Tan lines and a really poor 10km swim

Well, I am trying to think what is worse ... the horrible tan lines I have from my weekend's swim ... or my poor performance in the same swim. Neither of them signal the end of the world (we'll have to wait till December for that); and one will have to have much more drastic changes ...

I did a fresh water dam 10km swim on Saturday ... in 22 degree water and over thirty degree summer weather. At my pace that results in a nice swim cap tan, goggle tan and the HUGE numbers they ink onto our arms and back result in horrid number tans when we wash off the black ink from our pink-red skin several hours later.

Basically I should just swim quicker and I would not have this problem ...

That gets me to my next problem ... the swim just didn't go well ... and I was just unable to swim fast. "Grumpy"! I was sore and stiff from the 3km stage onwards, slow, tired and just didn't get a rhythm. My right shoulder was sore, my arms were tired and my tanks felt empty ... either a nice little wake-up call or a reminder that one simply can have a slow day now and then.

Up front I must say that a bottle and a half of good white wine the night before probably did not help at all. But I do believe a slight re-evaluation of my training has to be done ... and some self recommended changes need to be put in place soonest to get through my 20km swim in 3 weeks; and more later this year ...

So here goes ... in no specific order of importance ...

1. 
   
   Weekly massages for the next three weeks; and then religiously every two to three weeks


2. 
   
   Cut out the coffee and the booze


3. 
   
   More squad training sessions to work on the speed training (already on the training plan after the last three months of base training)


4. 
   
   More longer swims - 10km sessions every two weeks


5. 
   
   More/better sleep


6. 
   
   Eat healthier - loose four kilograms now, and put on weight again closer to the Channel Swim

Lets see what I can get right in the short term (massage booked for Thursday already, and no alcohol today) ... in my last three weeks before Rottnest.

Lets give it horns ...

To Cycle ... To Swim ... To Run ...?

Oh how I miss my cycling and running ... every year at this time I would be cycling a lot to prepare for the Argus Cycle Tour (109km road race around Cape Town) ... and seeing all these cyclists out there in the nice weather is tough. Them in the sun and heat ... myself in the cooold sea ...

The odd run I am fitting in is not as enjoyable as it used to be ... basically carrying a few extra pounds around my waist is not that comfortable ;-)

Well, I presume it is all in the mind ... I will cycle and run loads after September ... but for now I just need to suck it up, put on the Speedo and head down to the pool ...

Robben Island Swim

What a beaut of a day. Off for a nice swim in the morning and then falling asleep in the office ;-)

Huge swell, moderate temperatures, sunny and warm day ... not ideal; but good enough to head for the open seas.

8km swim at a slow pace, relaxing and enjoyable ... until we hit the shoreline ... OMG ... those waves were NOT fun :-(

... and somewhere out there are a very decent pair of swim goggles ...

I didn't make it back to the boat for the trip to the harbour with the boat ... those waves were just a tad nasty ... and therefore had to do the speedo and cap hitch-hiking back through town ... now that was interesting!!

January 2012 ... now for the serious stuff ...

Well ... here we are ... eight months to go ... and a lot of training to be completed ...

As extra motivation for myself I have decided to post my completed training sessions on-line ... maybe guilt will get me to be a little more diligent with my training sessions ;-)

My plan for the time being is to do three mornings a week at 5km swimming and one weekend morning of 6km (21km per week); supplemented with some gym sessions and time allowing, at least one decent cycle per week.

Track my training work successfully completed on:

http://www.patrickthomas.co.za/2012-english-channel-training-progress.php