North Solihull Sports Centre

After a great August bank holiday yesterday celebrating my youngest's 19th birthday with a day of Mario Kart, Nando's and an Andor marathon to finish season two, plus a bit of sun on another summer 2025 30 degree day!

Up early to drop the oldest son at Birmingham International train station for his commute down to London. Dad taxi service done, time for a swim. This is the first new pool on the list in a month — and my first swim in a couple of weeks. I've done something to my shoulder (I blame a rather energetic Fun Friday swim session two weeks back); it's been clicking and quite painful ever since. It's had some rest, so today is a light short swim.

I noticed a pool on my pool finder app not too far from the airport: North Solihull Sports Centre, apparently a 33.3m pool. I don't know how I've missed this one. It must be within the closest ten pools to my home. I'd never heard of it before — and if it's really a 33.3m pool, it's not a new build. Time to go find out.

Ten minutes from the airport, I arrive to a quiet car park midway through the first morning lap swim session. Through reception to the changing village, shift my kit between lockers trying to find one that works, then out onto the pool deck. It's a 33.3m pool alright, currently set with three double lanes. The fast lane has three swimmers; I wait for a gap then start.

I'm only doing a very light 1km thereabouts this morning, I just want to see how the shoulder holds up. First 600m not too bad but I can start to feel some discomfort — and it's definitely clicking with every rotation. Finish up with a few easy lengths then out and head off ready for work.