SE Wales Long Course Regionals

22h (edited) • 🏅Wins

This weekend was my second meet of 2026 - south east Wales long course regionals. It was held in my home pool, and overall went pretty well.

Saturday:

200 back - 2:38.32, was only a second off my pb so was a solid swim but I was already worrying a bit about the next one.

200 brs - 2:59.35, this was an interesting one. I was really nervous but took David's advice of going with the flow and investigating why rather than trying to patch it up. This did actually help a bit - don't get me wrong I still felt nervous, but it felt good to try something new. Dived in, came straight up and had a panic attack to the point where I actually ended up sculling parts of the first 50 just to breathe - I nearly stopped after 50, mum ran down the balcony in case she had to pull me out. Second 50 I settled into it and actually got going, 3rd 50 I came 'steam rolling through the field' (as my coach put it), last 50 I was then exhausted from trying to fight my way back.

200 free - 2:18.44, a 0.19 second pb!!! It doesn't seem like much but it's my first pb on this event in like 18 months. Swam a really good race even though for half of it I couldn't see anyone (end lane), and came away with a bronze. Super excited.

Sunday:

100 brs - 1:23.18;, no sculling this time!! Controlled my breathing to prevent a panic first 25, then got going, second 50 felt really good. Coach was happy. I got to go home after this for a few hours as I wasn't in the middle session.

400 free - my favourite of the whole meet. 4:49.16!!!!!!!! Massive pb - 8.54 seconds off from summer nationals! Also won my heat from lane 6 against home club competitors, and felt really powerful all the way through. Game plan from coach was build through arms first 50, build through legs second 50, then 300 'fight for your life in the trenches 😭'. I haven't swim this one this season before today, so I just went out hard and held it. Mum was on poolside officiating and told me afterwards that it looked like a suicide swim 🥴. She thought I'd gone mad.

My previous pb in this was 4:57.70, so on my strategy circle I had 4:55 as my goal time for easter nationals. I think it's safe to say that needs to be adjusted 🤣 I also won another bronze here so really excited! And, as an extra bonus, we've had these mini tiara hair pieces floating around my club all weekend, and after my race I got one!! So I also kind of won a little crown.

Overall, really pleased, definitely feel like I'm in a good place before training camp next week.

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