new address

You can find me here from now on. Musings of an aquatic ape.

colder

After the excitement of Saturday and with the endurance race behind us, but the channel crossing more than 18 months away, we/I need a new challenge. But the temperature has dropped. The thought of trying a mile in sub-four degrees C is a little daunting, so I think we'll try for a sub-four km.

Today we did 6oo yards and felt very cold.

Links for CWSC

http://quickdip.blogspot.com/2011/01/cwsc.html#comments

http://segingembre.blogspot.com/

http://coldwater2011.posterous.com/

http://www.demotix.com/news/564963/cold-water-championships-london

http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Gallery+Wacky+weird+swimmers+Cold+Water+Championship/4150581/story.html

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22012011/2/photo/22012011192106.html

CWSC 2011

photos by Ethan Caines and Kate

Both Highly Commended in the Hat Competition, good time for Carl in the endurance and Kate's raised a bundle of cash for Book Aid International.

on your marks, get set...

Down the lido for a swift 600 yards yesterday with Lisa who's over from Cork and in the endurance race with me. She's not swum in such cold water for a while. I met her outside the lido in flipflops and shorts. Meanwhile I'm in a merino beanie and long wool coat. She said it was the only way she could get cold acclimatised. Needless to say, she shivered afterwards.

And today at the lido for 9am to help set up for the CWSC. Lots of members down to help out. Worth listening to Elizabeth Furth's audio boo about it here. And, below, four of the stalwarts taking a well earned rest.

Chris, Robert, John and Jenny

And I managed to sneak a 400 yard swim in, with t'other Carl, to keep prepped for the endurance. Water still at just 4 degrees. Oh, and we got interviewed again...see the Telegraph tomorrow.

dropping

Thankfully the temperature in the lido is dropping, just in time for the CWSC. Now at 4 degrees C. But what a beautiful day; and the forecast is for no rain over the next few days. Hopefully, then, a sunny and slightly chilly day on Saturday, with the water temperature no more than 4 degrees C.

I thought I'd better keep up the distance, so did 800 yards (8 lengths) to keep my acclimatisation up.

fast, medium, slow

Tipping it down today, so didn't fancy getting soaked in the bike across south London; so took the much shorter trip to Crystal Palace. First km fast, chasing a fast lane swimmer, then losing him (18 mins), second km medium pace (20 mins), then 700 metres slow, but practising breathing sets and gliding.