100 x 100's - 2nd time around

As if managing it once wasn't hard enough, being the type of swimmer I am, and always thinking I could have done better,  I felt the urge to attempt H20's 100x100's for the second time.  All swimmers training for SKS are really working hard and the commitment is really coming through now.  The 100, 100's session is a killer.  For me, I couldn't do it the way some of my fellow swimmers tried it.  Just swim a 100, stop and go again when you are ready.  No.  There's no structure to that.  I need to know that if I manage my 100's off a certain time, I will be home by 8p.m.  And I need to remain focused.  Keep watching that Speedo clock and keep a consistent pace.  That's the only way that I can overcome the boredom.  Concentrate on each one like its the first.

This time round, I broke mine up into batches of 1k.  The first time I attempted them a month or so back at Garons, Southend, I paused for 30 seconds after each 1k to take on nutrition.  I focused on taking enough rest after each 100 too so that my actual time for the 100 was consistent.  I am trying not to allow myself to become a progressingly slower plodder.  Stay focused, keep looking at the clock, and keep swimming at the same pace.  However, for me, taking too much rest between each 100 (15secs first time round), leaves me bored and just wanting to get on with the next one.  Although I made the first 10k relatively comfortably, I realised that I should be training harder during the 10k in order to get my stamina/endurance levels up, so this time round, I am on a mission.

I am going to do this 10k at speed. (well - fast for me!).   My programme was as follows:-

10 x 100 off 95
5 x 100 off 90
5 x 100 off 1.40
10 x 100 off 95
5 x 100 off 90
5 x 100 off 1.40
2k done.  Take 1 minutes rest for nutrition and repeat the above 5 x.

For me, going off 90 is a killer as it only ever allows me about 7 secs rest maximum - to begin with.  But, after doing 5 or so, this 7 seconds rest drops to about 2secs rest.  I can keep going at this pace.  I just look up at the clock as the hand flows up to the 90 bit and just go again.  I'm OK doing it like this, but I only have to loose concentration on one of them and that hand scoops past the 90sec bit and then I have no chance of pulling it back.  This is why I was realistic and only put 5 of them in at a time.  Do 5, then go into recovery mode for a while, then back into comfortable mode for a while and then bring on  those 90's again.

It worked brilliantly until nature called at the 7k point?   Damn, I purposly did not drink too much before I left home and I also visited the loo before I entered the water, but unfortunately, when you are taking on the fluids during the long swims, the inevitable happens.  When you've gotta go, you've gotta go.  Even in the open water, I find it impossible to pee whilst swimming fast, but when you are in a swimming pool, I daren't ignor the signs just in case!   What followed next was a split seconds stupidity.   I  did a big push up in the shallow end to get out quick and then wham!! both calves cramped up.  I actually fell back into the water with the pain etched on my face.  I was in so much pain, I couldn't continue to climb out.  I just fell back in with no control over my legs.  I wasted about 3 to 4 minutes rolling about in agony then eventually hobbled to the loo.  Damn, damn, damn.  I was so angry, why didn't I just swim over to the steps ?

The next 1k saw me swimming with flat feet, toes pointing to the bottom of the pool trying to send the cramp away, so needless to say, the 90's didn't happen.  It was now all down to mind games.  Don't let that little man in the back of your head that keeps saying "You've messed up, go home" get the better of you.  I wanted to listen to him, but being a woman - I didnt !!!!   I had to settle for 1.40's for the rest of the 10k as not only had I lost my mo-jo, but I had also lost my pace-maker, Mr Ben Jacques - whom I am convinced that without him, I would not even have got to 7k at the pace I was doing.  It's so much easier drafting.

See you in 3 hours time !

Ben, also bailed out at 7k due to neck and shoulder problems.  It happens.  Doesn't matter how focused and determined you are, what happens on the day - happens on the day.

