Poolside Percy

Water temp: 21 degrees Saturday morning finds me at the men's pond. No surprise there then. There's hardly anybody here. Maybe the warning signs for blue algae are doing their job. I'm wearing my new parkrun tshirt, I got it for getting out of bed 50 times on Saturday morning, that's more impressive than the running I reckon. Quick dip today as it I'm having a family bbq at my place for my son, he's 15, he's adorable. No sign of any algae.

Water temp: 20 degrees Late afternoon swim. OK, so it's a bit overcast but the water is lovely and The Lido is virtually empty. I spend ages sitting on my second favourite bench mesmerised by the steeley blue water. A group of lads are being really annoying, they're not really doing anything wrong, they're just annoying. The lifeguards must have had enough as a lone policewoman turns up and asks them to leave. Presumably there is a Hampstead Heath by-law against being plain old annoying. Now the lads have left I think about swimming and gaze some more at the water. Eventually I find myself diving in to the pool all hatted and goggled, I don't even remember getting changed. The water feels cool today. I set my mind on swimming 28 lengths, a mile, but after three lengths I find myself bored and distracted. I quickly remind myself that I have a full-on triathlon in 11 days and swim strongly and resolutely.

It's Sunday morning and I'm in Reading with Lola. We're on our bikes and we've got a couple of hours to spare before we have to be at our mate's for Sunday lunch. Now, I'm not the kind of person who sits in a coffee shop staring at my MacBook or reading the Sunday papers. Find me a river. We head in the direction of Pangbourne. Just outside of Tilehurst the observant GF spots a sign for the Thames path which we duly follow. OK, it didn't really happen like that, I sped off up a hill and dutifully waited at the top. GF eventually caught up with me, panting and screaming that I'd missed the sign. Early morning bad moods and tiredness soon evaporate as we find ourselves by The Thames. It really is pretty here and the sun is shining. Disaster, GF has forgotten her bikini. Luckily, it's quite deserted so without hesitation we go for a mid-summer skinny dip. The water is cool and silky against our skin. There's not a swan or a boat in sight. ...

This morning I appear a sad and pathetic creature. My head hurts, my lungs are raw and I just did my slowest ever time at Parkrun. Inevitably, I stink of last night's booze. I'm with GB who is refusing to sympathise. He's conveniently forgotten what a state he was in on new year's day. He throws himself gleefully in to the water as I gingerly dip my toes in, I reckon the shock could kill me. I'm in, the water feels great but my head disagrees, I try getting hysterical, it doesn't help, getting hysterical never helps. We swim a couple of lengths and laugh about England's exit from the World Cup. We've been rubbish for years, someone has been selling false expectation at inflated prices, they must have made a fortune. Didn't anybody watch the qualifiers? GB leaves me mumbling to myself on a bench as I ponder whether fried bread could possibly help me in my predicament. I get text from a friend, BBQ this afternoon, better sort myself out.

Very tidy after work swim. Twenty eight lengths in a virtually deserted pool.

Water temp: 21 degrees Tuesday afternoon post work dip. I'm feeling a little shattered and still a bit euphoric after the weekend's madness of The Cambridge Swimmer and London to Brighton. I'm seeking mental and physical rejuvenation in the best way that I know. The water is as green as verdant mushy peas in to which I happily throw myself...

What Katie did in Cambridge all aboard the 08h15 from King's Cross platform 4...

It's a very wet and miserable morning. Dan and I have done the honourable thing and volunteered at Parkrun. Undeterred by the deluge we squelch across The Heath towards the Men's Pond. The only other living thing about today is this Egyptian Goose who has taken up residency on the diving board. Apparently he gets a pissed off with people bouncing up and down on his board.  

First thing swim/run/swim with the NorthernLites. We meet at The Lido at 7am where the very early in the morning swimmers are forming an expectant queue. Widths only ‘til 7.30. We all swim a couple of widths before GB, Dan and myself head off on a run around The Heath, ending up in The Men's Pond.

Water temp: 18 degrees I haven't been here for ages and ages. Nothing has changed apart from my favourite bench isn't there any more. Where is my favourite bench? Why on earth would you move my favourite bench. I spend a lot of time contemplating these questions sitting on my second favourite bench. By the time I get round to swimming I can't seem to get it together, crappy goggles don't help. Crappy goggles don't help with anything. I swim 10 lengths and catch the last of the evening rays. Photo of Lido opening. My Dad and my Grandmother are in there somewhere.

It’s Sunday morning and I’m feeling adventurous and full of energy.  My son and I are the new owners of this Giant road bike. It’s about time the bike and I became acquainted. Every journey or adventure should involve a swim so I head north to Hitchin Lido which is 32 north of my place. Bikes are a bit of a sore point with me at the moment, the day after I bought The Giant I had my beloved Dawes Super Galaxy stolen. Hitchin Lido is beautiful: “In 1938, the outdoor pool was opened. This pool still exists today alongside a modern eight-lane indoor pool opened in 1991. Situated in a park setting, it is a 50m outdoor heated pool (summer only) with sunbathing terrace, as well as a 25m indoor pool with separate learner pool. TSS writes: "Brick built with green glazed tile roofs. Fine fountain and rose pergola.” I hide out of the glare of the midday sun and watch the kids and families play in the water. There are also two wide, underused lanes for 'serious' swimmers...