31 January 2012

Session this Wednesday evening

This week on Wednesday night we start our swim sessions at Ngawahtu Pool. The pool entrance (at the end of Ngawhatu Rd, off Suffolk Rd) is kept locked by gate, so if you are running late for any of the sessions, you will need to park outside the entrance and then walk through to the pool.

If you have a kickboard at home, please hunt it out and bring it with you. I will be bringing a pile, however, the more we have, the easier it will be for the instructors and the drills they set.

6.15pm Groupings Arrival
I will be at the gate to let vehicles in between 6.10pm and 6.15pm, then will lock the gate. If you arrive after that time, you will need to park on Ngawhatu Road and then walk through to the pool. One of the conditions of our use of the pool is that this gate is kept locked at all times.

6.45pm Groupings Arrival
I will then pop back out to the gate to allow those arriving later for their 6.45pm swim start to drive in (between 6.40pm and 6.45pm), and will then pop out just after 6.50pm to allow those from their 6.15pm start to exit with their vehicles.

For those of you that will want to use the changing rooms in this session, can I ask that you utilise the Mens changing sheds, that way when the group that hires the pool after us arrives at 7.15pm, they have a clear run in the change sheds (we use the Mens and they can use the Womens) – there are no Men in our group (obviously - apart from two of our swim instructors) or their group, so no worries about someone coming in on you!


Finding the Pool
If you are not sure how to find Ngawhatu Rd, easiest way is probably to turn left at the lights at Stoke (if driving from Nelson), head down to the roundabout at the end of the road, turn right, and travel along this road until you see Ngawhatu Rd on your left.

Just a reminder again that Ngawhatu Pool is heated and can get rather warm, so please bring a bottle of water with you to sip on during your session.

Group 1 will be using the area of the pool closest to the changing rooms, Group 2 will be on the opposite side of the pool and Group 3 will be in the middle lane of the pool.

Groupings are listed below (in email). If you haven’t emailed me yet with your preferred group, then please do asap, as I need to manage the group sizes effectively – please note that at this stage we are working towards one Group One, at 6.15pm, that way, at 6.45pm we can spread Groups 2 and 3 out further across the pool and have more in these two groupings.

Remember, that these sessions are to give you a few pointers on technique and water confidence, they are not one on one personal sessions, so I urge you to utilise the swim pass availability at Riverside/Nayland Pools (start 1st Feb) so that you continue to work on the drills the instructors set in your own time. If you would like a swim pass at Riverside and Nayland Pool - then head into Riverside Pool and see Jo to pay for your pass ($55). This will cover public lane swimming for the months of February, March and April.

In the meantime, as always, keep active and I'll see you on Wednesday evening

23 January 2012

Swimming next week!

Well, just over one week to go before we head back into weekly Activator sessions.

Next Wednesday, the 1st of February we will resume with swimming at Ngawhatu Pool. For this, I ask that you email me back if you intend on coming to the sessions as I need to put you into appropriately sized and ability matched groups. If I don't hear from you, I will assume that you do not wish to attend the swimming sessions. We have three weeks of swimming, so if want to participate but there is one session you know you will be absent for, please also let me know. Similarly, if you know 6.15pm is tricky for you to be on time for, then let me know and I can put you in a group that will enter the pool slightly later (6.45pm).

Ngawhatu is a 25m indoor heated swimming pool, not as wide as Riverside, therefore it is important that I know numbers in advance to manage the smaller sized pool for groupings. There are changing rooms and showers available, and as it is heated, I would suggest you all bring a bottle of water to sip on throuhout your session. If you are feeling nervous about swimming togs, don't be, others arel feeling exactly the same, and this is not a beauty pagaent, we're concentrating on swim confidence and technique, not what colour or shape your togs are. You can reach the bottom all the way down the pool, and Group 1 will always be next to the side of the pool.

The pool entrance (at the end of Ngawhatu Rd, off Suffolk Rd) is kept locked by gate, so if you are running late for any of the sessions, you will need to park outside the entrance and walk through to the pool.

Please reply email to let me know which of the three groups you would classify yourself.

Group 1: Would not feel confident swimming one length
Group 2: Could swim one or two lengths
Group 3: Could swim many lengths confidently


Swim Passes
Remember to head in and see Jo at Riverside Pool reception if you would like to purchase a three month swim pass.