Overall, my pace was a lot faster than the first time I attempted it and there were factors that prevented me from completing my target schedule.  I will attempt it again in a months time.  Eton 10k is just round the corner and I need to get everything right for that one.  2011 Eton saw me having to stop for a good 10 minutes with terrible cramp, hanging onto a support kayak so I really want to get my nutrition right so I can get round this time in record time.

Xmas Eve Charity Dip - Far too cold for me

Why on earth did I do this?   I hadn't been able to stop asking myself that question all bloody week.  Will I have a heart attack?  Maybe.  Will it hurt? Probably.  Will it really be that cold?  YES.   So why?  Because I stupidly said I would and its for charity, and lots of other people are doing it, and I have nothing better to do on Xmas Eve !!!!  Well, apart from finish the shopping, set the table for 14, cook the turkey, cook the gammon, make the desserts.  ho ho ho !

So here's the deal.  Turn up at Southend Beach at 11.00, run up and down the beach in your swim suit (STRICTLY NO WETSUITS ALLOWED), carrying a charity bucket for 15 minutes, then when you've collected a few bob, run in the freezing cold sea, then run back out again.  Smile for the camera.  Get dressed, and your done.  OK, let's do it.

So first things first.  7.00a.m. the phone rings and its Essex Radio for an interview, asking all the very same questions I've been asking myself all week.  But, with one exception.  "And, Lorraine, where exactly will you be meeting today, so that we can broad cast it to all our listeners to encourage people to pop along and cheer you on".  "Oh, thank you Mr Radio man, we will be meeting at the Arches, just adjacent to the pier".  "Well, thank you for your time this morning Lorraine and we wish you good luck".  Bye.

Back to facebook, and 2,000 messages later - Er, Lorraine, we are not meeting at the Arches, adjacent to the Pier !!!!!!    Ooops a daisy, never did have any sense of direction. Funny thing was tho, that while I was running up and down the beach, some old boy stopped me and said "Some daft bird on the radio this morning directed everyone to the pier".  No way, I said !!!!!   Idiot !!!!!   So funny.

Didnt have the heart to tell all my fellow Redcaps that I had also pre-recorded a radio interview with Southend Radio the day before directing them the wrong way too.   L.O.L.  You gotta laugh ain't ya.

Almost ready, 10, 9, 8, 7.........

Final pause for the camera and its almost time

Done it, and whats more, no heart attack, and Im still breathing

We raised just under £200 for that brief moment of madness and got a full double spread in the Southend Echo.  But I wonder how much we would have raised if I had advertised the location correctly?  Who knows !

Echo article - Chalkwell water club takes its annual winter Thames dip

Lakeside 5k and The Great Scottish Swim 1/2 Mile and 1 Mile

Lakeside 5k

Well what a different a year makes.  Last years Lakeside 3.8k was my first open water race since retirement, where, with no training whatsoever, I headed off to the lake with a brand new wetsuit (bad move) and aches and pains all over from the previous days 7mile swim at Dover.  I would prefer not to dwell over the drama I created at the end of that particular race as I left in tears, being pulled out with what my son calls “His Mums Wounds of Victory”.  Tears yes, pain yes but victory, well I was the only lady in my age group so Victory Mmmmm......


Anyway, I stepped up a milestone this year to the 5k and with no aches and pains headed off to Lakeside.  A beautiful morning and made even more special with many Chalkwell Redcap team-mates also competing.  It was a brilliant race albeit 6 laps left me wondering if I had lost the ability to count.  You had to go under the lap counter after the first 400metres and  I spent the whole race asking myself ‘does that count as lap 1’?

It was very disheartening to be lapped on this event.  My god there are some speedies out there. Well done whoever you were but next time, please lap me underwater so I don’t see you.  The feeling of deflation when you get lapped is awful.  3 Redcap members receiving gold on this day, me being one of them so it was a brilliant day for all.

5k Done, Brilliant.  Winner ! and this time I had someone else in my age group  !

Great Scottish Swim September 2011.

