70 replies to this topic

[ClaraTaylor]

I am about to start training to swim 22 miles at my local swimming pool (because no one would trust me not to get lost if I swam the English Channel) for Diabetes UK which will be entertaining as though I can walk (really quite well when the pain is not throwing me down the stairs) I can't master moving my legs in the water - the lack of weight is really throwing me around a bit. Oh well.

SWIM 22

One thing I am concerned about is what effect this is going to have on my skin, especially my feet (which have enough issues with sores as it is) as prolonged moisture is never a good thing.

Does anyone have any hints and tips to keep this baby bum soft skin in one piece?

Also - hints and tips on swimming would be a appreciated too!!


P.S. I'm also doing a 3.7 mile walk for Diabetes uk in November and was horrified to find the walk info had more posters and sponsorship forms than the swim - seriously peeps which one is the impressive one!? I've got to walk 2 miles just to get to the walk and 3.7 is nothing! It's round the local Bradgate Park so wont be terribly challenging... unless it's snowing?

[greybeard]

Good for you, Clara. Ref the skin and staying afloat, liberal application of rendered sheep fat and wear a rubber ring.

Seriously, some waterproof protective barrier (lanolin based, perhaps?) would help with the skin. I suspect that the more you practice the more leg control you will get. Good luck.

If you can get Scribbs to apply the grease, you will both benefit from it.

Do you have a "sponsor me" page?

[Smileyblue]

Well done on your bravery Clara! I wouldn't have even attempted it as an AB! Lol..

As GB suggests, perhaps a barrier cream like the ones used for babies bottoms would work?

And as for the swimming... Eating a diet based solely on baked beans and cabbage for a couple of days should keep you buoyant..

On the serious side, have a GREAT time Clara! Wish you well.. :-)

[brockit79]

I am so looking forward to starting swimming again! Good luck with it, I think what you are doing is amazing! Get those arm muscles strong then you will motor it and not be in for too long ;-)

GO CLARA!

[ClaraTaylor]

greybeard, on 28 June 2011 - 07:24 AM, said:

Good for you, Clara. Ref the skin and staying afloat, liberal application of rendered sheep fat and wear a rubber ring.

Seriously, some waterproof protective barrier (lanolin based, perhaps?) would help with the skin. I suspect that the more you practice the more leg control you will get. Good luck.

If you can get Scribbs to apply the grease, you will both benefit from it.

Do you have a "sponsor me" page?

No sponsor me page just yet. It looks like I'll be doing it in September and the sensible people amongst us are considering doing it over 22 days (aka a mile a day) which is less likely to result in my collapsing in yet another pain flare up to end all pain flare ups! The website says ...

"you have from 22 August to 22 November 2011 to complete 22 miles so whether you want to set yourself a big challenge and complete it within one week (or even one day!) or take the full three months, Swim22 is sure to be a fun way to increase your fitness and raise funds for Diabetes UK."

I think right now we're going to aim for the 22 days (seeing as how I have to work full time including weekends) and try and reduce it the closer we get to September... right now I can swim three lengths!

[dangerousdave]

In those days now gone by
I used a cross between the breast and butterfly strokes
That allowed me to use my strengths, arms and stomach muscels
Alass my stomach muscels now suffer T like damage

Failing that how about a canoe with holes for your legs and goalkeeper gloves for paddeling (don't forget the wetsuit)

[ClaraTaylor]

Just for GB (and anyone else who wants to join in LINK TO JUST GIVING PAGE )

[greybeard]

ClaraTaylor, on 28 June 2011 - 01:00 PM, said:

Just for GB (and anyone else who wants to join in LINK TO JUST GIVING PAGE )

Done.

[ClaraTaylor]

greybeard, on 28 June 2011 - 01:23 PM, said:

ClaraTaylor, on 28 June 2011 - 01:00 PM, said:

Just for GB (and anyone else who wants to join in LINK TO JUST GIVING PAGE )

Done.

Thank you!!

