Downhill Days & Uphill Battles
As another race season draws to a close I thought I’d take the chance to reflect on the highs & lows of this year. There have been a lot of both, thankfully equalling each other out. Unfortunately it’s been impossible to ignore the elephant in the room- my breathing, which has really got in the way & continues to impact my life & my swimming. I don’t talk about it much, because I can’t change it; suffice to say that it takes a lot to make me question whether I want to keep swimming & this season I’ve had that conversation with Dave more than ever before. My season started with a masters 400, where at 300m I stopped breathing & had to do the next 50m on my back whilst trying to work out what to do!! I finished, it was outside 5:00 but, I guess, at least my backstroke was looking good!! Then National masters, I swam fine, bronze in 1500 & gold in 200 back but I just didn’t feel settled. I’d completely lost confidence in my racing & realised I