I love Saturday mornings.
Rest day and after 6 1/2 hours session yesterday, it’s even better.
Put on some music, have a fruit smoothie, grind and brew the coffee beans, throw on some pancakes. Not training food but pretty nice for a change. Like being a normal human.
The Magnificent Seven, and Eddie, assembled at 6.30am in Source again yesterday morning for a 7 hour swim.
I was again awake at 3am of course, an hour before the actual alarm went off. I had taken some over the counter sleep aids I’d picked up the US the last time I was over there, and I got to Cork with a very groggy head. (Eddie told me the main ingredient was an anti-histamine, so I stayed groggy for a good few hours).
The boss was there and cracked the whip immediately. We would start with 10k, 1 minute rest after 4k, 3k, 2k. No other breaks, even for a drink.
Straight into it.
I said I’d lead out the first 1k. Got the count completely back-asswards. Handed over to Liam at what I though was about 1000 but then looked at the clock and it had actually been about 1500. Anyway, pace was “hot” right through and I put too much into that first 1500. Did the 4k in 1:05, and finished the 10k in under 3 hours, thus being by far the the fasted 10k I’ve ever done.
I cracked early on in the 10th kilometre, couldn’t hold the speed, and slipped off Ciarán and Rob’s toes and there was no way back, getting further behind. Shattered my confidence for a while.
Gabór had to go to work after a few hours, he had already done a 10 hour during the week, by himself!
Danny got sick and Eilís sent him home. Being Danny he wouldn’t have went otherwise.
Couple of minutes toilet break, (I had time for one mouthful of a sandwich & half a banana), and back with 10×100 paddles, 10×200 paddles, 3k straight, and mixed bunch to finish the last 4 k. We did the 3k straight in 45 mins, each of taking a 500 and pushing it. Again a fastest ever 3k for me.
I recovered my composure in the second 10k and feeling fine all through, sticking the pace ok. A couple of well-placed words from Ciarán & Rob were much appreciated and ensured some repair to the damage my confidence had taken.
(I did cheat when using the paddles by using my small ones. We had a 2k paddle session earlier in the week and about 800m into it my left shoulder starting hurting intensely. I finished the 2k, which in retrospect I shouldn’t have done, but required a visit to Vinny, who said both shoulders were inflamed and red around the lats. (Lattisimus Dorsii). So I didn’t want that to flare up again so I used the small paddles.)
20k finished, with a few breaks in 6:15. Eilís had planned 7 hours, so we actually got to finish early. Sore arms all round after the stiff session.
Up to the cafe for some food, we were all ravenous after the pace, while Eilís was being interviewed for Gay TV prior to her visit to the World Gay Games this year.
Plenty of laughs were had earlier when she informed of that we probably be in the background swimming for this.
We offered to oil up on deck, massage each other, roll our togs down to thongs etc. We’re hoping some websites dedicated to us might spring up.
Given the height of him, Liam especially is likely to be a gay icon. Pity Gabór was gone, with his tattoos he’s surely get his own speciality website!
Anyway after the food and chat, Phase two was out to Ballycroneen where Liam lives for a sea swim. Original plan was for an hour but sea conditions were too rough for a long swim. We did about 15 minutes, particularly hard for Jen to get in as she has just returned from the hottest Australian summer on record and swimming Rottnest again, to come back to 6.9 C
I was not most popular as, after I returned to the beach, apparently everyone though I’d been lost at sea. (They’re not the first as my wonderful fiancée would attest). I’d gone “out back” as surfers call it. No-one could see me, even Eilís on the beach.(I was out there wondering why no-one else was coming out).
I had expected it to feel colder as we’d be tired but in reality I think all our temperatures were still up and made it feel warmer (I would have guess 8 or 8.5C), so I found it lovely. (All the winter swimming I’ve done has really helped). Everyone felt great after with arms and shoulders nicely relaxed.
Liam had home-made soup and bread waiting for us in his lovely house (thanks Liam & Kay!) and for once we were able to sit around and have a chat.
Then home. Great day, no-where near as tiring as the last day, not particularly hungry last night. (Had my first pizza in almost a year and HATED it).
Of course, we also now know what the next big day will be. And we’re already dreading it.
So only 6:30 total. Felt almost like we got off light.
