straight, before I started being able to breathe out underwater and from then on the swim was quite comfortable. I was pleased with my sighting, I don't think I veered into the bank half as much as I have in the past. The new goggles were amazing; let in no water and I could see perfectly. Not that I wanted to see the weeds.
I finished in just over 21 minutes which is on a par with what I've always done there. It isn't about the time though. I don't think I've ever done the whole loop before without having to stop so this was massive. Maybe not for someone else but I HAVE to not compare myself with others, especially swimming and cycling. It is hard though. I saw on Strava straight away that someone else had done further and a lot faster in a different lake and immediately my pride diminished and I felt quite pathetic. It's going to be a long road and I don't know how I'm ever going to finish that sea swim and be happy.