Swimming day 493 - Thursday 31st May 2012

Tomorrow is 50% of the year gone already; I’m not sure whether it was stolen or just vanished, but I do know that somehow it feels like I missed it! 

Back to the sea this morning; with aching arms from yesterday’s pool beating and all the other swimming and gyming from the week so far.  Last night after I got the kids to bed I picked up my Sax and my Clarinet for a very quiet play.  Having not played either for well over a year it was funny to feel them in my hands again; what however was even weirder was that my shoulders seemed to be so stiff from all the exercise this week that I found it hard to actually hold them correctly without my shoulders bunching up.  I think perhaps it’s time for a massage! (also some music lessons if last nights notes were anything to go by!!!!)

This morning the sea was back to being choppy after its recent laziness.  It wasn’t exactly rough, but it was definitely bouncy and the tide was pulling hard to the West whilst we of course were swimming to the East.  We got around the Pier in decent time, rather bashed about and tired, but pleased to have done it.  It’s quite something actually when you think about the fact that we swam non stop from the beach all around the pier, back under it and back to the beach; no stopping, bashed about by the waves and pulled by the tide; and all before 7.45am.  I’m not bigging us up or anything as there are plenty of people I am sure who do so much more, but it certainly feels like an achievement.

Swimming day 492 - Wednesday 30th May 2012

In the pool this morning with Big Bob; considering it was a foggy cooler day it was good to start in the pool rather than the sea.

We were in the water by 6.45am and doing our 20 length warm up.

Followed by 5 lengths at speed; allowing 2 minutes in total for the lengths including the rest.  This hard because is means that when you start to slow down you end up with less rest and that makes you even more tired.  We did 6 of these.

Then a 10 length easy swim.

Following by 20 (yes 20) two length sprints in a minutes including rest.  The first 2 sets I managed to do in around 50 seconds, giving a 10 second rest.  That soon turned to an average 5 second rest!  As soon as you stop and wipe your goggles its 3,2,1 and go again.  The last few I pulled back 2-3 seconds thankfully.  This worked out about half a mile in 20 minutes; quite tiring.

Then to finish a 10 length easy swim.

A very hard workout and the heart was beating like a jungle drum.  After the shower it was to the office and downing a red bull (sadly no wings appeared), followed by a massive glass of marsbar chocolate drink; so healthy, not!!  Tomorrow the sea beckons again and maybe (hopefully) a 10mile run after work.

Swimming day 491 - Tuesday 29th May 2012

Another night of not too bad from the kids; it seems letting them stay up late does have advantages for the night, although it of course impacts on your night as now I am behind on the ironing – a husbands job is not an easy one!!

This morning was again a beautiful one, with sun shining and about 16 degrees in the air.  I keep forgetting to take the sea temp, but it is certainly in double figures, probably 11.5 degrees I would guess.  Bob and swam to the silver ball then through the pier to the buoy the other side, then around and back to the silver ball, then along to the next two buoys and then back in.  Total swim about 40 minutes and none stop at a very good pace indeed; probably over a mile and quick (for us). I wore my mini flippers, which meant we stayed together the whole way, which made a nice change!

Tomorrow I believe the weather is changing slightly and may even be a bit dull and wet; surely that can’t be the end of the summer already; we’ve only had about a week!  Anyhow, we will head to the pool first thing (6.30am) and do a Bob Boot Camp.

Others at the arch were my friends LB, Mike, Bella, Charlotte, Flick and Martina.  Earlier on we passed Shoichi and Paul F swimming back from the pier with the fishing rods (fishing bamboo sticks to be precise); with two catches apiece; England 2/Japan two – the arch version of European Song Contest!

Now dashing of to the train for a work day in London; joy!!  At least I got to start the day the way I like even if I have end it the way  don’t like!