I promise to send you the photographs of my bathing suit just as soon as I can stop Scribs wearing it xx

[ClaraTaylor]

Diabetes UK Donation Page

Diabetes UK now let you have a "challenge" page where you can raise money ensuring it goes direct to them without any "administration charges" being taken from it.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE sponsor me!!

I'm managing to swim a mile SOME days, September where I will be swimming at least a mile a day for 22 days is looking a little close!!

[greybeard]

I cannot believe that I am the sole sponsor so far from Clara on her Just Giving Page. She is already making a tremendous effort training for her long swim.

So come on you lot!! Get your hands in your pockets and give her some support.

Edited by greybeard, 19 July 2011 - 11:28 PM.

[ClaraTaylor]

greybeard, on 19 July 2011 - 11:26 PM, said:

I cannot believe that I am the sole sponsor so far from Clara on her Just Giving Page. She is already making a tremendous effort training for her long swim.

So come on you lot!! Get your hands in your pockets and give her some support.

I wouldn't worry Greybeard, my boyfriend is the only other person to have sponsored me! I would love to raise more than £500 but I will be happy with anything.

My memories of my grandfather as he struggled with his diabetes towards the end (ulcers, kidneys packing up, liver packing up, heart struggling, more ulcers, that "talk" with the doctors about amputating his legs, mrsa....) even though his had always been controlled and he tried so hard to do everything right is a huge slap in the face when I want to complain about what feels like such minor issues that my sci throws at me. I just hope I never get diabetes. It's a little scary to think it's got mum, you start to look around the family and wonder who is next.

If I survive this swim (and the 3.7 mile walk in November) I'm already looking at other events to do. Not quite perhaps as exciting at Colins fantastic attempts for the Back Up Trust (this head hair is staying well and truly on unless someone has some serious money to throw at me!!) But if anyone has any suggestions I'd be ever so grateful. The sillier the better! I'm never going to be able to run a marathon or anything as popular and impressive as that but pretty much anything else is fair game

Edited by ClaraTaylor, 20 July 2011 - 06:32 AM.

[ClaraTaylor]

Oh and for anyone wanting an update on the swimming:

• We're having issues my left knee (awaiting the physio, til then we're just using it gently to keep the strength up)
  
• Both legs will now almost keep pace with each other which is not the same thing as keeping pace with my arms but hey they can almost manage 3 or 4 laps before they give in! (Each mile is 65 laps)
  
• Weight bearing after getting out of the pool is absolutely hilarious!! (How I didn't break something I've no idea)
  
• We're having some skin problems with the feet but it seems to be controlled at the moment, the worst bit is walking on the anti-slip matting after an hour in the pool, it seems to be trying it's best to shred my nerves to bits (tried wearing flip flops but kept slipping so decided we'll just have to man up)

Do I feel any fitter? Any more full of life? Have I suddenly developed wonderfully strong muscles?

Nope! I feel knackered!!!

[jules]

sponsorship done, sorry I only saw the thread today. If I could give you some training tips, when I am well lung wise I do 50 lengths every day in the pool to go with my gym workouts, but you don't mention whether you are doing any gym work to complement the swimming, there are lots of weights that you could do that would aid your swimming. Lat pulldowns and other lats exercises e.g. seated row etc, Chest work such as chest press, bench press, pecs. Then general biscep/tricep weights will also help.

If you want any more advice please shout.

Best of luck.

xx

[Trinity]

ClaraTaylor, on 20 July 2011 - 06:44 AM, said:

• We're having some skin problems with the feet but it seems to be controlled at the moment, the worst bit is walking on the anti-slip matting after an hour in the pool, it seems to be trying it's best to shred my nerves to bits (tried wearing flip flops but kept slipping so decided we'll just have to man up)

Have you tried Crocs shoes, or something similar? I used to always wear them round a pool and in public showers (massive fear of verrucas!) waterproof, clean, great grip and (most importantly) have a strap to go round the back of your foot to stop them slipping around and off.
No point in you causing yourself more pain than is absolutely necessary
Keep up the fabulous work!

