Week 4!

Week 4 of my Marathon training plan started today with the usual cross training option!

Tonight I went to my regular Tri Club Training Session.  The focus was on Open Water Swim Skills which I found strangely enjoyable but extremely hard work.  It highlighted the fact that if I was ever let loose (or is it lose?!) in open water I would probably drown!

We started the session with the usual warm-up, followed by technique drills and a little bit of speed work before moving on to "no touch turns".  This is the first time I have ever done this!  Basically the idea is to get as close to the wall before turning without touching it or using it to kick off from.  

On my first attempt I got too close and nearly broke my big toe when I accidentally kicked the wall!    

However, I continued and I think I got better - I didn't kick the wall again anyhow, I had already learnt THAT lesson! It was very strange trying to do a tight turn whilst still swimming! Once we had done 12 lengths we moved on to do "Deep Water Starts", another first for me!  Basically we had to tread water in the deep end facing the side and on the signal we had to turn round and swim 50 metres before coming back to the deep end and repeating!  The treading water part got harder each time too as we had to do it with one arm in the air, then 2 arms in the air!  

I didn't really succeed in staying afloat on the 2 arms in the air one and I probably looked like I was in trouble and I was trying to attract the lifeguard!

Anyhow by the end of the session I had swum 1500 metres or 0.93 miles!

The report from my swim mate looks like this:

Tomorrow is the Tri Club Running Session and I have a decision to make as there are 2 groups running this week.  There is my usual Speed Session or a Technique Session!

I am thinking that I might attempt the Technique one on the basis that if I get a good technique I might be able to keep up with the others in the speed session!!  

Just a thought!