26 August 2024
While social media gets a bad rap, my interwebs presence, outside of my work stuff on LinkedIn, is pretty much all swimming related. Through that, I've built this great virtual community (some of whom I eventually meet IRL) of people like me who are, if not obsessed with, then at least passionate about swimming. I get more pool, open water and swimming event recommendations than I could possibly ever act on ... and I love it.
Closer to home, my oldest daughter, in her summer breaks from for full-time teaching career, has a part-time summer gig that I dream of doing in retirement - Swimtrek guide. When she was guiding one of the Slovenia trips this summer, one of the swimmers/ guests provided her the recommendation of the West Reservoir Centre here in Hackney, in northeast London:
This ~25 acre body of water hosts a mixture of water sports, including a dedicated open water course. I gather they sometimes have a loop as long as 750 meters, but today the longest loop was 500 meters. This was perfect for me as I am backing off my swim volume this week ahead of this coming Saturday’s Lake Windermere Chillswim.
My main objectives this morning were to:
Get in 2KM
Feel what 18.4C felt like in my wetsuit (still needed it ), and
To see if my new swim buoy with “feed pocket” to hold my gels for the long swim worked (which it did).
(Click gallery to enlarge pictures)
I will try to come back tomorrow morning and squeeze in 3KM. From what I gather, the Better organization does try to limit everyone to an hour (with 50 minutes in the water). I will be ready to go right at 7am tomorrow so I can swim, dry off and be on my first work call promptly at 8am.
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