Am finding that since training ‘properly’ (from November) I’m on a constant roller coaster of ups and downs. Sometimes it’s going really really well and sometimes it plateaus and sometimes it’s really really hard. Which I guess I could have expected, but knowing that something will happen and experiencing it are very different.
I think the ‘lows’ in training help make the ‘highs’ even better, and it’s getting through the lows that is helping build my confidence, and reserves, to fall back on in the Channel. The thing that has surprised me the most is I am still absolutely loving training, even with the hard bits. It all just makes the experience more rewarding. To know you are doing something different and challenging myself in ways I never thought I could.
This fortnight has been a real high. I hit a high point back in about Jan, when every swim seemed to bring a pb, I moved up in the lane, I was coping well with the cold water outside and was comfortably swimmimg longer distances. And then it crashed.
Made some improvements to my stroke and it was like I couldn’t swim. Everything was tired, I kept picking up colds and coughs and moving my arms over my head was a struggle each time. I was still training but it was tough. Persuading myself to go to the pool wasn’t easy. Time to listen to my body and so I had a couple of weeks rest at the start of March. They weren’t complete rest. Just lighter weeks. Stayed around 10km rather than 20km or 30km. Lots of sleep. Looked at what I was eating. More fruit and veg. I’d also been taking a break from the protein shakes after each swim, to see if it made a difference. It did. So I got strict about having them again too. And spent some good quality time with friends and family. Then back to the hard training.
First week of more distance felt good, just a gradual increase and the past two weeks a bigger jump. It felt amazing. The rest had really done my body good. I felt much stronger in the water and could hold a quicker pace for longer. My arms felt relaxed again and my stroke was less laboured and forced.
It can’t last forever though.
I have a 24 mile / 24 hour swim in three weeks, so knew I needed to really push myself over the next fortnight. As this week progressed, with two swims most days and no rest day (which would usually be Wednesday) I started to flag. Friday morning was a tough set and rather than cruising on my own on Saturday morning, I went to the Man Tri session to push another hard set, faster turn arounds than I would have done on my own.
The plan for Sunday was another 10km, to take the week to a total just over 42km and the past 10 days to a total of nearly 60km. I did 3km at the Aquatics on my own, lots of pull and some drill work. Felt ok in the water, but was tired before I got in (fell asleep in the car on the way to the pool, thankfully I wasn’t driving!) and when I got out to walk downstairs to the USwim Masters session I didn’t feel great. I have IBS, which flares up every now and then, and it was making itself knowm yesterday. Super! Still, got in and felt ok for the first half of the two hours. Although time was really dragging. I was playing over and over in my head my mantra for tougher sessions… Just keep swimming… Just keep swimming… (Thank you Dory!!) And then I really hit the wall.
Arms felt like they were full of lead, body was sluggish and it was like swimming through jelly. I kept telling myself that this will happen in the Channel. I reeeaaaallllly wanted to get out. I missed 200m of the next 400m to stretch and eat half a banana. I did not want to start swimming again, especially when the coach said 3 x 500m. Everyone was groaning because we were all really tired. The temptation to get out is great. A couple of people did.
That lovely little voice in the back of my head was saying… You’ve done enough. Just get out. It won’t matter. You’re tired.
Thankfully, the other voice was quiet but a bit more persistent…
You’re going to get tired in the Channel Ella. You’re going to want to get out. You’re going to look at the boat and it will seem so inviting. Just get on. What are you going to do then?
Quit?
Or keep swimming?
We become what we practise.
So, I took a deep breath, looked at the end of the 50m pool, and saw France. That damn Cap that never seems to get any closer. I put my head down and I swam. Managed to do the last 1500m (despite being convinced earlier that I couldn’t possibly swim another metre) and even managed to force another sprint, just thinking about the tide turning and remembering watching a friend’s Channel Video last week, and the battle for the last few hundred metres.
I felt good by the end. And was surprised how, when you push through the tough bits, you do get a second, third, fourth burst. The body is incredible, if you can get control of your mind and your thoughts the body does respond.
I did decide not to do the last 2km of my 10km with Man Tri though. Enough was enough and am enjoying a rest day today. Woke up itching to be back in the water though…
When you’re tired and you feel like you literally can’t go any further… Now’s the time to work!
No one said it would be easy… They said it will be worth it!
ellathemermaid 