swimming for fun

Having restricted my swimming for the last month due to generalised repetitive strains in both arms, shoulders and lower back – all of which are getting ongoing attention – I’m slowly getting back into it. This has both a benefit and a dilemma. The benefit has been to take me away from a training schedule that’d be having me swim regular two hour plus swims in 10 to 12 degrees water! But seriously; it’s meant I’ve thought a lot about why I desire to swim so much and achieve what only another 1200 odd other humans have done. Initially I pondered whether my back was ‘out’ because of the subliminal stress of a channel swim (and a few other things). But I don’t think it is. I’ve been swimming for nearly five years now and have been lucky to have had only one small break due to injury in this time. I’m coming up for fifty too and so I should stop thinking I’ll recover the next day and begin to listen to and respect my mind and body; but without inhibiting myself from what I can achieve. The pause in my training is good. I only have to do one long swim this year – 10k off Brighton beach in July. The rest is optional.

And the dilemma is that I’m off to a swim camp in just under 4 weeks where I’d have been swimming at least 5 to 10K every day; and on some a lot more. I’m going, but I think that I need to remind myself that I’m not in the Channel til 2014 and in the meantime I can learn a lot by understanding my limits; knowing when to push them and observing and sharing with friends and, hopefully, new friends that I’ll meet in the seas and loughs in Cork. And putting in some good time as a supporter; as I’m a support swimmer for at least one Channel swimmer this year.

Another benefit has been to swim slower, focus on my stroke, get out sooner, play handball, chat to people various much more and remember that swimming is also fun. Thanks in particular to wild woman for reminding me of this.

distance x time

Enroute to the lido there was still fog about, so nipped into my friend Bridged’s for a cuppa before arriving at the pool for nine-ish – with the sun now ablazing. Then, realising I had very little to do today, engaged in natterings with Elizabeth, Alex and Batch. And then I spied Nando coming in, so we agreed to get in and swim…and swim. Nando was keen to repeat yesterday’s swim of a shade under 3km and I wanted to go 200 yards better and get to two miles. After a km or so, Ian got in and I kept pace with him for a 1000 yards to work on the lungs a bit; and then eased off for the next twenty minutes to come in at 1hr 3mins. Nando meanwhile cruised on for another 17 minutes and did 3200 yards in 1hr 20m. In the world of cold water swimming, I think the endurance (time in) is more impressive than the distance. But it’s distance that sticks in people’s minds. If the regulars are stretching to do a km, two miles is madness.

Got out and lo and behold, Jackie turns up and so does Big Carl. So I went in for a little while longer to practise sprints for Sunday (thanks to Ian for timing me), some photos, a couple of widths for Nando to film my stroke and two and a half lengths of Big C’s 12. Jackie meanwhile stroked on and on and on.

And more chat…Vernon, X (who was incognito and skiving off work), Anne Brimelow, Annie (who was off to keep fit) and Big Carl. Finally left around 1.30pm, after a piece of Jeanne Marie’s birthday cake – thanks.

Ape – 3600 yards (3.3km or 2.05miles) – 8 degrees C.

Big C cruises in

Meeting of the EC soloists – Jackie and Big C

Jackie glides

Ian talks wetsuits with Big C

Polar Bear supremos – Jackie and Nando

Batch, Alex, Dylan (lifeguard) and Elizabeth

take it easy on yourself

From a jump in to an hour’s swim, it’s all happening at the lido. Until Nando reappeared and got in leisurely, adjusted his abacus and started to casually stroke out past the hour mark and onto an hour and a half (roughly). 3200 yards in 8 degrees C. Thankful that he didn’t beat my distance, but he absolutely creamed my time. He is indeed the Big Daddy. I saw him after my sojourn in the sauna, after I managed another 3400 yards in the slightly slower time (than yesterday’s) of 59 minutes. I cruised today, as the air temperature was a lot colder and I wanted to preserve some energy for later. Swimming for so long is a little akin to being in a Philip Glass movie. People drift by at different speeds, you wander off and wonder at the leaves and flotsam and what you’ll have for tea. I think about how I might do this thirteen plus times to get across the Channel in 2014. I feel the aches in my arms – must get some stroke analysis done soon. I ignore the cold, even when my head tells me to get out after a kilometre. I worry about getting delusions of heat. I consider where my toes have gone. I think about how Mrs Ape would love this. And then I sit in a sauna for a while, chat, feel elated and leave to have coffee and a laugh with Hilary. Only a nutter would swim 35 lengths at this temperature, after all.

