November 2008 - back in the pool

Winter setting in fast so little opportunity to go out on the bike. So its back in the pool again for some winter training and I'm hoping now to go back to work on my starts from the blocks. Ive not really worked on these for a year after putting my back out in a big way last November and start looking forward to some pool competitions in 2009.

September 2008 - something else

Life has been abit crazy the last few months, building on the house, leaving my job, my Mother passing away and little time for swimming training, Heron Lake closing due to Algae so Ive been going out on my bike to get some fresh air for a while. I thought it might also would help strengthen my back and quads for finswimming. So inspired by the Tour De France I entered a sportive on the South downs this month - very pleased to do 50 miles in 2hr 54 mins. Very nicely organised event. Ive been in a few more Sportives since then - good fun and even a ride to the coast and back in a day (3 hours to the coast and 3 hours back a total of 167km, just over 100 miles. Since then Ive had some good rides out to Winchester, Henley and the Chilterns, although my favourite afternoon run has to be out to the Royal Horticultural Societies Gardens at Wisley, a cake stop and return. (get to Wisley in 45 mins now !)

June 2008 - German Long Distance Nationals

Ive been training every weekend and mid week on Wednesdays in Heron Lake near Staines. This is a lake used by Tri-athletes to proactice their swimming and is open from May-September each year. A 1km course is marked out which is ideal. I get a few strange looks and the occassional claim that 'Im cheating' with my large fin but really everyone is interested.

I swam with Gunnar and Benjamin to join a German team for the event and enetered the 6km individual and 3x3000m with them. I came 4th in my category for the 6km (1hr 10m 19s). It was along way and quite windy. We came second in the 3x3000m.

Big thank you again to Gunnar for putting me up, the team, VDST for letting a non-German enter and the folks at Heron Lake for lettig me train there. Nice medal too.