The Strand Open Water Swim Series

Well after about 3 months of not being able to swim in the pool due to skin reactions (I think caused by the pH which is influenced by the levels of sunlight)....I was not feeling myself at all and determined to get back into squad training. I bought myself some antihistomines and made it through the last session with some of the Australian swim team training alongside. They did the trick and I haven't looked back.

When stinger season finished, we started open water training sessions on Saturday mornings with coffee afterwards of course.

There are heaps of fast swimmers up here and I'm actually in the slow lane. Two are currently off at the World Masters in San Francisco and Jemma at the age of 20 swam the English Channel and at 21 just completed the Catalina Channel in the US. Nic of course did the interviews (nothing to do with me - she's the one they call. She interviews the Cowboys and has interviewed Cathy Freeman too plus others.)

So we all knew he was dead set fast and hot...... but what I didn't know till two days prior to leaving to compete in Hawaii was that for the last 3 months we've had a water polo player in the Australian team training with us! When I found out this, of course hooked up an interview with Nic. He said that he was nervous - very cute.

We had the Strand swim series which consisted of 2.5, 2.5 and 5km open water swims. The challenge wasn't the distance but swimming with the knowledge of Townsville closest to the largest tiger shark breeding ground in Australia. I actually came 3rd in my age group category which is more a reflection of the lack of people that swum in the category.

After the 5km swim we all went for champagne at the C-Bar overlooking Magnestic Island......with sun sparkling down, I thought life can't get any better than this!

Then came the Magnestic Island Swim.........................