Update on swimming ....

Ok, here is me trying to stay positive.... Beach Series swim last Tuesday night at Takapuna Beach. Lovely night, but sea a bit choppy (not ideal for me). My nephew Troy came as my swim buddy to stay with me to help keep me calm (that was the idea at least).

The start was delayed about 10 minutes, so we just paddled in the sea, as it was hot standing on the beach in our wetsuits. The water is also lovely and warm - almost like a bath.

The starter went off, and I am still calm(ish), hanging back to let most of the people go first, then wading into the water and starting swimming. I could then feel the anxiety start to rise within me - NO! Just stay calm, Troy is beside me, it is only 1km.

As the choppy nature takes me up and down, I start to think about that, and start to freak out - hyperventilate. After several stop/starts, I just can't breathe anymore due to hyperventilating and can it. Another trip in an IRB. Bugger.

So, it seems I can swim relatively calmly when the sea is nice and calm - but anything more, I freak out. It is all being controlled by my mind. I can tell you, that this is soooo frustrating - it is not an injury, or that I can't swim - my mind is controlling me.

A close friend suggested I try Hypnotherapy to help me relax and stay calm in the sea. She has used it several times mainly for business use, and has found it very helpful. OK - I'll give it a go as it may help me overcome this fear I have.

Yesterday, I had my first session with Dave Gilbert. There are no startling revelations yet as I haven't been able to hit the pool, or sea to practice. I have failed to tell you that Wednesday I woke up with a VERY sore throat which gave me a deep (sexy) voice. With my 3 hour run scheduled for Wednesday, I was determined to get it in, no matter what, in case the throat developed into something more sinister.

Wednesday night (waited until it cooled down) while running, my chest was incredibly sore - the only time I had experienced this type of pain was many years ago when I had bronchitis. So I keep telling myself, just finish this run (key session of the week) then you can get sick.

This is what happened. After getting home quite late from the run (11pm) I was definitely coming down with bugs. So off to bed. The next morning my chest hurt and if I coughed, it felt like it would split open. Luckily I could get into see the Doctor - can't afford to sit and wait - and she thinks it is viral, but have antibiotics anyway. She also feels that I have some Pleurisy which is causing me the awful chest pain. If I have no great improvement by Monday, I have to go back - fingers crossed I am well on the road to recovery by then!!!

Overnight, it has now progressed to head and nose - GREAT! So feeling lousy to say the least. Swimming is not on the agenda today - I somehow think that there is not going to be a great deal on the agenda today.

So more speed bumps along this Ironman journey, but as you can see, I don't give up easily. I think I need a coffee ...