Tuesday 13 April 2010

Back in the pool preparing for the long journey ahead...

Above: Training in my favourite pool at my old school, Culford School Suffolk, starting on the long journey to swim The Wash in 2010.

My late mentor Jim Rohn once said "Life expects us to take reasonable steps in measurable time". But the most important step is the first one. If you don't take the first step, the others cannot follow. Jim also stresses the importance of setting goals and planning to achieve them. He said "If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail". Today, I started on my plan to swim The Wash by taking the first step, I got back in the pool for a session for the first time in nearly 18 months.

I set myself a short term goal of swimming 50 lengths. This may not seem many, but at the moment it's the best I can do. Whenever I have come back into swimming, I always set myself a target for the first swim, then gradually increase the distance on the front end of the warm up. Today, having got up at 6am, I headed for the pool and was in the water for 7am. My session was as follows:-

10 Length Freestyle Full Stroke Warm Up (250 Metres)
10 Lengths Freestyle Arms Only (250 Metres)
10 Lengths Freestyle Legs Only (250 Metres)
10 Lengths Freestyle Arms Only (250 Metres)
10 Lengths Freestyle Full Stroke (250 Metres)

Mission accomplished. 50 Lengths as per my plan. It felt absolutely awful, totally alien. My arms had very little strength and my stroke felt poor. But this is my starting point. It can only get better from here. Next session will be 52 lengths minimum, gradually increasing as my body re-acclimatise to the water, and my strength increases.

I feel really happy to be back on track, and what a way to start the day!

Total swim Distance 2010 - 1,250 Metres.

2 comments:

Enda Kennedy said...

Well done hoff!

The will to win is common but the will to prepare to win is rare.

You have both.

You will be back to your self in no time. I remember in Dover swimming with you for approx 5 secs until you sped off like a rocket. Well done again

Enda K

Hoffy Swims said...

Thanks mate. Much appreciated. Hope all is OK with you in the circumstances. I keep checking the blog and am willing you on all the way. If we can help through IOWSA in any way, please let me know.

Best wishes.

Hoffy and Bex.