[wheeliebear75]

crocs wouldn't work too well IN the pool as they're so anti-hydrodynamic it'd be like towing some buoys along for the swim....tried it once. They do however have shoes that are worn by many a surfer that would provide the traction without the bulk. Your skin may find that every other day is easier to tolerate, the chlorine of the pool especially public pools can be quite harsh on the skin & tends to pull the moisture from the skin. I've never tried using ointments...when my skin started getting dried out I just backed off to every OTHER day & used a bit more moisturizing body lotion.

As to the techniques of swimming...a cross between a butterfly & breast-stroke as said above. IF yo find your legs are TOO buoyant there are foam weights that you can get that will give your legs just enough weight to keep them from constantly pushing your face into the water.

As a person with diabetes in the U.S. I thank you & everyone else who helps.....it's slowly killing so many of us on both sides of The Pond.

[Tinbasher]

How about these ?

http://www.newitts.c..._Swim_Socks.htm



Tin

[greybeard]

Or a pair of tasteful sling back wellies? [attachment=11662:flippers.jpg]

[ClaraTaylor]

Not sure about the wellies! We'll see I certainly wouldn't need to wear the crocs in the water!! Just for walking around in will be fine. Well I say walking... staggering at best. I've started using flop flips but my feet do not appreciate them.

I'm currently nursing a different knee injury (my right this time - how are knees so easily damaged??) and have learnt my arms can only swim 1/4 of a mile dragging my body behind them til everything starts to ache so we're working on that. If I can get my knee to last at least over half a mile I might stand a chance. In terms of legs the co-ordination actually seems to be getting worse, not sure what's going on there except that I can't swim in a straight line. I'm booked into a see a physio but that's a four week wait (at least). Unfortunately I can't afford to go privately but hey ho.

Jules - we're not doing any gym work other than my normal physio routine. I'll see if I can talk to one of their trainer chaps tonight. Thanks for that suggestion

Just to let you know I've now raised £302.00 so am over half way to meeting my target of £500! WhoO!

[mellowgator]

hi clara,

i donated to your cause. i really hope you make your goal.

i think you should think about wearing surfing booties in and out of the pool to save your feet from getting messsed up. i'm a diver and swim with these on and they work really well.


mellowgator

[ClaraTaylor]

Oh cripplesticks! The Challenge starts (06:30) tomorrow!!

[sherbs]

Good luck Clara

Just keep swimming!!!

xxx

[ClaraTaylor]

sherbs, on 31 August 2011 - 07:44 PM, said:

Good luck Clara

Just keep swimming!!!

xxx

Thank you!! I have been told quite strictly by a friend that I must not under any circumstances.... drown. She has such faith in me!!

P.S. WE'RE 77% OF THE WAY THERE ON MY TARGET FUNDRAISING GOAL!!

[greybeard]

ClaraTaylor, on 31 August 2011 - 09:40 PM, said:

sherbs, on 31 August 2011 - 07:44 PM, said:

Good luck Clara

Just keep swimming!!!

xxx

Thank you!! I have been told quite strictly by a friend that I must not under any circumstances.... drown. She has such faith in me!!

P.S. WE'RE 77% OF THE WAY THERE ON MY TARGET FUNDRAISING GOAL!!

I'll be over, as promised, to cover you with HMP grease in plenty of time. See you bright and early.

[ClaraTaylor]

[attachment=11871:IMG-20110901-00236 (Medium).jpg]

This morning: 92 laps!!

[greybeard]

Brilliant.

[ClaraTaylor]

greybeard, on 01 September 2011 - 10:33 AM, said:

Brilliant.

Thank you for the rub down!

My little knees were so wobbly when I tried to get out of the pool I thought I was going to fall back in!

[brockit79]

go clara go! well done you :-)

[Doodle]

Woop woop! Great work Clara!

[ClaraTaylor]

Don't get too excited! 92 laps is just under a mile and a half, so we've a long way to go yet!! BUT we have so far raised £402 (80% of the way to reaching my target).