Stuck inside these four walls...

Question ..As open water swimmers do we consider the swimming pool heaven or hell..??? 

It’s almost time for the return of Ricks Fun & lighthearted  blogs about our all experiences as Open water swimming team .,It’s been  a while (thank god we hear you cry), since we last made a blog post , so you will have to bare with us whilst Basher Bates remembers how to type ( and spell )  ....! ,But we are coming back for one last year...

Basher on the Run
to hide from the open water Skin purists,
who didn`t know he once owned and wet suit..
and swam in it..;-) 

As per the norm...we will still start every blog, with a loosely (very loose) link , between swimming and a class Song  , its so you can listen to a great song as you read and hopefully it will put you in a great mood for a minute or 2 and maybe start you thinking ..Hmmm   i should  have a go at open water swimming, it looks fun..and if these chubby  middle aged men from the midlands can do it , then surely i can..!!  YOU CAN... ..., give it go ..you will be so glad u did...
 so on with the blog, if you can spot the tedious  link  please let us know, as Paul seems to seems find a link between all these records where normal people can not, Rick.

Okay..its what you wait for every blog...what is the tedious link between swimming and a class song this week.?? , well the class song is Band On The Run by Wings..., Hmmm a great song u will agree but what is the link...easy....;-)  for last  2 months ( and 3 months to come ) we have been doing nothing but indoor pool training , 4 times a weeks , in 3 different pools, which means instead of looking around the beautiful outdoor venues we are used to in the summer , we are staring at four wall's... ...Que Macca...( simply click the arrow on the picture about to hear the great song ) told you the link to swimming was Loose

Stuck inside these four walls

Swimming inside forever

Never seeing no one, nice again

Like you, Big Ricks ,  you Big  Ricks..
If we ever get out of here

Thought of giving it all  raised  To a registered charity

All we need is a pint of water a day

If I ever get out of here

                                                                           If we ever get out of here...!!!!!!!!!

We Are Ricks , get us out of here Now...

Winter Training!

No matter  what standard of open water swimmer you are from the likes of  superstar  OW swimmers  like Keri-Anne Payne or Trent Grimsley  , to swimmers  who have just taken to open water to  old swimmers coming back to the sport ( Like Ricks ) , we all have one thing in common we all have attempt  to do some sort of  training in the winter ...!! So what is the ideal OW training programme , not for Keri-Anne or Trent as that would be like from another planet to us mere mortals , but what is OW training meant to be for the likes of you and me.?

Channel 2013 starts here .!!
pictured ricks Captain Robert Cash at Walsall gala baths..!

Swimming in the winter months is not something we look forward to, you either love it or hate It.? ,you ask yourselves are you working  to hard or too little, should you hit the warm swimming  pool sooner than later , or stay at the freezing lakes and seas as long as you can ( if not all winter ),should you listen and read what others are doing and have done , or keep faith and trust yourself that what you are doing is right for us,  and hope  IT will pay off come the summer ..? ...these are just a few of the many questions we all as open water swimmers will ask ourselves, year after year after year ... big ricks ask one more question ,  no matter whatever  your approach and choice you to take to training , how do we make it fun.!!!

Is This one of reasons way Open water swimmers hate swimming
in indoor pools..its the thought of Having to use the dreaded  Swimmers clock..

the blog will be running your way shortly...;-) winter training how make it more fun ...? Ricks 

Maybe this is you..., maybe in trunks or shorts..pressure goes both ways..

you plan to swim at your local pool or gym and just as u are about to jump in, a none swimmer turns up...and u get that sinking feeling , that all day planned 50 x 100,s will end up being 2000m kick and half an hour in the steam room .;-)

or 

you plan a your 1st session back in the pool for years and years, you think no trunks are needed , well this is a gym pool not London 2012, just as you are about to do your 40 lengths breaststroke , you turn around to Find a Micheal Phelps look alike with kit bag and all  standing there.., you heart sinks.,

what do i do..??? move to the next lane,.? go ahead and risk it , on the hopes he looks a better swimmer than he really is, or do u think ...Hmmmm ,you  look around ,. there's not many in the steam room i see , think i,ll start my comeback to swimming tomorrow..!!