22 weeks and counting...

Cottesloe Beach

As of this Saturday coming marks 22 weeks till the start of Rottnest Channel Swim. This is now getting to the business end of training, and the time will go so quickly.

Its is only 5 weeks till our first open water swim on the season with Open Water Swimming WA, which will be a 5km at Cottesloe Beach. Then two weeks later its the first qualifying 10km swim at City Beach. Its all a little scary, and super exciting at the same time.

With each weeks training plan we start upping our kilometers starting with 15km this week and next week. Then each week we add either one or two kilometers to our total, to the point where we are swimming 35 kilometers per week, now this also includes making sure we are eating well, rest and recovery plus working full time and all our other jobs in life...family, friends and more. Now this is where I guess I am a little lucky, as the "we" I am speaking of is my boss, and as we train together we sort of understand each other in the sense of pushing our bodies and the rest and balance is important.

 Understanding the way ones body adapts and deals with being up under certain pressures is interesting. As someone who has trained and completed a Half Ironman with injuries, I know how far I can push myself, and with being even healthier this time round with swimming (weight and mind set) I am looking forward to this challenge and that it is. Its going to be the biggest challenge to date for me. Along this amazing journey I have come to find a deep seated love for the open water, and not just to swim in, but to enjoy watching, spending time by the water. While is Busselton being able to watch the pod of dolphins playing was so special and enriching. Being this close to nature at its best.

 I have also found a love for sharing, the idea that others are able to swim these kinds of distances as well, it doesn't matter how old you are to dream and to take on something as big as this. Swimming I have found is great for people of all ages, from babies learning to swim to the older generations that keep getting in the water to help keep their bodies moving.

Rottnest Island Pinkie Beach

Till next time, have a great week

Hayley xx