Introduction

At the end of 2019, I decided that I'd like to document my swims and training in more detail - and with more photos - than simply by logging daily distances in a spreadsheet. When I was adding up my 2019 kilometres, I noticed that sometimes I'd jotted down some additional notes beside the metres and dates, and these notes were evocative of experiences good and bad ('Lighthouse x 2. NECK STING') for example. So, for 2020 at least, I'm making a commitment to adding a few notes here about swimming in the sea and in the pool, watching other people swim, making plans and seeing if the plans work, and maybe adding something to the wealth of amazing swimming blogs that people write all over the world.

To begin with, here's a photo of Freyberg Beach, Wellington, on Sunday 2nd February 2020. It was a very windy day, even by typical Wellington standards. I had just finished 4.3km in the pool with the Sunday squad, and as is our pattern I hurried out to the beach afterwards. After plucking some rubbish from the water and tucking it inside my togs to place in the bin later, I completed an 'anti-inflammatory' circuit of the pontoon. The pontoon was thrashing about as if it had a mind of its own, so I decided not to ascend the ladder, but circumnavigated it carefully, and let the waves bounce me back to shore. The combination of a northerly gale and an incoming tide made for moderate euphoria and intense feelings of connection with nature as lots of seawater went up my nose.