Its that time again when most same people are looking forward to a break and I'm setting some crazy challenges for next year!
The first is the establishment of a new company - to be announced soon and the second will be an 8 mile swim in the balmy waters off the scottish coast to one of the most enigmatic islands in Scotland.
I will be recording both of the events through-out the year, so I can see which is stressing me out the most. The local swimming pool is out off action, so am contemplating whether to have one last swim in the sea before the year end. Maybe ?!
Thanks for following me !
Friday, 23 December 2011
Friday, 22 July 2011
passed the 40 mile marker and GOT PICKED FOR THE TRIALS !!!
Been swimming in the sea again, couple of times this week. Feeling quite tired at the moment but the fear of getting 'tested' is keeping me going. I am delighted that I was selected earlier this week to take part in the SWIM trials. Basically, out of the 500 or so people taking part in this event, they have selected around 40 to go forward to the next stage. And I got into the group.
The trails are in Brighton - pretty close to Arisaig then :-( so I am planning to travel down there on Tuesday for the event. The details have not been sent yet, they are really not giving you much notice and time to plan around it. So today was my last open water swim until the trails. I went into the bay down the Rhu road and was happily swimming around when I spotted a couple of seals tailing me. I need to get over the SEAL thing. They freak me out a wee bit. Totally unexplained, there is nothing to be scared of, but I did swim a lot faster. Maybe that's the trick for next Tuesday, get a couple of big daddy seals to follow me and I will definately get picked. Peter recons that I would win the London marathon if I had a big dug chasing me, so the same may apply to the seals.
So keep your fingers crossed that I pass the fitness test etc and they like me enough to get in the team. Only thing is that it may co-oncide with my move north, but hey, will cross that bridge when I come to it.
Lots of love Anne xxx
The trails are in Brighton - pretty close to Arisaig then :-( so I am planning to travel down there on Tuesday for the event. The details have not been sent yet, they are really not giving you much notice and time to plan around it. So today was my last open water swim until the trails. I went into the bay down the Rhu road and was happily swimming around when I spotted a couple of seals tailing me. I need to get over the SEAL thing. They freak me out a wee bit. Totally unexplained, there is nothing to be scared of, but I did swim a lot faster. Maybe that's the trick for next Tuesday, get a couple of big daddy seals to follow me and I will definately get picked. Peter recons that I would win the London marathon if I had a big dug chasing me, so the same may apply to the seals.
So keep your fingers crossed that I pass the fitness test etc and they like me enough to get in the team. Only thing is that it may co-oncide with my move north, but hey, will cross that bridge when I come to it.
Lots of love Anne xxx
Friday, 15 July 2011
Miles 27 to 35
Have not been swimming in the sea again since I was out with Fran last week, but have put a few miles in the pool. Feeling quite comfortable at swimming 4K in the pool and happy I could do the same in open water.
Looking forward to a few more miles at sea when I get back up to Arisaig next week. Contacted a few people on the SWIM facebook site to see if they wanted to team up with me for open-water swimming, but none replied. Either I'm pretty rubbish or they feel intimidated (aye right !). Got a call from the Oban Times, they are doing an article on me, so must buy the paper next week - hope they use the nice picture I sent and not the one where I look like I've had a frontal lobotomy.
Feeling much fitter for swimming. The 'mums arms' are getting better and I have almost reached £4K in fundraising. I am really pleased and so happy with the support I have had, even been sponsored by people I don't know (thanks Irene for the free advertising!!!). Trying to push every-one who has pleged to get on line and sponsor me !
Tomorrow they pick people to be 'assessed' for the BIG SWIM. This is due to happen at the end of July. I would like to be in the team but not hearbroken if I am not. Now that I know Ronan Keating is a singer and he is not in Take-That I am not sure I should meet him in-case I put my foot in it - I'm such a big Take That fan as well ... am I?
The other Celebs who are doing the swim ... I have heard of Richard Branston (he made pickle, didn't he?) and as for - Jason Bradbury and Jenny Frost, never heard of them, guess they must be known for something? Answers on a postcard please. If they are not on Radio 4 then I'm at a loss, now if it was James Naughtie and Mark Lawson I would be fine - but think they are both fatties, but hey they would be in good company. Long live the chubby swimmers xx Anne
Looking forward to a few more miles at sea when I get back up to Arisaig next week. Contacted a few people on the SWIM facebook site to see if they wanted to team up with me for open-water swimming, but none replied. Either I'm pretty rubbish or they feel intimidated (aye right !). Got a call from the Oban Times, they are doing an article on me, so must buy the paper next week - hope they use the nice picture I sent and not the one where I look like I've had a frontal lobotomy.
Feeling much fitter for swimming. The 'mums arms' are getting better and I have almost reached £4K in fundraising. I am really pleased and so happy with the support I have had, even been sponsored by people I don't know (thanks Irene for the free advertising!!!). Trying to push every-one who has pleged to get on line and sponsor me !
Tomorrow they pick people to be 'assessed' for the BIG SWIM. This is due to happen at the end of July. I would like to be in the team but not hearbroken if I am not. Now that I know Ronan Keating is a singer and he is not in Take-That I am not sure I should meet him in-case I put my foot in it - I'm such a big Take That fan as well ... am I?