4.30pm – After London, a hot sticky day, I headed back to Brighton, arriving at 3.30pm.  Rather that go back to the office with no energy behind me, I headed straight back to the beach – what else is a boy supposed to do! With wet trunks back on I repeated this mornings swim (minus Bog Bob), and then at the head of the pier headed along the buoys and along our beach and over to the next one and onto the Brighton Centre.  Then retraced along the buoys and then back to shore.   On the way back, at the buoys near the silver buoy I heard someone calling “excuse me” in a rather strong “asian” accent.  A few feet away this chap was bobbing about in the water.  He was looking relaxed, but I think he was a little unhappy about being there.  I swam over to him and asked if he was ok and he very proudly said he was fine.  However he wanted to talk whilst he swam back; so I swam next to him and very calmy talked about where he was from and how long he was in Brighton etc etc.  We stopped a few times so he could get his breath and then carried on; each time he asked me how often I swam here, am I training for anything, how nice Brighton is; anything I think to take his mind from where he was.  When we go back to shore he asked me how old I was.  I replied 43.  Rather than saying thanks for sticking with me, or it’s nice to talk; he simply said “wow you’re old”.  Then he sat down on his towel next to his friend and closed his eyes.  Charming!!!!!  I almost replied saying unless he took care in the sea he’d be lucky to reach half my age.  Instead I just smiled and wandered aimlessly back to the arch!

If you get a chance check out this Blog from the lovley Bella from Btn Swimming Club - what a gal.

http://swimchops.wordpress.com/2012/0/28/dream-believe-become/

Also def worth checking out Bella's music; very talented young lady.

Swimming day 490 - Monday 28th May 2012

The weekend was simply glorious; the sun shone, the sky was blue and everyone I met seemed to be happy and smiling; you simply can’t ask for more than that.  Friday night Mia perked up and joined her brothers staying the night at my in-laws; this meant I would have the house to myself as Sharon was singing in a concert choir.  A treat I rarely ever get.  Of course in reality by 11pm my house was filled with the entire choir of about 20 who Sharon invited back to ours after the show for a party!  So my quiet evening-in ended up seeing a dozen pizzas, 100 chicken wings, garlic bread and copious amounts of alcohol being delivered at 11.30pm and the last of the revellers leaving at about 3am.  At least Saturday morning without the kids gave us time to recover!  By Sunday my plan of a long run didn’t materialise as the Jack Daniel tolls of Friday were still ringing slightly in my head and the sun was beating down just a bit too much to force me into my shoes. 

This morning however I was up bright as a button (hardly any disturbance last night from my little monkeys) and I was walking the seafront at 6.10am waiting for Bob and others to arrive at the arch.  The sun was not quite as hot and the air not quite as warm, but it was still a summers morning and a very flat sea.  We did our round the buoys and round the pier swim as usual and took about 40 minutes between getting in and getting out; some talking at the buoys and the head of the pier with other swimmers made it more leisurely.  Saying that, the tide seemed to pick up and dragging to the West whilst we wee swimming East, so it wasn’t exactly an “easy” swim. Probably about a mile I would guess?

I’m in London all day tomorrow after my swim, so o chance of using the Gym, so instead I will be heading there for an hour with Ross after work today.  Actually looking forward to it for a change; don’t know why though; just because I guess.

Will be June 2012 by Friday; just 2 months from the swim.  Time to get my team together again I think and start the serious planning

Swimming day 489 - Friday 25th May 2012

And it gets better and better; the weather that is.

A proper summers day at last, just what we have been looking for and please please many more like it.  Despite the beautiful weather the arch was quiet when I got there at 6.40am; in fact just me – can’t get much more quiet than that.  By 7am Big Bob was there, as were LB, Mike, Dr Sean, David, Lindy, Bella, Paula and Paul Smith; not a full house, but a nice one.  Paula, who hasn’t been around the pier in ages, decided to join Bob and I this morning as she was nervous about going around after so many months – always better in numbers If one feels nervous.  Considering she is quite slight of frame and swims just backstroke, albeit with flippers, she was hard to keep up with.  So our usual “Easy Friday” swim turned into more of a swim that expected.  Chasing the gorgeous Paula around the pier however was a pleasure not a chore for both Bob and I; so we didn’t complain – certainly beats chasing each other I can tell you!  The sea was flat up to the pier head, but got quite chopps and splashy going around and down and back through.  Completely wonderful start to the day though all the same.

