One tough training weekend

The headache, stifness and tiredness today is most definitely self inflicted ... We had some seriously hard work in the water this weekend ... and after having finished it all I can say I am more than happy. Those sentiments were NOT the same during yesterday's swim.

On Saturday we did a tough 8km, cold sea swim from Robben Island through to Big Bay in Blouberg, Cape Town. The water was a touch under 14 degrees, with a nasty wind chop for most of the way. We swam hard and did a decent 2h45. The real excitement was just before the start of the swim while we were swimming off to the island to start our swim ... coming through the kelp we spotted a nice 1m shark coming through to inspect us as a breakfast option.

On Sunday we then dragged our slightly stiff bodies off to a 50m indoor pool in Strand ... this was the really tough bit. 400 lengths later (20 km), totally exhausted and mind-numbingly bored of the lengths we treated ourselves to a decent burger and chips.

Thanks a mill Myles ... around 8km was the first time I wanted to quit. And kilometers 12.5 through to 15 were real torture. That motivation was vital when every single arm stroke burns your shoulders and you just don't feel like continuing!!

Now just to bottle those feelings, emotions, motivation and thoughts for when I am doing the Channel ... I am sure it is going to be quite a bit worse out there :-)

10km, 3 hours, sub-14 degrees

Now that was a good weekend of swimming and relaxing!

Although work kept me out on the other side of the country till late on Friday; I still managed to fit in a tedious 5km swim at the gym on the way to the Airport. It was one of those swims that just don't gel. It just was not exciting and fun. Luckily the whole weekend's training did not continue like that ...

After a short sleep we were all hoping on a 3 mile sea swim in Camps Bay ... but alas ... thick fog prevented that. So off I went and did a very enjoyable, strong 8km at the gym. This time enjoyable and definitely worth it. Some nice fellow swimmers to chat to and setting a decent, strong pace throughout.

Sunday morning I felt like a truck had driven over me ... just so flat and stiff. I was supposed to join my mates at 09h00 ... but rather decided on a very worthwhile snooze and enjoyable breakfast in bed.

... and then joined the others at 10h00 ... outside pool, 50m, COLD ... aaaaggghhh!

After the initial shock and self query as to why I do this to myself; I relaxed into it and really enjoyed the swim. The hot showers afterwards were also awesome ... especially the tingling extremities when the blood starts to circulate and warmth returns to the body.

... Now lets see how I can torture myself next weekend ...

An Onion to SAA and a big-up to Heinrich

Well, well, well ... South African Airways have really disappointed. I officially give them an Onion Award! I specifically chose to book a non-stop flight from Cape Town to London, in September, outward bound for my swim attempt.

I specifically chose a flight and carrier that offered me the best possibility to rest, reduce delays, carry my excess luggage with minimum airport delays (and threats of theft) and no stop-overs. My early September,specifically selected flight was happily booked and paid for on SAA quite a while ago.

Now unfortunately South African Airways has decided to cut that route from mid-August and transferred my flight to an SAA option via Johannesburg.

To SAA:

• You have seriously disappointed me
• I could have booked with another airline if I had known you would change this
• You could have first stopped taking bookings from a certain date and then discontinued this service from that date onwards
• You have renegaded on an agreement we made (in good faith from my side) on completion of the purchase of the original ticket
• Your excuses you gave during our follow-up correspondence are, as expected, self-centred and definitely not client sympathetic

On a happier note ... the training is going well! I am really enjoying the swimming, increased mileage, better swim performance and generally feeling stronger in the water.

The next two months will see us doing much more cold water training - no problem at all in finding these cold water bodies ... with winter weather setting in and all water features clocking in at about 13 to 15 degrees Celsius at the moment. The aim is to complete several 6 hour cold water swims in the next two months.

The seas have also gotten noticeably larger, and rougher. Sunday saw us swimming in Camps Bay ... well ... that was not too pleasant! The swell was huge and those waves rough, rough, rough. Many thanks to Heinrich who guided and spoke me through the approach to land after having a minor panic attack while floating in the big swell behind those nasty waves.

Happy swimming!!

Breaking the scale

Aaaaagghhhh ... 99.3 kg. I am sitting there, just below the beeeeg triple numbers. Weird how it is quite a mental thing. I am currently very happy sitting around the 96 to 98 kg mark for my swimming in the cold water. Previous, personal experiences have shown noticeable increases in cold water tolerance between my usual "Ironman" weight of 84 to 86 kg (felt very cold in longer cold water swims) and comfortable cold water swims at 94 kg.

Three of us went for some good cold water, open water swimming on the weekend. My 99 kg at 1.84m tall were useful as I hardly suffered and felt fine in the 14-15 degree water. Both my mates, sitting pretty at 1.88m tall; but only carrying 90 to 92 kg felt the cold and shivered much more.

I am sure the increased training program for the next two months will chip away at my 99 kg ... which is perfectly fine with me as I do love to eat :-)

English Channel Training - 3 Months to go ...