Second freezing of the season (by Julian)

Doesn't 2 weeks fly by when you are enjoying being warm. But inevitably 8:15am Saturday rolled around and, despite a very late night (or more accurately early morning!) with a hangover to boot, we were back in Our Glorious Leaders car heading for Dover.

The one good news was that the sun was out and we hoped that this might mean the water was warmer...pleassse. By 9:30am we were in Dover and waiting for a local arcade to open for a comfort stop (Dover does have public toilets but typically don't open them to the "public").

It was nice to stand in the sun basking for a few minutes but then it was down to the beach, collecting our numbered swimming caps (only 2 of the team remembered their club cards!) and a quick change into costumes. Barrie Shingle Stomper did the honours and we were ready.

Cliff told us Freda's orders. Out from the beach, turn left and down to the second pier then all the way back up to the Hoverspeed wall, touch and back to the beach. This seemed an awfully lot longer than the first swim (which was just to Hoverspeed and back!).

Sue zipped into the water before nerves gave in. And we were chasing to catch up with her. Was it my imagination or was it colder than 2 weeks before? Then the reality set in...it was going to be a long swim down the harbour, even longer on the way back (because you have to swim PAST the beach to get to the wall...when all your instincts say "let's go home for a nice warm towel and some coco"!

About half way around, this must have occurred to Sue and she indicated a strong desire to leave the water. Luckily she was incoherent and so her mean swimming partner (me!) made her "sprint" for 50 to warm up. Then we were catching the others and with a, not quite totally truthful, "we won't go right to the end if you work hard for the next 100 strokes" we chased after them. Nearly at the wall, the mass began to return for the beach so we also turned back.

Now things were getting really cold. Despite the sun on your backs, it doesn't feel any warmer. The urge to stop and give up is huge - but then you would really be giving up. Permanently. So we struggled in to the waiting arms and Sue & I stumbled back up the beach.

Everyone was shaking just as bad as the first week...but recovery times did seem to be faster. That being said, no-one was looking forward to the second swim at noon. But noon duly came around and it was "same again guys" as the instruction. Great - an other long view of the Premier Inn hotel down near the second pier.

The cold was really bad. The swim long and tough. But I had completely forgotten that I appear to have a cavity in one of my back right hand side teeth. The salt water hadn't though and 45 minutes of cold salt water froze the nerve until I was slowly warming up on the beach, when BANG...the real pain set in, flooring me. An entire pack of Nurofen later and I was able to make it back to the car.

Remind me to go to the dentist before the next swim in 2 weeks time. Or at least buy 2 packets of Nurofen!

Routine training (by Kevan)

Now I'm back at work I begin to realise what an amazing drain it all is on my time. When you get home at 6 or 7 at night having been up since 5:30 the last thing you want to do is go out exercising. But, have settled into a sort of rhythm now with the training, Monday is and remains football night, not going to let the training get in the way of that, so training starts in earnest on a Tuesday with the Tuesday night swim, running on Wednesday, and another swim on Thursday because I need to catch up. Friday is my night off, a bag of Bombay mix and a couple of cold beers, luxury, I tend to really look forward to Fridays.
This Saturday will be swimming in Dover harbour all morning and I'll polish the week off with a run Sunday morning. Other than that my times my own!
And still I wont get a cycle ride in.
This weeks training has gone well to date, a couple of good runs for which the times seems to have settled at 54 minutes to do my 6 and a bit miles, which I suppose is good considering that when I first started this escapade I could barely manage 2 miles which took about 20 minutes and bent double wheezing which also took about 20 minutes. Also did a couple of swims, increasing the number of lengths I do each time so as not to overdo it on the shoulder so a 60 and a 70 this week. Shoulder holding up well.
Not looking forward to tomorrow in the sea.

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!