With just about everyone of my friends commenting on how expensive this race had turned out to be, (3x entry fees, flights, hotel, food, petrol.... say no more), Chris & I headed off to Glasgow early Friday morning for a long weekend, returning Sunday night.  This was his first ever Great Swim event as he had made the comment at a previous event that “It looks so much fun, I think I will have a go next time”, so I entered him in the ½ mile.  I entered myself in the ½ mile too, so I could hold his hand and then also entered myself in the big boys event, the 2 miler for later in the day.

As I am particularly susceptible to ‘brain freeze’ and seem to suffer more than anyone else ever in the whole world, the email I received from Great Swim just two days before the event did not help.  “We are sorry to advise that due to severe bad weather over the last few weeks, for safety reasons, the 2mile swim has been reduced to 1mile”.  Jeez, that must be cold.....

I can’t quite recall how many times Chris swore when we got off the plane when he felt the air temperature. 

We set our alarms for 6a.m. on the Saturday and thank god, there was the odd bit of sunshine poking through the clouds.  I must say that for a novice, he took the whole thing really seriously.  He had talked ‘tactics’ with me all night long over dinner the night before as he wanted me to be his ‘pace-maker’.  I can feel you are already thinking that Bettsy is gonna make a swimmer out of her husband yet.  So my instructions were to stay half a body length in front of him all the way until the final 400m, then he wants to sprint to the finish line so can I then go a whole body length in front of him so he can only see my toes. 

Sounds easy, but Chris is quite a good sprinter.  Not a lot of stamina to go the distance but he can get out of the block pretty quick.  I, on the other hand, wanted to spend at least 20 minutes in the acclimatisation zone until my brain freeze had gone but as the ‘organisers’ kept shouting move along, move along, my face was a picture.  No. I can't get out yet, I've got severe migraine!  I need another 10minutes!   So I wasn’t acclimatised at all and when that gun went off – so did Chris. 

I was struggling like hell to swim and struggling even more to keep him in my sight.  Couple of hundred swimmers, few thousand arms and  legs everywhere and me with my perfectly mastered water-polo freestyle trying to find him.

Wonder Woman to the Rescue!   Head eventually in, I spotted him - THERE HE IS.   Sprint woman I said to myself and then, in a flash !! he he!!  I was level.

It was a lovely swim we had together, we both thoroughly enjoyed it and was looking forward to having the official photograph  together at the end.   Ha, bloomin, Ha.   The only photos that are missing from the day are ours.  Faulty colour, deleted !   Well, he will just have to do another one now won't he.

So, freezing cold and shivering, we dressed and headed back to the hotel for a couple of hours.  I climbed into bed with gloves, socks and still filthy dirty and after a nice warm drink, we headed back to the lake for my 1mile race.

Now, it goes without saying that every single video coverage Chris has taken of me swimming, leaves the viewer giddy.  Bless him, he has not quite mastered the art of finding me amongst the masses and recording me.  He’s zooming in, zooming out, side to side, too fast, and its a standing joke that the family always say “You are not letting Chris video you are you mum”?

Was today going to be any different. 

Now........... where's Chris.  

He is videoing and giving this sophisticated commentary on a man that is coming in, in 7^th place !!!!!!!!    His commentary is classic “Here’s Bettsy, she’s doing really well, come on girl”. 

And the reason behind his logic... "but his wet suit was the same as yours and he also has a straight right arm like you!   One day.......

Anyway, great fun, worth every penny to actually spend some time together as with him being a professional golfer and us both working full time, it's very rare that we actually see one another.  So for that reason alone, Scotland was fantastic and worth the £800 it cost........   Keep your comments to yourself please !

And finally, the official end of season Chalkwell Redcap Fancy Dress dip, and I went as a monster - how surprising....

Bournemouth Pier to Pier swim September 2011 + the weeks ahead.