Sadly I couldn’t join Bob and the boys for my Friday at the Red Roaster as Mia was sick last night and I had to get home to look after her whilst Sharon dropped the boys to school.  I have to say that missing my Friday coffee with the Boys actually dampened my mood a little and even with the sun shining I was less happy that usual when I got to work.  However as the day has gone on all is bright and happy again and I shall head of to the gym after work for an hour with Ross, then will grab 30 minutes in the outside pool before heading home for the star of a beautiful weekend.

All is good in the world (if one allows it to be !)

Swimming day 488 - Thursday 24th May 2012

Another beautiful day ahead and warmness in the air, although this morning was a greyish start.  With a very low tide at the beach and a pool swim needed, Bob and I decided to head to Falmer and do our usual weekly boot camp. 

Due to the warm weather the outside pool was even warmer than usual and that meant more people in it; even at 6.45am there were enough people in there to mean that Bob and I had to share a single lane.  We did a similar routine to the last couple of weeks, although we definitely worked harder once again.  This time on the 50 meter speed swims instead of having a dedicated 10 seconds rest in between each set we simply allocated 60 seconds per set.  This meant that the quicker we went the more rest we got and the slower we went the less we got.  On some of the sets we had a massive 11 second rest, on others though it was down to just 3 seconds; tough workout in the morning.

Tomorrow will be back to the sea for our “Easy Friday” swim then a Roaster Coffee. Afterwards it’s looking like an OK at the office, certainly not as crazy as todays diary, then to end the week will be an hour in the gym with Ross.  Saturday, as always my day of rest, then Sunday I intend to get back into the shoes and try to crack out a decent 10 mile run.  Just loving being out in the warm at last.

Swimming day 487 - Wednesday 23rd May 2012

Consistency in the weather; is this really England? Another day almost exactly like yesterday. 15 degrees in the air, 11.2 degrees in the sea and the same swim as yesterday in terms of company and routine; "exceedingly nice swim" as Mr Kipling might have said if he had swum rather than baked.


Afterwards, with a little time to spare, I had a perfect coffee with LB and Dr Sean at the Roaster and then it was a very leisurely drive to Reading for a meeting with a client of some 19 years standing – very unusual in business to have a client that many years; we must be doing something right I guess. Now back at home, 3.00pm, and of course I should head to the office, but with 27 degrees and a very blue sky it simply has to be my chance to grab a couple of hours in the garden with a good book before the kids and the wife get home – surely being the boss has to have some perks!

Swimming Day 486 - Tuesday 21st May 2012

Once again warmer than yesterday; in fact the air temperature this morning was topping 15 degrees (which is a lot for 6.40am) and the sea hit over 11 degrees; wey hey bring it on!! 

Big Bob and I swam around the two buoys near the donut groin, then headed around the pier, then to the buoy the other side, then back to the buoy on our side and then back in.  At last a longish decent swim in the sea.  Very flat surface, quite a strong tide pull to the East (Marina) which made the swim back to our beach challenging.  Simply a fantastic swim and the reason we go to the beach in the mornings (sadly not like this every day).  The arch was also busy today; about 9 people; big crowd for the arch these days.

Headed to the gym at 1pm (only just made it as had 3 meeting before hand all over ran), then back in the office by 2.15pm and straight into next meeting – unusually I grabbed a sarnie on the way into the meeting (yesterday I ate nothing all day again!). 

So much amazing news to talk about on the Starr Trust that I don’t now where to begin.  I guess the biggest news is the best; and that is the fact that we are working on building our own incredible Performing Arts Centre in Brighton – this does truly not explain the genius of the building as it will be.  Our site line is drawn to the King Alfred Site, a monster site in the City and with good tides it may just come to us!! Keep watching this space!

