Back to School!

Hello everybody this will be quick as I have to prepare for swimming in the morning! Today was the first day back after the half term break. It was good to be back although I didn't miss the homework! I haven't actually got anything to report as Friday training was cancelled and so was Sunday due to counties. My brother went to counties Saturday and competed in the Boys 50M Backstroke. He got a pb and next years county time. He also qualified for the final along with his best friend Finley. Finley came 3rd and Monty came 8th, they both did really well! I swam this morning and it was quiet but I did enjoy it and Alexis, the coach, helped me on my head position on fly and it made quite a difference, I know that I must practice it every time I do fly. Also at the weekend my brother helped me improve my backstroke start as he is very good at it and it really helped and my start is a lot better. Well done to every body at counties, especially to Jordan who got a gold in the Boys 200M Breastroke! I am now off to bed so until next time!

Logbook.

Hello everybody, well the last few days have been...eventful. Maybe that's me being a little melodramatic ok so the reason I didn't blog Sunday night was because I was round Carlann's house for a sleepover. I didn't swim Monday morning or this morning because on Sunday night about halfway through the session we were doing backstroke to breastroke 50m and I was catching Dylan up(a 14 year old 6 ft boy who I swim with)and I as I went to turn he came out of his turn and kicked me in the eye. Of course I stopped climbed out and Jack got the lifeguard and I sat with and ice-pack on it, and it soon swelled up. That is probably one of the most painful injuries I have ever had, it really hurt! So I got out and sat with and ice pack on my eye eventually the swelling went down and I gave the ice-pack back. I then was picked up by my best friend Carlann's mum, Alexis as I was going round Carlann's for a sleepover. It was really really fun and we played Minecraft on the iPad yes I know, nerdy) and we think we killed Herobrine! It was really freaky. For anyone who doesn't know who or what Herobrine was, its this person in Minecraft but he isn't really a person, it isn't a real person its this creature that looks like another player but has big white eyes and no gamer tag  It then destroys some of what you have built and then kills you, but its really freaky like something out of a horror film. But anyway away from the nerdy stuff! And for those of you wondering "who the hell is Jack?" well Jack is a new coach that is being trialed by Pete. At first I wasn't sure I liked him and I am afraid I might have been rude but I just didn't really take to him but he has sort of grown on me and I do think that he is a really good coach. But back to the swimming, I didn't swim Monday morning as my eye was bad and Carlann's had been coughing and sneezing all night. Then I didn't swim Tuesday morning as my eye was still hurting and I was going to swim Tuesday night because netball wasn't on. Tuesday night went really well I worked hard and enjoyed the set it was the first Tuesday I had done in a long time but I really liked it, although it was a fairly hard session. Then I didn't swim Wednesday morning or this morning because its half term and I think I need a break from the early mornings, I think I am the only one in my lane who does all four morning because I have to due to missing Tuesday nights for netball.  Also on Tuesday night Pete got us all out and gave us a big talk about how some of us have low concentration levels, little self discipline. I think I need to focus more because as much as it is nice seeing my friends I also need to remember that I am there for a reason and that reason it that I love to swim and I want to become an Olympic swimmer. Pete also made us do an exercise where we all got into teams of about six and then we had to swim in a line behind each other up and down the lane and the person at the back had to sprint to the front. It proved to be a challenge because the people who weren't sprinting had to not go too fast so the person at the back could make it too the front. And I think it fair to say that every team failed. He told us that we were being to selfish, we were thinking of getting to the front and hoping that the rest of the team don't got too fast when you have to got to the front, instead of thinking of the person at the back now. So basically we should be thinking of the rest of the lane as well as ourselves. So then we did some sprints and Pete said he really wanted us to focus and it to be good and that he and Jack shouldn't have to pick us up on anything. So that was what we did for the rest of the session. But before we all left Pete said that we need to be recording EVERYTHING in our logbooks, how we feel, our height and weight, even stuff that is going on at school. He also said that sometimes he has been nagging at people at why they don't come in the mornings and it turns out that they have younger siblings at home, maybe their parents have to travel up to London everyday etc. so the next part of this post is going to be a bit of a bio about me.
My name is Verity Forster, I am 13 years old. My mum is a full time Maths teacher at Notley High School and my Dad also works full time as an Insurance Broker in London.His job includes business trips at least once a month to the Middle East for at least 5 days at a time. I have three younger siblings, Monty who also swims and is 11 years old, Elizabeth, my 5 year old sister and Henry my recently just turned 3 year old brother. I attend Notley High school and I am in year 8. Next year I will be taking my options. The thing that has most been worrying me at the moment is that I have discovered a rash on my chest, back and face. A few months ago I went to the nurse because it was just on my face and I thought it was acne. She prescribed me with some acne cream and I went home and put it on but I had an allergic reaction to it, my face went red and swelled up so I stopped putting it on. But then I discovered a rash on my chest and back so I went to the Doctor's and got an appointment with the doctor. She said that it wasn't acne but a rash and that it may be due to chlorine. She has prescribed me with some tablets which I must take four time a day. I was really relived to know that it wasn't acne. Recently I have found swimming really hard and it isn't the actual swimming itself it's the whole idea of it. I have just been really low recently especially as Counties is this weekend and everybody in the whole lane is going except me and Lennie and I honestly am really pleased for everybody its just that I wish I was going with them. But I know that I will get there and that this isn't the end of the season for me, it's the beginning. Well I have to go and take my tablet so bye!

