First swim in a while

Yesterday was my first swim in a while. I think after about 5 weeks I have finally given the flu the boot...!

The set was a calm 5 km of just one paced swimming with some kicking thrown in the break it up. On the weekend I am going to do that exact set four times. This should start to rebuild the fitness I have lost. 

Finally...

Monday, Tuesday I was back in the gym and today it was Pilates and finally tomorrow I am ready to get back into the pool for a light session.

Sick again...

Unfortunately, i have picked up another bug that has kept me out of the pool all week. This time i have to stay out of the pool until i am 100% as the risk of getting pneumonia is now a lot higher.

This is being ill is rather annoying and is now affecting my Samoa preparation. 

The only positive i can think of is; i am building up all this immunity against these bugs. Hopefully next year i don't get them, or not as bad anyways. 

Over the 1000km mark

I just ticked over a 1000km of swimming in the last 365 days...

With three major swims to prepare for between the end of Samoa and the English Channel this figure will quickly turn into about 1500km.

This should give me about 2500-2700km for the 24 months preparation leading into my swim.

A lot of swimmers do far less than this to prepare for EC swim. It all comes down to what type of swimmer you are.  Because I am not a speed swimmer (nor do i enjoy the high intensity swimming) i need to get the high level of fitness required by just doing the miles. We will all get to the same fitness point at the end, we just do it in different ways.  

Back into it...

Today it is exactly 2 months until my next swim across the Apolima Straits in Samoa.

I am also back into the training after a bad dose of the flu and a chest infection. This is week two of a recovery period that should have me back to 100% fitness within three weeks. These sets are a mixture of slow freestyle, technique work and lots of strength work with paddles. All these sets are designed to minimise the loss of fitness whilst progressively getting back the fitness i have lost.

The training over the coming months will shift back into cold water at least once a week and warm water (same as Samoa) the rest of the time.  

Finally a swim

This flu is dying a slow death and is still driving me crazy. I did get a sneaky swim in yesterday although the 6km covered was about as quick as a Greyhound Bus trip.

Today I felt good enough to complete my gym session too. Things are looking up.

A rather unproductive week so far

Getting a bit itchy as I have not had even one swim this week. The flu took hold on Monday and is only now showing signs of been beaten. I am getting sick of Foxtel documentaries.

The next few weeks will be tough as I try get back the fitness I would have lost. It's always best to do this recovery slowly as extra pressure is put on the heart during these few weeks.

Location:Gungahlin, Australia

First flu of the year

First flu of the year this weekend.  It unfortunately came the day before a 5 hour swim at Balmoral.  I only managed 2 hours, although it was good that conditions were very channel like; rough and lots of current.

Long set today

Today was a 5 hour set at Philip Pool.  Sun was out and the water nice and cool at 17c.

Thanks to Ben for coming along today and swimming the entire set.

Lucky me...

I am rather lucky here in Canberra as i have access to unlimited cold and now a semi-heated outdoor pool. The water temp is 17c however, it was the cold winds coming off the snow capped Brindabella's that made it rather chilly today.

Philip Pool