Swimming day 485 - Monday 21st May 2012

Definitely warmer today at 10.5 degrees, although it still feels cold.  Sea very flat indeed and the sun was trying to creep out.  The air temp was definitely up and apparently this week will see the firs “heatwave” of the year – fins crossed on that one.  The swim today was once around the pier with Bob and Charlotte; I would say Lindy as well but it was hardly swimming with us as she was there one minute and gone the next – speedy Gonzales eat your heart out.

Swimmng day 484 - Friday 18th May 2012

A quick blog today as time somehow has run away and I have no idea how I got up at 6am and now its 6pm!!  I’ve now got to dash from the office to the Brighton Marina Bowlplex to join my Brighton & London Mortgage offices for a friendly drink (before they all hit the town – sure it won’t be a pretty sight) and then dashing to the Sussex Cricket ground for 7.15pm to a Starr Trust event.  Oh blimey just realised I’ve wasted most of my blog time on that nonsense!  Of well – Got up as usual from a crowded bed, at the beach by 6.45am, in the sea with Big Bob by 6.55am, 25 minute swim around all the buoys and then back to the arch. Not a flat sea and dropped again to under 9.5 degrees.  Hopefully next week will be warmer!

Swimming day 483 - Thursday 17th May 2012

Sadly never got to the pool yesterday as planned as my first London meeting was moved to an earlier unsociable time of 8.00am.  By the time I got back home in the evening it was too late to do much more than give the kids a good night book.

This morning was however successfully back to the pool and the same set as Tuesday:

• 6.45am in the outside pool; very blue sky once again.  We did the following:
• 20 length warm up
• 5 length sprint repeated 10 times with 10 second rest between sets
• 10 length cool down
• 2 length super fast  sprint 12 times with 10 second rest between sets
• 10 length cool down

Job done!

Of to Portsmouth now for a day of meetings.

Tomorrow back to the sea; have missed it this week as more pool than sea for a change.

Swimming day 482 - Tuesday 15th May 2012

Bob and I decided on a pool swim this morning; not because the sea was expected to be bad, just because we both need some speed work – him for his gala and moi for the channel.

• 6.45am in the outside pool; very blue sky and a piercing sun.  We did the following:
• 20 length warm up
• 5 length sprint repeated 10 times with 10 second rest between sets
• 2 length fast fast sprint 12 times with 10 second rest between sets
• 20 length cool down

A very good set of sets by all accounts; rather exhausting at that time of the morning.

At the office by 8.30am and unusually needing food; skipping breakfast (obviously) and a very small dinner previous night clearly meant the swim then depleted me.  So a quick round of toast at the office, then a stack of paperwork before heading back to the gym for an 11am hour session with Ross.  Weights and more weights and by the time I finished and was back at the office at 12.30 it was staright into a meeting.  It was 3.30pm by the time I resurfaced and had to get  a sandwich and a piece of fruit down me pretty sharpish as the energy once again crashed!  Now back at my desk (4.00pm) and another couple of hours work before heading home to do nothing (if dealing with 3 excitable kiddies is nothing!).

Tomorrow I’m in London all day with a 9am start.  So the beach is out of the question, so will aim for a solo pool swim at 6.30am sharp; even 30-40 minutes is better than nowt.

Swimming day 481 - Monday 14th May 2012

If its possible to swim in the sea, in fact a very bouncy rough wave filled sea, on autopilot then that is exactly what I did this morning.

We had a great weekend, but tiring by the end of it.  A fantastic dinner party for 12 on Saturday night and an impromptu BBQ for 15 on Sunday afternoon; which along with the usual weekend running about made for an exhaustive fall into bed Sunday night.  Sadly by 2am Jesse was with us and not lying still for a second.  I took him back at 4am, by which time Mia crossed me in the hallway and was firmly fixed in the middle of our bed by the time I got back.  Then at about 5ish Asher called me (unusually early for him to be fair).  By the time I helped him down his ladder form the bunk bed and walked him into our room Jesse was already back and lying next to Mia on my pillow. On seeing us come in he says “Asher I’ve saved you a place, quickly”; I couldn’t believe it, he saved MY place for Asher!  In jumps Asher and there I am 5am something standing there having been bumped by Jesse for Asher – charming!

