Swimming, swimming and more swimming

At last I’m making some progress with swimming.

Sea swimming

Last week I did some sea swims (still no wetsuit), starting on Sunday with Meadfoot – Shag Rock with some Devon Wild Swimmers (Richard, Allan and Malcolm), it was a lovely swim, fairly flat, lovely weather, not too cold, Malcolm is a rock hopper and I felt quite jealous of him sliding around on the rocks.

On Wednesday afternoon the call of the sea was too much, I left work a bit early and went down to Broadsands for one of my favourites a little jaunt around to Elbury and back, and a first for me – I drove home in my swimming costume, heater on to keep my feet warm then straight into the shower to warm up. I did spend the drive watching my speedometer to ensure I did not come to the attention of the police, I’m not sure I’d like to have to explain.

On Friday evening just as the sun was setting I headed over to Brixham Breakwater Beach, I only had time for a quick 15 minute dip but it was lovely and I really wanted to stay in. I meet a very nice mother and son who are regulars there and are hoping to go through the winter. And I also met (but only in my imagination) all manner of sea creatures. The problem with dusk is that you’re mind can turn even the smallest bit of sea weed or tiny rock into Basking sharks, seals or general sea monsters. It does make me go faster though.

Saturday afternoon was back to Broadsands for the Elbury circuit. Most notable for the disaster I made of trying to exit the water. 1inch waves and a couple of peebles seemed to scupper my exit entirely, rather than emerging gracefully like a bond girl I thrashed about like a harpooned seal, in front of a crowd of about 20 dog walkers. (I had to drink quite a lot of wine later to erase (albeit temporarily) the memory of my shame)

Sunday I managed 2 swims (or probably more accurately 2 halves) First I met DWW Jackie and Alan with our own personal photographer Gordon at Broadsands and we walked over to Elbury, After a stumble over the pebbles and a battle against the choppy waves hitting the shore line we all made it wetsuitless into the sea. The conditions were beautiful. The cold eventually got the better of Jackie and Allan but as Kate, Charlie, Rob and Ollie were walking round to meet me I decided to carry on towards Broadsands. It was like swimming in an infinite pool, no matter how hard I worked I didn’t get anywhere. My family stood on the rocks waving at my spurred me on a little but then I bottled it a bit and decided to turnaround and head back to Elbury. We had wine and water on the beach (water for me as I was still suffering from too much wine the night before, being in the cold water is the perfect hangover cure), and did lots of throwing stones at rocks and into the water. We headed back towards our cars just in time to meet Amy and Pete in the wetsuits just about to go into the sea at Broadsands, I couldn’t resist so it was clothes off costume on, on our return from out beautiful 20 minute jaunt we were greeted with cups of tea and coffee, never has it been more welcome. A carvery lunch at the Waterside was a perfect end to my swimming day.

Note – it is not my intention to document blow by blow all swims between now and channel swim, I am aware of how tedious that could be

In the Pool

On Friday as I mentioned above I managed a short swim at Brixham Breakwater Beach, it was cut short because I’d arranged to meet Pete and Amy at Brixham swimming pool. Pete is a confident breaststroke swimmer but struggles with Frontcrawl. I’m constantly assuring him that frontcrawl really is very much easier than breaststroke and this was my chance to prove it. I did a bit of reading up on it and swam a few lengths just thinking about the stroke, in the hope that I’d be able to give some pointers.

The main problem was that his legs seemed to want to spend their time on the bottom of the pool rather than floating nicely behind where they’re meant to be. (I have subsequently discovered that this is a common problem with men, something to do with them having less sub-cetaceous fat). A couple of drills and the use of fins seemed to help quite a bit (extensive searching on the internet has come up with nothing better so for now at least we’ll stick with that) .The most hilarious moment was when he tried to do backstroke legs only, 10/10 of effort he carried on even though he was entirely submerged after about the forth kick, I wonder how long he’d have struggled on for had I not stopped him?

Two pool sessions by myself this week too, a mile each time (thanks to running out of “lane” time and ending up in the middle of public swimming, very tricky to do lengths when surrounded by toddlers with floaty things, turtle swimmers (head out of the water/very slow) women who seem to have come for a chat rather than a swim (could you not do that in the café afterwards? Are you wondering why you’re not loosing any weigh despite going swimming 3 times a week? Really? It’s because you don’t actually swim!!). Note to self – check timetable next time.

