Swimming blind (and naked)!

Someone (Joan?) prompted a return to a 7am meet - in advance of the clocks going back on Saturday when we will get some time back, meaning that we don't need to get properly onto SSF winter-time yet.

I arrived to find Domino and Pete in the car park, in the dark. Soon joined on the seafront by Alex. Where was Sarah? Apparently going for an early run in training for next year's assault on the 'Swimmers Revenge' Aquathlon!

Not only was Pete going to go 'naked' today after enjoying his wetsuitless romp on Wed, but after a little bit of gentle teasing (possibly bullying?), Alex also ditched his suit!!

A very low tide, so a long walk out, tripping over rocks. Then a swim Eastwards towards, well, nothing... Very cloudy (though still) water, and still really quite dark. The tinted goggles I was wearing a hindrance, not a help. Couldn't see a bloody thing! Actually, I had suggested swimming towards Alex's red hat, which is what I did (not sure what he was sighting on!). We turned when we felt we still had enough warmth to get back, and then sighted first on the lighed up tunnel, then Joan, and Steffan in his lifeguard outfit.

Running up the beach racing Pete I tripped over my socks for a comedy (but painful) headlong fall on the sand. A cut knee - either from that or the rocks. Washed down by warm water from Joan - I'd forgotten how good that feels!

Off the beach at 8am. Lovely!

Temperature - cool

Swim time about 30 mins

Swimmers: Joan, Hildi, Sarah, Alex, Pete (all non wetsuited), Steffan (fully clothed)

Kids play

I approached the beach running from the East.  I had had a little jaunt to Ovingdean and back before the swim to fit in my fartlek run this week.  As I approached at about 7:15, the sun was slowly coming up and I saw a shadowy figure heading on to the beach, turning, looking up and then walking back off the beach.  I was confident enough to hazard guess that the new autumn/winter collection of swimmers had retreated from the groyne up to the shelter of the cafe since we had had major rain and wind through the night.  Spots of rain had fallen during my run too, so fair enough.  I raced back to the car, grabbed my stuff and headed back to join them. 

Once under the shelter I noticed it was windy-er there than on the beach!  but hey-ho, at least if it rained my work clothes wouldn't get soaked.  We quickly de-robed, and headed out on the 1 min hobble over the stones to the sea.  The wind was fairly strong, it felt ok though as I was warm from the run, but the sea had been whipped up to a constant white water mush, wave after wave rolling in.  No chance of a text-book swim this morning, we decided on a route...Out and Back...harder than it sounded.

Joan was first in, making a dash from 20m from the sea, as we reached the water’s edge she was already shoulders under being blasted by the smaller breakers.  Then I skipped in, lifting my legs over each wave as far as I could, until it reached thigh height and I couldn't run/jump any more, then I took a dive in, under the first roller.  All that warmth of the run quickly leaving my body.  Surfaced, took a gulp of air, then it was time to dive under again.  Up again, noticed goggles knocked and leaking water, I quickly repositioned them and then it was time to dive again.  Relentless waves that had broken some way out.  After some quick strokes in between waves I had made it out to tip toes depth and turned to see where the others were.  Pete, was next, front crawling between waves and keeping his head down.  He made quick progress to join me, his suit giving him an injection of pace.  Further back Paul, Hildi and Sara were in and swimming out…where was our life saver on a day like today?  Stefan??

After noticing quite a rip towards the  East groyne we stayed beach central or a little to the west and played in the surf.   To be honest, there wasn’t much swimming going on, just loads of wave diving, body surfing and getting dragged this way and that.  It was so much fun.  We all recollected times of being 10 yrs old and none of us wanted to get out!  To top it off, the sky had gone an amazing pink colour beyond the lower clouds and watching it for five minutes we saw it turn orange and then eventually a blue-ish colour marking the end of the sun rise.  Absolutely gorgeous.

Pete tried to swim but reported back to the group about being completely death-rolled as he traversed the beach.  A few minutes later he was off again though, leading the charge I would say until we lost sight of him.  During the quick 5 secs here and there where we were abve the water, we glanced around but couldn’t see him.  After we became a little worried Sara finally spotted him.  He was on the beach shedding his wetsuit!!  Wetsuitless,  he quickly headed back in the surf more comfortable in only his “well travelled” tri-suit.  I finally caught up with him only to find a huge hunk of seaweed emerging from his suit like a chest wig…fantastic, if only I had a camera.

