Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Friday night is P-A-R-T-Y night!

Dear Swimmers

Hope you’re doing well this week…a bit chilly for mid-November though I have to say…the poolside thermometer read 9ºC this morning for the 5.30am squad!

Three items on today’s Blog:
  • Squad Party this Friday, 23rd November 5.30/6pm to ~10pm
  • A big congratulations to our most consistent squad swimmers in the last 12 months
  • Photo diary of our recent road trip to Kalgoorlie for your interest

Squad Christmas Party:
This Friday sees us celebrate everything that is swimming with the Swim Smooth Perth Squad (fun, friends and frivolity) and to also help us warm our new renovations as well - if you’ve attended one of the first 3 Christmas Party’s you’ll definitely notice a difference:




We kick off at 5.30/6pm on Friday 23rd November and will aim to wrap up around 10pm or when we’ve drained the last drop and scoffed the last nibble (whichever comes last!).
This year we have the following:
  • two bar staff to get me mingling more and off my heavy-handed cocktail mixing!
  • the pool (heated but please bring warm towels for the kids as the air temperature looks set to be low-mid 20s), a trampoline and some table tennis for the kids (please be sure to keep a good eye on them)
  • Mother Smooth dying to meet everyone!
  • some cool funky tunes
  • we’ll have some nibbles and wine / beer / champagne, but please feel free to BYO too as we’re never quite sure how many people will show up

…on that note, in previous years we’ve always had >100 people show up on an RSVP of 57 (max). This year we’ve got 98 RSVPs so that either tells me people are more onto the RSVPs this year, or that we’re going to have a very big turn out!! I’m thinking the latter (and slightly nervous now thinking about it!). I’m also thinking that given various events on Saturday (including the Saturday Stoic Squad Session - which will still go ahead with myself coaching), that the peak period to attend will be around 6.30pm to 8.30pm just FYI.
The key details are as follows:
  • address = 145 Alfred Road, Mount Claremont
  • time = 5.30/6pm to ~10pm
  • parking (best to get an Uber / taxi) but otherwise = on street parking on Strickland Street (south side of Alfred Road might be best) or down at the Mount Claremont Oval (600m walk up the hill) or at Deli ChiChi / Mount Claremont Bakery

Can’t wait to see those of you who can make it then!

Consistency is Key!

As my old training / racing mate Dan Plews - the new Ironman World Record Holder (8h24m) and overall Age Group Champion at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships in Kona, 2018 - clearly claims in our new podcast (link here), Consistency Is Key!” to Dan’s ability to finish 22nd overall (including all the professionals who raced) and to post the 5th fastest marathon split that day. He claims he did nothing special, other than post 22 consecutive weeks with a weekly TSS (Training Stress Score) load of over 1,000 points (which is special all in itself as those of you who use Training Peaks will know!). He states that a simple program, backed up by every session having a specific target but one which fits around his busy family and work schedule, was what produced his best performance in his 25 years of doing the sport. It was quite simply amazing and if you get chance to listen to the podcast, you’ll see just how impressed I was with my old mate from sunny Yorkshire who I’d been writing the swim component of his epic race for over the last 13 months.
We might not all be aiming for a world title (or even a world record!), but in speaking with every single high performing individual that I’ve ever been lucky enough to chat with, they all stipulate routine and consistency above all things. To that end then, I’d like to recognise the following Top-20 most consistent squad attendees for their efforts during 2018 - divide these numbers by 11 for their monthly attendances or 46 for their weekly visits, and I’m sure you’ll be impressed! Well done everyone!



I’d like to make special mention to our top male (Aitor) and female (Cobie) for their amazing commitment this year. Sadly both won’t be able to make the Squad Christmas Party on Friday (where I’d planned a little congratulatory gift and salute).

Aitor will sadly be leaving us as of today to pursue a new career in SciFi writing back in his home country of Spain, but will join our Swim Smooth program in Alicante instead, to ensure he keeps docking his Red Mist card!



…and despite spending the first part of the year recovering from major ankle surgery, Cobie has been able to recover well, getting back into her routine and has been nudging up the attendance ranks in her own “no fuss, get on with it” way throughout the middle part of the year:



Just brilliant!


On the Ghost Town hunt in Kalgoorlie!

My Mum (Mother Smooth) is currently visiting and had always wanted to take a road trip to Kalgoorlie (of all places!) so that is where I’ve been this last weekend. We had a fabulous trip and thanks to the recommendations of Gavin C and Amanda N, we also tied in a trip out to Lake Ballard (cue spooky SciFi images below of the amazing sculptures on the salt flats) and the ghost town of Gwalia too (which made the news here today). We happened to be there for the historic reopening of WA’s oldest state hotel which hadn’t been accessed for over 54 years! Amazing. Whilst 800km east of Perth is a long way to travel, such a road trip with my Mum, step-Dad, Mish, the kids and Sandy (the dog) is not something I’ll forget in a hurry, so thanks for allowing me to take an impromptu break with the family - it was awesome (except for the $38 I paid for a double gin and tonic on the last night!!). Here’s some photos for your interest:


Cattle crossing!


The village of Westonia - where the Goldfields and the Wheat Belt meet (apparently!)


Road trippin’ with their best mate!


No frills camping - the only way! Come and meet Mother Smooth and Grandad Stevie this Friday at the party!

Larking around!


Lake Ballard


The Super Pit…it was super big!


Cranking up the mercury at 38ºC!


A friendly Preying Mantis


Sons of Gwalia mine


Awesome history to discover!


The $38 gin and tonic…nothing special about it (not even any cucumber!)


Tent fun!


My new car...


…the car I wish I had!


More Lake Ballard...


A photographer’s paradise!


Jackson

Isla

Thanks for reading!
Paul

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