First 'Proper' training session. Weight update.

Well after a couple of weeks swimming 4-5 days a week but not actually training I managed to get a reasonable session in yesterday. Up until now I have been swimming between 1000 and 1400 metres at each session. These metres have been steady swims with a few drills and more kick than I would normally do.
Yesterday I started with a 1800 m plan and finished with a modest 2100M session.

10 x 100 on 2 mins
8x50 alt kick/pull
4x100 IM on 2.30
2x50 Fast ( the first fast swims I have done. Hopefully no damage to shoulder)
200 swim down

My plan is to get back to a Gloucester session in a week or so once I return from a weeks family visiting taking in Sunderland, Boston and Dover.

I have also managed not to have put any more weight on for the last 6 weeks. Ok I have been trying to lose it but with the surgery and being less active am quite pleased. Hopefully I can start seeing losses as I increase the swimming activity. The down side of the last week or so is that I have not been to spinning or Pilates for a week or so. Must get to the gym as soon as I get back from the visits.
Finally I have been looking at swim plan for 2012. Possible first event SE masters at Guildford end Jan ???

Visit of Daughter and Grand Daughter takes Priority over Swimming

Over a week since my last blog and generally I think recovery has been going well with one reservation and some excuses.
My Daughter and Grandaughter came to visit for four days this week. I was told by the other women in my life (Mrs Tewson) that I really couldn't go off swimming while they were here. I did manage one day by taking Chloe Grace (GD) swimming in the learners pool. There came a time when Chloe wanted Mum and I slipped of to the main pool for a quick 500 M before getting changed. Also missed the Sinning ( I mean spinning )and Pilates but will resume on Monday.
I still managed nearly 4000 M this week though but the soreness in the shoulder is hanging around a lot more than I thought it would. I guess I was fooled by the relative lack of pain during my first couple of swims. I thought the recovery would be much quicker than last year.
I have been told that there is nothing I can damage by swimming but should take guidance from any pain. The pain is from the physical operation and comes from muscle,bone and nerve damage. I am managing free style pretty well although not sprinting as this does hurt.
After managing 4x50 back dispersed between free last week I have been finding backstroke quite painful but better than Pre op. Today I also managed a couple of 25's fly. By not over reaching just about pain free.
I guess the post operative pain will be there for at least another 4 weeks. I had planned to swim with Gloucester Masters at the start of December but this may need to be changed to Jan 2012.

Onwards and Upwards.

Swimming and Spinning. Pilates next week.

Had a good swim on Tuesday mostly gentle free style and a set of 50,s kick. I could not resist to try some back stroke and did about 200 m dispersed around the free. Wish I hadn't I think my sore neck is down to the backstroke. I did get some soreness in my shoulder but this has gone 36 hrs later so will be only swimming gently 2-3 times a week for now. Planning to get back to club sessions in December. Not being able to swim hard and often just yet has ensured I finally make a move towards some land training. I have signed up to Spinning and Pilates with my local sports centre provider. The costs are already covered by my swimming and gym membership so no extra payments.
My first Spinning session yesterday, hard work even with some skiving as I was not sure how much work I could do. Should be able to judge the next session better. Good fun and I hope will help with core strength and fitness. My Pilates is booked for next Monday, this has been recommended by fellow masters swimmers to help flexibility and core fitness. I have no idea what to expect.
So the plan is one spinning session and one Pilates session a week to support my 3-4 swims a week. I am hoping that limiting my swimming and doing cross training will reduce the chance of further joint issues. I also want to improve my leg strength and core fitness without trying to swim silly distances.
Onwards and upwards if I'm not careful I won't have any excuses next year.

How wrong can I be? Good news.

Well I said no further damage to the bicep tendon, almost right but not quite. I also said not new damage to the the rotator cuff , WRONG again.

Follow up appointment to the latest key hole surgery today. For a change saw me on time and the NHS system working like clockwork.

The wound is healing well with the stitches almost all gone. I really felt that the consultant had done very little and I guess compared to last year he hadn't.
He says the anchors and stitching of the bicep tendon carried out last year was looking good but some inflammation on the tendon where it rides over the top of the shoulder. He has trimmed this to allow the tendon to slide freely without causing further inflammation.
In addition to this he found that the rotator cuff tendon which runs between two bones was being squeezed on the underside of the shoulder. He has 'shaved' some bone off to allow the rotator cuff tendon to move unimpeded.
The summary was that the shoulder should be OK or at least better than it was with less or no pain. I have a follow up in 3 months when more could be done to improve if it is not OK. He also warned that further surgery may not help. All positive and the best news is I don't need to be out of the water for 4 months, in fact I can swim tomorrow, although I may still have some post surgery pain for a few weeks.
Looking forward to a gentle swim tomorrow although may not attemp fly or back just yet.
Looking forward to a winter of training so I can swim faster next year, fingers crossed.

Nationals and Surgery.