Found in the Waves

Well, I did ask for waves!

We went from calm, glassy seas to riotous waves and persistent rain. It blows my mind that we now get such extremes within a few days but climate change is a whole other discussion.

Last week I had to cancel many clients as it just wasn't possible to get consistent conditions to work on technique. I thought this week would be better but we're still a little over comfortable wind conditions.

However, I did get in to swim and wow, did we work hard. Thursday early morning we managed an hour in seaweed soup. Nearly every stroke gathered and moved bits of seaweed - it was all lovely and fresh and as it was so regular it felt perfectly normal. It was a fight to head towards Canford but a pleasurable one! When we turned we realised that a/my tow float didn't want to play nicely and b/it was hard to get a grip of the water and move. So I first had to put the tow float between my legs so it didn't sit on my shoulders and get in the way. Then I could adapt my stroke and try to maintain some power in washing machine conditions.

As an aside I debate taking the tow float in windy conditions - they can be annoying but equally with kite surfers and other fast pointy sea users out and about visibility is essential so I take it, aware that I may have to adapt.

Friday dawned a little more gentle. One of those days when the sea looks relatively calm in pics but the reality is another day of effort one way and speedy swims back. My first client managed to get in and make the distance. A great effort which reinforced his understanding of the sea and more challenging conditions. He came out feeling much more comfortable swimming front crawl when the sea is random.

I then met up with one of my team mates and with a couple of visitors for single hours we managed 3 x 1 hour swims. Arms worked hard and the last one was challenging as the wind was increasing and we were getting tired. It was challenging but we were both so glad we could complete the swims and get some really useful training in.

So what has this week got for us? Currently I see the sun but I also see the wind so clients may get moved along again. Let's get to the pool!

A successful weekend, if a little busy by the sea!

This bank holiday was a scorcher and with the advance warning it brought the tourists to Bournemouth and Poole. Great for the prosperity of the town but such a different space to the oasis of peace it normally is.

However, the warm air temp was a delight for longer swims so the team and I got in and swam up and down, round and about and completed my qualifier for the channel relay. Such a relief! I didn't realise how much it was preying on my mind. Yes, it's much easier to get good weather in May for a 2 hour swim but I really just wanted it out of the way so I could concentrate on some relay practice. Thanks for my team for entertaining me all the way. Lots of squeaking as we swam through cold patches galore and then slowing down as we went through the warmer ones. It seems the Boscombe Observatory has been sitting in the sun too much as the temperatures that's recording seem a little bonkers (over 16˚ C). Every other water temp site/app seems to say it's going up but looking more at 14 or 15˚ C.

This mornings temperature was much more even with few cold patches and once again beautiful calm seas. Even at 6am there were quite a few swimmers out - training before work is the think to do. I always want to stop and ask if they're training for anything as it does fascinate me but if I did that I'd drop further behind my speedy swim buddy.

So today we did our first repeat swim. One hour in, 30 mins out, 30 mins in - just trying not to get up too early but get the feeling for the repeat. It worked as my fingers were still cold going back in but as ever, they warmed up through the second swim and were fine for that leg. The sun warming you up afterwards really helps us get out of the way before the beach encampment begins each day.

Now all our work over winter brings our swimming to the sea and it's time to repeat, repeat, repeat. Would it be rude to ask for a few waves? I love the calm but we need to swim in the challenges so the day feels easy. Oh, no. What have I done?

And so it's back to training!

I hear there is a heatwave coming this weekend. That's so exciting as the sea and air felt so cold this week.

Having said that, I did manage my longest swim yet on Saturday, thanks for fantastic support from my swim buddies. We changed up the route and kept pushing each other on to another target which added up to a lovely long swim in pretty calm conditions. Getting out was slightly challenging with the steps by the prom at Shore Road seeming insurmountable until a kind person offered me a hand to steady myself. Physically I warmed up much quicker than expected despite being outside to change. It's that glimpse of sun that really helps.

I went on to coach two clients afterwards so quick change into coach mode and time to coach from the beach. Rather like me, they're working towards longer distances so after the safety briefing we planned out a route to check in regularly and push them a little further than they initially felt they could.

Sometimes it just takes a coach (or a buddy) to encourage you to try that extra step outside your comfort zone but with great positive results. All in all a successful day. Glad to be back in cold water!

And that’s a wrap.

After 6 days of coaching around 75 masters swimmers we’re on our way home.

Myself and the other coaches worked to develop plans that motivated, challenged and enhanced the swimmers skills. With many of the swimmers currently swimming in competitions it took my learning to another level. Working in a 50m pool is very different to plans for a 25m or 25yd pool. Working with up to 12 in a lane also challenged us to come up with suitable and workable rest intervals for all swimmers. At times it felt like I was juggled 10 balls at once but I loved it.

I even had the opportunity to take swimmers to the lagoon and help them enjoy the relaxed calm waters. For some they were training for amazingly long swims, for others it was their first time without walls. Being on a kayak supporting and watching them all swim was a privilege. I’m always happy sharing my love of open water and the smiles of their faces as they finished the loops was fantastic.