I was at the arch by 6.45am, eyes still closed and not engaging with anyone down there, and by 7am was sleepswimming following Big Bob on autopilot out into the huge waves, heading West!  About 25 minutes later, heading up the beach, I swear I was still not fully awake. 

Here’s hoping I wake up before it’s time for bed tonight!

Swimming day 480 - Friday 11th May 2012 (aged 43 - ouch)

Last nights pool swim; 8.15pm -9.15pm in the outside pool in the rain – 2200 metres in the hour; a tough and tiring swim, but fantastic exercise. 

Today was sea first thing following by gym after work; joy.

My birthday morning was spent with my new favourite friend; a friend who is sometimes welcoming and who is sometimes vicious - the big blue sea!  Another day very similar to yesterday; big waves and strong tides; the difference today was that the waves were not breaking a lot, they were just very high and towering and it was a high tide, which gave them a lot of weight.  Also the tide was pushing heavily to the West whilst the wind was strong to the East, creating a bumpy washing machine effect. 

Big Bob and I headed out on the same route as yesterday; first buoy by pier, then over to next buoy other end of beach and then in.  After yesterdays sea swim followed by tough day at work, then big pool swim in evening and then sleepless night last night, it made for a tiring and hard swim this morning; although certainly satisfying when we safetly landed back on the beach.  Getting out the sea wasn’t overly easy as the drag back was massive and as such once you felt stones under your feet you really had to give it some effort to escape the drag back into the sea.

Afterwards it was off to the Red Roaster with Big Bob, Little Bob and Dr Sean for a lovely Birthday coffee; yum yum yum.

Very pleased it's the weekend tomorrow!

 

Swimming day 479 - Thursday 10th May 2012

This morning was going to be a pool morning, but with the weather being turbulent  (wind, rain and stormy) it was just too good an opportunity to miss a raging sea at low tide.  I was at the arch, already soaked, by 6.50am and  found James and Bob there raring to go.  David and Leo also turned up and went out separately, as did Bella and Charlotte and Shoichi; it seems a few of us fancied a rough water day.  The low tide meant that the waves only ever attained so much height and whilst they were full and strong (and rapid) they were safe (assuming you know how to handle them).  Big Bob, James and I headed out to the buoy by the silver ball and then back across the beach to the next buoy and then headed in.  James was first out, but Bob and I hung around a bit more and did some speed swimming; as much as the sea would allow.  Total swim 30 minutes and sea temperature just 9 degrees.  A really good workout, a very good swim and a lot of fun.  As we missed the pool this  morning it will mean a session tonight at 8.30pm; no doubt a punishing one ; hopefully no more than an hour, but we shall see.

Having had a rather turbulent (that word again) day at work yesterday it made me think that sea swimming and life in general are so very similar.  This morning we aimed for the buoy by the silver ball and then intended to swim either through the pier or across to the other buoy.  We started out strong and determined, with heads down and bullish strength to get where we intended.  Every few feet however a wave would hit us; some at the side, some straight in the face, some with little power and some so big that we were pushed back almost to our starting position.  Yet still we forged on regardless.  Along the way, despite being hit time and time again we made our forward.  Lessons were learnt though; it became clear that unless we swam slightly at an angle and towards the tide we were simply not going to make headway, so we adjusted our course and headed out.  When we got to the first buoy we had a decision to make; go left or go right.  We floated a bit and discussed the options and then decided that going to the other buoy meant going with the tide rather than against it and therefore that was the decision we made.  It was based on the fact that the other way, whilst doable would have been very strenuous and possibly fatal, however going with the tide was safer and quicker. 

