Nov 9, 2010
My time off and the beginning of the new swim season

I have now been back in training for a couple of weeks after a nice long and relaxing break.
I didn't go on holiday this year as I am waiting to go out to Australia soon. I spent alot of my break catching up with family which was really nice. The rest of it I spent mostly on the sofa watching tele!!!

I visited two primary schools in my break, one in Cambridgeshire and one in Lincolnshire. I took along my medals and wore my tracksuit. The children asked me some great questions and I hope i inspired them with my answers! I really enjoyed those visits.

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to the Stroke Association Charity Ball. My dad suffered a stroke 2 years ago. It has changed him and his life forever. This charity is really important to me and it was great to be there and show my support. I took my boyfriend and my parents with me and we all had a great night.

Last week I went to Birmingham and did a Pools For Schools for British Gas and Total Swimming. Its a great programme. They put a temporary pool in a sports hall and lots of schools bring there students and they learn to swim. The programme is really successful and most of the children learn to swim 25 metres by the end of it. All children should learn to swim, its a life skill that we all need. I was able to get in the pool and have a splash about with the kids which was great fun!

Also last week I went to visit the Sportsman's Club members at one of there social evenings. The sportsman's club in Lincolnshire have supported me for years and are continuing to support me. It was nice to be able to go and thank them all for there support.

I started back training last week on my own. I am training on my own till we get to Australia which will hopefully be in a couple of weeks. Its always really hard to get back into it when you have had a break. I have been doing some running and rowing which I don't usually do so that's been fun. I have just been doing the one swim a day and gradually starting to feel like I can swim again

This week I am doing two swim schools for Splish Splosh swimming school. http://www.splishsploshswimmingschool.net/ Really looking forward to doing these and meeting the Splish Splosh team. Over the next two years in the lead up to 2012 I will be doing a monthly blog and video diaries which you will be able to find on there website. You can also find there link on my twitter, facebook and website page.

Kate