Caitlin Fitzsimmons

Scuba diving

Tuesday 25th Nov

Setback and possible reset?

Saturday 22nd Nov

I didn't cover myself in glory today.

I was late. We are meant to gather for a briefing at 8am before we move down to the beach for an 8.15am start. They might give you pointers for swimming or dealing with the conditions or they might talk about fundraising or the charity's work. This morning I missed the briefing and found the group down on the sand. There was some debate about whether I could participate, which I won’t get into.

I did eventually get to join in but there were quite big waves and I tired quickly trying to get out past the breakers and my mask kept coming off. I either had to push on or call it or come back in early. The group was mostly ahead of me so I decided to err on the side of caution and come back in to try again another day. A lovely surf lifesaver called Chris came with me, which I was grateful for. I was fine but very out of breath.

They say ocean swimmers are built in the pool and I think that’s very true. I think I need more pool and gym sessions to keep building cardio fitness.

I also need to decide what my goal is and what group I want to swim in. There is a group training for a 2.5km swim, which meets at 8am, and a group training for 1km, which meets at 9.15am. I’ve been training in the 2.5km group because I’ve previously done a 1.5km swim and I wanted a stretch goal.

Another advantage of the earlier group is there is plenty of parking at Bondi at that hour and it’s over and done with early so you can get on with the rest of your day. My family needs the car back by 11am.

The disadvantage though is that 8am is quite early on a Saturday and one of the instructors was trying to tell me that we should actually be there by 7.45am. I already get up at 6.30am Monday to Friday and I’m not sure I want to do that on every Saturday as well! I also want to have a good breakfast and coffee before I do the ocean swim training, not just run out the door.

I also wonder if I’ll be happier in a group with more beginners since I’m not very fast and presumably that would be the 1km group. Even though I’ve done a 1.5km swim before, it was eight years ago and I found it hard at the time.

I actually don’t know what events I want to do at the end of the eason. I’m not wedded to 2.5km. That doesn’t necessarily mean I want to do a 1km event - there are also 1.5km and 2km events. And I might wear flippers on race day, which will make it easier. 

Decisions, decisions.

First ocean session

Saturday 15th Nov I joined my first ocean session at Bondi Beach this morning. I actually went out to a concert (The Pixies)  last night so it was an early start after a late night, but I felt it was important to show up.

First training session

Wednesday 12th Nov I missed the first week of training because I spent Wednesday to Sunday in South Australia for work. That meant tonight was my first session. I met the rest of the CanToo crew at Prince Alfred Park Pool as the sun was setting. It was hard work in the pool - 18 laps (900m) but many of them were drills using just one arm. I have a lot of work ahead but I’m feeling hopeful about reaching my goal.

Challenge accepted!

Thursday 30th Oct I have always wanted to get into ocean swimming. A few years ago, I even did an ocean swimming clinic and completed the 1.5km ocean swim at Bilgola. While I felt a great sense of accomplishment, I was also the last one back to the beach. The organisers were literally following me in a kayak and packing up the buoys as I completed the course.