The week started with a 1000m challenge swim at a club session. There was only a 4 second gap between Al and myself, a good indicator that we are swimming pretty much at the same pace and will work well together across the Strait. Now that I have committed to the swim I have been feeling a bit negative, chiefly fearing the distance, the temperature, sharks and, most of all, failure but that is just my initial reaction - having spent the last 20 years showing others how to embrace their challenges and overcome their fears it is time to put all that knowledge into practice on myself! I had a great goal setting session with some Westpac staff on Thursday and told them about my swim - it makes it even more real to have others know too!
Over the course of the week I have swum a total of 16km. Looking back over my old diaries I only averaged 15km a week in my preparation for the Masters World Championships in Italy, so this is good going (although the race then was only 100m!). My body has coped well so far but I know that I am going to have to ensure I am in peak physical shape so I have booked in for regular chiropractic sessions to keep my old back problems at bay.
My distant, and more famous, relative Sir Ernest Shackleton's boat was named Endurance - that's exactly what I'm going to be needing too! It seems like a good sign...
Cook Strait - mate I prefer my water frozen! Great challenge, stay in touch over it, I am sure you have done your research, now just the training then of course the big day, from what I understand it is like Everest, a combination of smarts and commitment - just never make the decision to stop!
ReplyDeleteWow John!! talk about "feel the fear and do it anyway", you have my admiration and respect sir, the very best of British (Expat)good luck to you.
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