The other Celebs who are doing the swim ... I have heard of Richard Branston (he made pickle, didn't he?) and as for - Jason Bradbury and Jenny Frost, never heard of them, guess they must be known for something? Answers on a postcard please. If they are not on Radio 4 then I'm at a loss, now if it was James Naughtie and Mark Lawson I would be fine - but think they are both fatties, but hey they would be in good company. Long live the chubby swimmers xx Anne
Thursday, 7 July 2011
4KM swim today - longest I have ever swam in my life
Last night I made the mistake of looking at the 'suggested' plan from THE SWIM team and bloody hell ! So thought I better start upping my miles. So off to the pool this morning with the target of a 4K swim (200 lengths in the Mallaig pool). Not for the faint hearted. The staff at the pool are brilliant and so accomodating. So although the pool officially closed to the public before I finished, they were quite happy to let me finish my stint, which I did.
Here are my thoughts after, nuff said xx Anne
Here are my thoughts after, nuff said xx Anne
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Miles 17 to 26.5 - I'm over half way in both distance and fundraising
By popular demand, I'm back with an update and some new people to introduce in my blog. Have been swimming in a a number of different places - in the pool and in the great outdoors again. Now completed over 26 miles and 23 swim sessions. Looked at the training plan on the SWIM site today and I need to do some swims of over 2 hours IN THE SEA - yikes. Can this old body cope ?
The first clip is of me swimming in Loch Morar. If you are not familiar with this loch, it's the deepest in the UK and has a mythical monster called Morag. So I interpidly set off for a swim. It was a beautiful sunny day and me and my twin Ronald walked a few miles from the car along a track to a suitable spot for a swim. I was not thinking about monsters at all (well just a wee bit). The loch was crystal clear and about 10 meters from the shore it dissapeared into 100meters of deep, dark, creepy gloom. It's like something out of a nightmare. My imagination was running riot. So off I set and just as I was telling myself not to be so stupid I swam over a fallen tree poking up out of the gloom and it brushed my leg. Can you hear screams under water? What a feartie. So I decided to stay in the shallows and not to swim over the deep part. What an admission from some-one who does not believe in monsters, or maybe I do now. Anyway - here is the video and my twin makes a quick appearance too !
Next clip was taken by my sister, Irene, visiting on holiday. So of course I had to rope her in to coming to the beach at Traigh and filming me ... she does a great running commentary and is not much good at keeping my head in the shot and too much filing of my rear end, which really should be getting smaller :-). The weather was wonderful again - its always like this in Scotland and look at those beaches !
And last clip, and for a change I have some company for my swim. It's been a busy week chez widdop in Arisaig. My friend Fran arrived with the kids and she wanted to get out swimming - in the rain - because she is training for an Iron-Man. Now that's what I call crazy ! When will I get friends that want to do 'normal' things. It's my own fault, save me from mediocrity ! Fran and I swam out from the marina in Arisaig bay for nearly an hour. It was great, thoroughly enjoyed it, despite the rain. It's wet in the sea anyway. The only concern was the number of seals I had seen out there recently and there are lots of pups. The bigger seals may come over to have a look but the pups would come right over to you and then mummy seal would be right after them. Must practice my seal deterrent scowl. Truth be told, I think all the splashing about the seals would have thought 'no danger going over there - look at those numpties, tell them to get back onto the land' ... or maybe not. I'm sure seals can speak english?
The first clip is of me swimming in Loch Morar. If you are not familiar with this loch, it's the deepest in the UK and has a mythical monster called Morag. So I interpidly set off for a swim. It was a beautiful sunny day and me and my twin Ronald walked a few miles from the car along a track to a suitable spot for a swim. I was not thinking about monsters at all (well just a wee bit). The loch was crystal clear and about 10 meters from the shore it dissapeared into 100meters of deep, dark, creepy gloom. It's like something out of a nightmare. My imagination was running riot. So off I set and just as I was telling myself not to be so stupid I swam over a fallen tree poking up out of the gloom and it brushed my leg. Can you hear screams under water? What a feartie. So I decided to stay in the shallows and not to swim over the deep part. What an admission from some-one who does not believe in monsters, or maybe I do now. Anyway - here is the video and my twin makes a quick appearance too !
after - featuring RONALD !!!
And last clip, and for a change I have some company for my swim. It's been a busy week chez widdop in Arisaig. My friend Fran arrived with the kids and she wanted to get out swimming - in the rain - because she is training for an Iron-Man. Now that's what I call crazy ! When will I get friends that want to do 'normal' things. It's my own fault, save me from mediocrity ! Fran and I swam out from the marina in Arisaig bay for nearly an hour. It was great, thoroughly enjoyed it, despite the rain. It's wet in the sea anyway. The only concern was the number of seals I had seen out there recently and there are lots of pups. The bigger seals may come over to have a look but the pups would come right over to you and then mummy seal would be right after them. Must practice my seal deterrent scowl. Truth be told, I think all the splashing about the seals would have thought 'no danger going over there - look at those numpties, tell them to get back onto the land' ... or maybe not. I'm sure seals can speak english?
