Swimming day 522 - Friday 20th July 2012

19 days to go ….

Mid (almost end) July and wearing a sweatshirt after my swim; rubbish weather!  The sky was thankfully dry, although chilly, and the sea was flat as a plate but again chilly.  The temperature today was down to just 14.1 degrees, that is a drop of almost half a degree since we did our two hour swim on Tuesday.  These cold temperatures really do pile on the pressure in terms of our training and our possible success; the success rate for the CSA swimmers this year still sits at one of the lowest ever on record; pressure for us indeed.  Mind you a wise man once said that pressure is a positive thing as it focuses us and makes us work harder; pressure after all is what creates Diamonds!!

This morning Bob and I were in the sea by 6.45am (starting early to give us more coffee time afterwards!!) and we swam clockwise around the pier, then passed the two fishing buoys that are about 50 metres out further from the head of the pier, then diagonally across to the two buoys at the far end of our beach and then in.  Total swim about 40 minutes and we really did work hard to do that.  Despite the sea being very flat and a very low tide (knuckles dragging on the sand by the time we reached the last buoy) the tide was coming in which meant a very strong tidal pull to the east to swim against.  A decent swim in a calm sea, but a hard workout at that time in the morning.  Coffee very deserved!

The forecast for the rest of the day is very clear sky’s until about 3pm and then rain; and lots of it.  Typical really because at 3pm my Relay team are meeting at Brighton Marina for a boat ride out into the depths and then a swim from the boat between 4pm – 8pm.  Of course if the sea chops up then the ability to swim form the boat will be limited and it will simply be a get thrown around on a boat experience only! 

On the positive side (gotta search out the positive at all times!) the weather people, those strange being who seem to know what the shape of a cloud really means, are still predicting a summer for us.  Apparently, if they are to be believed, the summer will start from this weekend and could run throughout August; providing respite for the Olympics and our Relay; both important milestones for the Country of course.  Let’s please all pray to the weather gods and their earthly disciples that this may come true.

Swimming day 521 - Thursday 19th July 2012

20 days to go…..

Another treadmill swim today, although only about half as strong as yesterday thankfully.  Bob and I headed straight out passed the first buoy (actually we walked all the way to the first buoy) and then headed against the tide (on our virtual treadmill) and did a non stop 30 minute head straight down in the water swim.  Usually at that pace we would have been well passed the Brighton Centre, but with the tide gushing against us we only got as far as the Thistle Hotel.  Heading back we reached the groan in 6 minutes flat; 30 mins out and 6 mins back shows you the strength of the tide today.  Yesterday we wouldn’t even have reach the first buoy let along the groin or the next beach.   The temperature in the sea was 14.6 degrees; making mid channel probably something like 13 degrees!  Yuck.  Tonight, like last night, will also be a short 20 min gym session at home; kind of enjoying them now in an odd and tired sort of way.

Tomorrow morning will be an easier swim and then some glorious red roaster coffee; then at 3.00pm it’s over to James’ boat with my team for a 4pm sail out into the blue yonder and an hours swim each – assuming of course Poseidon takes a chill for us!

Swimming day 520 - Wednesday 18th July 2012

21 days to go….

A big thank you to those who have gone onto my site and donated recently; almost at £75,000 now!!

Despite yesterday’s big swim I still managed an hour at the gym after work which was tiring but good.  It wasn't until after the gym that I realised I hadn't eaten anything all day; in fact nothing since 6pm the night before.  It still amazes me that I am able to pull a big sea swim (equivalent to around 5 hrs in the pool) and then work and then the gym and all with no food in me.  Blooming bad for the body I would think, but I just keep forgetting to eat!


Today the sea was back to being a swimming treadmill.  Very few of us this morning; LB, Sean, Flick, Martina and Charlotte.  I was the only one who made it to the first buoy; and I only did that by going in on the next beach along and then swimming as hard as I could to the West, with the sea literally dragging me to the East.  I went passed the buoy (only just) and then was back on the beach all the way by the pier in seconds.  It was so strong it wasn't even possible to walk back in the sea let alone swim.  Very good shoulder workout, but so very glad it wasn't like this yesterday as no way we could have done 2 hrs in it.
Rest of the day should be easy enough; no meetings, just at the office gently doing some paperwork (if the staff leave me alone of course - not much chance of that!) and then a short half an hour in the gym at home tonight.  

Having completed the final swim adjudication yesterday it feels much more relaxed today; all we need to do now is keep up the hour at a time swims and then pray for a warm and calm August; please please let's have an August summer so we can get the swim done and I can then move on!!!

Simming day 519 - Tuesday 17th July 2012

7.20 am 

My amazing nephew Zac as the first Brighton Olympic Torch bearer.  To say I (we) are proud of him is an understatement.  At 17 years of age to be chosen as an Olympic beacon in his home town shows what an amazing man he is turning into.  Zac you Poppa is smiling down on you my darling

8.00 am 

22 days to go....

