The Forestman swim for Hildi, Sara and Mike is getting closer, and Hildi decreed that today would be a good day for a last long swim in preparation. Everyone kindly agreed to start a little earlier so this could be done before work, and we gathered, minus Oliie (US trip) and Paul (getting some rest in for the assault on Brighton-London-Brighton), at 6.30am. Unfortunately, although we were there, the sea wasn't, so we paddled out to the first buoys, dived in to swim gingerly over the rocks (Dave yet to become booted as protection) and proceeded to do lengths between the outside buoys.
Sara had swum last night with Paul and needed to rest her arms, and Mike felt queezy in the swell, so after a few lengths they got out to join Joan back on the beach. Hildi and Dave proceeded to do another 4 or 5 lengths, making at a guestimate between 1600 and 1800m total swimming, and watched (it later emerged) by Anita from the clifftop. It was hard going west, much easier going east, although they started to even up throughout the swim. Dave had a few laughs at Hildi's technique of ducking under the white water and both agreed that once you relax and swim with the water, the potential for sea-sickness is reduced.
Hildi starting to feel positive about the FM - unfortunately the need to go to work meant she couldn't stay in all day, so we headed back in to be told by Joan that we looked strong out there and for some of Sara's raspberry and gooseberry cake (2 of our five a day?).
Loose talk walking up the beach about some long events next year (Brownsea Island, Dorney Lakes 10KM...). But first there is the Forestman and the joint Saltdean Seaswim Fitness and Esporta bike ride London-Brighton-London to do. At time of writing Hildi is wishing she'd joined Paul in taking the taper option....
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