Wednesday 7 September 2011
My story - Goin Solo!
Here are the pics telling the story. My own report is after the photos. At the end of each page please click on 'older posts' to get to the next part!! Hope it enlightens you somewhat on the journey across the Channel!
Friday 2 September 2011
Goin Solo!!
Finally the time has come where I am trying to put together a little report of the swim. I thought if I waited a bit, it would sink in, and I would be better prepared to write.....it hasn't yet, and don't think it will for a long time.......so here goes anyway!!
It is nearly two weeks now that I had a missed call on my phone from my pilot. We ended up having a conversation late on the Friday night and he told me I could possibly 'go' 2am Sunday morning! It would meaning doing last bits of packing the next morning and heading to Dover straight away. I literally had a chat with my crew early the next morning and we were off! There is no point in dithering about not having enought time to prepare! You are given a good tidal/weather opportunity, and you have to take it, or I could still be waiting now! Matt and I arrived in Dover late afternoon on the Saturday and Dave and Sambo followed that evening! I wanted to have a look at the water when we got there - it looked lovely from afar! It was clear, you could see France in the distance! We booked into our caravan at Varne Ridge, chatted to a few swimmers, and I did last minute sorting of boxes for the boat, food bits and made up all my energy drinks. We had a group chat and went over the feeds and timings etc. It's good though, once all together the usual banter begins and I like that, it keeps you relaxed and is the environment we are all used to! All my crew are experienced and know me well. We all swim train together. Dave succeeded in crossing the Channel just 3 weeks before (Sambo and I crewed for him), Samdo did a Channel relay last year and Matt knows me well and has obviously been with me at most of my big races and training week ends. So, I felt like I had the 'Dream Team' crew!
I had about a 3 hour 'rest'! Went to bed about 10pm ish, with a little bit of a churny tummy! It is so real now. I could see Dave was so glad it wasn't him again! Up at 1am! I covered myself in suncream, had porridge, we packed the car up with the final bits and all made sure we had our own kit. The crew need more clothing than I do! You never know how the weather can change! We drove off down to the Marina and met Eric my pilot and his helper Gary and John the official CSA observer. All nice guys. I was feeling nervous, yet ok at this point. I knew what I had to do, and had a good idea what was ahead of me. I had never once kidded myself this was going to be pleasant or easy. I knew I was going to suffer and it was going to be a tough day. I was as ready for it as I could be. I now just had to go through all the emotions and feelings I had trained myself for in one go - and yes, ultimately get to the other side!! I had obviously touched down for our Relay last year and with Dave just 3 weeks ago. My turn now, solo! Just one little prayer to the Channel Gods, to be on my side.......just a little! The boys checked all the boxes and kit were on board, and I got my hat, goggles, night lights and grease out! We motored out of the harbour and around to Shakespeare Beach. Dave and Matt were plastic gloved up and applying the grease! (I didn't do it, if it gets on my goggles - not helpful!) A lot on the neck, strap, underarm and rubby areas. (In hindsight they did a grand job, I didn't get one bit of rubbage, which I have done in the past!) The boat settled about 100 metres from shore. It was high tide. I had my hugs and quick good byes to the boys, and at 2.36am in the darkness I jumped off the side of Pathfinder the boat, into the sea. It was calm, peaceful and dark! The boys said they could see the green flashing lights (one on my swim cap and one attatched to the back of my costume). I swam to shore. You have to clear the lapping water, arms aloft, they hoot the horn and then you can go! I adjusted my goggles, took a couple of deep breaths and waded straight in.
The water was a pleasant temperature at 16.8 degrees. So used to this by now. I like night swimming. It is calming and I quickly got into a relaxed stroke. The water was fairly still. I knew I had a good 3 hours in darkness, I used the bright light on the boat to guide me. It was to the right side of me, as I predominatly breathe to the right. I was being fed on the hour for 4 hours. So this is what I did. Swam, fed (Maxim with summer fruits juice and warm water), swam, fed, swam, fed, swam fed. I was feeling great and according to the boys 'flying along'. I know in 2 hours I had covered 4 and a half miles! To be honest the first 5-6 hours are a bit of a blur. I was in my 'channel pace' zone and time does fly by when you have trained to keep swimming at this pace. I sort of go into a little 'fuzz', as explained before! It's great to see the boys on the side of the boat, and they helped the time go by. Every feed they shouted encouragement or shouted out messages from people following me. To this day I am stil in awe with how many people were actually following, wanting updates and sending messages throughout the swim! I was also party to receiving many messages and pictures on a white board! Some funny, some encourageing and of course.....a few rude ones!! They made me smile.....that was until about 7 hours when I could slowly feel my sense of humour fading, as my sore right shoulder was kicking in! I was aware of it getting lighter and that there was a beautiful sunrise. I didn't realise again until after, hw amazing it actually was - you must see the photos! So, I had a pretty calm and pleasant 6 hours swimming from dark to light. As it was getting lighter I was also aware I was in the English shipping lane, as there were BIG boats in the distance, and at a couple of points also very close!! It is the pilot (who we pay good money to), that directs us across the shipping lanes and keeps us safe. He also chooses the course to take depending on my swim speed, the sea conditions, tides, wind etc, to try and get me there via the shortest possible route. Yes please!
