Swimmimg……
May 24th, 2009 by Andy NicollNow if you’ve read my earlier postings you’ll know that a) I have an ambition to do an Ironman and b) I’ve recently entered the Ilkley Triathlon.
Now the Ilkley race is to the Ironman what a walk in the park is to the Ultratrail Tour Du Mont Blanc. The run for example is just 3 miles compared to the full marathon and the bike is a 10 mile sprint rather than a 112 mile slog but here’s my real problem - the Ilkley swim is just 500 meters (in a nice clean, warm pool) compared to the 2.4 mile swim in icy open water - sounds easy doesn’t it. Well yes - until you try.
I took my kids to the pool today and thought I’d have a bash at this swimming lark - how hard can 500 meters be I thought - after all I got my 1500 meters badge when I was at middle school - and there my friends is my problem, whilst I can still swim (they say it’s like riding a bike or falling off a log or something) it’s yonks since I’ve tried to actually keep going for a distance of more than around 10 yards…
I think the Ilkley pool is 25 meters so through the application of some complex mathematics I reckon I’m going to have to do 20 lengths - 20 lenghths!!! - I was blowing after 20 flailing strokes of my arms today. Suddenly 500 meters seems a very long way…..
Oh well, as you know I like a challenge so I’m determined to stick at it and turn myself in to Bingley’s answer to the ‘Thorpedo’ over the next few months.
