It’s been nearly a month since my last post, and unfortunately this is mostly due to me having been injured and unable to type as a consequence! This post will be suitably short! The week after Lake Argyle I eased myself back into squad training with Vlad & Charm, then had a 6 hour “easy” swim down near the airport on the Saturday. Before the swim I felt really tight and I was not swimming particularly well. After about 3 hours I had developed pain in the back of my hand, and occasional shooting pains up my arm. Not good. So, I pulled back from my buddies, mixed the last hours up with some backstroke and general flapping around to try and release tight muscles. By the time the six hours were up my right hand was very swollen and painful. After a week of seeing all manner of helpful medics (GP, Physio, Hand Specialist, Sports Physician), it was determined that I had some kind of Repetitive Strain Injury. This is essentially inflammation from strain, impact or overuse and manifests itself as pain and inflammation (bruising / swelling).
Sadly the most effective treatment is suppose to be rest, not conducive to my training program and very frustrating. So I had 10 days with no swimming then got back in the pool last Wednesday, probably a week earlier than the hand specialist would have thought sensible, but I could wait no longer. I also had to miss the Bondi-Watsons bay swim, which was a real disappointment.
Anyway, I have been reminded I need to focus on the main event (last week of Sept) which edges ever closer, so I’ve been wearing a big plastic splint 24/7 and been exceptionally grumpy generally (sorry everybody).
Anyway, this weekend I face the biggest challenge to date, and the longest swim of my life. I am desperately hoping my hand will hold up to a long swim, as a few friends and I (mix of Bold & Beautiful and Vladswim channel buddies) are swimming from Palm Beach to Manly (25km+). We will be escorted by boats and paddlers to navigate and keep an eye out for Noahs. We’ll set off from Palmie at sunrise, and I hope to arrive at South Manly between 3 & 5pm (conditions and hand-dependent!). This will be an epic adventure that Collie, Iain (channel mentors) and I have been planning for a year or so. Fingers crossed for good weather and no pain.
If I make it successfully, a friend’s worked out that I will be the first holder of the “Australian triple crown” of long distance swimming, having been the ONLY person to have swum Lake Argyle (20km), Rottnest (20km), and the Palmie to Manly (25km+)!
More next week.........................
Sadly the most effective treatment is suppose to be rest, not conducive to my training program and very frustrating. So I had 10 days with no swimming then got back in the pool last Wednesday, probably a week earlier than the hand specialist would have thought sensible, but I could wait no longer. I also had to miss the Bondi-Watsons bay swim, which was a real disappointment.
Anyway, I have been reminded I need to focus on the main event (last week of Sept) which edges ever closer, so I’ve been wearing a big plastic splint 24/7 and been exceptionally grumpy generally (sorry everybody).
Anyway, this weekend I face the biggest challenge to date, and the longest swim of my life. I am desperately hoping my hand will hold up to a long swim, as a few friends and I (mix of Bold & Beautiful and Vladswim channel buddies) are swimming from Palm Beach to Manly (25km+). We will be escorted by boats and paddlers to navigate and keep an eye out for Noahs. We’ll set off from Palmie at sunrise, and I hope to arrive at South Manly between 3 & 5pm (conditions and hand-dependent!). This will be an epic adventure that Collie, Iain (channel mentors) and I have been planning for a year or so. Fingers crossed for good weather and no pain.
If I make it successfully, a friend’s worked out that I will be the first holder of the “Australian triple crown” of long distance swimming, having been the ONLY person to have swum Lake Argyle (20km), Rottnest (20km), and the Palmie to Manly (25km+)!
More next week.........................
