After my exertions on Sunday afternoon, Monday's cycle to work and back was hard but nothing could quite prepare me for the swim in the evening.
I went along to Dragon pool for Oxford Tri Club's usual session and found all the slower lanes full. I had been meaning to push myself a bit harder in the quicker lanes anyway but when I found myself in the second quickets lane I knew I was in for a tough night.
Truth be told I was pretty chuffed for half and hour. I kept up (just about) and felt ok. The next 10 minutes were very hard, the following five were borderline painful and then I started to get cramp.
I often get cramp in the arches of my feet when I swim. Particularly when I swim indoors, which means it has something to do with the way I push of from the lane ends.
But on this occasion I got cramp in my quads (thighs).
I is a big muscle to cramp up and flipping heck was it painful. I tried not to moan but a few did escape as I sat by the edge of the pool punching my upper legs repeatedly.
I sidled off home after that to leave everyone else enjoying the final five minutes of mass start practice.