What a difference a year makes. June 2013, I was off the road after the Courtmacsherry 10K with a stress fracture to the ankle. I was a pleasure to live with for a few months as everyone round me was training for Dublin (meant to be me). Instead I ended up in a boot! Feeling sorry for myself as I sat in the physios office, he took one look at me and said Stephen, go learn to swim, you have 8 weeks. Very matter of fact, no shoulder to cry on, he gave me the kick in the ars* I needed, so thats exactly what I did, go swim. I mean I couldnt swim from the front door to the back door and I had a fear of being out of my depth. So I opted for 1to1 lessons. Ive tried the group thing in the past and it didnt work for me. I persevered with the lessons over the winter period. Much and all as I was improving, I just couldnt see how Id ever be able to swim 30 lengths of the pool (equivalent of 750m - sprint swim). In the meantime, the boot came off and I was back on the road, training for Boston. Swimming took a back seat for a bit, but with Boston out of the way, I got back at it. Im just back from a few days break where we got the chance to swim in the sea each evening. My first open water swim. Initially I was stop start, stop start and then with a few tweaks to my breathing I got my rhythm. This evening I hit the pool with a plan and as I turned for the 30th length, all you could see (if you were there) was a beaming face coming up the pool. Elated, my first 750m swim and Deccie Mintern to join me in celebrating. Injured? Use your time well. Work hard, believe and you can achieve. Now just to transfer to the open water.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 20:36:26 +0000
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