Got knocked out by a winter bug that zapped all the usual Craner energy for 1.5 weeks...disruptive and annoying. I am officially the world's worst patient and hate not having my energy so glad to be feeling better. Winters aye...
Had a small 2km swim Sat am and felt ok but under-done and not that fit and still congested in the head (cold pool water does that to you).
Will build it back up and focus on reducing stroke (24/length) and breathing (3-5-7-9 !!) as coach instructed.
These things happen...
Also let the whole of work know that I was doing this swim by broadcast email so no chickening out now - that's another pressure point to put to good motivational use.
17 June 2007
01 June 2007
"Hit 100"
Put my day off and birthday to good use and went for a decent swim. Made a promise to myself pre-pool that I would swim 100 lengths.
Managed 110 (with 10 length warm down). Got some added motivation when my swim coach Dougal arrived poolside with a student mid-way !
Had a bit of google-malfunction which broke my rhythm a bit but nothing that can't be sorted.
Just need to keep focussing on my stroke efficiency and retaining the length and reach. Stroke shortened as I got towards the end of my session...
Managed 110 (with 10 length warm down). Got some added motivation when my swim coach Dougal arrived poolside with a student mid-way !
Had a bit of google-malfunction which broke my rhythm a bit but nothing that can't be sorted.
Just need to keep focussing on my stroke efficiency and retaining the length and reach. Stroke shortened as I got towards the end of my session...
29 May 2007
A gentle lunchtime swim
Went to my second home that is Freyberg Pool at lunch (well late and pre-lunch as swimming and lunch don't really work...).
Focussed entirely on length and efficiency of my stroke and relaxing arms and shoulders to avoid fatigue which ends up in short, inefficient strokes. By the end of the session had number of strokes down to a tidy 26 per length with only the slightest push off at the end (honest ! Freyberg is a 33m pool). Length done in 35 secs wich would bring me in at a 17min 30sec kilometre.
Only challenge now is to sustain this for approx. 8 hours in the sea !!
I know there is room for improvement in the efficiency of my stroke.
Focussed entirely on length and efficiency of my stroke and relaxing arms and shoulders to avoid fatigue which ends up in short, inefficient strokes. By the end of the session had number of strokes down to a tidy 26 per length with only the slightest push off at the end (honest ! Freyberg is a 33m pool). Length done in 35 secs wich would bring me in at a 17min 30sec kilometre.
Only challenge now is to sustain this for approx. 8 hours in the sea !!
I know there is room for improvement in the efficiency of my stroke.
28 May 2007
Time for a swim lesson
Philip puts me in touch with Dougal, an infamous Wellingtonian swim coach.
I arrive late (not a good start) in amongst his Clients - mostly kids learning to swim !
By the end of the session Dougal has deconstructed my short, inefficient stroke into a long easy one by asking me to reach for the end of the pool on each and every stroke. Result shaves 10 strokes per length (read: energy efficient !).
I'm gonna need all the energy efficiency I can get !
I arrive late (not a good start) in amongst his Clients - mostly kids learning to swim !
By the end of the session Dougal has deconstructed my short, inefficient stroke into a long easy one by asking me to reach for the end of the pool on each and every stroke. Result shaves 10 strokes per length (read: energy efficient !).
I'm gonna need all the energy efficiency I can get !
Introducing Philip Rush: First Male to Double Cross Cook Strait (16 hrs 16mins)
Philip agrees to watch me swim at Freyberg (here in Wellington). Feel slightly nervous and apprehensive as I swim in front of a guy who holds the record for the fatest double crossing of the Cook Strait.
His evaluation: sort your stroke out and we'll get you across.
Simple !
His evaluation: sort your stroke out and we'll get you across.
Simple !
Time to swim the Cook Strait...
Yes folks....I have decided to set myself a very grunty goal of swimming the Cook Strait. All 26kms of current, tides and fishlife !!
For an insight into this marathon swim visit: www.cookstraitswim.org.nz/services.htm
I took particular enjoyment from a few of the following FAQs:
What is the most difficult part of the swim?
Getting across Cook Strait and finishing.
If there is an emergency, what is the typical response time?
Phil is a Fire-fighter and extensively trained in first aid. Helicopter is 10 minutes away.
What are the most common reasons attempts fail?
Not swimming at the pace stated prior to the attempt.
· Not fit enough
· Hypothermia
· Change in weather conditions
So not so bad aye....
For an insight into this marathon swim visit: www.cookstraitswim.org.nz/services.htm
I took particular enjoyment from a few of the following FAQs:
What is the most difficult part of the swim?
Getting across Cook Strait and finishing.
If there is an emergency, what is the typical response time?
Phil is a Fire-fighter and extensively trained in first aid. Helicopter is 10 minutes away.
What are the most common reasons attempts fail?
Not swimming at the pace stated prior to the attempt.
· Not fit enough
· Hypothermia
· Change in weather conditions
So not so bad aye....
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