A lesson

For the first time in around 35 years, in a little holiday complex pool near South Brent with a little group of 4 swimmers, being taught by the lovely Kari Furre I had a swimming lesson. I loved it, back to basics, floating, doing mushroom rolls (I like to think of them as jelly fish rather than mushroom), even a length of butterfly (more water out of the pool than in by the time I finished). I giggled a lot, mainly at my totally inability to remember where to put my head. We even got homework, I can’t wait ‘til next week.

Fundraising

First of all it’s pie night this week, which is my first proper Breakthrough Breast Cancer fundraising thing. I’ve managed to get a polypin of Bays and some wine (thanks Redfield Wines and Bays Brewery) as prizes. More of this next time

I’m recruiting a team of 10(?) swimmers to swim the channel with me, well sort of. Each of my team will have to swim 21 miles over 15 weeks and raise at least £25. I will attempt to match their total distance each week (omg what am I agreeing too?) So far I have 5 signed up (thanks to Carolyn, Julia, Tracey, Nicky and Pete)

Have I mentioned my no drinking to save money towards my channel swim? The plan is that for every 7 consecutive days I go without a drink I will put £20 into my pilot boat fund. I’ve managed 3 since the end of September, I’m currently on day 6 of 7, I’ll do my best not to spoil this week)

Moonlight swim

Tonight I’m off for my first moonlight swim on the moors, it’s a first for night time swimming and a first for swimming on the moors (well since I was 6 years old anyway). Flasks of soup and snugly jumpers at the ready and fingers crossed that the rain doesn’t come.

It really has been a week of swimming, swimming and more swimming and really this is only the beginning

Snowdon - our first attempt

On Thursday we climbed Snowdon. Charlie and I drove from Paignton and Kim and Jenn drove up from Weymouth and arrived just after us at Midnight. We discovered the joy that is Travelodge. £55 for a room and all four of us managed to squeeze into the room. Not so much a squeeze for Charlie and I, we had the double bed, Jenn had the pull out bed Kim unfortunately (extra unfortunately given that she’d booked the room) had to sleep on the bench seat, no sheet, a sleeping bag with a broken zip, an uncomfortable mattress and a draft from the window were less than ideal, I guess it’ll be someone elses turn for the bench next time.

After a gorgeous full English breakfast on an industrial estate near the Travelodge we made our way back to Snowdon. We had to make a small detour on the way because of a closed road. The detour was slightly longer because kim didn’t quite believe that when the sign said road closed what they meant was road closed. The drive was stunning, autumn really is the best time of the year the colours were amazing.

Luckily we got the last 2 spaces in the car park. 10 mins of putting on every item of walking clothing I own (it can be very cold up the top apparently) and I was ready to go. We decided to take Pyg path up. Over the first 20minutes I gradually removed each layer of clothes until my rucksack was rammed. I have to admit that having been overtaken by several groups of small children I considered turning back several times in the first half of the walk. I was pretty sure I could make it but this was supposed to be a practice walk for Charlie and Jenn and I was definitely holding them up.  These thoughts were just fleeting and I did carry on, wishing as I did that I’d kept up my coast path walking over the last few months, how is it possible to get this unfit so quickly? I got a break when we ended up on a narrow and steep part of the path behind an old couple (our quess was that the bloke was in his mid 70s) they went very slowly so we got a bit of a rest.

We had a five minute break after an hour and another one after two hours, happily by three hours we were up the top. The girls were a bit disappointed by the time but I think they could have done it at least 40mins faster without me. We took a couple of photos on the top, had a coffee in the café and tried to light some candles in memory of my mum (too windy) before putting all our clothes back on (it really is cold up the top) and starting our decent.

Before long the clothes removal started again. It’s definitely easier going down than going up but it’s still pretty challenging. We chose Miners Path for the walk down. I’ve much steeper at first but then levels our around the lakes. Once we got back below the cloud (it was only foggy at the very top) the views were fabulous (the lakes are challenging me to swim them….hmmm next time). Once we were on the flatter bits I mistakenly assumed we were near to the car park, it seemed to take forever to get there though. Definitely some work is required on the speed walking. I’m thinking of getting a watch which’ll tell me that sort of info.

So having chatted through all the pressing issues in our lives and a number of frivolous ones we eventually made it to the car park. Just before a rain shower. The weather had stayed beautiful all day, perfect walking weather.

