‘Hell Week’ no hassle for swimmers
Swimmers were divided into two groups with seniors training on five days and juniors for four days.
Margate Swimming Club‘s annual ‘Hell Week’ is something the members anticipate with a certain amount of dread.
The reason for this is that the ‘boot camp’, held at the club’s pool at Southcity Christian Schools, sees swimmers undergo a extreme training in order to bring their fitness levels back to where they were before the Christmas break.
Swimmers were divided into two groups with seniors training on five days and juniors for four days.
However, although they would rather skip it, by the end the rewards were more than worth it and the swimmers were pleased they had endured.
Due to Covid-19, this year’s training had new elements to it, to maintain the protocols and protect swimmers and coaches.
The seniors completed an average between of 80 to 90km in the pool during over the five days, plus between 40 to 60km on the road, running.
The was topped off with weight training and stretches.
The juniors didn’t have it all that easy either, having to complete 50km in the pool, 40km on the road, plus the weight training and stretches.
“Hell Week is intense and gruelling, but very rewarding, with old friendships renewed and new ones formed along the way,” said club PRO Shayleen Orsmond.
The swimmers were treated to a guest appearance by Linda Stack.
She spoke to the swimmers about their diets and the importance of balanced meal plan to aid them in their training.
Under normal circumstances a prize-giving followed with a braai would have taken place, but unfortunately only a mini prize-giving was held.
This consisted of handing out the hard-earned and well deserved ‘I Survived Hell Week’ shirts.
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