No races in August for me, so a time to get some serious open water training in, whilst the water is still warm.  I've been having fun with the Redcaps.  We did a 4hr sea swim a couple of weeks ago.  This saw us swimming against a fast tide and strong winds for the whole 4 hours.  Just when I reached the 1/4 mark and whilst I was frantically trying to keep my head above the waves whilst treading water and taking on fluids, I said to Derek, "God that was hard against the tide, it should be easier going back, shouldnt it", but he reliably informed me that because of the strong surface wind, it will be even tougher going back.  Cheers mate.  But he was right. My arms couldn't clear the waves and after 2 hours of gulping and struggling to hold it together, the 5 of us, me, Ben, Derek, Tongie and Helen, reached the half way point.  Oh how easy it would have been to call it a day.  But no, we were on a mission.  If we are to succeed in next years Charity Challenge, then we need to practice.  Fail to prepare then PREPARE TO FAIL!!!!    No doubt the challenge will take us more than 4 hours so before this open water season is out, we had to see what it felt like.  Tongie and Helen decided to call it a day at the half way point but the others soldiered on.  Ben and I managed it non-wetsuit.  Tough cookies !

Been in the River Chelmer a few times and over to the lake at Heybridge too, so getting in plenty of variety whilst leading up to my September races.

Chalkwell Redcaps, lazy river swim - Great turnout albeit just me and Ben in this photo.

August also saw me organising a bank holiday dip in the River Crouch.  Just a quick posting on facebook resulted in 15 swimmers turning up.  Again, a few were going for 4 hours but as I made the mistake of trying out a new wetsuit, by the 1hr stage, my neck was sore and I knew I couldnt continue.  Somehow, tho, just a quick 'Im quitting' statement from me, resulted in all of them quitting !!!!!!  Oh the power!   So back to mine for a BBQ instead.  Great day, great company and great fun.

I've been training with some triathletes on Mondays and Wednesdays down at Burnham on Crouch.  This water can be dangerous.  I had nightmares last week that the platoon that you have to lift yourself onto to get out, sucked me under.  The tide is so fast that you can feel your legs going under the platoon whilst you try to find the strength in your arms to pull yourself out.  Its so deep that you have nothing to lever yourself against. It goes without saying, that my exit from the water has to go down as the most un-ladylike exit you will ever get to see !  The triathletes on the other hand just do an almighty press up and they are up.  I kind-of do a pull, fall flat on me chest, squeel, then twirl me legs round the sides whilst shouting "I'm OK !

I'm sure Andy is asking "Did she get sucked under?"

 . 

To all my friends who think I'm mad, - couldnt think of a better way to spend my evenings - thank you.

My travelling companion who is just about to do Henley Full Iron Man this Sunday - Go Andy Go

That's it for another night, 5 in and 5 out.  Result, didn't lose anyone out there tonight

September 4th saw me and Chris heading off to Bournemouth for the Great Pier to Pier swim.  This is the first race since Chris has decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.  So instead of a golf bag in the boot, it's a dry bag and wetsuits.  Sunday morning when we woke up in the hotel room, his first words were "W.T.F".  His normal Sunday routine of a lay in, spot of golf, lunch, and chill had a rude awakening.  It was 7a.m., it was windy, it was chucking down with rain, and he is about to run into the sea with 1000 other competitors - all to keep me company.   aww, bless.   

Brave husband, wearing a wetsuit instead of carryout a golf bag. x.

He's off.  His first ever open water race.  500 competitors in the yellow wave

Now, where is he ?

By Jove, he beat me to the pier and I was walking!     Well done Hubby. x.

My turn now.

Red cap wave, another 500 swimmers getting ready to race.

3rd lady home.  Brilliant.

And so that't it.  First race of September done.  Next is the 5k Swimfest at Lakeside this coming Sunday where lots of Redcaps are competing and then off to Scotland for the last in the Great Swim Series.  For Scotland, I am going to swim beside Chris for his 1mile at 8.00a.m. and use it as a warm up for my 2mile race at midday.  Got a feeling that Strathclyde Loch is gonna be pretty cold so I hope Chris doesnt hang up his wetsuit after this one.

