Thursday 22 July 2010

not my legs...

ps... they're not my legs on the Drag Ring photo below... i know i've been without a bathroom for over a week now, but they're not THAT hairy lol!!

gadgetry...

This week we have been experimenting with various training gadgets when in the pool... with somewhat mixed success!

Firstly Just tried out the Parachute Pants...



The basic theory is that the parachutes add drag and create resistance, making it harder to move through the water.. and thats exactly what it does!.. its solid lol!

Then I bought myself a Drag Ring ...and a Belt of Cups:





Both work on the same theory as the parachute and make those lengths seem a whole lot further! The drag ring works when working on pull sets (arms only) but tumble turning with both legs squeezed into a ring of water filled sponge is pretty amusing... on more than one occasion both Just and I thought we were drowning.... which moves me on to our experimentation with multiple gadgets at once....!!!

We attempted to swim a length (yep... thats one whole length!!) wearing the parachute AND the drag ring.. AND a pull buoy. The result was a near death garroting experience when turning at the end of the length... not helped by laughing so hard i nearly wee'd myself!!!

Needless to say that these training 'aids' will form part of our training in the next year as we try to simulate swimming against the tide, which will happen a fair deal on the big day! They have also added a bit of fun into those laborious pool sessions!

I am also working hard on trying to breathe bilaterally (to both sides) as there may be times during the channel swim when we have to swim with the boat sheltering us from wind and waves... which means that we need to be comfortable breathing both to the left and to the right. Just seems to have seamlessly incorporated this into her swimming, whereas years of being a lolloping one sided distance swimmer as a youngster seems to be making it tricky for me to pick up bilateral breathing and maintain it. As soon as i get tired i find myself breathing every stroke and slipping back into my lollop!

Training for the half marathon continues... this week has been another hard one and i'm in need of a rest day soon... lucky for Just.. she's off on her holiberries soon.. jealous... moi?!!!!!

catch you soon

k

Monday 12 July 2010

Thank you!

I attended the South Nottingham College Student Awards on Friday - it was a fantastic event and congratulations to all of the students that were shortlisted for awards. It was also a really successful night for Channeling Positivity as we managed to raise approximately £600 in the form of a raffle.........a big big big thank you from Kate and I for your support.

So I guess Channeling Positivity is slowly getting into the public domain which makes matters all the more real for Kate and I. The official launch will happen once our charity has been decided. Currently staff and students at the college are voting for their preferred charity via the college portal.

The training is going really well and we pulled out 2800 metres in the pool this morning. We're boxing as usual tomorrow morning; Emma our trainer has mapped out a hideous session which involves speed and endurance of our arm muscles predominantly...oh and we throw in an equally painful plank triangle at the end.........maybe you could try it:

30 seconds of plank followed by 30 sessions of crunches - 10 seconds rest
45 seconds of plank followed by 45 seconds of crunches - 10 seconds rest
1 minute of plank followed by 1 minute of crunches - 10 seconds rest
1 minute of plank followed by 1 minute of crunches - 10 seconds rest
45 seconds of plank followed by 45 seconds of crunches - 10 seconds rest
30 seconds of plank followed by 30 sessions of crunches - 10 seconds rest

Let us know how you got on.............remember pain is strength and pain is your friend!!!

Monday 5 July 2010

eugh....

I think we have 'swimmers itch'...

Jayne at Absolute Tri has done a spot of investigation and this seems the most likely cause!

nice!

Sunday 4 July 2010

Consequences!

And there are always consequences. Mine are a complete pain in the arse.......in fact there are many on my arse! I was eaten alive. I will find these creatures and I will seek revenge. When we looked there were none.......



How wrong were we! Just is currently seeking sponsorship from Germolene Anticeptic Cream.

Outdoor Swimming Again!

Friday 2nd July - Kate and I embark on another 2000 metres or so at Holme Pierrepont regatta lake.....in bathers again whilst every other normal swimmer around us is dressed in a wetsuit. This always gets my back up! I'm particularly apprehensive because the weather has been unusually dry and sunny which has caused a truly amazing amount of weed build up in the lake.

The following pics sum up my mood perfectly! Anyway, we just get on with it...again in true Just and Kate style and I attempt to hang onto turbo charged Kate, who is swimming like a demon at the moment...go on Kate!


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The great thing is that we had moral support on the embankment in the form of Dave, Emma, Mai and Efan. Both Kate and I found this very comforting despite my near drowning episode with the biggest and most flee invested clump of weed, going unnoticed. How rude! Anyway the water was warm and the swimming was fairly pleasant. The feedback from our onlookers although suggested that I need some form of SAT NAV to keep me going in a straight line and Kate could do with improving her bilateral breathing....Dave's suggestion Kate....but what does he know!


So all in all and a can on coke later, to neutralise the wonders of the Trent, along with a few cheeky glasses of red wine much much later, we live to tell the tale. RESPECT Kate!

Thursday 1 July 2010

Training Update

We're both training hard, completing a 3.7km swim this morning in the pool. The Magic Watch reliably informs me that this is approximately 1024 calories burnt... burgers for breakfast anyone?!

We are planning another trip to Holme Pierrepont on Friday to revisit the scene of the flesh eating bugs... I, for one, can't wait! We will be testing out Avon So Soft, which apparently also repels bugs and fingers crossed, will stop us getting devoured!

I have also been keeping an eye on the temperature of the sea... its a positively tropical 14.9 degrees today!