So – yesterday’s post was pretty downbeat, and I’d be lying if I said that this morning I bounced out of bed like a happy puppy wagging my tail.
Sitting in bed feeling sorry for oneself did no-one any good in the history of ever mind you – and it will probably come as little surprise to anyone reading that I find it pretty difficult to do this at the best of times.
I’ve been hitting the swimming pool pretty regularly in the mornings, despite my butt strain (it’s still a thing annoyingly) and I’m slowly improving my fitness and stamina.
For those who didn’t see my original post when I first plucked up the courage to go swimming (link) I wasn’t that quick to begin with.
Although I didn’t feel I had a problem with general stamina at the time, I simply didn’t trust my arms to get me from one end of the pool to the other without failing half way.
I needed to pause between lengths for them to recover and at the time they really needed it.
I’m pretty a pretty determined guy at times though – and two factors (in this case) motivated me to stick at it.
Firstly – getting my money’s worth.
I’ve so far used my ‘pay up front’ subscription on 12 out of the available 14 days that I could have in November.
This means (bearing in mind it normally costs £4.70 per swim) that my new favourite activity has been coming in at a frugal 83p a day!
Consequently I not only feel like I’m getting my money’s worth but I now also have renewed confidence that my sphincter is unlikely to allow liquid ingress whilst it’s submerged.
Secondly – I need to demonstrate to myself that I’m continually improving with my stats.
Apple Watch is a powerful motivator – and I’m so glad that recently I replaced my original model with one that’s capable of tracking swimming workouts.
It was the added motivation to justify the cost of this (which I really struggled to do at the time) that eventually helped to wedge me into a pair of speedos.
Today this wonderfully pushy little companion tells me that I almost cracked the 18 minute barrier for 20 lengths.
I can now continuously swim a kilometre and a half without stopping.
This means that I am now capable of swimming almost THREE TIMES THE DISTANCE that I could originally do in almost the same time frame.
Whereas 500m could be completed in 51.06 two and a half weeks ago, 1500m is now do-able in 54.37.
To see this kind of tangible progress is really positive – and I couldn’t be happier with how things are progressing.
It’s not just numbers either.
Even though I started swimming half way through November it’s had a noticeable impact on my monthly active calorie burn.
(This is the figure that I burn through exercise over and above the normal 2500 kcal a man theoretically expends during a day)
Never in my life have I ever been able to swim this far or for so long.
Honestly I could have carried on – but by this time the pool had started to fill up with children and slow movers.
Instead I decided to float in the corner for a while and contemplate what to do with the rest of the day.
The weather is overcast and glum but I’m of the opinion that I need to consciously do something to lift my spirits.
I’m not really sure what that is yet…
We shall see internet!
Davey
Well done on your continued swimming progress! Hope you’re feeling better every day after the last post. Hang on in there!
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I am 🤗
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