Building to swim the English Channel

[CBRIT89]

I've always been a strong swimmer, and was at regional level back in my early teens.

I started open water swimming in April having not been training in 15 years. Did one practice swim in my wetsuit and then did my first OW 1500m a week later, placing third.

I later placed seventh, winning the fastest over 30 in my next OW 1500m, before placing 67th/2700 in my final event of the year, a 3300m/2 miler.

For 2020 I am returning to the first event, upping the second event distance to their 10km marathon swim, and probably returning to the 3300m event.

I've also joined a swim club with the intention of competing indoors at 1500m distance, and to generally improve my fitness, strength, body composition and more.

The long term goal is to get through 2x 10km marathon swims in 2020, repeat them in 2021 plus going 15km in non-event surroundings, then 20-25km in 2022.

I'll make a decision along the way as to when I book my attempt to swim to France from England.

Workout Routine:

M: Swim
T: Weights (ICF A)
W: Swim (Club)
T: Swim (Club)
F: Rest day
S: Weights (ICF B) / Cycling (Indoor)
S: Swim (Endurance/Recovery) /Cycling (Indoor)

I'm currently trying to just maintain muscle mass and current lifting capabilites, eating a high protein diet and attempting to drop 6kg over the next 4 months (my first event of 2020).

[CBRIT89]

Work commitments mean I'm in a hotel for the next 3 days, and miss two club swimming sessions. Not ideal, but there is a gym here that's open until 10pm.

Going to go in at 8, hit the weights for an hour, then shower and sleep. Stupidly early start tomorrow sadly.

[CBRIT89]

Club session this evening.

Reduced my 50m Sprint to 34.64, which is down for 38.96 that I benchmarked at in October.

Not bad for a distance swimmer who has had 15 years off ...

[CBRIT89]

2 week update.

Not a great deal of progress in the last two weeks as I had the flu jab and couldn't swim for 4 days, and that was off the back of 3 days away in London.

Session this evening, session tomorrow. Expecting both of them to be sprints based, and they'll be great for my 1500m swim event in May of next year - I can certainly feel more power in my arms on the pull.

6 months until the 1500m Sprint.
7 months until my first 9km
9 months until my first 10km Marathon swim.