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Kathryn Schmidt

My Activity Tracking

20
kms

My target 20 kms

Done. All done.

Thank you so much to my sponsors. 
I really do appreciate your encouragement and support.
It was a lovely swim today - alone at the start, before being joined by someone, then another.

Special love to Melinda G, Joy W, Cheryl H, Vanessa R, and any others who have had, are undergoing, or will have treatment for breast cancer. God bless you. I pray Eph 1:17-23 for you all.

Had the pool to myself today for my first 400m

I took a photo, but apparently it’s not big enough to upload here. 🤷‍♀️. It is a selfie with my official cap on and the totally empty pool behind me
It’s so GOOD to be able to swim laps. 😍
The system to keep track of my rounds is working so well 🥰

I’ll just be a bit honest with you here… the truth is that the cause wasn’t my first reason for swimming. I had already committed to swimming 5 days a week if possible, and ~1km each time. So I figured I could raise money while doing what I love. It worked at the start, but when I couldn't get to the pool; it was closed; or the weather was miserable, it made it harder. However, it was the folks who donated money to me that pushed me to make sure I finished to honour them. And to finish my goal is the plan for tomorrow with a final 1.3km.

I am honoured so many folk encouraged my efforts with funding. A sincere thank you, from me and Breast Cancer Trials Big Bold Swim.

Cold and wet? Warmer and wetter in the pool.

My swims are fewer and further between than I’d like. Even though it’s 21deg top temp today, I knew I must keep up my swimming to achieve the goal.
The regular indoor pool where I swim is still closed till next week, so I swam outdoors closer to home again. The pool was surprisingly warm but not hot. Pleasant temperature when swimming laps. 
It rained while I was swimming. Not quite the excitement it would’ve been 50 years ago, but still precious.
Another surprise is that my times are getting quicker. I know I’ve done the right amount of laps cause I move my water bottle from one side to the other after each round. Perhaps it’s the new togs I got from the op shop. They don’t have a dress/skirt part. I wouldn’t have thought they’d make that much difference, so perhaps I’m getting quicker from time in the pool as well.

Zigzag embarrassement

Any idea how I could improve my backstroke to eliminate the zigzag issue? I’m fine inside when I can follow the roof lines, but it was another outside swim today.
With Bailey still closed, I do enjoy swimming in the refreshingly cooler, cleaner, less chlorinated pool, but I do need to overcome this issue.

Pool closed this week ☹️

I was fortunate to have been able to swim yesterday, though not as long as I’d have liked. Three sets.
Today I got an email to say that the pool is closed all week. It’s probably good timing really, because we need to spend quite a bit of time and effort in the chicken coop.
I just might have to pay the extra and swim in the local pool once or twice so I stay in sync.

How many laps?

Was that my first, or second freestyle?🏊‍♀️🤔
The swimmer beside me is relaxing on her back. That’s lap ONE breaststroke .
Have I already done one backstroke? … No, I’ve only counted my strokes from the flags up the other end.
How many SETS? OH DEAR.🙄
I wonder how many others struggle with keeping track 😖

So I swim 100m Free, 100m breast, 100m back. That’s a set.
Today I stopped to talk to Melinda, then Gail later on. At the end of my sets I did a mixed 100. So the total would be 1600m or 1900m. 
If I usually take 40-45min to swim 1km, and I took 1hr 20min today then I’m going to assume 1600m.

It feels SO GOOD to swim. What a blessing

Panic

I was awake way too early - 4am, then wished I was still sleeping.
By the time I got up and packed water and nuts, I got a text from Melinda “are you coming”? 
Oh dear, panic set in and didn’t let go. I shortened my swim to ensure I was home for my zoom meeting. In actual fact, I probably had an extra 20minutes to swim further. 
Oh well, I did swim, and enjoyed it.
I might find some flippers tomorrow so I can go faster 😆

Back in the saddle

After three days of no swim I was ready for it. It’s misty outside and probably the coolest day for swimming I’ve done this year. We went early in the morning and the pool was quiet - maybe a dozen or so.
I still want to get some flippers. I’ve looked up a stroke improvement video. 
I wonder what other people eat after their swim. I had porridge this morning. The first this year. It’s so filling!

No swim today 😕

Dan, Bernice and Peter arrived safely from Townsville. It’s a bit noisier than we’re used to, but so lovely to have them here, and such a pleasure to cuddle Peter.
I think there is still some fear around ex TC Alfred. I couldn’t get into Bailey Henderson pool today, so went to the local pool. The sign says “Closed Monday 10th March”.
I’m quite disappointed. I missed swimming  over the weekend so that’s three days in a row

Wow! Thank you sponsors!

