Rottnest Solo Channel Swim Update

Tomorrow is my solo swim to Rottnest Island here in Perth, Auz.  A quick run down from my last post.  I hurt both shoulders last thursday swimming with paddles.  So took it easy and iced them everyday.  Wednesday morning got out to the ocean swim 5k with no issues, no pain, and no soreness. The next day felt golden, no stiffness, no soreness.  So lets see tomorrow.

I got here on Tuesday morning, 0005, so some would say Monday night.  Was in Singapore for a 24 hour layover.  Too bad it was Chinese New Year.  Everything was closed but was able to check out all the sites and get some great chinese food.  

Before leaving, I got a msg on my mobile from an Auz TV reporter, requesting an interview.  Now the pressure is on.  He stated that I was a top seed to win the event.  UGH...  This is not the pressure that I need!  So I called him on Tuesday, thinking one of my auzzie friends is trying to stitch me up.  Nope, could not get that lucky.  It is true!  I really like going in anonymous on these things.  I thought it had to do with the phone number or nationality, but they said they got the top six swimmers and need to do interviews.  So I have that lined up today along with my briefing and meeting my boat captain and paddler.

Damn 20k is going to be a long hard battle...

Speed

I broke my Nero 10k yesterday afternoon.

I was told I really should not swim with it without breaking it in first.  I can see why this things are banned now.  In the right hands these things are like a turbo booster in your ass.  The amount of energe that you really have to put in is truly effortless.  I noticed that I really do not have to kick ass much either as you just glide through the water.  To say the least it is tight and I thought it was going to be really bad.  Once I got in the water and wiggled around it fit perfect.  To get the best performance you should really flatten out all the fabric over your body.  I really think the best part is the compression on the upper trapezius muscle.  They always seem to tighten up but with the constant compression on the muscles it seems to be a good balance as I got out of the water very fresh after a very fast 4k.

Trap Injury

I pulled my trapizius muscle swimming yesterday.  I am gutted!  Started my warmup yesterday by the usually 1k.  I got 960m and started to push a bit and bam felt a pop on my left shoulder.  Kicked a bit on my back getting some full stretches in.  I should of just got out but was more concernced with getting 30k in for the week.  This was dip one on top of it, with a goal of 2.5.  Got that but the second dip that night I was going to get 4.5k.  When I got into the office I started to feel a neck pain, thought nothing about it as it was just a nag.  Well this morning, I was so stiff and hurting.

My goal was going to be 30k for this week and now that looks like a pipe dream!  I had two full weeks to get 30k a week done, not happening now this week.  If I am lucky I will hit 20k!  So I am on RICE now, and just in pain.  This has happen in the past and it usually takes two days for it to go away.   With a bit of soreness on my return.  I have to take an angle on this and just happy it did not happen before the Rotto Swim...