22 miles, 12 weeks, your pool…

So I got the letter through the door two weeks ago, acceptance into the London Marathon 2011… Although this did honestly come as some surprise to me and for the sake of appearances I made out I was heavy hearted about the prospect of so much running, if I’m honest with you guys, I’m actually really excited by the whole thing.

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I know a lot of you who have done it before will say that’s a naivety that goes with having 7 months to go and no hard runs under my belt.  But you know what, as strange as it sounds, I can’t wait to start training for it.  I’m sure over the coming months you will be hearing a lot from me (via facebook and twitter and this site of course) about how trainings going, new personal bests and the chaffing to parts of the body that I never knew could be reached.  Whilst I’m enthusiastic about the whole thing, I’m also wary about becoming one of those people for whom the marathon becomes there life.  But the truth is, the way I feel at the moment and the way things are starting to pan out, it turns out I could very well be one of those people.

As things stand, I’m doing a fair bit of running through out the week, either through football or just of my own accord.  After going for a short run at the start of the week and aching like a SOB straight afterwards, I decided it would be best to find another form of exercise to help with my fitness that would be a little kinder on me ageing joints.

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So for the first time in about a decade (discounting holiday decadence) I hit the local swimming pool.  Now whilst I’ve always regarded swimming as one of the best forms of exercise you can get, it’s also as boring as they come. Plus there’s a hell of a lot of messing around both before and after a swim.  I can tell you from my first hour back in a pool that not much has really changed.  Plus, I’d forgotten just how much the water burns your eyes.  Essential swimwear – goggles!

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Another issue with going for a swim is finding the best time to go.  Early mornings are probably best for freedom of the pool but who wants to get up early just to go swimming?  The evenings are school-kid free but then you have to swim in lanes with grumpy sods or elderly women worryingly lapping you at every turn.  I decided to go during school time and instantly regretted my decision.  I stroll up to the reception and ask the man how much it is to swim. He tells me the pool will be closed for the next ten minutes whilst they clean it out.  The fact he is failing miserably to hide a wry smile from his face can mean only one thing… pesky bloody school kids!  I have 10 minutes to decide if I want to swim or not.  I came close to leaving but decide against it.  The one good thing to come out of this situation is that when I get to the single lane at the side of the pool, I have the thing all to myself… no ladies to veer into whilst butchering my back stroke.

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The next hour feels like forever.  After every length I have to stop and catch my breath  This particular tactic means I barely manage to get 30 lengths in before it’s time to go.  I’m feeling quite good about myself until the lifeguard explains to me how a mile is the equivalent of 64 lengths and that most people can swim a mile in 45 minutes!  I’m way, way down on that assumption.

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As I’m leaving the pool, I see a sign for “The aspire channel swim”.  22 miles. 12 weeks. Your pool.  To hell with it.  Still riding high on my marathon place (and chlorine) I sign up and send out the ‘sponsor me’ requests… What have I done?  22 miles in 12 weeks equates to 1416 lengths of my local pool.  118 lengths a week.  I’m screwed.  I suddenly start thinking that maybe no one will donate and I can fly silently under the radar.  Who knew people were so generous?!

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I woke up this morning to the realization I have another 90 lengths to swim by the end of the week.  My gut aches just thinking about it…

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Here’s the link btw… Robs Sponsor Page