MEDICAL TICK

Another major event in the build up to my Gibraltar Straits swim ticked of this week.

Yesterday I passed my medical so there is nothing stopping me swimming now except the weather which is obviously out of my control. Hopefully it will behave this year, second time lucky.

I have had a long build up for this swim and I am more than ready and now in the process of tapering towards the end of next week when I leave for Tarifa.

It will be nice to get back into warmer water as the river temperature has slumped to 12.4 C this week. This is 4C colder that in was at this time last year so a cold winter?..............

Got Bad Company/Free Greatest Hits in the car at the moment. Love Seagull.

6 HOURS IN WATER UNDER 16C, TICK

I have started my tapering as I enter the final few weeks before my Gibraltar swim. 

Last Saturday I did my final 6 hour swim starting in the dark at 6 20 am. The water never rose above 16C and was still only 15.7C when I finished. 

Double plus! 

Not only a great training swim, it will also count as my 6 hour qualifying swim for the Channel next July.

This week I will be down to 15k in the river and will begin to rest up in the next 10 days. I am ready to go, it has been a long summer as I have never had a major swim so late in the year.

Rock on!

WHAT HAPPENED TO SUMMER?

What a great week of weather we have had. But what has happened?

After 3 swims in beautiful warm conditions with air temperatures over 30C, today we swam Lilford Lock to Barnwell Mill and it was 11C! Fortunately the water was still warm at 18C.

A lot of social media chat about the 24 hour 1 mile every hour swim next year.

 Not for me! I don't want to be ploughing out huge miles just to do that swim in April and keep that level going right through to my Channel swim in July. Plus, I hate getting in and out of the water, I would rather choose an event that would allow me to swim continuously.

Anyway, swimming well at the moment as Gibraltar is now a month away. Can't wait.

Back to a favourite in the car this week. Saw Doctors live. I have fallen for another you can make your own way home.

DURDLE DOOR AND ALL THAT

Had a lot of fun swimming some of the iconic landmarks of Britain's south coast at the weekend.

On Saturday I swam through Durdle Door in rough seas and then pottered around in Man O War bay playing in the waves breaking over the rocks. We all then hiked and climbed down, yes climbed not walked down, to the pool at Dancing Ledge. Just amazing experiences but did not enjoy hauling my low centre of gravity up the cliff face looking for leg and hand holds.

On Sunday I swam in the Round Brownsea Island event. Brilliant swim but pretty lumpy for over half the course. I was the second oldest real swimmer, non wetsuit, finished 8th in the 50-60 age group and 23rd overall in the non wetsuit event. Not bad for an old fella!

Onwards and upwards towards Gibraltar. I am in a good place for someone with degenerating shoulders and wish the swim was tomorrow as I am ready to go.

BROWNSEA ISLAND SWIM

Next Sunday I will be swimming in the prestigious round Brownsea Island swim in Poole Harbour.

This is a very difficult swim to get into so it is very pleasing to see that all the Wadenhoe gang have places. We will all be swimming "skins" but most swimmers will be in wetsuits pretending that they are open water swimmers. I think that there are only 30 people out of 300 in skins.

Training is going well, save for a grindy old right shoulder that is showing its age! Putting in plenty of hours in the river and had a stormy sea swim in Aldeburgh last weekend.

Gibraltar can't come quick enough at the moment, just wish it was next week not at the end of October!

Just got Joe Bonamassa live . Bird on a Wire, Mountain Time are favourites. 

SUMMER?

This is the question! When will we get continuous days of hot, blue skies weather?

The water temperature in the river is holding around 20C which is lovely but I have had very few swims this summer with a hot sun on my back.

I don't want it to cool down at all this year as I need to keep up my milage until the end of October when I head off for my Gibraltar crossing.

The Nene gang and I have been doing long swims over the last 2 months, easily doing 6 hour swims and knocking out plenty of 8-10k swims. Feeling great, wish my swim was now!

The forecast for today and the next few days is rubbish but I will still be visiting Wadenhoe and will pretend that it is fun swimming in the cold rain.

Cold Chisel live in the car at the moment. Fires me up for my swims!

SPEED KING?

Hi y'all

Still racking up the Ks but this week has been a speed week as I have had shorter (5k) swims where I have concentrated on getting my speed up.

The water has been fairly cooperative this week, mainly flat hovering between 17 and 18C.

Early morning sees me at my best as it is just so calm and peaceful on the river with plenty of wildlife in evidence. Still plenty of chicks about, all pretty calm except the swans who are never to me meddled with!

Anyway, back to swimming. I know that I am swimming faster and feel better but can't figure out why my faster, harder sessions are only a minute or so faster than my marathon pace over 5ks.

I think it is because my comfortable speed is still way faster than last year as I am swimming more efficiently whereas my harder sessions may get a bit paddlesteamerish! Great newly invented word!

Just watching the Blues vs Brumbies. About time boys!