Catching up (by Kevan)

Even if the legs were a little tired on Monday felt rather smug after achieving my goal of two one hour runs on. sort of makes you feel good having achieved a target. I'm a lot more confident that I can last the run and that the training is beginning to pay off.

Back in the pool tonight after last weeks failure after 34 lengths with the shoulder giving me some jip. But tonight, success, up to 70 lengths now. I will continue to increase the number of lengths I do to catch up with the others. The operation to the shoulder, or more accurately the recovery from it is still a concern to me but I must push on, with another swim planned for Thursday and another (the second cold water swim in Dover harbour..Brrrr) swim planned for Saturday will have certainly done my quota for the week

That was hard work (by Kevan)

Well after this mornings hour run, usual list of Sunday jobs, had to don the running shoes and get out there for another hour run. It was exhausting, ankles were strangely sore but legs seemed OK (ish). But made it, thank heavens that over. Mind you it gives me a little bit of confidence that I can do it. Thanks to Jos for giving my legs a quick going over, that sports massage course is beginning to have some payback.

Sunday morning time trials (by Kevan)

Done the first leg this morning at 8:30....first run of an hour. Next one due at 2:30 really looking forward to it. Its the only way to spend your Sunday

Thursday night swim (by Kevan)

Extra swim planned in this week, need to do a lot of catching up with the swimming after the shoulder op. So after 60 successful lengths on Tuesday intended to do 70 tonight. But got to 34 and the shoulder was really giving me some grief so decided to stop there. Very frustrating, but can't risk going backwards in the recovery.

First swim (by Sue)

Brrrrr, The photos say it all....The swim was was ok. Thought I did well - it was the "getting out" that was a disaster!!!

How come everyone else recovered so quickly. When I finally came round the rest of the team had popped into town. If I'd known there was going to be a shopping opportunity, I may have recovered quicker!!!!! Can't thank Sarah and Jos enough for looking after me.

Now my kids are growing up into teenagers, look at the extreme lenghts I'll go to to get a cuddle these days!

Alex "the new boy" Manleys training so far (by Sharron)

Sevenoaks Tri 18/4/10 400/m/25km/8km

Equalled my Sept time 1hr 54mins, 1 minute faster on the swim (6.38 400m) 1 minute slower on the run but considering I had a knee op at the start of December its not too bad. I would have been faster if I hadn't been so girly about drying my hair before the bike but it was cold and I didn't want to get ice cream headache. Anyway like most of my school reports said, "could do better" so lots more running

Wiggle ups and downs 24/4/10

Not an instruction a 100 mile bike ride around the surrey hills starting in Dorking. The BBC said it would be the hottest day of the year with not a cloud in the sky so I turned up in my new 6xl white tee shirt and set off in the pouring rain and howling wind with Mark Smith and Phil Payne.

The first 20 miles were very hilly The steepest was before the first food stop at about 25 miles every time I stood up to get more drive my rear wheel spun so I sat back down to get grip and proceeded to pull a wheelie, cue lots of swearing but I managed to stay on and to keep going . Then with the summit in view gasping for oxygen (its the altitude) a car came past me and the passenger shouted "come on thunder thighs you can do it". laughing doesn't help you breath in these situations so I will avoid it in the future. I made it up and round the rest of the course although we lost Phil who took a detour.

Got a puncture in the last 10miles and with the help of Marks CO2 inflator still managed to get round in in 6hrs38mins. Respectable but no Lance.

Dover 2/5/10

The first channel swim at Dover with the team who have been telling me for weeks how cold it was going to be, Kevin even recommending that I take a photo of my wedding tackle so that I could look at it in the future and remind myself of glories past. I was surprised how many other idiots there were there all doing the cold water acclimatisation swims but I was pleased to see that there were plenty of athletes like myself of the chunkier physique, channel swimming must be to swimming what sumo is to martial arts.

It couldn't be avoided and as Julian had driven us down in his car I couldn't run away and in just a pair of speedos two rubber hats and a pair of goggles, in we went. It was mind numbingly cold 9 degrees , my common sense screamed at me to just get out! Luckily my inner idiot the pig head one that my darling wife so loves made me just get my head down and swim hard and surprisingly after a while it wasn't so bad. I was buddied up with team captain Mike (he had obviously seen me eyeing up escape routes). I tried to talk to him but my lower lip felt like I had had an injection from the dentist and I couldn't sthpeek poperly.

We swam about a 1K in 20 minutes got out, got dressed drank hot chocolate and tommy soup and had to wait for 2 hours to warm up before going back in for the second stint. Hero of the day goes to Sue who only just stopped shivering in time to get in for the second swim which showed real character. Andy won fall of the day when his legs didn't work on exiting the second swim but he soon regained his composure.

3/5/10 30km Bike + 5km Run with Mike and Dave Cummins

Lost Dave on baileys hill, he is doing the London to Paris bike ride so he is probably starting to realise what he has let himself in for.

It was pouring down and Mike and I decided that seeing as we were wet and cold already we might as get the run done which at 27 minutes was my fastest yet. Probably Mikes slowest!

4/5/10 10km Run in a bleeding hail storm there is a pattern to this weekend and I want an end to it now bring on the sun.

First swim of season (by Julian)

Well we couldn't avoid it any longer...Saturday rolled around and we all rolled out of bed at the unearthly hour of 7:00am so we could be on the road in convoy by 8:15am. An hour later and we were approaching Dover...entering the traditional fog that over surrounds the harbour.

Once we arrived though we found that it was only the hill that was in fog...the harbour was in sunshine. And 113 other swimmers were queueing up to register in the new fancy safety system (which proved itself later in the day!).

By 10:15 formalities were done, we were changed and ready for the first swim. Cliff gave his safety talk on behalf of Freda and we lined up along the beach. Then we were off, down the stony shore into the 9C harbour water. Our instructions were easy - out past the channel markers, turn right and head for the end of the harbour, touch the wall and back. A leisurely 30 minute swim.

But at 9C there was no "leisurely" about it...we swam as fast as possible and after about 5 minutes even attempted putting our heads in the water. Quarter an hour later we were touching the barnacle encrusted wall and heading for home, a warm towel, chocolate and sugary tea. Except we had another 15 minutes swimming to do!

Finally we stumbled up the shore and stripped (literally in some cases) to replace our wet costumes with dry warm layers. Then the shivering begins, making pouring tea from the flask quite an exciting new challenge. Getting it to your lips, shows you the true meaning of "many a slip between cup and lip"!

But an hour and a half later we were just stopping shivering and warming through nicely...when we were ordered back into the trunks and repeated the whole exercise again!!!

Finally after 2 swims and lots of shivering, we were back in the car for the hour long journey home. Our support team had prepared a chilli to warm us through...and a few bottles of red wine later and we could nearly joke about the shrinking effects of the cold water. Nearly.

At least it is 2 weeks before we do it all again! Photos are on Facebook at the Arch To Arc Supporters page or Arch To Arc 2010