Cold weather training

This week I've been cold-weather training in Devon. Actually, I've been camping in Devon with family and new puppy, but the weather's been simply atrocious. We've had rain practically every day. So much so, that the tent's given up, and there are puddles round my sleeping bag, and my daughter Kate has been taking fellow campers round her 'trench experience' for 10p a time.

Mind you, I did get into the sea at Mill Bay yesterday (which was a bit worrying when I found myself being swept up the estuary towards Salcombe), and I did get in the sea today at Bigbury (which was also worrying because the massive waves made it difficult to see the shore).

So, some cold training and some sea training. Probably another damp and soggy sleep this evening, and maybe, just maybe another swim tomorrow if the weather brightens up.

I'm looking forward to getting back to the warmth and calm of Brockwell Lido.

Bond, James Bond

When you make a credit card purchase over the phone these days, the seller will usually ask you for your 3-digit security code. You know, the faded one on the back of the card.

A few years ago, my 3-digit security code was 007. The novelty of this soon wore off when sellers refused to believe me when I answered 007 to their "what's your security code?" question. So it wasn't long before I changed my credit card for a new one (with a thankfully more normal security code).

These days I tend to avoid the 007 number, and when I drop my kit into the lockers at the Lido I go for the 002 locker. It's at a convenient height, the rubber band that holds the key onto your wrist isn't falling apart, and it's easy to find because it's next to the 007 locker.

The other day though, my regular 002 locker was already in use. In fact, the Lido is so busy at the moment with holiday swimmers that all the lockers were already in use. Trying to swim lengths during the day is no longer practical. There are 'bathers' everywhere. The last time I turned up first thing on a Saturday morning, there was a queue already waiting, armed with picnic baskets, loungers, and all manner of non-length-swimming gear.

So 6.30am during the week is the time I'm likely to swim lengths and get my favourite 002 locker. Joy.

The plan

My original plan was to get the swim out of the way at the start of the Summer holidays,  and then enjoy the Summer holidays. That hasn't happened of course, and I'm now struggling to fit in training swims with camping trips, house swaps, and all manner of childcare activities.

I have managed to get into the sea off the Llyn Peninsula a couple of times. The water was lovely and warm, which meant jellyfish. I didn't spot many, but the ones I did see were big and ugly, and just the thought of them made swimming uncomfortable.

I'll be back in Dulwich next week, so I'll be back in the Lido first thing. Mind you, we have a puppy arriving on the 12th August, so my training might be exchanged for puppy training. Life would be so much easier if I'd swum the Channel back in July!

All change

I always knew it would be a problem finding another swim window that suited all of us. And, sadly, Fiona's had to drop out. Our new swim window's right at the start of term, and it's not a good time for Fiona to be away from school, so she's made the difficult decision to drop out. She's been so encouraging and inspirational to date, and we'll really miss her.

That means one of our reserves (and he probably never imagined it would happen), Andy Dorrett, is now in our team. Suddenly it's all real for Andy, and he'll probably be in the pool first thing tomorrow, trying to squeeze in some extra training.

Let's hope we get good weather for our next swim window, September 12th to the 17th. Goodness knows whether or not we'd be able to schedule another one!