Michelle C Bower

MY STORY

SWIM #9

Last 5:30am rise to deliver the final leg. All equipment on deck. 50m familiar laplanes. 20 laps alternating breast/back stroke no fins. Next 19 laps free style with fins. No cramps and feeling good. Worked those arms hard.

SWIM #8

What I thought would be a leisurely Sunday after lunch swim turned out rushing to AIS to get young swimmer to an event. Opted for the Canberra Olympic Pool again until the event finished. Paid 1 hour parking. 1km alternating free/back no fins. Started on next km free with fins, but why is it taking so long. Ahhh, last time I was here I only did the 1,400m garmin catch up which I got done with a shower in less than an hour. Jump out after 700m to pay for another 30mins parking. Finish 350km and shower with 2 minutes to spare on the meter. No cramps today. PHEW!

SWIM #7

5:30am rise for quick before workday. All equipment on deck. 50m familiar laplanes. 20 laps alternating breast/back stroke no fins, cramping left calf halfway through the next kilometer free with fins, changed to free/back stroke limping with right kick only. Remember to hydrate with electrolytes before and after.

RESILIENCE CHECK: Sunday 22 March 2026

Thought I would 'address' the 'missing' 1,400m smartwatch laps that did not record in SWIM#6 and #3. Drove my young swimmer to an event @AIS 9am and thought I could dive into one of the adjacent public lanes, but was told not until 11am. Drove to CISAC, but was told there that an incident had just occurred and would have to wait 40minutes. The next nearest pool was Canberra Olympic 4.4km away. Parking had to be paid but got everything done in an hour. Peaceful 50m facility and free entry with my belgravia membership. 2 laps warm up no fins. 26 laps alternating free, back with fins. Now I am wondering what disabled people who swim without arm stroke do to record their laps on a smartwatch?

I did not relog these laps but as my generous supporters already pushed my pledge over the initial $500 I decided to increase my pledge to $750 and by another 2km swim to 17km total by end of March.

SWIM #6

6am start before work ended up as 7am start. Familiar facility with 50m lanes. Goggles CHECK, cap CHECK, smartwatch CHECK, oops no fins, no hydration, no earplugs. Run back to car to retrieve. Managed 1km alternating breast-, backstroke no fins pretty nicely. Running out of time to get to work so switched to alternating freestyle, back kick with fins, arms tired. Figured out the garmin relationship...it does not record a lap unless you use arms. Again, you just have to believe me, I did the time and the distance alternating with and without arms for 800m.

SWIM #5

Totally new location today, but that's the nice thing about an indoor pool, lane offerings are standard, the only variation is who is sharing the facility with you and the temperature. This facility is 25m. Smartwatch CHECK, hydration CHECK, goggles CHECK, cap CHECK, oops no earplugs, will go retrieve them when I start on the 1km freestyle.

SWIM #4

5am rise to catch the Friday 50m lanes before work. Run back to retrieve fins. 2 laps warm up, no fins. 38 laps alternating free/back with fins. 1 laps cool down, no fins. It was so good.

SWIM #3

Set out to the beautiful 50m pool with a view. Swimsuit CHECK, goggles CHECK, earplugs STILL IN THE CAR run back and retrieve, cap CHECK, smart watch CHECK, hydration CHECK.

2 laps warm up, no fins. 20 laps free with fins, arms are fatigued. 20 laps free/back kick alternating with kickboard and fins, no strokes (either I did not have the record button on or the smartwatch does not record swims without arm strokes, gah!!!). Added these manually and you have to believe me - I was at the pool for almost 2 hours - otherwise I'll try and rerecord to make up for the mishap. Remember: a craftsperson should never blame their tools.

SWIM #2

There was thunder and lightning and all I wanted to do was stay in bed and watch a film or two. I managed to catch my very local 25m indoor public pool open for a short swim before closing time. Alternating Breast Stroke, Back Stroke, no fins.

SWIM #1

50m lap lane CHECK, swimsuit CHECK, goggles CHECK, earplugs CHECK, cap CHECK, smart watch CHECK, hydration NOPE but will use the inhouse water fountain.

Hello indoor pool my friend, it's been a long while, so I promised I would stick to the routine I'm most comfortable with, 2 laps warm up, 18 laps alternating breast stroke/back stroke no fins, 18 laps freestyle with fins, 2 laps cool down.

Not too busy. Shared lanes with a few primary students training with their parents preparing for swimming carnival. A very pleasant midday splash.