I'm back in the pool now too as I've lost all sense of speed throughout the winter Channel training routine.  And only being outside, it's hard to get that speed going again. My goal of 40 x 100m swim and rest off 90 by April next year seems impossible right now.  I managed 10 the other day in a 25m pool and then headed off to an old 36 2/3 yard pool to try to do it again.  Clearly it wasn't happening.  Managed them in batches of 3 and was really frustrated at how bad your speed can get if you don't combine your open water training with pool training.  Obviously, I've had an excuse, as I wasn't able to train in the open water this past winter whilst coaching my channel buddy.  At the pool, my long time swimming buddy Gray was on hand to give me a ticking off.  "Will you stop beating yourself up woman".  Give it time.  Go back to basics and pick it up from there.  Sharpen up with sprints, 50's, do some drills, etc. Take some decent rest whilst you get your speed back, then bring the rest down.  Of course, I knew he was right.  But I needed to hear it out loud.  So I appreciate his advice and now with a slightly amended training plan,once I have these two races out of the way, I will see what October brings.

And just today, I heard from Karen, my water slave.  I wasn't sure if she was resting up and trying to forget about the Channel ordeal, or whether she was leaving me alone so I could concentrate on my own swimming. Either way, I knew I had to distance myself and go it alone for a while.  And so, now I know.  For all our mutual friends out there, having handed her notice in at work, she is spending a few months setting up her own business.  Hopefully, once the initial administration is all done, she will be back swimming again.  And yes, she's gonna give it another go in 2013 so watch this space.

July 2011 - Southend Great Pier Swim/Hubby is converted !/My training plan for the future

Now that my year of assisting Karen in her quest to conquer the channel is over, it's time to knuckle down and decide what I want to do with my own swimming.  No doubt if it wasn't for Karen, I would probably have returned as a pool swimmer, but now having the bug for open-water swimming, I realise this is where my future in the sport lies.

So decision time.  Do I become an open-water swimmer content with challenges and raising money for charity or do I get back to racing.  Having done all the Great Swim series so far this year with Gold or Silver results in my category each time, (and this without any training), I guess the 'pull' towards seeing how well I can do next year, if I get a years winter training under my belt, is quite strong.  But on the other hand, I felt so proud conquering the 24hr charity challenge and raising a whopping £1,625 for Help4Heroes, and also being part of Karen's channel challenge, that the desire to conquer lakes/seas etc. is also strong.  So, that's it, decision made - I will do both!

Train hard to produce a fast 1mile, 2mile and 10k race time which should give me enough stamina to conquer perhaps Windermere next year, or the latest Chalkwell Redcap challenge which we are contemplating at the moment: -  Southend, Essex to All Hallows, Kent, back to Leigh on Sea, Essex and all before you run out of water - so a highly tuned, precise swim against the clock.  See : -

http://www.h2openmagazine.com/readers-swims/southend-essex-to-all-hallows-kent-to-leigh-on-sea-essex.html


The chap that has achieved this swim actually won the Great Southend Pier swim this year, to which I came in 6th overall and 1st in the ladies over 45 category. And I am sure he won't mind me saying that at 57 years of age, is a remarkable achievement and which finally, has stopped me from telling myself, that at 53, perhaps I am too old to return to swimming with such high ambitions.

So just 4 weeks into my 'serious training', I have found a new group of tri-athletes to hang around with on Mondays and Wednesday at Burnham on Crouch.  A fast flowing stretch of water at the majority of times, which led me to having palpitations the first time out with these guys.  Having been used to swimming at 2min/100 metre pace for the past year, bit of doggy paddle here and there, to suddenly being in a situation where six strong tri-athletes all say, OK re-group at that boat over there (1/2 a mile away at least), and to have to swim my guts out continuously for 1/2 hour to keep up, I realised, jeez I have become unfit.

