IM thoughts

EP be mindful that the "just finishers" of Finks plan are probably going to be training much faster than you are and will probably "just finish" in around 13-14 hours or less I would guess (though I am happy to be proved wrong).  I think realistically you will need to aim to do a bit more than that

open to all advice! I'm just typing it up to see exactly what's involved

Hi Rio, Fink's Just Get Round is aimed at those hoping to finish inside the cut off, hence the hour long swim sets starting at 1600m. What I think it is important to emphasise though is that if you're only going to manage ten hours of training in your peak weeks then you need to be very consistent with your sessions and can't afford to drop any.

Just back from a session with the local swim club ... Masters ... AKA over 25 in reality over about 12 and twice as fast as me! I'm dead in capitals

90mins since eating wasn't a long enough gap either I was sure I would puke any minute!

Was late in so about 50-55mins and I think about 2.2km as I lost track. Brain fog is an understatement

well I slept well last night and don't ache as much as I expected too today so obviously I wimped out!

That's good going EP

ST I think you are being too generous - you will find this out on Thursday when I drown in front of you (even if this is technically impossible in a wettie!!)

Podds I'm shattered - next time I will take my lap counter so I know for sure how carp I am!

2.2k in 55 minutes including rests etc is good swimming Pixie.

ST - do you know what the temperature is in MB at the moment?

LMH it was only cos everyone else was faster and I HAD to swim or die!

Are you also an MB swimmer?? ST and I are down there this Thursday you coming??!!!

I've been before and raced there but I'm not swimming OW as I'm not racing in it this year unless I decide to do their HIM, in which case I may stick a practice swim in first. MVH and Derby Tri OW is closer though - which I guess they would be for you too?

LMH both ST and I are hoping to do the HIM if that helps!!

I work in Derby but I live in Leiestershire about 17m from MB

Rest day today as drained - did 1hr bike + 2m run last night

I did it last year Pixie but the water was freezing - 12C - and I'm hypothyroid so very intolerant of cold. I was fortunate to be racked next to my husband (and to come out of the swim at the same time) as I couldn't grip the collar of my wettie to open it and had to get him to do it! It's earlier this year so I would hope warmer but given the weather we've been having maybe not.

Are you doing Erewash this year?

-12  OMG!!!

hope to do Erewash too.

How does a HIM differ to a shorter tri? I assume everything works the same?

I have my wettie, hat, goggles, contacts so I can actually see and a towel at the ready.

Feel like I did on my 1st swim - shall I chicken out? It's scarey. It's dark. Can't see the bottom. etc but now ST is going I HAVE to go! Eck

It works exactly the same apart from the fact that you're all in the water together. They are a very friendly bunch at MB in my experience, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Not -12C; 12C - LOL

Cool! Apparently the water was 20 last week

I've e-mailed the organisors of Erewash to see if they will accept my entry if I post it tomorrow

Can't believe ST stood me up on our 1st OW date! After he made me go there in the 1st place!

LMH Erewash filled today so nope too late to enter

Bog swimming was a mare. I did 1 large, 1 small lap but as before I forgot how to breath, chest went tight, got totally disorientated and just forgot how to swim! Didn't go giddly getting out but did almost get cramp in both calves (felt them tighten)

The FB seems a tough call and IM a distant dream but I will persist!

need a hot bath now

I think 20C in MB is a dream too Pixie  

If it's any consolation I couldn't swim FC when I decided to do my first full distance and had never swum OW other than as a kid on holiday.

It's not long until the HIM so only you know if it's realistic or not - I'd say that you know now that you can do the swim one way or another (swimming to the start line tends to deal with the tight chest I can't breathe stuff there), need to decide whether you can build up to at least being comfy on the bike for 40 miles and able to run for an hour in time for a short taper - if you can do that I think you can do it.

Shame about Erewash.

hmm I appear to have pre-registered for outlaw

LMH I know I can swim that distance fine it's just last night was a mare - will hopefully improve. Not sure if no wettie will help as that is an option I believe - peeps were swimming without yesterday. Maybe that would help me get used to the face in murky water thing and then get back to wettie?

annoyed about Erewash  'tis a nice event.

Enteries don't close until 28th Aug for FB so will see what happens. Would still like to do it.