Swim 4 MS Team Page

26 Jan

3 Days to go !

By Swim 4 MS Team

Have just read Hamish's latest update. He rang on Tuesday night and  asked me as "The Guru of Ocean Swimming" for my advice . I had to remind him it is my first time swimming more than 300 metres in an event   ::)).

When he was telling me about taking over 60 mins to do his first sea swim, I started having some doubts about my ability to do this as he is much faster in the pool than me - my best time in pool was about 35 minutes. After we clarified how far he had actually swum, I started feeling better again about achieving this challenge I had set for myself.

It is certainly going to be a challenge - but so is living with MS. I have just been looking at a piece of Word Art on the wall at home - made by Melissa at G&M Design. My carefully chosen words include Courage, Attitude, Journey, Goals and Happy, Fit and Healthy.   I am focusing on these as I prepare myself for the swim on 29th.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement.

Christine

24 Jan

Update for 24/01/2012

By Swim 4 MS Team

Kia ora wonderful supporters

Thought you might be interested in an article that was in the CityLife newspaper on 18th January.   This was an interview with Christine and myself.

We are such media stars!  lol!

http://issuu.com/the.star/docs/212018ih?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fsoftlight%2Flayout.xml&backgroundColor=dddddd&showFlipBtn=true&proShowSidebar=false&logo=http://starnews.co.nz/images/MagicBox6.gif&logoOffsetX=0&logoOffsetY=0&CTI=70304

(copy this link in to your web browser)

22 Jan

6 DAYS TO GO !!

By Swim 4 MS Team

On Sat 21st, the Swimming 4 MS team gathered at Freyberg Beach, looked out at the calm waters of Wellington harbour and prayed for similar conditions on 29th ::))

After getting all our wetsuits organised, we worked out our course for the swim and set off.  Our first goal was the diving  platform off Freyberg Beach, then the fountain, the diving platform off Oriental Bay and back to the Freyberg platform. Jac and Karen then did the lap again to Oriental platform and back to Freyberg as Margaux and I headed for shore - both taking the opportunity to do a little aquajogging on the way in.

We were very pleased with ourselves and all have now made the commitment to do the 1km on 29th - thanks to Margaux and Jac for their encouragment ::))

My training since I decided to do the Ocean Swim in April 2011, has been limited to one swim per week, with a gradual build up in distance - combining swimming laps with aquajogging to get my legs stronger. I have been swimming regularly at the Regional Aquatic Centre in Kilbirnie and have had lots of encouragement from the staff and assistance with sticks in and out of the pool.

I got home, was thinking about the swim and calculated I had done 4 big swims in the last 8 days - 3 in the sea. This is good going for me and gives me confidence that I can do the distance on 29th.

Cheers

Christine

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22 Jan

Update for 22/01/2012

By Swim 4 MS Team

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15 Jan

Update for 15/01/2012

By Swim 4 MS Team

This is the first update for Swimming 4 MS team. We are a bunch of enthusiastic swimmers who have decided to give ourselves a challenge to start 2012 and do the Ocean Swim in Wellingtn on 29th Jan.

The "team" is Christine O'Sullivan, Jac Connell, Karen Petrie and Margaux Osborne - ably supported by Christine's partner Martin Bynion. Over winter 2011, Christine, Jac and Margaux have been swimming once a week at Kilbirnie pool. Karen decided to get into swimmng in later part of the year. 

Before Xmas we all had our new wet suits and had a few practice sea swims from Hataitai beach. Martin was a great help helping Christine into her wetsuit and providing encouragment to us all.

Over Xmas and New Year, Christine had a few long swims in  her wetsuit at Blue Lakes in Rotorua and on Sat 14th , Christine and Jac met up at Kilbirnie pool and had a good swim - and Christine also did some aquajogging to encourage her legs to work a bit better :)