Showing posts with label swimathon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swimathon. Show all posts
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Friday, 31 January 2014
My Swimathon training
It's coming round very fast. Seven weeks tomorrow, I'll be dangling my toes on the edge of a pool, preparing to swim 5 kilometres. That's just over 3 miles in old money. All in the name of charity, and giving myself a challenge.
Today I hit the pool for the first time in a couple of weeks, as I had a bit of time off work, and needed to get on with a decent distance swim to see how much work I was going to need to do. And in 1 hour, 15 minutes, I swam the first 2 1/2 kilometres, 100 lengths of the council pool, without dying of boredom, or threatening to kill any of the annoying people getting in my way. Seriously, 100 lengths without murderous rage. That's a new record for me. Swimming might be relaxing for some, but if there's someone swimming breast-stroke with one foot on the floor cutting in front of me & slowing down, I'm going to get grumpy.
I haven't even got the help of my Speedo Aquabeat, because I've lost the charging cable, and the battery's deader than my local on a Tuesday night. I've ordered a new one online though, so all should be well soon. Suggestions for songs to add to my swimming soundtrack will be gratefully received, I've got a lot of time to fill!
As well as swimming to build up my distance, I've been working on my general fitness, which is otherwise pretty bad. It's difficult fitting a regular commitment in around work, school runs, and a husband who works shifts, but I'm doing the best I can. Zumba and Bokwa have made an appearance in recent weeks, and I've been surprised by how much I'm enjoying it. I'm not the most co-ordinated person in the world, but it's actually quite good fun jumping around like a loon, and no-one's watching.
If you haven't sponsored me yet, why on earth not? Every penny counts. You can click this link http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/lorrainecooper - or the badge somewhere over on the right hand side. But do it, people! Go on!
Today I hit the pool for the first time in a couple of weeks, as I had a bit of time off work, and needed to get on with a decent distance swim to see how much work I was going to need to do. And in 1 hour, 15 minutes, I swam the first 2 1/2 kilometres, 100 lengths of the council pool, without dying of boredom, or threatening to kill any of the annoying people getting in my way. Seriously, 100 lengths without murderous rage. That's a new record for me. Swimming might be relaxing for some, but if there's someone swimming breast-stroke with one foot on the floor cutting in front of me & slowing down, I'm going to get grumpy.
I haven't even got the help of my Speedo Aquabeat, because I've lost the charging cable, and the battery's deader than my local on a Tuesday night. I've ordered a new one online though, so all should be well soon. Suggestions for songs to add to my swimming soundtrack will be gratefully received, I've got a lot of time to fill!
As well as swimming to build up my distance, I've been working on my general fitness, which is otherwise pretty bad. It's difficult fitting a regular commitment in around work, school runs, and a husband who works shifts, but I'm doing the best I can. Zumba and Bokwa have made an appearance in recent weeks, and I've been surprised by how much I'm enjoying it. I'm not the most co-ordinated person in the world, but it's actually quite good fun jumping around like a loon, and no-one's watching.
If you haven't sponsored me yet, why on earth not? Every penny counts. You can click this link http://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/lorrainecooper - or the badge somewhere over on the right hand side. But do it, people! Go on!
Monday, 6 January 2014
Sport Relief Swimathon
I'm not sure what's come over me. It could be that there's a big & scary numbered birthday less than 2 years away. It could be the fact that my waistline is growing at an astonishing rate. Or I could have drunk one too many cans of energy drink & started hallucinating again (that was a scary afternoon!). I'm not going to be one of these people who can do 40 before 40 (I said it, ooops), unless it's 40 jam doughnuts.
But for some reason, I decided it would be a good thing to register for the Sport Relief Swimathon. And not the 1.5k, 2.5k, or team challenge. Oh no, I'm daft enough to have registered to swim 5km on my own.
I was a swimmer in my (much) younger days, and have swum quite a few 3ks. I was swimming 2k+ a time until I was 8 months pregnant with Squeaky. It's just kind of slipped since then, along with my social life, beauty regime & sleeping patterns. Nothing like a ridiculous challenge to get your mind focussed, hey?
So between now and March 22nd, I've got to double my distance - I'm swimming around 2-2.5k at the moment, and get used to the ever present smell of chlorine. It's quite a trick fitting training in around my work, Squeaky's school runs, and Daddy's shifts, but I'm doing the best I can. I think I'm going to have to take out a couple of months' membership of the council pool, because otherwise it's going to cost me a fortune. The pool opens at 6.15am. What's the realistic chances that I'm ever going to get up & go that early, while Squeaky & Daddy are still asleep? (that way he can deal with her toast demands) Not gonna happen is it?
But. I'm going to do it, even if I have to spend 6 hours gentling bobbing about in the pool, with Squeaky getting increasingly jealous that she can't come in & join me. That's quite tough actually, she loves "going swimming", but her version of going swimming involves hanging off me or jumping in from the side like a lunatic. I don't get many (or ANY) lengths in if I've gone with her.
Why am I telling you this? Well, partly for sympathy. And partly because I'd love it if you could dig down to the bottom of your pockets & sponsor me using the link, or the handy badge over on the right somewhere. I haven't set myself a big target, as you'll see, because it's as much a challenge to myself as anything else. But if you've got some spare pennies, I can think of worse ways to spend them!
But for some reason, I decided it would be a good thing to register for the Sport Relief Swimathon. And not the 1.5k, 2.5k, or team challenge. Oh no, I'm daft enough to have registered to swim 5km on my own.
I was a swimmer in my (much) younger days, and have swum quite a few 3ks. I was swimming 2k+ a time until I was 8 months pregnant with Squeaky. It's just kind of slipped since then, along with my social life, beauty regime & sleeping patterns. Nothing like a ridiculous challenge to get your mind focussed, hey?
So between now and March 22nd, I've got to double my distance - I'm swimming around 2-2.5k at the moment, and get used to the ever present smell of chlorine. It's quite a trick fitting training in around my work, Squeaky's school runs, and Daddy's shifts, but I'm doing the best I can. I think I'm going to have to take out a couple of months' membership of the council pool, because otherwise it's going to cost me a fortune. The pool opens at 6.15am. What's the realistic chances that I'm ever going to get up & go that early, while Squeaky & Daddy are still asleep? (that way he can deal with her toast demands) Not gonna happen is it?
But. I'm going to do it, even if I have to spend 6 hours gentling bobbing about in the pool, with Squeaky getting increasingly jealous that she can't come in & join me. That's quite tough actually, she loves "going swimming", but her version of going swimming involves hanging off me or jumping in from the side like a lunatic. I don't get many (or ANY) lengths in if I've gone with her.
Why am I telling you this? Well, partly for sympathy. And partly because I'd love it if you could dig down to the bottom of your pockets & sponsor me using the link, or the handy badge over on the right somewhere. I haven't set myself a big target, as you'll see, because it's as much a challenge to myself as anything else. But if you've got some spare pennies, I can think of worse ways to spend them!
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