These past couple of weeks have been the start of a new routine for me….new job and dedicated swim training sessions. Well that was the plan, but life never goes to plan! The new job has been awesome, lovely company, interesting work but so much to learn, therefore the 3x pool training sessions a week I had planned in my head did not materialise.

Rather than beating myself up about the missed sessions, which previously would have been the case, I looked to the positives and made a new plan. Adapt and overcome as the saying goes in the military!

I have recently joined the local rowing club in Kingston, I have always loved anything to do with water, but it has been well over 20 years since I rowed, and now it is all about sculling. Never had much luck with sculling at university and was definitely better suited to a larger crew, as was proven last week…..

Open Water Session 1: River Thames

First swim in the Thames complete… totally unintentional mine you, but I am claiming it as my first swim, as I was definitely ‘testing the water’ !! Myself and another lovely lady from Kingston Rowing Club ended up swimming in the Thames, as we slowly and gracefully capsized the double scull we were training in, right in front of the pubs on the river. Lunchtime entertainment sorted!

The water wasn’t as cold as I had expected, yes it took my breath away, but I wasn’t shivering on exiting the water. By the time we picked up our pride and rowed back to the club I was warm again.

So what did I learn….that once again I just need to get on with it! That day I booked my induction at Shepperton Open Water Swim, which I have just come back from this morning.

Open Water Swim Session 2: Shepperton Open Water Swim

Wow! What a set up.

I’m not sure what I was expecting but with my minimal experience of open water swimming, which has mostly been swimming in the sea when we lived on the South Coast last year, I certainly wasn’t expecting such an organised and welcoming place.

You have to book, collect an arm band before you enter the water, there are 3 kayakers on the water at all times and if you’ve over estimated your desire to swim the set distances there are various exit points around the course. Perfect for the nervous open water swimmer like myself.

I had to do an induction, which involved a tour and explanation of the courses available, and then prove I could swim 150m. Thankfully the water was a balmy 14.6 degrees, it still took me a while to calm my breathing down and get into a rhythm, but after the 150m induction I managed to do the smaller 400m course.

The (current) plan……..which will change!

I’m all about learning, what have I learnt and how can I progress.

From today’s session at Shepperton, I now realise I need to do the majority of my training in open water. I know I can swim a mile in a pool and have proven it is possible in open water. I can pound up and down the pool for hours if need be, but today in the open water my technique went to pot.

It seems in open water I am able to do 2 out of the 3 things required for swimming; arms, legs & breathing. My current 2 have settled on arms and breathing thankfully, but honestly my legs just float along for the ride!

I also need to get used to the wetsuit again, I want the floatation and insulation it provides, but it does seem to restrict my movement, especially in the arms. Very possibly due to the fact it is a thermal swimming wetsuit (I get very cold!), I can’t wait to try out our competition prize of a Zone3 wetsuit next weekend when we are all meeting up for the first time. It will be great to meet all the other ladies and really get motivated for the swim in July.