Is that like life?  Maybe it is and maybe it’s not.  All I know is that yesterday I had a plan at work and along the way I felt like I had been punched in the face numerous times.  Yet I carried on with my day and eventually hit my target.  Sure I ended up taking a different route and certainly it was more stressful and tiring than originally planned, but I learnt a lot along the way and eventually got to where I needed to be.,

The Sea and Life, Life and the Sea; both different and yet both the same.

43 years old tomorrow (all day it seems) - where did those years run away to!!

 

Swimming day 478 - Wednesday 9th May 2012

Todays swim was much the same as yesterday, although not quite as low tide.  The tide was fairly sticky again which made the whole swim quite an effort; which is good from a “training” point of view but rubbish from a “wake up it’s the morning” point of view. 

This morning, whilst LB and his girls were hanging out near the edge, Big Bob and I were joined by a Triathlete for our pier swim.  She was staying at a beach hotel and saw us swimming yesterday and asked if she could join us; of course we were very happy to have her company; even though she was in a wetsuit from head to toe!  Those Triathletes may be tough cookies, but they are not as tough as BSC sea swimmers!

Swimming day 477 - Tuesday 8th May 2012

My bank holiday weekend was somewhat of a surprise and did involve a lot of exercise, although not in the usual sense.

I got home from work Friday afternoon and was presented with an early birthday present – a weekend trip to Barcelona without the children.  Saturday morning at 8am we dropped the kids at my Mums and we jetted off (if you can call Easyjet jetting) and were in Barcelona at the hotel by 2.30pm; jut the two of us able to be Sharon & Rob rather than Mum & Dad.  Joyous!  By 3pm we went for a "little" walk to explore the city of Gaudi inspired work and ended up walking for 8 hour solid (apart from a 40 minute break for food at 6pm); boy did we sleep well that night.  The next day we hired bikes and went on a 3 hour bike tour around the rest of the city; again lots of sleep that night as well.  A fantastic city and one that you could easily live in.  It was however of course wonderful to get home late Monday and have the kiddies back again.

This morning was a shock to the system; having gone from a sunny 20 degree Barcelona to a raining 5 degree Brighton.  The sea was totally flat and the tide was so far out it was almost a run rather than a swim.  We walked right up to the silver ball (half way along the pier) and then Bob and I swam around a decent pace; although it was flat and shallow the tide did make it a sticky swim again.  Temperature about 9 degrees; so cold still, at least 1 degree lower that one would like in May.

Tomorrow back to the beach and then the pool Thursday morning and the Gym and the Pool Friday after work. 

Nice to have Little Bob back after his walking holiday - I bet he didn't walk 8 hours solid like Sharon and I did!! (comments LB ??)

Swimming day 476 - Friday 4th May 2012

It’s a conspiracy!!  Last night Jesse stayed in his bed the whole night, not a peep from him.  Mia however turned up at midnight and by middle of the night I was turfed out again!  It must be a Twin thing that they instinctively know who’s turn it is to kick me out of bed.

Dragging myself to the arch once again it was at least good to see the sea once again as flat as a flat thing and no rain or wind.  I hadn’t planned going around the pier as I was not only sleep deprived but I hadn’t eaten anything for around 24 hours and was starting to feel depleted (no one to blame but myself of course for that).  However the sea was just too flat to ignore and Big Bob was keen to swim; so swim we did.  Once around the pier, around 23 minutes I think and 9 degrees.  Only downer was the amount of brown algae once again; disgusting.

This week so far (and it’s only just Friday) has seen 5 sea swims (most around the pier), 2 gym sessions, a 2 mile pool swim and two 1 hr runs.  This after noon when work is done I will top it off with an hour in the gym on shoulders and abs with Ross.  That I think is enough to warrant the bank holiday weekend as a rest.

Swimming day 475 - Thursday 3rd May 2012

Last nights pool sessions went from an expected 2 hr swim to an almost sad 1½  hour – all down to me!  Bob was up for it, but having had only a couple of hours sleep then swum in the morning in the sea, then worked all day, then done an hours run after work to clear my head I found that 2hrs in the pool was just pushing it a bit.  We still did well over 2 miles in the pool, so a decent swim, but a bit annoyed with myself for calling it early.  Oh well Mr Starr move on; too late to do anything about it now!

