A hiccup in training!

I have been enjoying getting back to swim training with my tri club, getting some good tips on improving my technique.  I was also looking forward to taking part in a coached session with Tri'n'SwimWell organised for new Chalkwell Redcaps members.  I have had a session with them before and found it really beneficial. The session takes place in their endless pool where they video you swimming and give advice on improvements to your stroke and technique.

So my Tri'n'SwimWell session should have been last Saturday afternoon but unfortunately at karate training that morning I took a kick to the hand and spent the afternoon in A&E instead.  I was really disappointed not only to miss my swim session that day but also to find out that I had chipped a bone in my finger putting pay to any training for a while.

The doctor says it well take three months to heal, but I just hope that the swelling and bruising goes down soon and I can get back to some training at least. 

Signing up for events

So to give me something to work to I have signed up for some open water swimming events and triathlons (with this being my first full triathlon season having completed my first last September).  So far I have signed up for the Great Pier Swim, River Arun swim, Basildon Aquathon, Basildon Off-road Triathlon, Grays Triathlon, Brownlee Triathlon and Hever Castle Triathlon.

Why I signed up for these events:

• Great Pier Swim (9 August) - When I did this event last year, it was my first open water event.  It is a 3.3km swim from Chalkwell to Southend on Sea following the coast along including swimming under the pier.  The event raises money for a great local charity, Havens Hospices.  I'm hoping to better my time from last year which was 1hr 32 mins.
• River Arun swim (27 July) - This is a 1.5km swim in the River Arun at Littlehampton.  I picked this from a list of events provided by Chalkwell Redcaps. As it is the club's 5th year they have pledged to raise £5,000 for their chosen charity, Level Water, www.levelwater.org and members have been asked to chose one of the event they will taking part in as a fundraising event for the charity.  If you would like to sponsor me for this event you can do so on the group's justgiving page ,http://www.justgiving.com/Chalkwell-Redcaps1 please add name to your donation message so we can keep a track of who has raised what.
• Brownlee Triathlon (15 June) - The Brownlee Triathlon was my first taste of triathlon last year when I travelled up to Yorkshire in September.  I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to taking part this year at the Brownlee South Triathlon at Petworth House.  For this event I will be raising money for my work's charity of the year, Emmaus, www.emmaus.org.uk
• The other events I have signed up to so far are all league events of the triathlon club I belong to, East Essex Tri Club.

Watch this space for news of more events

Dare to dip

Having been given the opportunity to join a local open water swimming club for 2014, Chalkwell Redcaps, my first step into open water for this year was to take part in the Havens Hospices Dare to Dip event which took place on Sunday 12 January.

The challenge for me was a 25 metre dash in the sea off the coast of Southend on Sea.  So on a chilly Sunday morning I set off to join my fellow dippers, I was dreading it when I woke up and saw the frost on the ground but when I arrived there were lots of people around supporting us and a great atmosphere. The water temperature was 6 degree, cold but not as bad as I had been expecting.  I completed my dip it was cold but short and sweet, I even came out thinking maybe I will try the 50m challenge next year!