After meeting the inspiring mermaid This Girl Can Team, I am pumped for getting fit again and swim ready.  After big renovation of our house which started last September 2020 and ended in February 2021, the aim for this week was to clear out the shed which previously held the old running machine, spin bike and various weights. After spending a full weekend clearing it out, I convince myself that that was training enough, I will start tomorrow!  

I have another session in the swimming pool but it’s not cutting the mustard after the swim in Lake 32 with the TGC mermaids. I need to get back into the open water asap. To inspire me even more to get back swimming outdoors and as if my magic, I have the delivery of a Dry Robe from the TGC Team! So toasty and comfy I need to get out and use it properly!

But just then my period starts. Incredibly frustrating as I have planned to swim lots this week. What have women been doing all this time, what do swimming athletes do, just not swim for a week?  I do a google search which has lots of advice but I really need to speak to someone I know to give me some comfort on the best way to deal with this. I ask my triathlete crazy friend Sarah what she does. ‘Ram a Tam’ she tells me! Ram a what?! I have only ever used sanitary towels and in the last few year having been trying eco cotton towels, so I turn to the TGC gang for more advice. Talking to them was so empowering, lots of advice about using tampons but also to try using the moon cup. I had planned to meet Megan, another one of the This Girl Can 2021 ladies the following day, and I really didn’t want to miss the opportunity of another swim at Lake 32 with her.  So with the support of the TGC group and the pressure of having to make a decision so I didn’t miss meeting Megan, I get myself a moon cup, practice putting it in a few times and off I go to Lake 32! This was definitely a life changing moment for me, wish I had tried the moon cup years ago but better late than never eh!

So glad I didn’t postpone the swim meet with Megan. As Megan nor I had done much open water swimming in the UK,  I organised a buddy from Lake 32 to join us in the water. Paloma was so lovely and assuring, giving us really useful information on how to stay safe in the water especially as it was still a bit cold.  More laughing ensured and I had a go at a bit of front crawl in the cold open water, am definitely going to need that coaching session to get me going properly at front crawl me thinks but I am definitely ready for it.