Eventually succumbing to the time of day, we all emerged from the water and trudged up the beach, completely exhilarated and wanting more.  Tucked into Heston’s mince pies, showed off our finest brighton gay pants and all shivered our way towards fully clothed before heading back to the carpark.  I could have titled this one “as much fun as you can have in the sea”, but “kids play” seemed even better. Roll on Friday.

Ollie

In: 07:25

Out: 07:50

Power Swim and Body Surf

A late morning start for a SSF meetings: 11h30m.

Me and Anita met in Saltdean for a swim in the Big WAVes. Warm and cosy in our wetsuits we dare to enter in surf waves that were being produce by our sea. After waiting for a calmer wave set we manage to power swim the first waves and swim out enough into the sea were we could swim between the groins without the risk of being pull over. We manage to do 4 lengths between the 3 groins in front of Saltdean and coming back to the beach in 30 min. 

It was a Good fun swimming, with moments of 'digging the wave' style swim, were you get right on the top of the big waves and find yourself digging down to catch your stroke when the wave has pass. Or just feeling like you are on roller coaster, up and down on the waves.

On our way back to the beach we both agreed to aim for the right groin so we could actually come out in the middle of the beach or closer to the left groin, and so we did. We were back on the beach on a good fashion way avoiding rolling overs and bad landings.

At the end, both of us enjoyed the waves, the power swim involved and the fact that we could feel our feet, hands and face warm again.

Outside temperature - felt like 18c

water temperature - felt like 12c 

ALex

PS - I missed the yellow/ red sunrise colors coming from the cliffs that you have from a early morning swim.

A chilling reminder

Well, not 7 days from our tremendous efforts on the Mega Big one, we hit the beach.  I was even contemplating Rottingdean and back.  We arrived in the carpark at the new later meet time, finally conceeding to the dark mornings and the onset of GMT once again.  Its just too dark now at 6:45.  Weird people hanging round the beach in rubber is bad enough, but  in the dark?  well, thats just too weird.  With public interest first, I set the swim time 7:30.

Joan, Paul C, Hildi (with a wonky ear) Ollie, Alex and Jude gathered on the beach and all agreed it was just silly degress centigrade.  Not 7 days passed since those lovely confditions?  what had happened.  suddenly it was dark, overcast, cold and breezy.   The clouds were a dark gun metal grey and the little sun had no chance of getting through it.... oh dear.

Still hoping that the tan I had earned in Lanzarote  would still be generating heat below the epidermis, I stripped off.   Hat on, goggles on, ear plugs in...by jove it was chilly, thanks for nothing tan, see you next year.  I saw Jude and Alex squeezing into neoprene but at least my madness was contained/shared smewhat as Joan,Paul and Hildi all bared flesh before the temperature reading.  Joan danced back up the beach, hot-footing over the pebbles, to get a verified reading of 13 degs.....eek...we headed in.

Lovely clear conditions, albeit seeming very cold at first, sign of things to come.  we agreed on a T20 time trial of widths between the groynes.  I managed 6 in 19:31 with a light current east to west.  I'm not sure how many people did, but as we all emerged with the realisation that a later start is a quicker exit (as work don't respect SSF winter/summer hours) we all shivered our way into clothes.  Joan actually brandshing the first warm shower of the year...oh how the mighty have fallen ;-)

My fingers were freezing after 20 mins of that, thank goodness I'm not doing anything crazy like a cold water champs or anything.  I mean, come on, can you imagine that?  I made a swift exit to get to my new place of work and my toes hurt all the way there.  booties and gloves will be on the shopping list very soon!

Thanks everyone for the laughs and for the conditions, a rather good workout.  see you soon!

In: 7:28
Out: 7:54

The week after the big one

A few tired bodies this morning after the exhilirations of the weekend that saw Ollie swim his way into the SSF record books. Swimming lengths between the groynes, sea getting colder, winder getting stronger. The snow cannot be far away.

The Mega Big One

Ollie’s blog:

Following up from last seasons’s finale, titled “the big one” , where last September the original SSF contingent powered their way through a 4k course from Saltdean to the Marina, the 2011 Season’s finale was set around an 8k version of the same course.  To sit in line with the tides, we were going to attempt the Marina – Saltdean – Marina swim.  I have tried to scour the internet but I don’t think a time for this swim has ever been recorded in history, so perhaps we have a pioneering swim on our hands.