I've also hooked back up with my old club the Blackwater Triathlon club from many moons ago and have been welcomed to the lake session on a Saturday morning where I self-discipline myself into doing timed laps /drills etc.   Add this to having the privilege of swimming with some very fast swimmers from Chalkwell Redcaps in the waters of Southend on Sea, plus 1 pool swim a week to work 'off the clock', and my training plan is falling into place.  I have set myself a target to lose 1.5 stone and be able to swim 40 x 100's swim and rest off 90 by the start of the open-water season next year.  High standards for me, maybe not for others, but if I set my mind to it, I know I'm capable of doing it.

Chris & I doing a 5k straight swim from Westcliff to Thorpe Bay with about 15 Redcaps - Brilliant.  Chris pulled out at the Pier and walked back to Westcliff by himself to get the car, much to the humour of on-lookers, whom one referred to him as looking like 'James Bond'.  No wonder he loves wearing that wet-suit.

15 Chalkwell Redcaps out for a challenging afternoon.

Chris has also finally given in and realised that if he wants to see me at all from one week to the next, he had better get in the lake/river with me.  So, I am chuffed that I also get to swim with him once at week down at Marsh Farm or in the River Chelmer, (albeit I do wish he would keep up!).  I have even persuaded him to enter the Southend Pier Swim, Lakeside SwimFest, the Great Scottish Swim and Bournemouth Pier to Pier.  Well, saves him getting bored on the sidelines being no. 1 photographer.  I do hope he manages OK.   Memories of Sheffied Masters 10 years ago when I entered him in the 200 f/s to give him something to do while he was there, still relives nightmares of him coming in last and me hiding in the changing rooms for a couple of hours till he calmed down and had the chance to forgive me for putting him in the wrong heat!.

With his new kit all purchased, he comes home from his 'preferred past-time', the golf course, to relay further stories of how his golfing buddies have been taking his new found sport less than serious.  They see it as a perfect opportunity for 'micky taking'   Jealousy will get you no where guys. I know you are all secretly wanting to dress in neoprene !  Anyway, the constant jibes soon changed to 'Chris is your man' when a fellow golfer decided to throw a tantrum at the 14th hole and hurl is very expensive golf club in the air, only to see it land in the pond.  Nothing that Chris would be familiar with of course !!!!!!

Yes, these photo's were taken at the 14th, at Langdon Hills Golf Club.  Not what you would usually expect to see.   With no thought for safety whatsoever, he dived in, much to my horror, as I remind him he should have done the traditional life-savers jump into unknown waters!

However, much underwater searching did not retrieve the golf club and I do believe, his golfing buddies take his new sport a little more seriously now having realised how quick he was to jump into the lake after a golf club!  Which begs to question whether he would be so quick if he saw me in trouble at the lake!

Me & Colin Corby just before the start.
As long as I continue to beat him, I am a happy bunny

 So now back to Southend.  A beautiful sunny day, hardly any wind and a brilliant race which forbid the use of wetsuits for the racers.  The buoy spotting was not good tho.  A 3k long stretch with only two large buoys and several very small unsiteable ones and just a simple instruction to swim either side of them till you get to the other end, left most swimmers probably covering all sorts of different distances.  And as for the instruction for the finish, well - "racers have to swim between the two orange buoys".  Hello! there were a dozen of them - all over the place.  The first thing my lovely friend Ann said to me when I finished, was "Why did you go the long way round".  "Did I".

Well, hubby certainly looks the part, doesn't he?

 
Chris was in the challenge event which meant he left, so I thought, 15minutes after me, with wetsuit.  I guessed, knowing his speed that I would be waiting about 1/2 hour for him.  1 hour later, a very exhausted hubby crosses the line.  Little did I know he was in wave 3 so didn't leave till 45mins after me, by which time I had already come to the conclusion that he had been airlifted out of the sea and was on his way to casualty and that perhaps I shouldn't encourage him to race (memories of Sheffield still all too familiar).  So a relieved wife finally stopped pacing the beach and was delighted when he announced he enjoyed the experience and will still race at Bournemouth!

