Manly Surf Club 1km & 2km Ocean Swims - 7 March 2010

WOW!!! Today was the day of my first ever 1km ocean swim (racing) and Dunc's second time doing a 2km ocean swim race. Having only ever done it twice this week in the ocean and wearing fins both times I took a bit of a gamble and abandoned my fins (comfort blanket!) at the last minute on top of a friend's pram. The girls and I walked from Manly to Shelly Beach in our cossies feeling slightly less self-conscious than we normally would as everyone seemed to be in the same lack of clothing for the race. Just a few minutes before the start gun fired my two gorgeous oldest boys appeared with kisses for good luck, having raced round with Dunc and Isabelle from the car park to see the start of the race. When the gun fired and we set off it was like entering a washing machine - arms, legs and bubbles everywhere. However, being as slow as I am it soon spread out. It looked deceptively calm from Shelly Beach but the swell grew swiftly and for the middle 600m it was pretty rough. Then we had to negotiate huge waves to actually get to Manly Beach and run the last 50m or so for the finish line. I was greeted once again by Arthur and Barney who ran through the finish line with me which was awesome. I was very slow - about 27 mins - but I did it!! I am still on a high and looking forward to the next one!!!

Half an hour later Dunc's 2km race began from Manly Beach this time. It was much rougher than the Cole Classic a few weeks ago but he did well. Not sure of his time at this stage - waiting for the results on the website. I think we've both discovered something that will continue for quite a while!

Ocean Swim tomorrow!!

In the lead up to my 1km and Dunc's 2km ocean swim tomorrow I came upon a great bunch of mad ocean swimmers who meet DAILY at 7am and swim from Manly Beach to Shelly Beach return. A girlfriend, Laura, and I tried to join them last Sunday but were put off by the radio warning as we arrived telling us that a tsunami was due in 55 minutes!! Not a good day for our first attempt. Got coffee and watched them taking off regardless but found out today that we were wise not to have gone - apparently the undercurrents were totally different to normal. The idea of worrying about sharks AND the risk of giant freak waves was a bit too much additional stress for us first-timers! Anyway, we went back Wed and Sat mornings and swam the return trip both times (I wore fins) in preparation for tomorrow's race. I still intend to decide at the 11th hour whether or not to don my fins for the race or to go it alone as it were, depends on the conditions. Like the idea of having a bit of speed up my sleeve in case I see a shark or something - not that a pair of fins would make much difference! It can be like swimming in a washing machine with so many entrants so it will be quite different to our practise runs this week. Wish us luck!!!

Arthur's rock climbing party

Had great fun at Arthur's rock climbing party. Ten young boys, Dunc and I were all harnessed up. Two staff members belayed for the kids and Dunc and I joined in to reduce waiting time for the kids. All of them were totally fearless - even Tenzin. At the end of the session the kids had half an hour "caving" in the tunnels, with and without head torches. I decided to have a quick go at climbing with Dunc belaying for me. Thought I'd do half a wall or so while the kids weren't watching but they spotted me and started heckling so I had to go all the way and touch the ceiling to prove that I was as brave as them!! I remembered my fear of heights when I looked down from the top!