Bobbing along on the beautiful briny sea

[andygates]

Been doing some OW training with the Clan Despair, whose fault it is that I'm doing tri at all... and it's like being back three months learning FC all over again. Breathing, lordy, the damn surface keeps on moving and then you get a big one and you're waving your arms around like a Fraggle in one of their dance routines... still, just about managed the distance (500m), so there's hope. I've worked out that you should breathe on the side opposite the fetch. That one was easy, it just took enough face-fulls of water to invoke the Small God of Floating Pukers for that. But big swells are confusing me. I think I should hold off as they rise, then power down them.

Taking pace from the guy in front helps a LOT, dispelling that "working but going nowhere" feeling. Dunno if it's drafting or eye-hooks, but it helps. Will try a nose-clip too, as I'm not sure I have time to learn breathing technique before Bude on Sunday.

Weather's looking like getting windy midweek, so only one more OW session before the race. Transition out of the suit is... well, funny. Drunken wobbling and general clumsiness ensues! Overall mood is nervously hopeful. I don't think I'll be in the rescue boat, but I fully expect to be the last man out of the water. Perhaps I should fit lights on the bike...