Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Friday 14th June - Great North Swim

And so to the swim....

Friday morning began carbo-loading in preparation for my 3pm start.
Myself and my coach/support team/general all round good egg (mum that's you) set off around 11.30 to head to lake Windemere...powering up on flapjack and sandwiches on the way.

We arrived in Ambleside to be greeted by the traditional lakes welcome - A torrential downpour of rain. Mum was less than happy about this but I had my mind on other things, like the fact that in just over an hour I would be up to my eyeballs in lake Windemere fighting my way through a load of other swimmers (this turned out to be highly accurate).

We arrived on the Swim site (Low Wood Bay Hotel, Ambleside) and it was a quick change into my kit, including newly purchased swim booties (a great buy for anyone considering open water swimming)after a quick warm-up with the GNS team, the red wave set off into the lake bright eyed and bushy tailed! 

The first 1/2 mile was somewhat tricky and I experienced my first ever 'swim rage' when a slightly rotund male swimmer was swimming on top of me about every 10 strokes. After suffering for about a quarter mile enough was enough...We had words, a few expletives were exchanged and needless to say he did NOT do it again! I was able to continue on without any more irritation, sighting my way around the buoys for 2 laps towards the finish line. Conditions were fairly good; although the lake was somewhat choppy compared to the previous year meaning quite a few gulps of Windemere water went down the hatch!

Despite the tricky conditions and rogue swimmer, I managed to finish in a respectable time of 1hr 12mins and 41secs. Not a PB but excellent training for Ironman and a lesson learned to practice my bilateral breathing (breathing both sides for those not in the know) and also how to deal with male chauvinist swimmers.

In other positive news my dad continues to improve and was even able to have a short walk/run up at Simonside at the weekend, which must feel like Ironman to him at the moment. He is an inspiration and his unwavering strength and positivity makes me more determined than ever to complete this challenge and train like a demon to do so.

My next event will be 7th July - An Olympic distance triathlon at Druridge Bay.
1.5k Swim  .  40k Bike  .  10k Run - This is approx. half of what I will complete at Ironman so it's a good test for my stamina and mental strength.

Next update coming soon.

Triathlotte x



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