I’m not sure if it’s a result of the coming storm, but it was so quiet in the pool today! Only three of us at one stage.

Thank you for your sponsorship everyone. I’m flabbergasted at the responses! 
I did see this morning that Angela was my first outside sponsor. That got me thinking during my swim: Angela has been an encourager to me for decades now. After we moved to Sale, Angela was one of my first friends. I was privileged to receive some of her hand me downs. (Number 6 of 7 adult children meant I was used to it). We attended swimming club together, and I remember her green togs being passed to me. When we had a serious house fire her family invited me to stay with them. Over time I also wore Angela’s debutante dress, and even her wedding dress.
Last trip to Victoria we stayed with Angela in her Melbourne apartment. I have so very much to be grateful for. Thank you again Angela.

Quiet pool today, bumped into Lyn

Hubby dropped me off before taking the car to update with new shockies, so I had plenty of time to do more extra laps.
Saw Jean again before she left. There were very few folks in the pool. Lyn said this is normal for a Thursday.
Have you ever bumped into an old friend in the deep end at the pool and they want a hug? How do you hug in the deep end?🤣😆 It was so lovely to see Lyn F and catch up. She was with a friend (Jenny) who had done lots of aqua aerobics, so they were exercising together. I joined in to catch up for a while before I excused myself.
I did another 1.5km today, 😊😍 so I’m on par if I can’t swim a day. I popped down to the cafe afterwards to have a cuppa while I waited for H to come back.
I do need to find out how to nourish myself following laps.

A P.B.! And post-swim hunger.

The pool has seen me swim 1.05km 4-5 times per week for about 5 weeks now, so when I saw I could support this cause by continuing my swimming, it was a no brainer.
I regularly swim 1.05km, but push the distance in case I miss a day I will still hit my target.
I had extra time today, so I thought I might try to do 2km. I didn’t get there, I wasn’t expecting to be so worn out, and was pretty happy with my 1.8km. That’s a P.B. For me.
Today was the hungriest post-swim I’ve been since I started at the pool a couple of months ago. Just as well I had some nuts with me.
I think I’m becoming a swimming nut🤣

Second swim

Today was a bit of a struggle to get to the pool, but I made it 😊.
I’m grateful to Jean for giving me a lift home. Thanks Jean.

First swim, Praise God

I just love swimming, and I’m glad my joy can support others.
Thank you very much Melinda for being willing to drive me most days.
My cap arrived after I left to swim, but I’ll wear it tomorrow.
Today I meditated on Zeph 3:17. I had read a few different versions before I swam. God is WITH me. He’s my warrior Saviour. He puts my sin behind me. He quiets me with His love. He delights in me and rejoices over me with singing and dancing. 

Starting tomorrow

The pool I swim at only opens on weekdays, not weekends, so I’m looking forward to getting started tomorrow. 

Support my swim for breast cancer to help save lives.

This March, I'm taking part in The Big Bold Swim to support breast cancer research and save lives.

Did you know that 58 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every day? It's heart-breaking.

I'm swimming to raise funds for Breast Cancer Trials to find new and better treatments and prevention strategies for every person affected by breast cancer to save lives today, tomorrow and forever.

Please support me now by sponsoring my challenge. Every dollar helps.

Together, we can create a world where NO MORE lives are cut short by breast cancer.

Thank you so much.

Help me raise money for breast cancer research

Raised

$1,014

My Goal

$350

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My Achievements

My Donations

$396.94

Anonymous

Well done

$110

Hensel Family

Go Grandma! We are so proud of you for achieving your goal!

$106.12

Jessica Thompson

Well done Grandma , we are so proud of you 👏 🥰

$54.12

Angela Stringer

Great cause!

$54.12

David Buckland

Well done Kathryn, hope you achieve your goals and that the money raised can save lives

$50

D & B Schmidt

So proud of your commitment and achievement!!

$33.15

Sue Garry

What an impressive goal for a worthy cause

$33.15

Melinda Golding

It is an honour to know you Kathryn, and your love for community support activities just shows what an incredible and wonderful person and friend you are to those blessed to know you.

$33.15

Angie Foulkes

You are amazing!!

$33.15

Matched Donation

$30

Ali Wedding

Enjoy the blend of exercise and thinking time, all for a very worthy cause.

$27.81

Bronwyn Bunn

Well done Kathryn! Proud of you

$20

Martin Buckland

Swim Sister swim

$17.31

Kathryn Schmidt

$15

Howard

Well done Sweetheart I’m really proud of you You can swim further than you can walk

I am swimming 20km for M G.