Nice picture of me by Alex on Quick Dip here.

Ape – 3400 yards (3.11km) – 8 degrees C.

the basking Brazilian

Nando leaves me in the wake of his time

early start

hello

Got to the lido for an unearthly 7.15 this morning. Was hoping to bump into Stephanie – which I did – and we had a good chat about crossing the channel, cold water and training regimes. Also met Peter the Rev for the first time, who raced ahead for a few yards and then ran out of steam. Wanting to keep my average up for the week, I did 1800 yards and the thermometer read a bit over 6 degrees – let’s say 6.25 degrees C. Stephanie started just after me and gained about a metre per length, so if I can improve a little it’ll be good to swim with her for length after length in the run up to the June madness.

I now have a ten K swim to train for. It’s in early July in the sea at Brighton; and one of the few swims where wetsuits are not allowed. It frustrates me endlessly that swim after swim is wetsuit compulsory. I’m sure it’s something to do with insurance, but have they never heard of personal disclaimers?

And because it was the early crowd, I got to have a chat with Egg, Pip the Elegant and Bertie outside in the car park. Who hard on the heels of his amazing cross Atlantic row, is thinking of the Marathon de Sables. Then to the car park to wait for some others and a group swim in Crystal Palace pool. T’other Pip turned up, only to vanish again because he’d forgotten to give his missus something. Then Dom and Jackie, followed by Kevin and Ruth. We all went over to the pool only to find that it was closed for a Gala. Nevermind, I’ll get a 5k swim in next week.

Also managed to get some shots of bloggers Alex and Elizabeth.

Ape – 1800 yards (1 mile) – 6.25 degrees C.

Alex ready to tumble

Elizabeth heads in

Alex’s glide

hello

three Cs, two Cs, one C

Big C looking apprehensive before his 6 degree dip

Three Cs – Me, Big Carl and Jackie Cobell. Two Cs – two channel swimmers (not me). One C – one channel record holder (Jackie). Now Big C was once a regular on these pages, but due to a series of unfortunate events has not been swimming for a very long time. He was buttonholed as soon as he came in by Margy, before we had a long chat with Jackie Cobell. I knew that Big C would manage a length or two, despite it being a chilly 6 degrees C. Lucy and Hilary, who we met on the way in, said it felt colder than yesterday, and the thermometer did read a shade under 6, but who can quibble about a fraction of a fraction. And indeed he swam 400 yards, to his credit. Meanwhile, Jackie said she’d stay in for 40 minutes (she works out her time in according to the temperature) and I thought I’d do a mile (about 30 minutes). I felt good at 1800 yards, so turned and did another 200 to take it to a well round 2000 yards – or 20 lengths and 34 minutes in the water. Jackie meanwhile steamed (or is that chilled?) on for another 11 minutes and clocked up 45 minutes in the water. She really is a Polar Bear.

The sun was out throughout and presented me with some lovely photo opportunities. I took them.

Ape – 2000 yards (1.83km) – 6 degrees C.

Breaststroke Bryn

My friend Bryn, down to London to watch the swimming at the Olympic Aquadome, couldn’t resist a trip to Tooting Bec Lido. I met him in the pouring rain and we sped off for a speedy 1200 yards in 6 degree C water. Bryn is going for a channel crossing this year. What makes his swim more unusual is that he’s going to do it breaststroke. He’s fast. He got the silver medal at the last UK CWSC and is an aficionado of cold water – swimming in the Ouse in his hometown of St Neots several times a week. Good practice for the channel as he has to avoid angry swans, dodge boats and navigate the odd clump of weeds – a little like the jellies, tankers and flotsam he’ll encounter on his way to France. Bryn is raising money for the Parkinson’s society – you can donate here. And for those of you headed to Ned Denison’s aqua torture week in June, Bryn will be staying with myself and Sarah Tunnicliffe, so you’ll get to meet him.