I’ve been hobbling round like an old woman for the last 2 days, the flat is fine but when it comes to stairs I’m having to lower myself down one step at a time. I’m not blaming the walking, surely it must be the 12 hours spent in the car. I’m off for a swim this afternoon hopefully that’ll straighten things out.

So well done to us on getting our training well under way.

Kim didn’t manage to get a place in the London Marathon, I think the entry timing was a bit unfortunate it had to take a back seat to all the work she was doing sorting out Mums stuff but as a golden lining she had got a place in the Edinburgh Marathon. This gives us all an excuse to go to Edinburgh at the end of May for a jolly (sorry to be top supporters!!) Her training is going well, she’s managing 10k runs in around a hour and the hills are getting easier. She’s managing to keep a balance between training and fun though - I forgot to ask her what the Mojitos she was drinking last week were about, must remember to follow that one up.

Charlie has a backpack baby carrier which she’s taken Jake out in twice now so that she can get some walking in while Ollie is at school.

Jenn is following my hill walking tips, although judging by my performance on Snowdon I’m not sure that anyone should be following my tips.

I’ve been looking up some long distance swims for next year to help me stay focused and am planning on joining the regular weekday morning outdoor swimming group that has started in Torquay so that I stay in acclimatised, I’m thinking I might try non wetsuit? Will see how that goes.

Next Thursday we will all be doing the MacMillan Fire Walk in Exeter, we will be supported by some of our friends and family who will also be going it (Kate Allen, Pete Scoble, Amy Plowman and Carolyn Parry) I’ll write about how this went in the next blog.

Three sisters, three challenges

In September 2011 Maggie Glazsher (our mum) died following an initial diagnosis of breast cancer in 2003, to celebrate her life and to do something to help others we are undertaking a series of callenges

Kim Ellis will be doing the Edinburgh Marathon on 27 May 2012 for McMillan Cancer Support

Jenn George and Charlie Martin will be doing the three peaks challenge on 29 June 2012 for Welmar Hospice

Queenie Martin will be doing a channel swim in 2012 (date yet to be confirmed) for Breakthrough breast cancer

One month in and our progress so far is……..a bit slow.

Kim has had a go at completing her application form for a golden ticket entry to the Marathon running for McMillan. Suddenly running 26 and a bit miles seem like a walk in the park compared to raising £2000. We racked our brains and have come up with some ideas for fundraising events so watch this space for dogs/sausages/wine/cakes not necessarily at the same time.

Jess and Charlie have planned their first training walk something serious, we’re off to Snowdon shortly, Kim and I will be coming along to offer moral support and any fitness training will be good for all of us. Jenn has noticed that the coat she brought for Rambo (her dog) a while back is made by a brand called three peaks, this is definitely a sign. She tried a little walk up Golden Cap (the highest point on the south coast) and felt she may need medical attention. Charlie has thus far limited her training to the upper body concentrating mainly on lifting pints of cider from the table to her mouth, again and again and again.

I have done a couple of sea swims, the latest a very slow 1mile round beautiful Burgh Island near Kingsbridge in Devon supported by my initial enthusiastic but later knackered and slightly nervous friend Trista. As it’s an Island it’s a circular route so once you’ve started you’ve got to carry on. The conditions were a perfect mainly flat with a bit of breeze round the back. We felt a bit smug as we got to the end as by taking an extra 10minutes the tide and come in and we were able to take a short cut over the rocks at the end rather than swimming around. Trista just loves to cater and I was very glad she does as her cheese and ham sandwiches, crisps, buscuits and coffee were very gratefully received at the end. This had been my first wetsuitless swim, one mile down all I need to be able to do is add another 21 to it and I’ll be sorted.

There were a few tourists on the island taking photos of us as we swam around, I later heard rumours of whale spotting…..hmm a diet may be in order.

I’ve also been doing a bit of reading about what a Channel swim entails and it’d be fair to say the whole thing is now terrifying me, what with the risk of being mowed down by enormous tankers, stung by jelly fish and generally having to spend hours and hours swimming in some very challenging conditions I think I really should be more careful what I agree too in the future.

We did a bit of group exercise last week clearing out the last bits from Mums house. Humping washing machines and welsh dressers up and down the stairs is hard work. We’ve given back the keys now so that’s a not very pleasant task over and done with.

We seem to have a massive task ahead of us but we say……..bring it on!!

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