Friday just gone saw me doing another epic challenge swim.  Organised by Ben Jacques who decided swimming 5k was just not challenging enough, he decided that if we timed it just right, we would be against the tide for 2.5k towards Southend pier, and against it to get back to Chalkwell again.  We had to leave at 4.19p.m. precisely !!!!  It was choppy, we all went non-wetsuit and were battered and bruised by the waves by the time we got to Westcliff.  A stretch of water here which is particularly torturous as the waves bounce off the leisure centre.  Next re-group was at the pier where we all stupidly thought, swimming back would be easier as the tide felt fairly static at that moment - Wrong.  The lifeguards were called out by a member of public who thought we were in trouble which was a bit embarrassing as we tried to explain to the 3 lifeguards, "No, we actually enjoy doing stuff like this and despite the fact that we are struggling, we would actually like to carry on".  2.5 hours later 3 very tired swimmers finally emerged back at the Crowstone, speechless and too tired to even contemplate drowning Ben for his crazy idea.  We are all strong swimmers but 2.5 hours to do 5k - that's how hard it was.

So, I am now on an unforeseen rest period as I think I have 'pond tummy'.

The Channel Swim Story - July 2011.

As you can imagine, the year has been long, sometimes happy, sometimes funny, sometimes sad.  Conditions were against Karen right from the start.  Her first sickness was after just 1.5 hours.  It continued relentlessly for 9.5 hours of 20mins swim, be sick, nutrition, 20mins swim, be sick.......and so on 

It was an impossible task that another pilot referred to as 'Not a day for soloists'.  

But, she is a fighter, she'll be back, I believe in 2013 to give it another go.  Well done my friend and let the photo movie below speak for itself.  Please turn your volume up and allow yourself about 10mins to watch the true courage of an ordinary lady with a full-time job, hectic life, kids, dogs, and an amazing desire to swim the channel.

If at first you don't succeed.........................  

Great Swim Series - London June 2011

Today was gonna be one very busy day.  Great Swim Series in the morning, dash back home, quick change, then to Take That concert at the new Wembly Stadium.   As usual, the week had been hectic with last minute preparations for Karen's little swim across the channel.  Gradually, the pile of things to take is growing so much, you'd be forgiven for thinking I was going on a week long cruise.

Unfortunately though, it meant I was gonna miss Karen's double.  A 6hr swim at Dover Saturday followed by another 6 hr one on the Sunday.  I have missed a lot of the Dover weekends due to my own swimming commitments but there's not a lot I can do for her now other than offer support and security of another swimmer beside her.  Most of my hard work was done in the pool during the winter so now it's all down to just swim, swim, and more swimming.  Once again, her week sessions have been limited due to work commitments so we make the most of what time we get.

So back to London, I was really looking forward to this one as it was only 1 mile and being in the docklands, sighting those buoys would be far easier than the lake swims.  So, off I go to London.  Chris was with me this time which was lovely.  And I had some great news from BlueSeventy that they were prepared to exchange my suit that I had already worn for three Great Swims but was still struggling with the sizing.  Maybe they felt a little responsible since they had insisted the Ladies Small would be OK for me, but either way, their after sales service has been impeccable. I decided to keep it dry and clean and go back to my good old faithful battered and bruised Speedo wetsuit for today's race. I couldn't help wondering whether it would make that much difference.  Here I was in a 'cheaper' suit that's old and fits like a glove and has glue everywhere, when for the past 3 races I have worn a top range BlueSeventy that's been extremely uncomfortable.  If I come in much faster today than Salford, is it because I am more comfortable?

The weather was fab, and once again, as soon as I got there, I was itching to get going. Had a few twinges of nerves this time so I need to get that into check quick.  I am determined not to start putting any pressure on myself to do this or that.  Just enjoy it.   My last 1 mile at Salford Quays was 25.48 so this was the time to beat, I was telling myself, which is exactly why those nerves creep in.  Self inflicted pressure.   The atmosphere was great, hundreds of supporters, the usual tents, lots of music and happy faces.  Bumped into Tongie, Helen and David on arrival from Redcaps who were going in the 9.30 wave so exchanged a few good luck wishes and time to go.  10.00a.m. pink wave for me.


