Swan Dive

After last week's Open Water sesh with Pink, it seemed a good idea to go again. I'd reckoned without the complete cloud cover, and they were getting darker by the minute! Anyway - having checked that Pink was still up for it, I set off, kit ll loaded onto the scooter/

Fifteen minutes into the journey - I realised that I'd forgotten my swim hat! Now - I'm not worried about my hair getting wet (shurrit you lot!), but it is an important safety precaution, and given we're getting the swim in the lake almost as a favour, I don't want to give anyone cause to kick us out. So - back home to get it, text Pink, and then head off again.

By the time I arrived, it had got darker, and started to rain! We both agreed that it was going to be wet enough anyway (although next time remember to stash your shoes somewhere dry!). We faffed at the side of the lake for a while, and then got in.

We'd both got a lot out of the previous week's swim, but decided to go for the end of the nearby jetty, probably about 40 metres away. All seemed fine as I set off, although I was aware that I was rushing a bit, but not as much. All seemed to be going pretty well, but suddenly I sighted and realised that a group of swans who normally keep their distance had decided to come and see what was going on. That might not seem too bad, but they have been known to attack (me when I was seven by the side of Carshalton ponds) and I was a bit wary, especially as the biggest one was heading straight for me. I was nervous that the next time I came up to sight, I'd be confronted by...


Gulp!

Anyway - I went through the next few strokes, admittedly nervous, but fortunately the swans veered round me, and I reached the jetty. On seeing me standing there, they decided to come over, en masse. I leapt out of the water in a hurry, to the amusement to a crowd of people watching from th ecafe. Pink, meanwhile, had headed back to our starting point!


Anyway - eventually the swans bu99ered off, and we decided to swim to the jetty coming off the "island". This proved a tad difficult to sight, as the light was fading, so we aimed for the end of the trees and then corrected. It was an okay swim, done in just under three minutes, but I did feel like I was rushing the stroke at times. Pink and I stopped for a chat; I'd come to the conclusion that I was actually throwing in a breathe on five - i.e. breathe left, stroke right, sight right as I stroke left, but then there's a dilemma - do I breathe right (immediately after sighting) or hold on another two and get short of breath? I resolved to try the three on the way back, which was again pretty much in a straight line, and any minor corrections were quickly made. I still hadn't quite nailed the breathing. The breathing right immediately after sighting was a bit too much head turning.

Another chat with Pink, and I had anothe idea (basically nicked straight from her). Breathe left twice in a row :o). So:

breathe left, stroke right, sight with right as stroke left, stroke right, breathe left, and then back to the normal rhythym of three strokes per breath alternating sides - 4, 3, 3, 4, 3, 3 etc.

It seemed to work - the next trip across to the jetty and back was the smoothest yet, and I really didn't feel like I was rushing the stroke, and seemed to be nicely on a line both ways. Oddly though I didn't get any faster! It was by far the most comfortable way though. I may work on developing it so I can sight with my left and come up with something that is a bit more even, as currently I'll be breathing twice as much to the left as to the right.

I did have one nervous moment on the last trip to the island - I thought I saw a flash of white coming up on me as I breathed right! Gulp - was it the swan again?? Turns out (I think) that it was Pink's foot! I'd caught up with her, or we'd gone at a slight angle to each other or something. I actually didn't realise it was her, as I'd given her a fair old head start. Was this another swimmer, who was good and would resent numpties like me in the lake? Turned out that it was Pink - but it did rather throw me! Wow - what's it going to be like in a real triathlon with hundreds of thrashing limbs?

I still have a fair way to go with OW swimming, but I really feel that these past two sessiosn have made an enormous difference. I'm now no longer nervous by it, and seem to be able to stay chilled out, especially since I'm not rushing the breathing. I'm also keeping far better to a good line, which also stops me panicking, as I'm not thinking "OMG what direction will I be pointing next time I come up?". I've definitely put that demon to rest. There's still work to be done on stamina of course - I've rather neglected that the past few weeks, and I need to get some longer swims in lakes in (that may have to wait until next season - lakes are closing and Southwater only lets us in after five and it's getting dark!). The main fear now is the thought of other swimmers in there with me!