Taking The Plunge

Have entered "The Marie Curie Swim", on the 29th of April, and signed up for the 2.5k, (100 x 25m lengths). My sister Jackie is going to assist me to set up a Facebook page for collecting the sponsorship. No taxi or dog walking duties today so, after breakfast retrace my steps to Eske Nature Reserve, it seems it may be possible to make yesterday's run into a 10k circular route by connecting the riverside path to Eske Lane, which terminates less than 200 yards from the reserve. I'm walking today and take some photographs of the river and the lake with my phone, that I intend to post with yesterday's blog. The weather is much cloudier today, so the light is different, and the colours less vivid. Arrive at the nature reserve after half an hour. Since yesterday two swans have arrived and a flock of Canada geese. The path that seems to lead to Eske Village is marked "No Public Right Of Way," and lies across private land. One of my old running club friends, Rob Byass, has a farm up here somewhere, so shall ask him if access is negotiable when I see him next. Wander round the reserve again enjoying the peace and tranquility until this is interrupted when the geese and a local rookery set up a calling competition. Arrive back at the Crown and Anchor by noon and then drive to the pool for my swim.
Having committed myself to the charity swim, realise that it will be necessary to change my training from short distance medleys, to long distance freestyle swimming. The pool is quiet as its Good Friday, so find a free lane and practise my breathing meditation for a few minutes before beginning the swim. Decide to start with 1,000m freestyle and set off at an easy pace. I prefer to breathe alternately to the left and then to the right, this means breathing every three strokes. It aids streamlining, as it balances the stroke and halves the strain on the neck and shoulder muscles. This can be problematic on really long swims.
Soon settle into an easy rhythm, taking 13 strokes to each length, this allows four breaths per length, the last of which is taken just before the tumble turn. After 400m, start to feel very thirsty and decide to break the swim at 500m to take on water. The problem is that the pool temperature is 30 degrees, not far below blood heat. Normally I take a swig from my water bottle between medley repeats and get through at least half a litre of fluid each session. After taking on water, complete the next 500m without problem and, after another long drink, set off on the next 1,000m using backstroke. Ideally I would like to complete the whole distance using just freestyle, as I suspect there will be several swimmers in the lane with me on the day, so backstroke may not be practical. Backstroke is the easiest stroke to swim, because breathing isn't a problem, the face is clear of the water most of the time.
Still practicing meditative swimming, only counting strokes not breaths, soon settle into a seventeen stroke rhythm for each length, rolling onto my front to tumble before each turn. Breaking the swim into two 500m halves again in order to take on water. On completing 2,000m, I see it has taken about 55 minutes and so swim a further 100m freestyle and then an easy 100m IM to warm down and use up the rest of the hour.
It should be possible to complete the 2,500m within the hour, if it is all swum freestyle. The event takes place three weeks tomorrow, about 9 further swimming sessions, so if the freestyle distance is incremented by 200m per session, another 8 sessions will get me there, and still leave a spare day in case of the unforeseen.
After finishing, do a breathing meditation for a few minutes, then shower and change and head to the cafe for tea and a bun.