Update on Swimming

O, and just an update on the swimming front. We decided not to swim the Midmar this year as we are way too unfit. But decided that next year they will see us there.

Still swimming here and there, but the serious training has gone. We are however planning to swim another 1000m event before the year is over.

Car Hunting again!!

It has been 5 years since I last felt the need to buy a vehicle. My current car is a real beauty and I love it. A 91 Honda Ballande 160i DOHC. I bought it for only 23K, but the car performs like a bat out of hell.

I will really be sad to let this car go. But as they say, out with the old, and in with the new.

I am in the market for an SUV. I am looking at the Ssangyong Korando 290 TD. After speaking to my colleague at work who has one. And shopping around and looking at the prices, I have decided to hunt down a 2007 model. They are in my price range, and by far one of the best value for money SUV's. Although it has a face only a mother could love.

I took one for a test drive yesterday, and boy an I excited.

Well, back to the classifieds!!

Samsung Galaxy Tablet

So I got handed the Samsung Galaxy Tablet last week. Also a really nice piece of kit. I really like it. Although compared to the Apple IPad I think it is a bit lacking.

The Touch screen is not as good as the IPad, and it is a bit slower in performance than the IPad.

I really like the fact that it is smaller than the IPad, and that one can use it as a phone.

I am not sure how much cheaper it is than the IPad, but if it is quite a bit cheaper, I would take it instead of the IPad.

The Android Operating system is really nice. And the fact that you can link the apps you download to your GMail account. So you have then even if you get another phone.

All in all a nice Tablet.

Roode 1000m Swim

Last weekend I competed in the Pretoria News Roode 1000m swim at the Bronkhorstspruit dam......

Hang on, let me start at the beginning. . . . . .

I have been training for roughly the last 3 months to compete in the Midmar mile race on 12th February 2011. This is my exercise goal for the year. So after all the training and thinking I am ready for the race, myself and my girlfriend decided that a few races before the big one can only do us good. So we entered the Roode 1000m swim at Bronkhorstspruit.

Boy, can I tell you that is was one tough race. My first event I have done ever. Not just in swimming, but in anything (running included) So I am glad I have that under my belt now.

Anyway.....

The race went OK for my first one. But I am no where near ready for the Midmar mile I realised with a shock.

Looking at the coarse we had to swim from the bank was very intimidating. At least I managed to finish the race and came in 116th place of 171 official competitors. With a time of 25:41 minutes. This is roughly the time it takes me to do it in the swimming pool at Hillcrest, with the only difference being that I swam almost 90% of the race on my back. Because with all the waves in the dam I took huge gulps of water every time I tried to breath swimming freestyle. I was exhausted after the race. But then, I guess that is how one gets better at anything. By actually doing it.

Results can be seen here: www.roode1000swim.com/t78-event-4-provisional

So all in all I think it was a good event for me. Myself and the missus plan on doing a 1200m race this coming weekend, and then deciding if we should compete in the Midmar mile. Giving the huge distance to travel for the event we would rather give it a skip until next year if we do not feel ready after the 1200m race.

I will definitely do a blog entry on that race too.

Now, back to the swimming pool to train. . . . .