Last week I had it in my head that I was going to swim the 6km and get it over and done with. This would be my biggest challenge ever, due to the fact last I couldnt even swim 1500m and at the beginning of the season down at the lake I could only swim 400m and that stopping at each bhoy.
The plan was to initially swim the distance Sat morning. In true Tarsh style I alerted everyone I knew on Twitter that I was taking up the challenge and I loved of course my fellow turbos giving me guidance and lots of 'Good luck' messages. Well I was out Friday night, so woke up late Sat morning and didn't do it. I was so gutted but I quickly got over it and decided SUNDAY was the day.
The night before again I was out, as my friend from OZ was here. However came home, got my kit all sorted and prepared to take on the challenge Sunday morning.
Woke up at 5.30am, got into my kit, had a coffee and headed via bike to the lake with Megan. She has been such a great support with all my maddness.
Got to the lake, wetsuit on, did all three exercises 20 times as per my coaches instructions, set my timer on and got into the water.
The first 4 laps were okay, my arms and shoulders were feeling good, I had built a rythmn and my breathing was fine. By the time I got to lap 6 OMG OMG OMG my left shoulder was starting to really hurt me but I ignored it and kept reminding myself of what Alan had said me, 'Tarsh its mental strength at this point, 2 laps and you are done, stay strong'! Well I did just that.
On lap 8, I kept on saying to myself 'This is it Tarsh, you have to complete this lap and you will have bragging rights for at least a few days that you completed this mad task. I was on the home stretch, I swam to the final bhoy, hit it and swam into the bank, where I greeted by Megan and Tim Male.
I swear to god, I am never doing it again, but I am so glad I did. I struggled to stand up straight initially and I really wanted to cry from sheer exhaustion and completion, but as Tim was there that would have been slightly embarrassing lol.
So my fellow TurboMan nutters (I say this as a term of endearment of course) I completed the challenge in 3:04:25
My laps time below - naturally my first lap was my fastest and my last lap was my slowest
Lap 1 - 19:44
Lap 2 - 21:33
Lap 3 - 22:04
Lap 4 - 22:54
Lap 5 - 23:48
Lap 6 - 23:48
Lap 7 - 24:34
Lap 8 - 26.00
I am so over the moon that I have completed what I feel is the hardest part of the 3 part challenge! Now onto Staples and RP.
PS. My shoulder is so sore, I cannot lift it to save my life 
I did learn from this that my stroke and technique need work, so I will engage with a swim coach to have one to one sessions. With my determination I know I can achieve anything.
Thanks everyone for all the support and encouragement, I never said I would be fast but I did say I would complete it, and that I did!
