Swimming lesson #4

Today I achieved the objective I'd set for this block of swim coaching.

Screen shot of coach's phone stopwatch in an 18m pool

This was my second 'sprint' attempt today, the first was 2:01, which would have been satisfactory, but to break the threshold, even by a fraction of a second is great. Over the last 2 weeks I've been focussing on longer sets, up to 350m, whilst concentrating on form, which seems to have paid off.

My plan for the next few weeks is to continue with my endurance programme but to also include a 88m sprint test in my session. My target time will be 01:45min which sounds faster than I've ever managed...

Swimming lesson #3

In my second lesson the key learning point was to try to extend my reach so the catch is initiated further ahead of me. After a few practice lengths I tried a 100m set and could feel that I was reaching the pool end after fewer strokes. I managed this to be one of my fastest sets, but tired thereafter. I also felt aches in my shoulders for a few days.

Over  Christmas I've been to Heeley pool and practiced this, often over shorter sets where I've aimed for  a good pace and form, rather than stamina. Sometimes I've finished my session with a longer set with a pull buoy in an attempt to train arm stamina. Although the data is rather ragged I suspect that I have managed a 2 minute pace over 50 yards more frequently.

Today's lesson was very much building on the pace and stamina aspects. I did manage 36m in 40 seconds which is equivalent to a 01:50min/100m pace which would be great if I could sustain it! We then alternated paced 100m sets with 200m stamina with technique sets. Amongst this I managed my best-yet of 02:07min/100 but wasn't able to get close to this again. Notably, I tried 3 lengths, hoping to hit 1 minute, but was far slower. I was definitely tired.

It's also important to add that my pace at Heeley is slower than in this 18m pool which I put down to gaining from the push off even though my turns are slow. I think a short-length benefit is found for most swimmers.

My conclusion thus far is that I am manging to tidy my stroke marginally but that I am limited by some element of stamina, more muscle fatigue than aerobic. 

Staveley Works

Today I slowly ran the remaining rights of way in the south east corner of my map. I've visited the Chesterfield canal several times now but I'd not been able to reach some paths north of the canal as the footbridges (on footpaths #11 and #12, but of which parish?) have been dismantled, although not apparent to me on the RoW closure register. On this run I approached from the north with an acceptance that I'd go as far as possible and then retrace my steps.

The footpath network on both 1912 and contemporary maps (from NLS)

The maps show a clear route between Barrow Hill and Staveley so I was hoping for a clear run today. From Barrow Hill, heading south east the map shows the path to be fenced, which is very true. So often a path is placed between aging posts with a good width. However, here the path is just wide enough and bordered by high steel fencing with signs threatening trespassers. The land either side is featureless gravel, so not especially inviting anyway.

Trapped between two fences!

After a few hundred metres of being trapped in a rat-run I wasn't able, or perhaps willing, to pass beyond the railway underpass as it was flooded with foul-looking water.

At home, I discovered that the 'Works' is the dismantled remains of the Staveley Chemical Works (aka Devonshire Works) which was started around 1912 (so just after the survey shown above presumably) and finally decommissioned in the 1990s. It was developed to refine byproducts of the iron and coal industries and widened its output in subsequent decades to include chlorine gas and sulphuric acid derivatives (eg oleum). 

The paths are still shown at the height of the works' activity (from NLS)

An online search will take you to a number of aerial photographs of the site and videos by urban explorers of recent years. Significantly, the site has been linked with excessive cancer incidence in workers and poor waste management practices that have resulted in at least one documented industrial accident. On that basis I'm in no rush to trespass, although, in theory, the area has been cleaned-up prior to proposed redevelopment. The Chatsworth Estates has been the owner of the land throughout its intensive use in the industrial revolution, leasing it to various people for iron extraction and chemical manufacture, and will presumably be the freeholders of any new houses.