With that thought in mind 3 Pioneers set off from the Marina beach, Alex, Ollie and Johny, all marveling at the generous October conditions.  Bathed in sunshone with  emerald sea awaiting we hit the beach.  Johnny attached his GPS to the support kayak, and we did some final arm swinging before dipping our toes in to the water at about 3 mins to 11.  Start time was 11 sharp – I think this is the first time we have ever been on time!  The sea temp felt cold at first, but we soon got used to it once we had climbed over a few rocks to get deep enough to launch ourselves horizontal.  And that’s how we’d be, horizontal, we guessed at that stage, for the next 2hrs 45 mins.

Setting off we were soon joined by Steffan on the support kayak who had entered at a slightly different beach for ease, and Johnny and I waited as he set his GPS running.  Alex hadn’t seen the call to wait and was off ploughing ahead, becoming a hare for us to chase.  The going was tough, the stiff south-Easterly had formed a 1-2ft chop that clattered into us head on for much of the way there.  Timing of the stroke was key to get through this obstacle, and I noticed the catch phase of the stroke became slightly random, slipping water quite a lot.  However, the current was with us so we made steady progress.  Johnny and I matched each other stroke for stroke enjoying the company and I wondered how alex was doing, out there on his own.  Upon reaching the Ovingdean Café, I checked the watch….  33m:28s… I thought that sounded quite slow.  I had set off at a very relaxed pace mind, keen to save something for later and eek out those energy supplies.  We motored on.  Half way between Ovigdean and Rottingdean we stopped Steffan for a drink of his super duper herbalife sports drink.  Tasted clean against the salty sea water.  Steffan indicated Alex was about 100m ahead.  We had no visibility as the waves were above head height in the water, so it was great to have the support kayak for that.  Setting off again I noticed I was stretching a gap on the kayak and Johnny, he appeared to be slowing a little.  Perhaps it was the sex on the beach before the swim, no not literally, you dirty minded reader, Johnny had been out the night previously knocking back cocktails!  I sized him up at that point and made a decision to cut loose form the kayak and try to catch Alex.  Knowning that the kayak would stay it was a choice of giving up the refueling but I wanted to stretch out and get to Saltdean at the expected elapsed time of 1 hr 20.

Past Rottingdean… 55m:48s…. And I caught a glimpse of Alex, he was about 60 m ahead.  I got a lucky high wave which gave me great visibility.  After that I never saw him again until I got to Saltdean after battling a changing tide for the last 500m.  I battled into the waters off Saltdean beach with arms already complaining a little, regretting my decision to try and catch Alex.  The time read 1h:23m:46s….but he wasn’t there????  I saw the girls preparing n the beach, recognizing the pink hat of Sara and the figure of Joan running down the beach for her dip.    Looking back towards Rottingdean I noticed Alex approaching.  I had gone past him??  After meeting up as we watched Hildi and Sara enter the water, he explained he had stopped to talk to Paul C who had set off, and spotted another swimmer (later we found out was Pete) already set off for the Marina.  I had been completely oblivious to them swimming past me as the visibility had been wretched.

The girls joined us and we set off as we saw Johnny and Steffan in the distance, beaching about 400m short of Saltdean.  He had fed the fishes with his breakfast after the motion sickness had accumulated to such an extent.  Nothing to do with the booze!! Wink wink 

I got quickly into a rhythm, noticing the change in tide, I was being pushed along and it felt great.  We flew to Rottingdean, only stopping at the kayak for a long drink at Steffan’s kayak, just before Paul W took over the support kayak.  I managed to return to Rottingdean in 18 mins, and it was no stopping as we headed onto Ovingdean.  The thought of completing the long course was now definitely possible.   We were over half way, and being pushed home a little.  With our emotions buoyed, we cracked on.  Looking round we had opened a little gap on Sara and the kayak, so not wanting to get out of rhythm again, I resigned to the fact that we would take our next feed/drink at the Marina.  Alex and I swam side by side as we approached Ovingdean and then I really tightened up.  I was exhausted.  He crept away and I was unable to keep up with him.  I passed Ovingdean Café and checked the watch… 2:01:29….I was negative splitting on the way back which was great.  I worked out that I would have to finish before 2:35 to negative split on the last leg between Ovingdean and Marina, so I went for it.  My stroke probably suffered even more for this.  With tired arms I tried changing the stroke to recover different muscles and engage the back more but without much difference to be honest.  The marina wall slowly bobbed closer and as I got to within 50m I saw Hildi on the beach, she had stomed ahead and bagged a new club record for the distance. 

