Windermere End to End

Just 3 weeks to go now until the crazy swim....did 16km last week, and so far done 8km this week, with a planned 8km tomorrow, and 2km on Sunday - to wetsuit or not though, sunburn or over-heating?!! Trying to get my "feeding" sorted now as well, I use Kendal Mint Co gels, stored in little laundry bags on my tow-float so can easily get those out, but more of a logistical challenge hydrating (apart from drinking lake water, not advised!) as I have to stumble out of the water to get a drink. Got a pretty challenging couple of weeks of training left.......I used the mantra "the more you bleed in training, the less you bleed in battle" when I was competing as a canoeist, I keep having to say it now as well!!! Please share, the more donations we get, the more people we can help 🥰

I did my first swim in Windermere at the start of the week....went pretty well, but I did feel a little lonely in the big lake without any safety cover - there were lots of speed boats pottering around, and coming too close for comfort! Life has got in the way of training this last week.  Long swim day 1 - the dogs haircut didn't take as long as I thought it would! Long swim day 2 - turns out my tow float leaks and the "waterproof" storage compartment was full of water, it was hard work (and very hot!). Long swim day 3 - so so windy and wavy, had a good 500m loop I felt comfortable doing where I was relatively close to shore if I took on too much water - but then sailing boats arrived, didn't trust they wouldn't run me over, so another short one.  This week looks more promising!!!  But, I haven't injured myself yet - so that is a huge positive!!!

Training has been going ok so far - have to trust that low mileage at the moment is OK, trying really hard to not break myself!! Did a "speed" session today in the lake - going between a buoy in the water and a rock on the shore was a little tricky, but my muscles feel like it did something - so guess it worked?!!  All my training this week has been in Semerwater (8km so far)