Sunday, November 7, 2010

Ultra

I will write a bit more later this week but I was very impressed with Margreet's effort on Saturday. It was a long day and she worked her way through some serious demons about two thirds through the 100km.

A successful end to a full year of hard work.

Here are a few photos from the day.

Here's one of Margreet as she headed off after passing through an aid station amid light but steady rain.

Ultra - Cropped 1

The race began at 4am and so there wasn't much light to work with. I pointed and clicked, in particular as headlights approached.





Ultra - Cropped 2

These shots were taken on the Harrison side of the Harrison River, at about the 81km mark. The rain had stopped though the mist clung tightly.





Monday, November 1, 2010

Learning to swim

I learned to swim when I was a kid, and I'm still learning. It's one heck of a curve!

When in Sydney, it was like I was demoted back to grade one. Three of us - I won't name the other two but you know who you are - were in the 'slow' lane. That wasn't fair to the 9, 10, 11 year olds who motored by us repeatedly. There was nothing to do but laugh - and wear fins, big, huge fins.

Today I began swimming a master's squad here in Squamish. It's the first time I've swum with anyone for years.

It was also the first time I've skulled or backstroked for years.

Usually I get in the pool and swim - front crawl. It's basically worked but with every approach to training, a bit of differentiation is needed from time to time. Right now I do need, want to improve my technique and I simply can't do that on my own.

So the plan is to swim with the squad - three coached sessions a week for the next few months. I'll restrict my use of my pull buoy and paddles during these sessions. But I'll still use them to help me on the days/mornings that I decide to drop in to swim on my own.

I like the serenity that comes with swimming on my own. That's especially true at this time of year when it's pitch black outside and there's a chill in air an inch above the covers.