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I am aiming to add a swim distance as part of Team Oak Strength's set of challenges in July 2025 to raise money for Charlies Community Support. Fellow Team Oak Strength member Pat has a significant zero birthday in July and the theme is therefore linked to the number 70 (or variations like 7.0). After some pondering and with restricted days with access to a pool in July, I am aiming to complete 7 miles of swimming in up to 7 consecutive days (as a mixture of training sets across all strokes, and potentially including full swims, drills, kick and pull - but no fins(!), rather than continuous swimming). I will be using the traditional mile distance of 1,600m (rather than the metric mile of 1,500m).

In my local leisure centre pool (25m long), 1 mile = 64.4 lengths (usually rounded to 64). 64.4x7 = 450.8 lengths. So, I am aiming for 450 lengths (and maybe the extra 1 or 2 if we are rounding up!). Depending on pool access, I may also complete a swim in the local 50m lido.

I am aiming to complete my first swim (pool access allowing!) on Sunday 20 July and will post some updates. Many years ago distances like this would have been part of a routine week of training, but these days, I tend to average around 200 - 280 lengths of swim training in a week.

As a fan of the 'pace clock' rather than wearing a watch to track my swims, I am still debating whether to attempt to use a watch to track the swim sessions in that week - which could be a different kind of challenge! ;-)

Anything you donate to my page will contribute to/show on the overall team page too. There are various activities taking place throughout July to raise funds for the amazing Charlies Community Support who helped Pat.

Charlies offer support for those affected by cancer and were instrumental in bringing positivity to Pat's own journey. Pat would now like to give something back and her own challenge will be to continue her strength and fitness journey. Targets will be set!

Some team members will be completing a weightlifting challenge to round off July which will add to the walking, running, cycling and many other challenges the team are setting for themselves.

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