I was pleased with how slick the boys were with my feeds. The bucket on a pole, to put my water bottles in, worked a treat. Having the bottle attatched to thin rope, then to a carabina and onto a masons reel was great too. I could throw the bottle after feeding, continue to swim and the boys could reel it in after! All time saving. I made a concious effort to drink lots - the boys were amazed at how much I did consume each time. I did need the toilet alot, but I think this really helped me, and kept me hydrated. I never felt too bad with energy depletion and my stomach behaved too! I didnt have much sickness, so I'm glad I got used to the Maxim/squash combination! Some of my later feeds, I had Ambrosia rice pudding too - straight out of the pot! Again not glamorous, I would shovel it out with my fingers and into my mouth, while treading water. It is a technique I've practised lots by now, so it worked well too. I still get it all around my mouth though! It fuelled me and didn't come back to feed the fish! It's true what they say - keep using what works for you. I had a few jelly babies on the odd occasion too. After 4 hours my feeds reduced to every 45 minutes. I was so lucky I didn't have the stomach cramps, sickness or projectile vomit, that is so often common in Channel swimmers - I had prepared myself for it though!
However, I got the excrutiatingly painful shoulder instead! :-( I was aware of it from about 5 and half hours. It lingered and then got worse and worse, just as the water started to get choppier and the wind picked up! Great! In past swims I have felt the shoulder, but it is not consistent with presenting itself! I remember it in my first Torbay swim and also Lake Windermere. But in these swims I only had about an hour to swim like it. Here, in my head , I knew I had this for a good 8 hours. I knew it wouldn't go away. So, this is where the head kicks in. I wasn't stopping - I'm sure at that point some would have, when realising the enorminty of the task still ahead. I asked for a painkiller and anti inflam at my next feed (they were prepared in a bag in one of my boxes!) Matt said he knew I must have been struggling at that point to ask! In my head I tried to block out the pinch pain every time I put my arm over to take a stroke. I knew it would eventually affect the strength of my pull with that arm, but carried on! I said to the boys I was going to really need their support now. I was feeling it. I cannot describe the comfort of having them on the side of the boat. Every breath to see someone there with you watching and supporting is so helpful. I even noticed when Matt went off for a few minutes more to the toilet!! I asked for Dave (my support swimmer) to come in at about 7 hours I think it was. I saved it up, as I needed him then. I could have him 4 times for 1 hour if I wanted. So in my head I rememeber thinking, 'ok, do an hour with Dave, then an hour without him'......if I could keep going like that one hour at a time, it would break the swim down into smaller manageable parts. I knew my body was going by then ie. the pain was horrid, but I also know me and my head, and that I would keep going whatever!! It is again a comfort to have someone swim next to you. I did the same for Dave and I knew, he knew he was helping me!! The problem we had now, was that I was tired, my shoulder was gone and the water was getting rougher. It just changed in an instant! I could feel the wind had picked up and it made such a difference to the lovely calm water I had previously. Matt said it was like two different swims! It felt like it! Dave said he wasnt overly keen to keep getting back in to it, but knew I had done it with him! By now it was a good Force 3-4 apparently. The boat was trying to shield me, but I was still getting enveloped in the swell and wash off the boat. A few mouthfuls of saltwater too, if a mis timed breath coincided with a wave! I think on Dave's third swim with me, he copped it and was sick, I could hear him vomiting behind me!! What a struggle it was trying to move through that water. Tired, sore and being thrown around all over the place. It's a vulnerable place to be, especially when your legs and arms are being taken away from you in the rougher waters, and the stroke is all over the place!
I had said to the boys on my earlier feed, I knew I was blessed with how calm it was. I also knew in my head it would pick up in the shipping lanes. That was fine, I was prepared for that! However, it picked up more than anticipated - Eric said he would never start a swim in those conditions! I think he knew I would keep going though - the boys told him I wouldn't give up easily!! Too right - I was in bits, but I wasn't stopping. It didn't enter my head to stop. I know I would have to be told to get out or be dragged out for safety reasons. If I knew I was still making forward progress, I was going to keep chipping away. I also knew the quicker I got there the quicker I could rest my poor shoulder! The rougher conditions had slowed my swim a fair bit, and although I could have been on for a good 12 hour ish swim, they knew it would now be longer, especially as the tide would turn too and take me past the Cap (the shortest landing point) and along past the beaches towards Calais! I was struggling now. They didn't tell me two boats had turned back. Although they knew I would keep going, alot depended on my strength over the next hour to push across the strong lateral tidal flow. The difference of forward progression across the tide can add not minutes to you swim, but HOURS! I think it was the only point the boys said they had an inkling of a worry. I had to get across it, so I wasn't swept sideways. We were all to familiar with this, as that was exactly what had happened to Dave last year on his first attempt, and he had to abort at 16 hours 38 mins, as he was just not going to land it :-( (Happier note, he did it this year!). To add to this, I had asked for my feeds to be shortened to every 30 mins now. Not that I think I really needed the fuel. I just needed to focus on something sooner. The water was taking it's toll. I could see the cliffs (even though we are advised not to look frequently!) You are still not convinced they are getting any closer! The boys shouted at me on my 30 min feeds that they must be so brief, I had to keep swimming hard! I knew deep down what this meant - having delivered exactly the same speech to Dave. They couldn't hide it from me. I knew I had to respond. It was crucial I tried to dig in a little more to push across the tide. I responded. Matt said it was one of the hardest moments for him, to have to shout at me to push harder, when he could see I was pretty broken and so tired! At the next feed, they asked the same again! I know I dug deeper. I remember trying to pull harder with my bad side. The pain was unbearable, but I was getting closer, so I pulled harder!