The planes were flying low over the docklands into City Airport which added to the buzz of the day.  And Chris, as usual, insisted on his continued commentary on the video cam that, only those who have had the misfortune to be made to watch it, will know what I mean !

So we were off, I positioned myself about a 1/3 back from the start and on the outside edge coz I'm always worried I am gonna get flattened if I am in the middle.  I've been picking up some good little tips from the OpenWater magazine and these were going through my head as I found my pace.

I soon started to pick off the swimmers one by one as I edged my way up to the front.  Anyone who does these races will know that you have absolutely no idea where you are coming, but I knew I was creeping up.

When I turned into the finishing straight and my feet found the pad, I was gobsmacked to hear over the loud speaker,  First lady home, Lorraine Rate.   Wow, I was chuffed.  Just three men in front of me.  Girl Power!  25.18 was the time and I came 2nd overall in the ladies over 50 category.  And a much more comfortable swim for me this time.

We took ourselves over to the Blue Seventy tent and I felt their immediate disappointment when I told them I had just raced in my old Speedo suit today.  The way they treated my problem truly shows why they head the field in wetsuits.  They were lovely.  No quibble whatsoever.  "It's important to us that we fit you properly.  We will post you a new Women's medium for you to try". Julie even went to the trouble of asking me to phone her when it arrives so we can discuss the fitting over the phone.   Hows that for service.

I noticed the difference straight away so I think I am all set now to break into my new suit.  I haven't raced in it yet but paraded around the house in it for an hour until I had dissolved into a puddle.  

One Happy Bunny !

So, off home, quick bath to remove the green gu from me hair, get glammed up and back to Wembly.  Another brilliant day.  And not that I am a Take that fan and I am even less of a Robbie Williams fan, but I have to say, Robbie stole the show.  He was great.

Sunday was a BBQ round Karen's with the Crew.  Who are : Solo Swimmer - Karen.  No. 1 Coach and companion swimmer - Bettsy
All present and correct.  Discussed feeds, plan of action, shopping lists, rules etc and had a lovely evening so we are all ready and waiting for the phone call now.

Finally, no report of mine would ever be the same if I couldn't give mention to my dis-organised hubby.  So here goes:  First a Recap : Eton, he messed up.  OK, forgiven, just don't let it happen again:   Windermere, he messed up again - big time - our mini break holiday left me ALL BY MYSELF.  (Read previous blogs if you need to catch up with Eton and Windermere saga).   So, you will be forgiven for thinking by now, he will never ever ever dream of messing up again.   Are you ready for this............   July 17th is the Bournemouth Pier to Pier swim.  "Bettsy, I am gonna do this swim with you, please enter me in it. I always wish I was in the water swimming when I come to watch you so I will give it a go.   And Bettsy, is that the weekend the Chalkwell Redcaps are going up on Friday and swimming at Dancing Ledge, Lullworth Cover, Durdle Door etc etc before the ultimate pier race on the Sunday".  Yes it is.  OK lets do that as well then.   Perfect. A weekend with swimmers, swimming in lots of places, lovely.      AAAAAArrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!     "Bettsy, when did you say Bournemouth was"?   "Next Sunday WHY"!     Errrrrrrmmmmm.  Hate to say this, My Senior Golf Qualifier is on the Monday so I don't want risk any injury on the Sunday by swimming and also my practice round is Saturday".

My husband needs sectioning!!  

Anyone wanna do Bournemouth and pretend they are Chris, I have a spare entry and also, anyone know anyone with a shotgun please ?

Channel crossing update : Anytime between 6 -15th July.  I am typing this on the 9th July and the weather is appalling.  Sooooooo windy.   We are 4th in the queue and have just heard that swimmer No. 1 may go on Sunday, so perhaps we may go round about Wednesday.    Meantime, that pile of stuff to take I mentioned earlier, is still growing.  So today, we will swim in the River Crouch and tomorrow head off to Southend on Sea for a sea swim while we try to keep busy waiting for that call.