Just 2 swims so far this week. A coaching session in an endless pool with South West Swim in Swindon and a trip to Gosfield Lake, where I planned to increase my distance.

The coaching session came with stroke analysis, which was amazing! Information that would be hard to get in any other way. For an overly self-critical over-thinker like me though, it literally brought me to a standstill when I started my swim at Gosfield. Was I kicking correctly? Were my arms straighter? Was I lifting my head too high to breathe? Was I breathing too much? Here again was the familiar voice in my head that sucks all of the enjoyment out of an activity in pursuit of perfection (see also running and sailing….)

I was getting so frustrated with myself that I thought about abandoning my swim. Instead I took a deep breath, took my wetsuit off in a symbolic gesture to re-frame my situation and just went for a swim in the most beautiful location on a bright, sunny morning with no expectations. It was wonderfully liberating, in so many ways.

As I was driving home, Leftfield’s ‘Release the Pressure’ came on. So very fitting. I’m a wife, mother and this is my busiest time of year in a demanding job. Add the need to train for a swimming event on top and it all feels like pressure.

This poster in one of my favourite local coffee shops has probably always been there, but I only noticed it this week. With so much going on, it can sometimes feel like I’m sinking, but I choose to swim instead 🏊‍♀️