I touched my feet down as Alex and and I gave high 5’s, acknowledging this was the longest either of us had swum.  Hildi returned to the water wetsuit less, with the rest of our lovely group greeting us on the beach.  Sara soon beaching after us exiting the water with her usual huge grin having loved the whole affair.  Photo’s, backslapping and exchanging stories - we all caught up and basked in the sunshine.  Pete and Paul C had already finished, both delighted with their times as we all smashed our times set in the previous year, Pete knocking a staggering 59 mins off his.

After changing back up at the cars we returned to the beach to polish off cakes, cookies and other treats before heading home.  What about next year?  How do we go one better?  I’m off to talk to the harbour master……

Times:

1= Marina to Ovingdean

2= Ovingdean to Rottingdean

3 = Rottingdean to Saltdean

4 = Saltdean to Rottingdean

5 = Rottingdean to Ovingdean

6 = Ovingdean to Marina

7 = total swim time

                1             2              3              4              5              6              7

Ollie       33:28     22:20     27:58     18:32     19:32     26:15     2:28:05

Alex            -             -            1:24:47        -               -      1:03:47  2:28:34

Johnny        -            -                 -               -               -           -             -

Hildi            -             -               -                -             16:01    34:24     1:02:52

Sara            -            -                 -               -               -           -             -

Pete            -            -                 -               -               -           -            1:21:00  
Paul C          -            -                -                -               -           -           1:21:14

heaadin' out

Johnny on the way to Saltdean

Where's that high elbow Johnny??

finishing at the marina

One half of the support team - thank you!!

Warmer than Lanzarote (not)

Ollie was away in Lanzarote enjoying warm temperatures, good swimming and keeping a watchful eye on SSF from under his Summer duvet.

Alex, Dave, Jude, Sara and Joan gatherered in the cold dark morning and surveyed  an incoming rolling sea as it crashed on the shingle.

Dave and Sara still in their cossies and Alex in a wetsuit dived into the waves and what waves!  They towered  and crashed on to the shingle. The three set out, grouped and decided to go east. The waves were increasing in size as they tore up the shingle. The group went past the east groyne and at this stage Jude and I had anxious moments as we thought they were drifting on to the next beach. However they turned and headed back to our beach carefully pacing themselves and with lots of backward glances made it safely and confidently to the beach. (Joan was concerned and she even fetched a lifebuoy should it be needed)!  Alex confidently said that he swims, when at home in Portugal, in similar conditions in the Atlantic.

We were joined by Steffan and after some hot drinks and discussion made our way home. 

Air Temp: 10C

Water Temp: approx: 16C

Swimmers: Dave Sara Alex

Shore party: Jude Joan

Joan in Ollie's absence

the final part of the birthday trilogy

High winds and the threat of rain greeted us on the beach, but spirits were not dampened.  It was another birthday!! hoorah!  This time, pete the pike.  After noting the swim would be a tough one due to the 6 ft waves we had the obligatory birthday photos and watched 5 comorants fly by before heading in.  Pete in first, no doubt boosted by his pending milestone, tearing off and getting 20 m out before we had touched our toes in it.  And then we all made our way through the breakers, something we have gotten used too the last few weeks :) 
Regroupiing 75m out, we opted for widths of our beach again, made unusual by the swell so the interest levels kept up.  West to East easy peesy, but East to West the 20mph wind blew the big swell into us slowing the swimming.  It took a good five minutes to swim the 100-120m width in that direction.  After reaching the end I turned to see Sara and Pete being lifted some 8-10ft on a crest of a wave.  It never looked that big from the shore!!  But we all loved it.  After two laps Dave and Sara exited and the remainder completed another lap.
After some rather dodgy exiting - some falling over! mentioning no names ;-) - we settled into the now normal routine of homemade cake, and tea drinking before heading off to work.  Many happy returns Pete!
And here's your limerick...

He'll be known as Ironman Pete,
Great on wheels and fast on his feet,
In the sea he mounts Sara,
She pictures him barer,
A new male model? That would be a treat!

Swimmers: Pete, Ollie, Hildi, Anita, Sara, Dave and Joan.
Non-swimmers: Annika and Domino