Last night I went on a Swim Technique training course at Capernwray Hall run by a company called Sleekerswim.

I had no idea where Capernwray Hall was and relied totally on my TomTom to navigate me there.  As I turned into a big long driveway and caught a glimpse of a large stately home type building I began to wonder whether my Tom Tom was having a laugh at my expense!  I couldn’t imagine there being a swimming pool hidden in such idyllic surroundings!  I parked the car and went for a wander.  Thankfully I soon came across a sign pointing towards the swimming pool and sports centre.  Phew! With only 5 minutes to spare I didn’t fancy partaking in a wacky race style drive to get to another location! 

Capernwray Hall

Once I arrived at the entrance of the swimming pool there was already a lady sat on the chairs outside and I asked if she was there for the swim analysis.  Thankfully she was so I could now relax … until she started giving me a run down of her swimming experience … 10K lake swims, sea swims and river swims as well as Triathlons – I was beginning to think I was way out of my depth! Literally! I explained I was a wannabe Triathlete but my swimming currently let me down! The instructor Christine arrived and took us to a room for a 30 minute theory session before heading into the pool. We had sole use of the 18 metre pool, which was divided into 2 lanes.  

I felt myself go into panic mode when Christine said to do 10 lengths warm up!  I was thinking after 10 lengths I would be good for nothing not warmed up! I survived the warm- up and then it was time for the videoing to begin!  I had to swim 8 lengths being recorded, then it was the other ladies turn.

After the recordings were finished we started to do some "drills" to improve our technique.  One drill was kicking on your side with lower arm extended and upper arm resting on thigh and then we did a rotation drill where we changed sides! As well as these drills we did ones using hand held floats, leg floats (pull buoy) and trainer fins! I found these much more difficult than just swimming but they made you think about what you were doing in the water! 

We were very lucky as we had a lot of individual attention as there was only 2 of us with one instructor!  

After spending about 1 hour 15 minutes in the pool it was time to get out, get dressed and head back into the room for more theory work AND to watch our video's.  I had no idea what I looked like swimming but was pleasantly surprised that I didn't look as much like a drowning animal as I imagined!  My main faults are my legs are too low in the water (I need to keep my body flat on the water), I don't rotate sufficiently and my hands are very tense and bent at the wrist,  Apparently a floppy relaxed hand (whilst out the water) is best, all the work goes on in the water!  

The session lasted 2 and a half hours and I am keen to put it all into practise at the pool! We were given a hand-out with all the drills on to help us remember them! 

I had a bit of a tricky 30 minute drive home as my post swim sneezing kicked in.  It is very difficult to negotiate narrow country lanes whilst sneezing! Once I got home I had to take a antihistamine tablet to relieve my symptoms.  I really must try a nose plug to see if this helps!

Tonight the Marathon Training Plan stated a 1 hour 30 minute easy run!  I was very tempted to not go as the weather was horrendous! Cold, windy and very very wet!  However, a quote I once read in a book came flooding back to me "Train in all weathers because you never know what the weather will do on race day!" 

As soon as I got home from work I got changed and went straight out! 

If I had sat down listening to the wind and rain outside I would never of moved again! I was back in my winter gear - long tights, long sleeve top AND jacket, together with a hat and gloves (Luckily I got new gloves for my birthday after losing one at the Edinburgh Half Marathon!).  I hadn't really expected to wear them until winter but they had their first outing tonight and boy was I grateful for them!

Once I got running I warmed up and didn't really notice how bad the weather was (except the howling wind blowing me backwards!) until the last mile by which time I just wanted to get home to a hot shower! I managed 8.37 miles and was just short of my 1 hour 30 minutes goal time. After 1 hour 22 minutes enough was enough - I was wet through to my base layer -my skin! You can view my route here. 

Once home I got the longed for hot shower and my entire body and face felt like it was getting bombarded with tiny shards of glass!  OUCH!  I patted myself dry and lathered myself in body lotion to apologise to my skin for subjecting it to such conditions!

Hopefully the weather improves for my "try-a-tri" on Saturday! Blackpool in the rain isn't very appealing!