Shane Crinnion

Weeks 4-7 Over half-way!

Just over halfway!

I haven’t updated in weeks but not due to lack of things to say.

Over at the pool I’ve covered more drills and technique correction than before. I had my timed swim of 500m – I got 12:10. I’m pretty pleased with that, the pressure is there though to beat it for the next timed swim.

We’ve covered over a kilometre every time and really zoned in on varying a swim session. Adding pull buoys, taking away arms, legs and really testing myself to try new exercises. All of these have a great impact on the form and the general abilities - I’ve been experiencing the benefits I can tell.

In the ocean is where I’ve felt everything the most.

A few weeks ago, I had the hardest session yet which I logged here but it really did shake me. I really contemplated if it would fester every time, snowball real well and drain me.

However I’ve done what I’ve done from the start, I turned up and I went in.

The week after the last update which was week 4, we went down to the beach part of Mona Vale which we hadn’t before.

The best session yet! I’m talking BIG waves but the good kind, the kind that make you feel weightless as they pick you up and drop you down. The ones you feel in your stomach. I was beaming, this was fun and I was excited. I had totally forgotten that a week ago I was crying into my goggles because this week I was trying to stop smiling and not fill my mouth with sea water. We went out and back a few times but to finish off, we learnt how to body surf the smaller waves along the shore and we were all bubbling afterwards – some genuine fun in the waves.

Week 5 – We were delighted to spot a pod of dolphins right where we were aiming to swim. Off we went again from the beach and this time did a big swim that covered some distance. No dolphins up close but they were around! We practised sighting buoys (aka the surf safety) and moving around and coming back. Another brilliant session.

WEEK 6 – BEACH CLOSED DANGEROUS SURF was what we saw and the bay was packed with SLS race-goers. We were going to do the pool but it was decided the basin was going to work. Another fantastic session considering it probably was close to being totally different to the reality.

Week 7 – This was our final session before the holiday break. Again, we sighted some dolphins, playing around and having some fun, I caught one doing a flip. Was it a good omen? I believe so!

Again, we were covering some distance, this time starting from the beach and swimming around the pool and rocks and coming back into the bay. I’ve enjoyed having the safety of swimming alongside someone from the group but this time I found myself relatively by myself. The water wasn’t so clear this week, but I didn’t overthink the dark and cold areas too much because what good would that do while I was swimming in them, although now I am haha. I came around the pool and a wonderful surf safety crew stuck along me for the final part. ***I cannot applaud them enough for the confidence they give without having to say much. Big shoutout to the water safety crew at Mona Vale!! I came around and what I felt was peace in myself – it was a great swim around and I could tell that about it.

We cheered on the other Can Too swimmers and we saw people really conquer a big fear this week – what an emotional feeling all around.

We did one final fun challenge – goggles off. If you were to lose your goggles you can’t just say okay well, I’m out, so we have to be okay with that chance – makes a lot of sense really. We swam to a marker and came back without them – I really didn’t want to, but again if anything this program does, it makes you go for it. It was okay, not extremely easy though.

Yet again, it was a great week at the beach. Now for some rest but absolutely I’ll be ready to get back into it soon!

Week 3- Mona Vale - The Melbourne of Beaches

Week 2- Drills and Going Out Further

Week 1- The 1st Ocean Swim

Why am I doing it?

My dad has loved his lap swimming over the years. 20, 30 laps under the belt, easy! Mind-off, goggles-on.

Well, I had concluded, that would never be me.

After going with my dad to the pool when I was down to visit, I decided, I was going to set myself a goal for lap swimming, 1km in the pool, no stops (minus tumble turning - I could never do that seamlessly). No completion date in mind - just an outcome.

I started with 1, then 2, and so on, every time pushing harder to add more laps, until one day I could do 20, no gasping, no stopping. I kept doing it too. Wow I could kick my goals, who am I? Also, what was next, add more laps until I beat my previous best? Beat my time, correct my stroke?

I wasn't sure, but what I knew was when I entered that pool, it was mind-off, goggles on. The only thing I thought about, was making it from end to end, over and over.

 ***

Last year, my dear friend and colleague, told me about a wonderful program, full of camaraderie, unwavering support and a chance to beat your own expectations of yourself - an open water swim. I watched as she did this with her cause in mind, to then come out with a stronger lust for life and appreciation of the water.

“You should join me Shane!”

Umming and ahhing I came up with excuses, the pit in my stomach rose every time she spoke of, or I thought of, the scary open water.

After weeks I have decided I’m doing it. I’m doing this to channel and build on the strength required to make and commit to new goals, to prove to myself I can do things that truly terrify me and to fundraise for a worthy cause.

Since I know this will not start off as a mind-off activity for me, I’ll be thinking of the utter strength of people who have gone through or are going through cancer, a bigger battle than swimming in the ocean.