Meanwhile the pool was a little deserted…

snow on snow

Late for the races, but in plenty of time to enjoy the massed ranks of ice water swimming aficionados. The shallow end had been cleared and all and sundry were getting in for times various. Jackie Cobell (famous for the slowest Channel crossing ever) stayed in for just over ten minutes, but then she is part of Jack Bright’s Bering Straits relay team. Simon did his usual marathon head up breaststroke and Martin has ditched his wetsuit and is enjoying longer swims in just his budgie pouches.

Nando entertained all with his bombs and Jenny gathered cake for her and Adam before she swam – being well aware of the cake vultures circling around Mrs Ape’s latest – a double chocolate Bundt cake. Pip was wearing a Heath Robinson device on his head and taking live video of himself breaking the ice from below and the kids were building snowmen.

Mrs Ape and I both managed 266 yards, but she is now hardier than I, as she spends longer in the water. Temperature again a balmy 0 degrees C.

the Brazilian bomber

Nancy, Dylan and Nando discuss cake

Alfonso tucks in

Mrs Ape and Gail

the chocolate bundt cake

Pip, Vince, Jenny and Adam

Tricky and Martin

Simon sets out

Jenny swims round London

Adam’s off to the sauna

two out of three sheets

pics by Ape & Mrs Ape

misty and mammoth

Stephanie and the Ape get ready to go

Mammoth by the standards of most swimmers anyway. You’ll recall that I agreed to swim an hour in chilly water with Stephanie Voss* – a 2012 channel aspirant. That was when it was 12 degrees. The sign on the board as me and the missus turned up was 8.5 degrees C. I was cold before I’d got in. But get in I did. And we paced each other for 2600 yards, then S got out, and I went on for another 400 before being told to swim widths because the fog was rolling back in. So did 6 widths and then quit, as I didn’t fancy turning too often and it’s a little shallow. A total of 3200 yards in 8.5 degrees C in 52 minutes. Mrs Ape took all the pictures.

* readers should note that Stephanie has managed far more than me (up to 5600 yards) on every day in the last few weeks, except this one.

pleasure or pain

urban seaweed

Rather foolishly perhaps, or maybe I hanker a secret desire, I have agreed to accompany two friends to a swim bootcamp next June. The camp is based around Sandycove Island, or Goat Island as it’s also known locally. It’s a ten minute drive south of Kinsale and is, in my opinion, a better venue to train for a channel crossing than mucky Dover Harbour; despite the delights at Dover of a regular interaction with the wonderful Frieda Streeter, aka The General.

Now, I’m with Frieda on the subject of swimming across the Channel – why? I have no desire to…but I know several people who do. I can swim for a long time – maybe not as long as a Channel crossing – and I love swimming in open water. Especially if there is a swell, sea weed and other wildlife to be seen. So, just like two years ago when I accompanied Big C over the Channel as one of his boat crew, I’ve agreed to go with Sarah and Bryn to Ireland next June and get up at 5.30am to swim, cook them breakfast, sleep, swim more and then swim some more. It’ll be getting on for 100km in a week. But why am I telling you this?

I’ve agreed to swim an hour in the chilly ten degrees C water of Tooting Bec Lido with Stephanie Voss – who’s also decided to cross the Channel next summer and will be at the same bootcamp. As I am one of the few who swims more than a mile at this temperature, she asked me to swim with her. I said, “yes”, as long as she slows down a tad. So to ensure I can – the last hour I did was at 12 degrees – I decided to do 3000 yards (50 mins) today as a wet run for Sunday morning. And for the first time in a while, I shivered a little. Despite this I’m now confident of giving her some company on Sunday morning, despite knowing that the temperature will be down to 9 degrees C. (For the uninitiated reader we don’t don wetsuits – just a hat or two.)

Kate, aka Mrs Ape, meanwhile did a kilometre in her usual leisurely style of 30 minutes and looked positively radiant afterwards.