Another restless night last night (of course!).  Back form the pool by 10.30pm, in bed lying awake until about 12.30pm; then drifted of to sleep just to be woken at 1am by Jesse jumping over me.  Took him back to bed, but his screaming was going to wake the other two, so got him back and by 1.51am exactly I was on my way to the spare room having given up my side to him completely.  In the spare room by 1.52am and lying awake until 4am, before drifting of again, to be woken by the alarm at 6am – what’s that all about!!

A very quiet arch this morning; just Big Bob, David, Flick and Me.  Bob and I headed into a completely flat sea, with very little movement at all.  The only problem with the sea this morning was the colour; a murky brown.  The recent weather conditions have brought a brown algae in and it is not only horrible to be in, but it gives a fishy taste and smell; not particularly pleasant.  I don’t think it’s dangerous, but we need to keep an eye on it as if it turns red we should probably avoid it for a few days. We hadn’t planned going around the pier today as yesterday was exercise enough, but with a sea so flat, despite the yucky colour, we just had to.  Bob is really motoring at the moment (training for a gala swim) so I am having to swim a hard as I can to keep up with him; which is proving impossible as he is constantly about 100 metres ahead of me all the time now.  The good thing is that it pushes me to swim harder each time; the bad thing is that I remain frustrated that I can’t keep up again!  Need to get faster!!

Best news of the day for me was that the Buoys are back in town; or more accurately back in the sea. It is always great to have the buoys back as it means that the summer is on the way (some chance looking out the window now) and they  also give you a focus to swim to.  Also, on those occasions when the heart is beating too fast because of the nerves, it allows you the comfort of knowing that you could have something (rather than someone!) to hold onto.

Swimming day 474 - Wednesday 2nd May 2012

                                 

                                          If yawning were a sport then I recon no one could catch me.

Another pier swim today; 2 in a row and both so different.

Bob, Shoichi and I headed out into a very flat sea; no wind, no rain and a mid strong westerly tide.  Avoiding yesterdays “against the tide” decision, we instead went clockwise around and took advantage of the tide.  Saying that, it still felt sticky coming around the head of the pier and for some reason the beach seemed a lot further away than usual.  Certainly being a high tide meant you were swimming as soon as you got in, but it did seem even further than usual – could the pier have grown overnight just like my Asher who is fast growing out of his school trousers day by day.

Another busy day in the office (plus another sleepless night care of Jesse again)  has produced numerous yawning sessions today ; no doubt my 2 hour pool swim tonight with Bob with mean even more yawning tomorrow.  

Swimming day 473 - Tuesday 1st May 2012

No wind this morning (I am talking weather by the way), but the rain was visiting once again. A lack of sleep (Jesse insisting of sleeping right on top of me!!) so was yawning all the way to the arch. Not a full house, but a decent crowd; Leo (been a while), Shoichi, Damien, Big Bob, Mike, David, Sean, Flick & Charlotte.  Bob and I headed off around the pier anticlockwise, whilst Damien, Leo and Shoichi headed off clockwise.  With the tide dragging to the West it meant that Bob and I were swimming against the tide all the way around until we got back to the steps and then we wooshed under the pier with the tide helping us all the way home.  The swim at the start was hard and the tide made us feel like we were swimming through mud; especially as we headed around the head of the pier; a real challenging swim.  The sea temperature was up a bit to around 8.6 degrees, but that is still pretty cold.  The total time in the sea was 30 minutes, which is probably the longest we’ve done this year. 

This afternoon after work I’m at the gym for an hour, then tomorrow will be back to the beach in the morning and then an exhausting 2 hr (two hours!) with Bob at Falmer from 8.30pm – 10.30pm – something to not look forward to.  Fiona may join us for the pool swim, so even though the 2 hrs swimming sounds unattractive to me, being with Bob and Fiona lifts the spirits.