Before
After
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Now up to 16.5 miles
Had a week off swimming after the Edinburgh Moonwalk last Saturday / Sunday morning. Managed the 26.2 miles in under 7 hours, so well done to Morag and me. We were pretty gubbed by the end of it and I had such bad blisters that by the time I got home I couldn't stand. It was pitiful to see me crawling about on hands on knees - but did I get any real sympathy?
Then I was off to conduct a wedding on the Isle of Rum. It was absolutely wonderful. The bride and groom (Gilly and John from Skye) were a great couple and the whole event was brilliant. Great company, fantastic live music, dancing and oh yeh ... I solemnised the marriage too !
So onto swimming .... been training in Mallaig pool again. Following a training plan I found on-line which is pretty hard work. Did 120 lengths today. Can't help myself talking to people - that is definitely something I inherited from my dear mother. Although I am glad I do, as I met one of the staff there. Lovely woman who has offered to do some coaching with me next week, so looking forward to that. It's a long time since I had any coaching, I am sure I have lots of bad habits - and most of them are not related to swimming :-)
Will keep you posted how I get on. Next swim is in the sea again, hopefully Saturday XX Anne
Then I was off to conduct a wedding on the Isle of Rum. It was absolutely wonderful. The bride and groom (Gilly and John from Skye) were a great couple and the whole event was brilliant. Great company, fantastic live music, dancing and oh yeh ... I solemnised the marriage too !
So onto swimming .... been training in Mallaig pool again. Following a training plan I found on-line which is pretty hard work. Did 120 lengths today. Can't help myself talking to people - that is definitely something I inherited from my dear mother. Although I am glad I do, as I met one of the staff there. Lovely woman who has offered to do some coaching with me next week, so looking forward to that. It's a long time since I had any coaching, I am sure I have lots of bad habits - and most of them are not related to swimming :-)
Will keep you posted how I get on. Next swim is in the sea again, hopefully Saturday XX Anne
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Miles 10 and 11 completed
Been at the pool again in Mallaig. Its only 20mtr pool but its such a fab pool and had it to myself yesterday ! What a pleasure and the staff are so friendly. I have definately re-discovered my love of swimming and I'm in danger of getting fit. Plan to swim again today and then will have a couple of days off. Need to make sure that I am not over training and end up injured.
Lots of people have pleged to sponsor me, but the donations have dried up a wee bit ! Weather not so great here in the north at the moment, so will save my swimming in the sea for a few days.
I'm 25% of the way to my target of raising £5000 and 20% of the way to the target of swimming 56miles ... so quite happy with my progress to date.
Lots of people have pleged to sponsor me, but the donations have dried up a wee bit ! Weather not so great here in the north at the moment, so will save my swimming in the sea for a few days.
I'm 25% of the way to my target of raising £5000 and 20% of the way to the target of swimming 56miles ... so quite happy with my progress to date.
Sunday, 5 June 2011
miles 8 and 9 Swimming near Arisaig
On Friday went off after a hard days graft on the house for a dip in the sea at the end of the Rhu road. Persuaded Pedro to come with me. We were only out for 30 mins, it was not too cold but the tide was coming in fast, so decided only to swim to the rocks before the channel into Arisaig.
You can catch a glimpse of my swimming partner and here is the view from the jetty we set off from (apologies about the naked man in the fore-ground )
MILE 9
Yesterday - was in the water for 40 mins swimming along the beach (not literally). It was a perfect day and I am so pleased to be getting in the water to swim but more importantly raising money for Cancer. Felt very sad after the swim and was thinking about Mary a lot. I do miss her and she would have loved this beach.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
My first outdoor swim
Friday was a wet and windy day, not much of a view from Camusdarrach Beach near Arisaig. Tried to video, with my phone camera, but it really was not worth showing the fab view of Eigg and Rum. A few folks on the beach, wrapped up warm and looking at me like I was crazy woman - wet suit on and nothing else for it but to plunge into the lovely warm sea NOT. Actually, it was not that bad. Managed around a 30 min swim, quite a big swell. So happy with my progress, is any-one out there watching this !!!
Here I am before:
and to prove I did it, here I am after
Here I am before:
and to prove I did it, here I am after
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Mile 4 completed - in the pool !
Honest tomorrow is the swim in the sea and any-one out there reading this will realise that I can't count, as I thought that I had done 4 miles already. 1.5 miles in the pool was too challenging today because there were too many kids in the pool - why do they always jump about in front on you? The staff in Mallaig pool are really nice and welcoming and have offered to put a lane in for me when I come in. But tomorrow its the SEA, yikes.
Mile 5 planned
I'm off to the pool again today, am aiming to do more than one mile ... aiming for 1.5miles today. Will post how I get on ! Swimming in the sea tomorrow for sure :-)
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Mile 3 on Tuesday in Mallaig
Well, I was meant to swim in the sea yesterday but I chicked out due to the storms ... some excuse eh ! Still in my bed looking out the wonderful view of Eigg and contemplating getting into the water. Update you later !
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