This blog is a dedicated blog for Rob Starr's journey from sign up to eventual Channel Swim. Rob's dedication to the Trust is second to none and this commitment to not only the gruelling hardwork, training and preparation for the swim, with his own personal challenges, but also the steadfast commitment to raising £100,000 and creating smiles. Please do follow
Knee still hurting this morning, so it was a limp top the arch and a limp down and back up the beach.I was at the arch by around 6.30am , earlier than planned as I was just awake most of the night.Shoichi was already there waiting for company, so we waited for Big Bob for 15 minutes but then decided we should go in.We swam, him way faster than me of course, to the helter skelter and back.The sea was perfectly flat and the sky was completely clear ad blue.But it was cold, the air around 3 degrees and the sea round 7 degrees, and it took a while to warm up afterwards.
Tonight at 8.45pm (late - yuck) I’m meeting Bob at Falmer for one of his boot camp pool sessions; hopefully the knee won’t complain too much.
Mothers day today, so I decided on a shorter run than last week and then home to do the “look after the wife” thing.The plan was a 10 mile run, but it ended up being 13.28 miles.It was however a slow arduous and painful run.Slow because we had gone out for dinner Saturday night with friends to a restaurant over and hour and a half away and didn’t get back home until well after 1am, with a full belly and a long tiring drive home through country lanes in the dark and rain.The n by 5am the kids were in our bed and being way too noisy.So by the time I hit the road for my run at 7.30am I really didn’t fancy it and as such my pace was the slowest I’ve been since records began; I averaged over 10 minutes a mile; well above what it should be.Painful because my right knee went again, this time only after about 8 miles; exactly the same spot as last week.
I’m no expert, but I think it’s my I.T Band and unless I can get some treatment on it I will be in a lot of trouble for the marathon and I will be way slower than I should be.I’ll try to get to see Kim this week, failing that I’ll have to try to find someone else in the interim.Extremely annoying as I’m totally fine from a fitness point of view.I’ll definitely not run or do any jarring exercise for another week; just sticking to my swimming and gym work on upper body only.
Last nights meeting was fantastic; met some lovely people and got some fantastic advice; especially from a lovely lady and gentleman from the Council.I’m feeling very positive about the Lyrics.
This morning was back in the sea, and a choppy sea it was too.Temperature still hugging around 7 degrees, which hurts the face when you swim and the air temp was around 5 degrees.The flat calm sea had gone and in its place was a much choppier one; choppy is a bit annoying to be honest as its not as easy as flat, it’s not as challenging or fun as rough;’ it just kind of sits in the middle being slappy and annoying.Big Bob and I headed along the coast to the thistle hotel and back; the tide dragging us here quickly and the wind taking us back almost as quickly.Total time swam a poor 11.5 minutes!I even wore my flippers today (they are micro flippers, just ankle and a little in front); I need to get my legs really working and also keep my body form straight and flippers really help that.They also add to the speed, which at the moment I need from a mental perspective as my slowness is really starting to grain on me!
We have a name chosen for the relay team, courtesy of Little Bob – "Starr Fish"
Quick blog as I have so little time today that even writing I have so little time today has taken up valuable time I can’t afford!
Quick pool swim this morning, 6.30am (exactly as Falmer opened), half an hour of frantic lengths then quick shower and then into car and off to Cheltenham (took me 4.5 hours!). Now it’s 4pm and I’m in the car on the ipad checking emails and writing this blog, taking far too long to do so, as I need to now make it back to Brighton for a 7pm-10pm meeting; which whilst being very tiring does have the potential to be very exciting in terms of the Lyrics Art Centre project I’m trying to start! Good luck to me from me as I need all the luck I can get to make sure this amazingly ambitious project comes to life!
Gym yesterday with Ross was an “uber session” (his words, whatever uber means); I assume it means tough as my arms, shoulders and chest were all feeling it and still are.
Last night Jesse was in sometime, not sure when, but no Mia for a couple of days – as per usual the Twins have swapped, with Mia staying in her own room and Jesse now coming into us.Why they can’t sync with each other and both stay in their own rooms is a mystery to me, but I guess if we only have one come in then that’s liveable!
Was at the arch by 6.50am, Big Bob and Shoichi waiting there and the three of us in the sea by 7am.A higher tide today meant no long walk out, but it did mean a much longer swim out.Temperature almost 7 degrees, which whilst a rise is still chillingly cold.We swam to the helter skelter at the end of the pier; Shoichi absolutely motoring, Bob decent pace and me way too slow compared to them!When I got back to the beach Bob was just walking to his shoes and Shoichi was already back in the arch in the shower – why oh why can’t I get my speed up; to say it frustrates me is the biggest understatement since the last biggest understatement I made.Total swim 17 minutes exactly, which in 7 degrees is pretty good going.
Day in London today on meetings and then heading straight to Flamer afterwards (hopefully by 5pm) for an hour and a half on my own in the outside pool on lengths; doing all I can to try to get my bloomin speed up.I get the feeling that whilst my swimming will get stronger and distance become easier, the speed will not improve.That might sound like a negative statement, but I think it’s reality – and that really pi---s me off!
I didn’t swim last night (feeling a bit guilty abut that now) and it wasn’t because of my knee!By the time we got the kids down and then unpacked the food shopping it was already 8.45pm and we hadn’t even had anything to eat.Sometimes with the best will in the world it’s just impossible to do what you want/need to do.
The good news is that knee and legs are fine today; clearly it wasn’t a major problem.What I must do now is find out what I can do to avoid this happening when I’m running.
This morning, awaking to a much duller and colder day, I got to the arch at 7am and was surprised to see all the hooks filled with clothes (that’s about 10 people) and Bog Bob, LB and Mike all ready in their trunks and ready to head out.Did I miss something about an early start!!Being the gent he is, Big Bob waited for me to quickly change and then we headed into a sea much like yesterdays; low tide, about 6.5 degrees and calm.We swam the same as yesterday, to the helter skelter and back, although it seemed further today.Is that possible; did the pier move over night??
Gym today with Ross for an hour, although currently sitting at my desk and yawning; doesn’t bode well!!
Despite lying still all night my knee wasn’t so bad this morning.It was still noticeable, but not as bad as it could have been; very encouraging.
At the arch this morning was LB, Mike, Lindy, Big Bob and Charlotte (Shoichi & PaulF before us and Bella and a couple others after).The sea was definitely being lazy as it was nowhere near the coast and it was fast asleep; a long walk out in perfect flat conditions.When you add the morning sun, clear sky and no wind to it then it makes a beautiful scene to behold.Big Bob and I walked out until we got to chest height and then swam out all the way to the helter skelter.It was the perfect day for going around the pier, but still at 6.5 degrees just a bit too cold for us two to want to risk it.A good long swim though and lovely to get out near the end of the pier again.
I might join Bob at Falmer tonight for an hour in the pool; it just depends on whether my knee is playing up or not.Failing that, I’ll still get a couple of pools in this week as well as a couple of gyms and some seas.
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