Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.......

It was my first swim today in over 12 months so I was feeling a little apprehensive. Also, it can be hard to get motivated to change into bathers (swimmers, togs) at 5.30am when its minus 5 degrees outside. Sub zero temperatures and swimming just don’t go together in my books. Surprisingly (or at least I thought so) the water wasn’t cold when I got in but then I was focused on getting in and getting started before I was stampeded by the masses for their early morning swim. It has always amazed me the number of people who actually swim throughout winter, by choice Well, yes, I know I’m swimming or will be swimming throughout winter, and it’s not like someone has a gun to my head and making me do it, but that’s different. Swimming is not my favourite past-time but given that it is part of a triathlon it forms part of my training!

First 50m – wow, it’s not so bad. I’m swimming, breathing, not sinking. Moving through the water well and stroke is good.

Second 50m – has the lane got longer? I’m sure it wasn’t this far on the first lap. Not moving through the water so smoothly.

Third 50m – omg, this is hard work. Arms are hurting, running out of breath, not going anywhere. Resembling a broken windmill – arms flailing.

Fourth and final 50m – keep going, keep going, keep going, the end is not far away, breathe. Forget about style or form – just get to the end. Breathe.

And that was just the warm up!

However I am happy to report that the session did slightly improve from here on in and the main set wasn’t as painful as I thought it would be. Yes, there is work to be done on my endurance and pace but on the whole today I am just glad that I a) got in the pool, and b) completed the session. It can only get better from here on in.

I went for a 6km run at lunchtime today. It was really pleasant running in the middle of the day, in daylight, with the sun shining. It also gave me a chance to get away from my desk and out for some fresh air. The down side – I was starving hungry all afternoon.