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A second very quiet day in the pool. Odd that Monday and Tuesday last week were really busy, but this week have been very quiet. Anyhow, usual drill. Same set as previous swims with an aim to get just a little further.

It’s becoming quite tough now, though I have noticed that as I work my way through this set trying to complete the full twenty-four reps, my swim times look to be getting faster. I can’t complain about that, but I’ll stick to the plan because then I know where I am. Despite the difficulty I did manage one extra rep before my first (only) failure on rep twenty-one today. I was very pleased to get that far. Not sure if I go for a big push to complete the full set this week or just try to make sure I keep moving forward and hopefully finish it early next week. I suspect I’ll probably end up doing the latter.

USRPT distance this year: 39,800m
Total distance this year: 41,600m

Another very quiet session; completely the opposite of how it was last week. Same set for me again, but again attempting to push things just a little bit further.

And again it went pretty well, this time managing another two reps compared with last time, finally failing on rep 20. Again I was getting a bit ragged towards the end. I don’t think that can continue if I want to make it much further, but I’m happy to have a one rep per session improvement if that’s how it goes.

USRPT distance this year: 38,050m
Total distance this year: 39,850m

Had the pool to myself again for the start of my session today as I arrived just as the preceding school lesson was leaving. Same set as yesterday, with the plan just to get a little further.

I’m pleased to say things went pretty well and I managed seventeen reps before a fail on eighteen. From there I made it to the end of the set and even had enough energy left to sprint the last 25m 🙂

Hopefully the improvements will continue next week.

USRPT distance this year: 36,300m
Total distance this year: 38,100m

I had the pool to myself for most of my session today. Even after all the time I’ve been swimming it still feels a bit odd when it’s just me and the lifeguard.

Anyhow, back on the same set again today, trying to push that first fail out a bit further. And as things happen it went very well. I managed two more reps than last time (two days ago), before failing for the first and only time on rep seventeen. Getting that far was quite tough, but my last few reps weren’t as lacking in control as they have been. That said, last time I managed to sprint home on the last length of the set; this time there was nothing left in the tank.

Back tomorrow hopefully. Another improvement would be nice, but I feel as though I’ve done pretty well so far this week so I shan’t complain if it doesn’t happen.

USRPT distance this year: 34,550m
Total distance this year: 36,350m

A busy pool again today. Most unexpected. Fortunately however I ended up with a lane to myself, otherwise it would have been tricky to attempt my set at all.

Today was a considerable improvement on yesterday. My target was to get to at least thirteen reps before a fail and I actually managed fourteen before my first and only fail on rep fifteen, though I have to admit that by the last two of the set I was getting quite ragged.

Very pleased with the performance though. I hope I can keep it up and do better again next time, which won’t be tomorrow as the shallow end of the pool is closed during the day, I assume so that the pool cover motor can be replaced.

USRPT distance this year: 32,800m
Total distance this year: 34,600m

Unexpectedly busy at the pool today. Made for a session that wasn’t really enjoyable given the need to avoid others who apparently aren’t able to swim in a straight line.

Anyhow, I attempted the same session as last time, but struggled and could only get as far as rep 12, one fewer than the previous session, before my first fail. From then I managed to get to 21 before my next failure, one better than last time, so it wasn’t all bad news, but here’s hoping for better tomorrow.

USRPT distance this year: 31,050m
Total distance this year: 32,850m

I sat in the office today waiting for the forecast snow to arrive (and doing the odd bit of work too :), but the weather remained resolutely clear so I drove to the pool wondering if I should ask the staff to let a life guard know if it started snowing so they could stop me. In the end I didn’t bother.

After Tuesday’s disaster, today went much better. My current set is still very tough for me and I had two failures again, on reps 13 and 20. Very little different from Monday (reps 14 and 20 that time). By the last couple of 50s I was really getting quite ragged though 🙁

I left the pool with the slightest hint of sleet appearing as I walked through the car park, so my timing seems to have been pretty good. We’ll have to see if it’s possible to get to the pool tomorrow.

It’s the end of the first month of the year too (where did the time go?) and I’m happy to have reached over 31km for the month. Given my current set style that’s quite acceptable.

USRPT distance this year: 29,350m
Total distance this year: 31,150m

Same set again today, and the same chilly water.

I felt pretty good though, and that seems to have shown in the results. I managed to complete 13 reps of my current set before being unable to continue for rep 14, then managed to get to 19 after which I just couldn’t go for rep 20. The final four reps were a bit ragged, particularly the turns, but I did still manage to complete the set.

USRPT distance this year: 27,650m
Total distance this year: 27,650m