Riverside/Nayland Pool - $55 for a three month swim pass (Feb, Mar, April)

This deal is for Womens Activator Participants only - fantastic price! Perfect too, if you are going to participate in the Taylors Nelson Women's Triathlon (April 1st) and plan on doing a bit of swim preparation for it. Entries for this event will open Wednesday the 25th of January - it is the 25th year this year, so exciting things planned - limited to 500 participants.

Striders Summer Series
Tomorrow night, is the Striders 5km down the Maitai Valley - it was great to see some of you at the 3km last week! Good on you! These sessions are free and a bit of fun to see how hard you can push yourself over the distance. The 5km starts up round the corner from the Matai Valley Motor Camp (5km down the valley). Some people park half way up and then walk/jog up for a warm up and walk/jog back to their car for a warm down - otherwise there is usually someone around you can grab a lift up the valley from. More details on www.nelsonstriders.co.nz

As always, keep active, and I'll see you soon.

12 January 2012

Latest Emailer Out

Attached (to your inboxes) is some info on the 6hr Spin Challenge coming up in February as a fundraiser for the Heart Foundation.

Let me know if you are keen to join me in an Activator Team! The more we have, the less time we each have to spend on the bike and the less the entry fee component is ($150 divided between team members).

Please also forward among your networks, staff noticeboards etc.

For further info on this challenge contact either Averil West (Heart Foundation)

Averil West | Heart Health Advocate | Heart Foundation

Ph +64 3 545 7112 M 021 30 31 60 W www.heartfoundation.org.nz

Nelson/Marlborough Branch, Level 1, 42 Halifax Street, Nelson | PO Box 535, Nelson 7040

or Rachel Voyce (migym)

info@migym.co.nz
03 539 0116

A reminder that our sessions for 2012 begin on Wednesday the 1st of February. This will be out at Ngawhatu Pool for the first three weeks of February, with swim groups starting at either 6.15pm for 30 minutes in the pool or 6.45pm for 30 minutes pool time. I will forward more info on this soon.

08 January 2012

2012!

I hope this post finds you relaxed and ready for a fantastic 2012!

Just a quick note to say that I will be emailing in the next couple of weeks with more info about our sessions for 2012 (remember these are on Wednesday nights). That means that those of you that are keen to continue with the NBS Nelson Striders on Tuesday nights may well be able to - just a reminder though, that for the next four weeks they have their annual Six O'Clock Summer Series up the Maitai Valley, so they won't be meeting at their normal place in Bridge St. Feel free to join in - a great way to get a bit of an 'event' experience, for no fee! Many will park at the finish (Branford Park) and then walk/jog up to the start of the 3km, getting a bit more distance into their evening, or park half way, getting a nice warm up and then cool down afterwards.

Further details available on http://nelsonevents.co.nz/content/striders-summer-road-series-0

.... NBS Nelson Striders presents the Sprig & Fern Matai Valley Six O'Clock Summer Series

January 10th - 3km - Start Waahi Taakaro Golf Course

January 17th - 3km - Start Waahi Taakaro Golf Course

January 24th - 5km - Start Matai Valley Motor Camp

January 31st - 10km - Start Branford Park (5km up and 5km back)

No Entry Fee. Enter on the Day.

Post event drinks at Sprig n Fern, Milton St after each event

For more information contact Averil or Graeme on (03) 548 3655 or email nelsonstriders@clear.net.nz


The NBS Nelson Striders Half Marathon and 10km is also on this coming Sunday - this one is a fun one as the emphasis is on who can get closest to their estimate, rather than who wins outright. With the person who is closest winning a pretty mean looking trophy for the mantelpiece (a boar's jaw)! The event is handicapped, meaning that based on your estimate provided on entering you will start in a group with similar times, and therefore, many people tend to finish around the same time as each other. More details available at http://nelsonevents.co.nz/content/nbs-nelson-striders-half-marathon-10km

Also coming up in the near future is a fundraising spinning (cycling) event being held at migym for the Heart Foundation. Teams of people get together and take turns to spin on the one team spinning bike for six hours (each person's choice as to how long they spin before tagging and then either having another go later on, or just having a go for a set period). There will be instructors at the front for the duration. Date is Friday February 17th. One set entry fee, and no limit on the number of team members. I'm keen to put in an Activator Team, so if you are keen to join me, then let me know - I'll email more info when I have it through from Averil, but diary it in for the meantime.

As always, keep active and I'll see you soon!