My two hour (2.01.34) adjudicated swim all done; thankfully.  This morning was great for the team as the sea was a lot calmer than yesterday; still bumpy, but swimmable.  Lindy was amazing as she suffers the cold more than the rest of us and for her to do a 2 hr in 14.6 degrees (which is what is was today) was so incredible and I am so very proud of her.  She did hers at about 6am.  Then at 6.30am James went in and did his 2hrs.  Soon after Shoichi and Leo went in and did theirs.  With Alex already done it was just me.  I couldn't miss Zacs big moment so I had to wait until 8am to go in.  I was not particularly looking forward to it as I was on my own, it was late for me as I prefer 7am, I had not eaten or drunk anything at all since 6pm yesterday and had only about 3 hrs sleep - so not the best frame of mind.  However I went in hopeful and before too long I realised why I love swimming.  Being on my own, whilst not particularly safe sometimes is very good for the mind.  It is great thinking time as long as you can switch your mind off from the actual swimming; which I managed to do mostly.  I swam from the palace pier to the red buoy at the end of the West Pier, then back to the Brighton Centre, then turned and went back to the Red Bouy (trying to fill up the 2 hrs!), then turned and went back to the Palace Pier, then around the pier and over to the buoy the other side, then through the pier and over and around the 3 bouys on my side and then back in; total swim time 2hrs, 1 minute and 34 seconds.  The tide was quite strong to the East, s it took at 58 minutes to get to the West Pier and then only 25 minutes back, so there was filling in with the buoys afterwards, but the swim was done and I was greeted on the beach by Fiona and LB; a very welcome and unexpected greeting.  LB particularly was so fab that he waited for us all to finish.  Fiona said she had to call the coast guard at one point because they lost me!  How funny!  Apart from usual morning swims and gyms for the rest of the week, the next big thing will be our boat ride on James boat this Friday where we will be doing an hour each from the boat. Not long now and getting excited.


What a great day; Zac doing his torch run and the Channel relay team all being approved.  Fantastic!

Swimming day 518 - Monday 16th July 2012

With under a month to go until the swim you’d think that the weather would give us a break. 

Once again this morning the winds were high and the clouds were open.  If you know the Sadlescombe Road in Brighton, the one that runs from the Dyke to Henfield, then you can get an idea of what swimming in the sea was like this morning.  One minute you are flying down a huge dip and the next you are up high amongst the hills; unbelievable.  All in a 14.3 degree sea (1 degree down on last week !) Also the tide, with help by the wind, was racing East, which made going where you wanted somewhat harder than one would like.  Bob and I headed out into a massive sea and straight to the second buoy; a straight line it was not!  Having got there, being bounced around and having our goggles and hats bashed and pulled, we headed West to go passed the donut groin.  Twenty minutes of non stop swimming at full pelt kept us rooted to the spot!  Eventually we came back in and were putting on our crocs when Bob got figity and wanted to go back in and try again; a kid in a sweet shop!!  So of we went, back into the raging waves and gave it a go; nope, the sea 1, the Bobs 0  !!  A bloomin good workout though and despite a crazy sea we got in and out safely and unharmed.

Tomorrow was meant to be our 2 hr adjudicated swim, but with the conditions as they are Fiona called it off.  It means we all still have to do it of course, but frustratingly it will be on our own rather than together; just no way 6 of us with all different lifestyles and commitments can get a day together when the weather miss behaves.  So it’ll be a case of each of us looking out the window and just going for it and then reporting it back.  I guess it’s our own fault for choosing to live in a country that refuses to have a summer.

On another note entirely tomorrow is a MASSIVE day for my 17 year old nephew, Zac.  He is one of only a small number of people in the Country chosen to be an Olympic Torch bearer.  He was put up by his school for all his charity work since we lost Dad.  An amazing honour for him and so well deserved.  He will be the first Bearer in Brighton at 7.20am and along with thousands of excited Brightonians we will be cheering him on and celebrating a wonderful and once in a lifetime experience for him.  A torch bearer in the family; amazing!!

Swimming day 517 - Friday 13th July 2012

24 days to go…

No swimming or gyming yesterday as my little Asher was in hospital for an operation (ears, nose & throat) and I needed to be with him from morning till night.  Pleasingly all went well, and apart from slight breathing issues which meant an overnight stay, all was good and we were able to bring him home at 10am this morning.

Talking about this morning; back to the sea.  A very bumpy day again.  Waves were everywhere and of variable height; medium, large and extra large – no XXL thankfully.  Bob, Sean and I went buoys to buoys to buoys again and it was a lot of fun and a decent workout.  Then off to the Roaster for a Friday coffee and then up to the Royal Alex to collect my baby.  Now back at home (working from home today) and absolutely gonna hit the home gym at least twice today; lunchtime and evening and also (before the Twins get back from Nursery) will get an hour in the pool at home against the jets and in far too hot water – already sweating just thinking about it.  Next week, Tuesday, am gonna do a 2 hour swim with the team and with Fiona in her kayak; getting this adjudicated swim done is now a major focus as without that we can’t go!  I remain hopeful that the entire team (including me!) will step up and nail this.  Also next week I am going to grab a day where I can do 3 x 1 hr sea swims in one day (am/afternoon/evening).  Leo and Shocihi did it yesterday and it was a big challenge for them, especially in these seas – the boys really are something.  Lindy was also out this morning in these crazy seas for nearly an hour; a great performance from everyone.

I’m looking forward to a great sea swimming week next week in preparation for the upcoming event.

Swimming day 516 - Wednesday 11th July 2012

26 days to go…


A tough day yesterday with exercise; It’s been a while since I felt ill from working out! This morning I could really feel my thighs and legs; burning! The sea soon took care of that! It was a really bumpy sea again, way more bumpy than yesterday, yet surprisingly still feeling unthreatening. Bob and I decided to avoid the pier due to the bumpy ride and went around the four buoys and then back around them again; after yesterday it was enough. Dr Sean found us on the way back and joined us for final buoys; meanwhile Lindy and James were on a monumental West Pier swim; they really are tough cookies those two – how lucky I am to have them on my team. I think Shoichi was also heading out on one of his crazy long swims as we were getting showered, and Alex (my other team member) has just finished a pier swim and was getting ready for lifeguard training; Leo meanwhile (now back on the team) continues to amaze me with 2 & 3 hours swims regardless of weather and condition– what a team!

As for the rest of the day; it’s the Twins 4th birthday today, so a lovely day of with them.

Talking of birthdays; a very happy 62nd (yes that’s sixty two) years young to Little Bob (LB). A legend amongst men for sure