I'm back!

Hello I am so sorry that I haven't blogged in so long I feel so ashamed that I let myself forget. But I will definitely make sure I don't do it again. So to get you updated, recently I have been training well but to go back further than that, I was finding it really hard and tiring and wasn't always up for it. Pete spoke to me about this and so did my mum. They said that I cant just give up and that if I want to stop swimming then I should but if I don't then I need to get back in the pool and give it my all and work harder to achieve my goals and that I mustn't remain downhearted. So I have definitely been working harder in training although it is still quite tiring and I am finding it a little hard. I know I can get a county time I just have to believe I can and go for it when I am racing. Also we have had a new coach join for a trial, his name is Jack and he comes from Chelmsford. I don't really know whether I like him or not as I have only had him for 3 sessions but I think he is nice. Counties is coming up and I hope everybody does well especially my best friend Tyra as it is her first county's and Rebecca and everybody else who hasn't been before! I am excited for them all as it is their first time although a little disappointed that I wont be with them. Last weekend we had the swimming club presentation evening and it was my best friend Carlann's (who has recently just joined the club) first time so she slept round mine and we got ready together and it was really really fun, everybody did a lot of dancing and it was a brilliant night, I didn't win any awards but well done to everybody who did! Recently I have had a bit of a cold, runny nose and headaches and a bit of a cough but I think I have just managed to fight it off, thankfully although I did miss a morning this week because I felt to ill but i think I am better now! This week is half term which I am glad of, I need a break from school!Well I am off to bed bye!

X factor live tour!

Hello right now I am in the car on my way home. I have just been swimming and it was a fairly easy session and I had fun and enjoyed it. I worked hard as I am training for the next open meet most people may be winding down as they have county times but I am winding up! I will get that county time!

Early morning.

Hello I have just got in the car after swimming and am now on my way home and then I will be off to school. This morning there was quite a lot of people there but me and Tyra were the only ones from our group. I enjoyed the session it was fairly easy and I did well (I think) I am now at home so I must go, bye!

Tired out!

Hello I am now back from swimming and have had my dinner and have packed my bag for the morning. Tonight session was tough and Pete was hard on us but I still enjoyed it and I lead the lane for about half the set. We had to do 32x50m-16x50m four of each stroke halfway underwater at start and turn then 16x50m four of each stroke sprints-Pete made us start because we weren't doing it right so it was tiring but I still enjoyed the set because it included all strokes. I am now going to watch some telly and then go to bed ready for the morning so until next time, bye!

New season.

Hello sorry I haven't blogged in ages I didn't realise! Well recently I have been working harder in preparation for the next open meet in April. I have missed counties this year so I am already focusing on next years counties! And I am trying to stay positive and get back in the pool working harder than ever! I am swimming tonight and I am looking forward to it so I will blog afterwards!