English Schools & Regional Open Water Championships...i'm back!

Hi everyone, it’s been a while….I’ve had a rough couple of months in terms of achieving the times I needed for English National championship invite. My focus was always on the 1500m selection for English Nationals but I could never get near a long course time. My short course time (17.03) was a great result for me but it never happened for me in a long course pool (17.41).

My 400m (4.26.81) time was a nice surprise for me but again, bittersweet, I ended up missing the cut for that invite by about 2.8secs. I was disappointed to say the least. I also qualified with 2 times in the Midlands Championships but with our scheme of work and training, things didn't really hit that sweet spot and It’s taken me a while to bounce back to be honest but I've continued to train hard and amongst school stuff, I've had two things to focus on…

Sunderland Aquatic Centre

This weekend sees the English Schools Swimming Association(ESSA) 65th Inter-Divisional Championships where I’ll be part of a squad representing the East Midlands at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre.

I'll stay in a hotel with my squad for a night, be kitted out with the ESSA teamwear and take part in some media work too. I'll only be swimming the 400m free but I'm gonna go for it!

The following weekend, I’ll be competing in the Midlands OpenWater Championships. Last year I competed in the 1500m but this year I’m doubling up to do the 3000m. My Dad and I went to Bosworth Water Park last weekend so I could get the feel for open water again as it’s been a year…it was nice to swim with the fish, weeds and smelly water again…not!

Bosworth Water Park (that's me pointing at my Dad....it's chilly!)

Thanks for reading, I hope it's gonna be a good couple of weeks!

Run-Sleep-Swim-Sleep-Swim-Sleep! *UPDATED*

Hi everyone...it's going to be a busy weekend starting today!

My School are holding their athletics day at Leicester's athletics stadium...this year, as last, I'll be running the 1500m. Last year I came second and I expect that I'll do the same this year as the 1st place runs for the county and trains as I do with my swimming so it'd be wrong of me to think I'm going for gold...I'm always up for a good race and to push myself though :)

Leicester's Saffron Lane Athletics Stadium

The sun is out, I've got plenty of drinks and they'll be an ice cream van there for when I NEED that ice-cream cone :)

After having a good sleep, my Dad and I will be taking a trip to the Corby International Swimming Pool for the Northampton Spring Open Meet. I still need a few regional qualifying times and I'm going to try my hardest to get them this weekend. The races are over the 2 days and are as follows:

 400m IM, 100m & 200m Backstroke, 100m & 200m Breaststroke and finally the 100m free

Corby International Swimming Pool

I'll let you know how I get on....I hope it's good news ;) Have a good weekend all....what ever you're up to

************UPDATED*************

I had a great 1.5k run and finished in first place...I set off a little too quick but managed to hold my lead and kicked hard with over 400m to go leaving 2nd place behind by over 50m...i'm very happy with that :)

I had a fairly bad couple of days at Corby, one's I've got to try and forget and move on from to be honest....onwards and upwards :)