Poolside Percy

Saturday morning post Parkrun swim with GB   

After work paddle I  hope that common sense prevails:

I'm in Windsor with @SaraBahadori , @Kingwellfish , @MMaginty , @iciclepete , Action Dan, Kate and James for the Windsor Half Marathon Trail Run. What a better way to sooth our post-race legs than a dip in The Thames. Cold and delicious.   Afterwards we dined on roast swan washed down with the finest mead in the banqueting hall of Windsor Castle. No, tell a lie, it was a veggie roast dinner with Carlsberg Export in the local Weatherspoons.

Poem by John Mathews pinned to the noticeboard Water temp: 18 degrees The first mutterings of summer are heralded by lots of skinny men in skimpy swimwear outside the men's pond. Someone has teefed my favourite spot to park my bike. I will admit that part me growls 'Where were you in January?'. But hey ho, we're all welcome here (apart from the racists and the sexists) I sit for ages in a trance watching lycra clad images of yesterday's triathlon whizz round my adrenaline fuelled brain. A group of youts arrive, shorts hanging half-mast round their backsides. This amuses me. I finally get my act together and hurl myself off the springboard. I swim a couple of lazy laps. I have nothing to prove and nothing to train for today. The buff youts turn up on the jetty. They can't wear their swimming shorts halfway down their bums cos they'd have bare arses and that's bare shame and inadvisable considering the reputation this place has. The...

If Sunday morning triathlon sprint with Pete and Marcus First leg is 750m wetsuit swim in the beautiful tree-lined lake next to the school. I assume that the school 'owns' the lake. I manage to complete this leg of the race in 15 minutes so I'm a little bit chuffed if not out of puff.   I still can't get my head around swimming in lakes with goggles on, I have a phobia, there probably isn't medical term for it yet. I know why it is, I may write about it one day, 'Potamophobia' is the fear of rivers or running water, 'Hydrophobia' is the fear of water or of rabies and fire hydrants (one of these is a lie). I'm not aquaphobic. 'Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia' is the fear of long words which is plainly taking the piss (urophobia). I do however suffer from 'algophobia' which is a made-up name for a total revulsion of seaweed. My times? swim (750m): 15:29 cycle (20K): 45:30 run (5K): 22:28

Saturday morning post-parkrun plunge with Action Dan and Sara.  

Another sneaky dip in the ponds when I should be elsewhere. In preparation for Sunday's triathlon sprint I ask Dan to time me swimming two laps of the men's pond. Pretty pointless timing me as I take take huge liberties with the last corner of both laps. Oh well, I'm as ready as I'll ever be.  

Water temp: 16 degrees I'm heading home to cook dinner for my son. My legs are really stiff and I've already had enough of cycling up Highgate West Hill. I could do with a nice, soothing dip. If I just take a left up Millfield Lane...

Water temp: 15 degrees I find myself in deepest, darkest Stockwell on a Tuesday evening. I'm here to deliver a bike rack to Marcus for our forthcoming triathlon sprint. My visit is also a great opportunity to head down to Brockwell Lido. The pool is sadly missing the laughter of Swimmers and Brockwell Icicles . Marcus and I agree to swim 16 lengths as that's the triathlon sprint swim distance. I start far too quickly and I'm soon out of breath, it's really difficult to get your breath back while your swimming. Anyway, fear of drowning in south London aside I carry on zigzagging up and down the 50m pool and finish strongly. This beautiful, lingering sunset joined us as we said farewell.

Water temp: 15 degrees As I approach Hampstead Heath black clouds loom ominously above me. The pool is devoid of all life, even the ducks have one beady eye on the skies. The heavens open as soon as I dive in. Twenty solo Lido lengths. Need I say more?  

  Water temp: 14 degrees Working at home today but I've decided to venture out of the house for a Friday morning swim. Chatted to the two local amateur comedians before completing 16 staggering lengths. Spotted the famous actor bloke again exiting pool/stage left.  I'm feeling semi-confident about next week's triathlon sprint, just don't mention hayfever or asthma.

Water temp: 16 degrees

Water temp: 15 degrees

Water temp: 14 degrees renewed my season ticket swam a mile all good  

It’s another beautiful Saturday morning and I’ve just finished another parkun. I’m heading in the direction of the mixed pond which opens today for the summer season. Another pond to add to my kingdom. I’m joined by GB and some other parkrunners. The mixed pond is completely unchanged since I swam here last year. I dive from the jetty, the water feels sharp and cold. I swim a couple of lengths, no more, I feel really chilly today. I spend a few minutes chatting with my fellow swimmers before heading off for Saturday duties. My fingers remain numb for ages afterwards. #summeriscoming  

Water temp: 14 degrees Friday morning swim. Slightly overcast, just a handful of swimmers. I really want to swim a mile this morning, I really want to swim a mile. That's 27 lengths. I start of strongly and find my rhythm quickly. After seven lengths I feel it will take forever, at ten I'm nearly half way there, at 14 my start to feet feel cold, at 18 I'll do two more. At 20 I've had enough and haul myself out. I feel great. Up the workers. I shall return tomorrow.