As per my last post the triathlon is coming round pretty quickly so I raced out and got some gear to help me get up to speed with the swim. I only have to swim 400m but when you can’t really swim, that’s 400m too many.
However, as with all things important to us, perseverance pays a big part.
Yesterday I swam 200m and was buggered. I probably could have swum more but I guess I was a little surprised at how tired I was. Anyway, I’ve decided that each day for the next 10 days, I’ll swim at least 500m and then take 3 days off prior to the day of the triathlon. (there is no expert view here, just my view of how hard I have to push myself and then allow some to to recover.)
So, tp keep up that regimen I went to the pool again today just to do the 500m and slowly build up.
I jumped in, threw on the mask and snorkle and proceeded to break a world record for 50m. I don’t know what it is but when I do freestyle, I tend to go flat out. Those older, wiser people who glide effortlessly through the water only do it to make fun of the likes of me I’m sure! But I do envy them.
So I returned to the good old breaststroke which I tend to do as slowly and as easily as I like. 
I ended up relaxing eventually and realised that 500m at this pace was going to be relatively easy. So, swimming through to 800m I decied that the last 200m had to be freestyle so out came the gear again. This time with pullbuoy and I decied that I would try and get in a rhythm and just keep going.
The pullbuoy made all the difference as it allowed me to concentrate on my stroke and get through the distance. I know I can’t use any of the gear in the race but I need to get the technique right and get stamina up with the stroke so this is the start. And I’m not so sure on my technique. On the penultimate lap I heard someone over the PA and I hope it wasn’t something like:
“Would the swimmer in lane 7 please get out of the pool. You are embarrassing the rest of us.”
Interestingly, my daughter (CN1), learnt to swim at a swimming academy at a very young age so I have asked her to be my coach when she can make it to the pool. I think she is relishing the opportunity to tell her dad what to do – maybe a little too much! 