I managed quite a few swims myself - it helped my training to have a chance to play in a pool, to try out different skills with equipment and space. Having the sun on your back as you swim in a 50m pool is pure joy. Not so good when you’re doing backstroke and trying hard to swim in a straight line with the sun in your eyes and no visible guides. Swimming in the lagoon was tranquil - until we met a very large (ie around 75cm long) seabass who really wanted to get to know us. Apparently, they wanted us to know they were there as they bumped our legs and then swam back around the front. I’ve swum with many fish but they usually head in the opposite direction as you get close. This one was either being friendly or territorial. None of us were sure we wanted to stay around long enough to find out.

Slightly different temperatures this week!

This week I'm at Club La Santa, coaching our wonderful masters club Out to Swim. If that pic of me says anything, it's how happy I am to be here.

Between their coaching sessions, I'm managing some pool time in a beautiful 50m outdoor pool (26˚ water temp) and some open water swimming in the lagoon (22˚ water temp). Delightful but not especially helpful to my current training. Ah well.

Today we worked on non-front crawl strokes, building lots of drills and techniques to help people progress their strokes. The swimmers did really well and it was good to see them focus on one alternate stroke rather than relying on the old standard front crawl. Learning and building all strokes really does help water confidence, fitness and your main stroke.

Have I turned into a pool swimmer?

Recent sea swims have reminded me of the variability of open water swimming and how, even on calm days you have to change your tactics. My thinking is that the winter was pretty gentle so whilst I was still swimming 3 times a week (OK, I wasn't going far or long) we didn't have the storms and waves to keep my brain in the OW game.

Saturday was sunny and calm with a lovely 10 mins added to my time in the water. I'm building slowly and steadilly as the water and air warm up.

Tuesday was a gorgeous early morning swim with a chilly south easterly. One of my least favourite wind directions - as we headed into it the intake of water was unpredictable and irritating. I found it hard swimming east, I needed to dig in and push to stay close to my team mates. I've commented before that I'm always better swimming home, I'm not sure if it's the psychology of the return, of the achievement almost done or just that I'm warmed up by then but even without a change to more favourable conditions, I'm often speedier. Strangely enough my team mates preferred swimming east - we're all different and have different conditions we excel in.

Now it's back to regular sea swims, balanced with distance and variability in the pool. Time and distance will start increasing in the sea and the community will come together again as we all start focusing on our own goals but finding ways to train together to keep us all motivated.

😁🥳

Don't you just love a sunrise?

This morning our training began in earnest with an extra team sea swim, starting to focus on building stamina and distance. We were greated by a welcoming orangey sky and a southerly wind.

The sky stayed beautiful but the southerly was less appealing as we fought to get clear breaths in the disruptive waves. It reminded us that the sea is so different to the pool - of course it is, but you also feel the reality when you adjust your stroke to the conditions and have to engage your mind so much more to push on through the water intake and lack of walls.

All in all, quite gorgeous - even the sea beard was entertaining but no sign of the sea floor yet...let's hope it arrives before the algae!

A varied weekend of open water - but everything suddenly feels possible.

Saturday was a relatively calm swim; once you got passed a few breaking waves - cue great squealing from nameless swim buddies. 😉

The great news was once we got our faces in, we could keep them in and swim further along the coast. It really feels like you can keep going without worrying about returning. Having said that I took it gently and only upped my swim time by around 10 mins. Having the hut to change in and warm up afterwards makes such a difference to your achievements. 1km done so the next thing I need to do is faff less and swim away quicker.

Sunday had a change of pace - the wind got up and there were two break points at Branksome. One quite a way out and one on the shoreline. Some of the breakers were huge and dumpy with the wind whipping up the water and sending it in all directions. We studied the water for a while. Watching a lone dipper go in up to their knees and enjoy splashing about. Who knows if they'd have gone in further but it was enough for us to judge the size of the waves and decide that today was not a day to get exfoliated on the way to the sea and then jump about for 10 mins getting frustrated that we couldn't get through the break and swim.

So we sat down in the sun and watched the surfers and kite surfers and then a rain flurry come through from Studland. We also caught up on all important topics such as what does the word 'proud' mean to you. 😄🏊😎

Sun's out, sea's calm and my body will ache.

Today was a bit intense. I'm not even into formal relay training yet but somehow I booked myself 3 swims today.

First thing I headed to Masters for some serious swimming. Then the weather had pushed me to add in a relaxing post swim, sea swim. It was gorgeous down there but despite the calm and the sun I couldn't quite get my head in the game for another long swim. A short pootle later I enjoyed warming up in the sunshine.

Then after a little computer break I headed to the pool for a swim along session with a friend. With Aqua going on in the pool, it was a little like swimming in the sea as we pushed through the ruffled water.

Lovely swims and I've hit all my intensity targets for the week - somehow I think I'll sleep well tonight. Just got to stay focused for 3 hours of teaching later. Kids and Swimfit - always a fun evening.