{"id":30166,"date":"2022-08-24T14:25:28","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T13:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/?p=30166"},"modified":"2022-08-24T14:25:31","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T13:25:31","slug":"swim-serpentine-2-miles-challenge-thoughts-from-a-slow-swimmer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/blog\/2022\/08\/24\/swim-serpentine-2-miles-challenge-thoughts-from-a-slow-swimmer\/","title":{"rendered":"Swim Serpentine 2 Miles Challenge: Thoughts from A Slow Swimmer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

September sees me taking part in the Swim Serpentine for the first time and I have a few thoughts as a slow swimmer. Swim Serpentine counts towards the London Classics medal, as long as you do the 2 miles in one go. Like many others it would see, I had a friend convince me that it would be a good idea. She had looked at previous competitor\u2019s times and said that we could definitely do it!<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Swim<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Slow Rubbish Swimmer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since it became painful to run <\/a>I have been alternating how I exercise more. This has seen an increase in swimming<\/a>, particularly as this is less pressure on the body. When I say swim I use that term loosely. Teen who used to be a member of swimming club<\/a> tells me that my legs are all wrong – that I need to work on my kick. Also I hate so much as my ears getting wet, never mind my eyes and nose. Therefore, I am more a head up slowly bobbing along kind of person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Training for Swim Serpentine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Looking at the plans training for Swim Serpentine is pretty much like training for a marathon. They are broken down into intervals, cross training, speed, and endurance sessions. Pretty much taking up a lot of days over a lot of weeks – just like the marathon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am not really a pool swimmer and doing that many lengths I find really boring. Plus it is important to note that the miles are full and not swimmer\u2019s miles too! But a lot of the time the river hasn\u2019t been safe to swim in for one reason or another – so training has been very scatty. Mostly people need to train to practice sighting, but this won\u2019t affect me as I am a heads-up bobber. Also pool timings have restricted me so I have been just swimming for half an hour at a time – which I only get half a mile achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swim the Whole Distance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unlike a marathon though it is suggested that you make sure you train up to the whole distance before the race. It is also important to have completed an open water swim if all your training has taken place in the pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early on with a couple of friends we swam the two miles in the river. It was so beautiful and we saw both a Heron and a Kingfisher. It took us 3 hours and 10 minutes. However, that was against the current for one direction so we are hoping it will be easier.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"heron<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

I struggled with cramp and was really hungry. It wasn\u2019t a planned long swim we just kept going further so are hoping it will be easier if we have eaten properly in the build-up. Plenty of salts will help with cramp apparently. Also I am wondering if there\u2019s any way of fuelling on the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus as it was the end of June we did this we are also aware that the temperature could be very different. Personally I am hoping that I will find it easier as I hate overheating!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Familiarising myself with The Swim Serpentine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For me it is important to be as familiar as I can be with Swim Serpentine. Whilst in London we visited Hyde Park so I could get my bearings. Have to admit I could have cried when I saw the size of the Serpentine Lake! Obviously two miles is two miles but it is eye-wateringly huge!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparing What to Wear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Skins for Serpentine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Typically I swim in skins with just swim shoes. That means a swimming costume not naked for anyone wondering! There was an awful period when it turns out that to swim in skins the water had to be so warm otherwise wetsuits were compulsory. Thankfully this has been changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tow Floats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tow floats are a requirement for those swimming in skins and so I bought a new one. Turns out it has nowhere to store things in though. Not such a big problem for me as my family are coming, but I will probably just end up using my old one. May need to remove the trusty Duck though. Or just with the organisers whether he can come along!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Joy (@run_withjoy)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>