Tired But Delighted!!

I write this blog as I sit in a London restaurant on the first day of my week-long break! I am very excited as it's been ages since I've had this long off swimming.

The reason for the break is that I have just finished swimming at The British Gas Swimming Championships in Manchester where I had an amazing week of racing and now I need to rest!

I swam in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events. The aim for the meet was to come in top six in the 800m and qualify for the open water team that goes to Israel in May (which is itself the qualification event for the open water World Championships in Shanghai later this year) - I did that and much more ...

My first event was the 400m free which I came third in, with a five second personal best time of 4.07.9, Rebecca Adlington came first and Jazz Carlin came second.

The next events were the 1500m free and the 200m free, I broke the eight year old British record in the 1500m to win the race in a 16.06, I then had 20 minutes until the semi-final of the 200m free which was very tough but I just managed to squeak into the final in 8th place. The next evening was the final of the 200m free. From lane eight I lead the race to the 150m mark, but again Rebecca and Jazz were faster in the last 50 and I finished third with another PB of 1.59.4. which means making the Worlds 4X200m free relay team which is such a bonus - unsurprisingly I am very pleased to make the team!

The last and final race for me was the 800m free and I was seeded 4th going into the final behind Rebecca, Jazz and Cassandra Patten. It was such a tough race and my body was really sore from all the racing I had already done but I still managed to clock another PB in a time of 8.29. All after racing 6000m! There was however a running theme through the meet and the podium was again Rebecca first, Jazz second and myself third!

I was so pleased with my performances from the trials this year and I achieved what I came to do which was qualify for the open water team to go to Israel but I also managed to qualify for the World's pool team which is amazing and very exciting. Shanghai here I come!!

Back Home After an African Adventure

I’m now back home after a great three weeks of training and racing in South Africa.

In the last few days of the camp, myself and three of the girls from my club, Abbie Henderson, Charlotte Wolliscroft and Cassandra Patten (Olympic bronze medallist in the same event as I did in Beijing) went to swim in Pietermaritzburg at The Midmar Mile, the world’s largest open water event. I used to do this swim when I was kid growing up in South Africa and love coming back to do it every year. This year was the sixth time I have won the mile swim and I am very proud of that.

In between racing and training in South Africa, we even managed to have a bit of time off. We went to The Lion Park which was the most amazing experience I've ever had. On the safari we saw lions, hyenas and cheetahs, we then went to the “creche” and got to go in a cage with five adorable lion cubs, one of them even nibbled my knee!!

I’m always sad to leave South Africa, a part of me feels at home there but I was happy to be back home in Manchester. A few days after I got back I did a photo shoot with British Gas which was so much fun and I’m so excited to see the shots.

My next few weeks consist of resting and tapering for the British Trials in March at the Manchester Aquatic Centre. I’ll be swimming the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m Free - so a full on program but I am ready and can’t wait to start swimming.     

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011!

I'm already well into the swing of 2011 and I can't believe how fast 2010 went! 

It was a mixed year in terms of performance, I was disappointed to lose my World title at the Open Water World Champs in Canada finishing in 8th place. Later in the year though, at the Commonwealth Games, I regained some confidence when I won my first international medal for the 400m Individual Medley. I was so excited to swim in Delhi, the media made out that it was a shambles but it was an amazing experience that I wouldn't change for anything.

On a personal note I got engaged to fellow swimmer David Carry and I am having fun (but a little scared) planning the wedding which will be in September 2012. I also found out my sister, Janine is expecting her first child and I will be an auntie again, I can't wait!!

On to 2011...In the past few weeks I have had a couple of competitions, one in Sheffield where I swam the 400m Freestyle and one in Antwerp at "The Flanders Cup Meet" where I swam the 200m, 400m and 800m Freestyle. I was very pleased with my 200m as it was the first time I have been under two minutes. Good to get another milestone under my belt.

I have just started a three week training camp in Pretoria, South Africa. I grew up just down the road in Jo'burg so it's always great to come back and see old friends as well as my first swimming coach, Di Williamson, who is one of the main reasons why I love swimming so much! I can't wait to get on with some more hard work before the British team trials for the World Championships, which take place in early March in Manchester.  

Here's to a successful 2011 in and out of the pool!