Swimming

https://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/s­pread-word-not-weed/ is worth a read by anyone swimming outside pools.

Good info! The safety section is a bit scary but good to know.

Probably will be swimming here in tropical Fife:

is there a forum approved method of getting rid of verrucas?

Bazooka Max strength worked for us.

Daily application to cover the verruca and leave 10 minutes to set. Wear socks at night to prevent the stuff being knocked off.
Pick off the hardened white dead layer every few days and trim away the dead skin (I used nail scissors to do this) being careful not to break the good skin near the verruca (otherwise it spreads).

MiniGB got them really badly at one point last year so we used a chiropodist who has access to much stronger chemicals and the training to back it up. That was 4 weeks of one treatment a week (timed so that we removed the dressings after 3 or 4 days) but they haven't come back.

I think the advice is leave it alone unless it is causing pain or has been there for a very long time.

My eldest had one which was painful to walk on. We used freezer spray, following the instructions on the packet which might have been fortnightly applications. It worked well. Fell off in chunks in the end.

Lake Annecey is my friend’s local pool - she swam it as prep for a Lake Geneva attempt last year (failed and hospitalised after about 25 miles, unfortunately).

I am trialling the duct tape method as it is cheaper (free).

thanks for the advice, I'll provide updates and zero photographic evidence over the next few weeks

Getting colder in the lido. Down to 14 today, I managed 30 minutes which is an improvement on the 6 lengths I managed last week when it was 14. I think I could get used to this.
Bought myself some boots for when it gets much colder. Sauna afterwards is lovely. Felt great cycling to work afterwards, all warm and glowing which is a massive departure from my general anger and angst.

I had to in the office early this morning so had less than 10 minutes in the lido and then a cold shower. Totally worth getting up in darkness for.

Sincerity or sarcasm?

Very sincere.

I'd rather a long swim, longer in the sauna broken up with a few plunges and then a hot shower but even a short dip is fantastic.

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10k Swim Marathon on Sunday and I've done 400m since 14th October thanks to a chest infection.

Might feel up for a swim tomorrow but mojo all but gone. Will go on Sunday and see how far I get, but guessing I won't be finishing the 10k and no interest in moving to a shorter challenge just to get a medal.

Did 1k (the minimum you could really do), got out and gave my chip in to one of the volunteers.

Maybe could have squeezed out 3k in my current state, possibly 5k if that was the event I had entered, but there was no chance I was going to do the full 10k.

Got a t-shirt and a lurid pink swim cap (good for open water stuff) and it was nice (but hideously expensive) excuse to swim in the Olympic pool.

As an event it's all a bit chaotic. I plodded along at 2:00/100m (which was the target pace I'd put down when entering) but there were people in there at the same time going at 4:00/100m and 1:30/100m. In just those short 20 minutes I was in the pool I hit the lane dividers with my hand about 4 times whilst avoiding people coming towards me overtaking too wide. Hard to get into a rhythm but probably easier when swimming at 1:45/100m and overtaking more.

I'll consider it for next year, but I won't enter anywhere near as early as I'll make sure I'm doing enough training. There were still places in the 10k available a few weeks ago. I'd want to have a CSS of 1:30/100m by then as I'll look to do a SwimForTri course at my local pool to get my technique sorted.

Having done the Swim Serpentine Super 6 event this year I'll drop back to just doing the 2 mile version for 2020 and going for a much better time (sub 1h and ideally sub 50m).

Unlucky and well done. It's unclear if the volunteer was expected to do the other 9k on your behalf, but let's assume so.

Lurid pink swim caps are de rigeur for my OW swimming (got a run out in lovely choppy seas off Margate yesterday).

hit the lane dividers with my hand

I hate it when this happens, 4 times would probably cause me to riot.

Feeling rather pleased with myself. Been to the pool a couple of times now after a break of getting on for 10 years. Managed 50 x 25m lengths each time. Biggest issue was getting enough air in. I am a bit, er, waffer thin and years of inactivity has rounded my back so when I am stretched out in the water my whole front torso is really tight.
Goal is 100 lengths each time but I am going to have to work up to that.

is there a forum approved method of getting rid of verrucas?

I had a cluster of them on my big toe and a few other big ones for maybe five years, tried EVERYTHING. Freezing, filing, max strength acids, gaffa tape etc to no benefit.
The miracle cure for me was nail varnish. I put a layer on daily and then maybe after a fortnight I’d peel or file it off. Within two months the lot were gone.

Anyone here going to Parliament Hill Lido regularly? I have been going 2-3 times a week since summer. It was 7C this morning. I managed about 15 minutes, so 7 slow laps.
I have to say, I am astonished at how quickly I (one) acclimatises to the cold water and the effect it has had on my general physical and mental wellbeing. I thought it was a myth or an exaggeration about the zing, but it leaves me feeling so calm and relaxed for the day, almost like I am permanently on valium.
It really is quite extraordinary. No more crazy road rage issues or cycling into Lambo's

I did last year. It was amazing, loved it. I did 1 length per degree (or sometimes more).

This year I haven't been able to get there for the last month and I'm missing it a lot. It was 14° on the board last time I got in and the difference might be a little uncomfortable if I manage to get there again. Might try with neoprene hat/gloves/socks and then remove on a subsequent visit.

No more crazy road rage issues or cycling into Lambo's

Hah. That was over a decade ago!

Yes, I am aiming for 2 minutes per degree which is as you say about a length per degree. It is really hard going when it's this cold :D
You might find it difficult at first but I'm sure you'd acclimatise quickly. I definitely need to get some gloves, my fingers froze yesterday

I kind of wish my pool wasn't heated, but I've discovered it is a lot colder in the morning than in the evening and I now try get in as soon as they open. My swim this morning was a bit different to last night's session, but still not really chilly.
I also recently managed to get my 25m time down to below 20 seconds for the first time, and I can now do 4 lengths in 1min 20, but it is a real effort. Normally I swim at 2mins per 100 metres.

The rage never dies. Until I got into cold water

No more crazy road rage issues or cycling into Lambo's

Boo hiss, everybody's getting so boring and middle-aged. :)

Now, where did I put my cocoa again?

Looking for some advice on improving my swimming. Have never been the strongest swimmer but would quite like to attempt to get in to it to gain some fitness outside of just cycling. I fatigue quite quickly and I think my problems stem from a poor tehnique and the fact that I've never really got the breathing thing down well. Is this a situation of just going swimming and slowly improving and gaining some stamina and technique? Or will I be best served getting some improver lessons at a local pool?

Something that's completely free is watch this video often (including before and after going swimming) and think about it when you're swimming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3HhNlysFDs