I remember the second half of the swim better than the first. People have asked what I would think about. I went through in my head every person I knew from family, friends, training partners and who knew I was doing this and what it would mean to them if I did it etc etc. Anything to keep my mind off the pain. I had visualised sections of the swim so many tinmes in my head, and here I was in this last torrid bit, so close, yet still so far! It was make or break time, but I WAS going to get there. I could hear in my ear the boys shouting. Sambo's tones of 'pull' 'pull' - exactly what I had been saying to Dave 3 weeks previously. He had got to this point in the dark. I kept trying to make positives out of the situation. 'At least you are here in the light, you are making forward progress (many wouldn't have been at this point), you can land this in the light, come on, come on'. I also knew exactly what sort of a red line this part of the swim was drawing across my swim course map right now, and I just wanted it end it sooner, to have a shorter red line - all the swimmers will know what I mean! Finally I could see the cliffs were bigger! I knew we had missed the Cap, and hence why I was still swimming, but every now and then I thougth I saw a glimpse of sand. This was only when I was on the top of a wave! But you never know if your mind is playing tricks on you! I knew when I could see sand or the beach, I was going to make it! I remember in Daves swim, the cliffs were a black line and then we suddenly saw white! The foam of the lapping waves and the sand! All these thoughts going through my head, all the while, swimming, swimming, swimming!
I turned to breathe and saw Dave had his trunks on. This lifted me, as I knew I must be close. I knew he would want to swim to shore with me. I had done it with him! I really wanted that company! I kept pulling and yes, the last bit seemend to take FOREVER! Dave was in, yes!! I must be less that half a mile now!! He was making his seal noises, I knew he was so pleased, he knew I was going to make it too! He also had a waterproof camera at this point! It must have looked so funny, he was half swimming, half treading water taking pictures with one arm in the air! I could see the beach, there were people on it!! I turned to breathe again, Matt and Sambo were both stood on the boat in their speedos!! Yes! Eric was going to let them swim in with me too! How they wangled that I will never know (apparently Matt said he asked and Eric said yes eventually after being persuaded they could swim ok. It was pretty swelly out there, and he said yes as they were nice people?!!.....) Dave gave me what I thought was a 'high five' - I was too tired to respond and hit his hand back! I've since realised it was 500 metres to go!! :-) I then got 400m, then 300m, then 200m. Yay! I heard a splash, the boys were in! The boat had to stay back, and Gary had launched the little RIB to follow us in. What a spectacle to the people on the beach! I got to the shallows, could see the sand and heard Dave shouting at me to stand up, I swam a few more strokes, felt pebbles and drew my feet in. I took this bit slowly. You can be very wobbly at this stage. I was a bit, but suprisingly ok! I didn't fall over or get cramp, just waddled out on to dry sand. Hands aloft, wave to the boat, so they can get a time on my landing. Approximately 4.45pm on the Sunday afternoon. I had made it! In 14 hours and 8 minutes on Sangatte beach! I promptly had a big hug from Dave - 'you've done it, you've done it! I didnt feel elation - just relief! Followed by a massive hug from Matt (how fab to see him there) and then Sambo too! Yes! I landed with my Dream Team - cliched, but couldn't have done it with out them! They were fantasic! I had the usual banter. Swollen face and lips from the salt, they wondered if I'd had botox etc etc! I remember saying that was horrendous and never again! The audience we now had were taking pictures and asking questions. The boys said they knew I was ok, as I was blabbering on in French to them! I remember, I was! Dave also got them to take pictures with the waterproof camera. Can't wait to see them! I took some pebbles as memories and to give to the family! We then decided to swim back to the little Rib. They don't like to hang around too lon in swelly waters. So, no, no duty free shopping! I went to swim front crawl and realised I couldn't lift my arm - buggered. Breastroke it would have to be! I then got towed by the rib across to Pathfinder. Helped up the steps, my poor shoulder was complaining! Matt was back on board already and had all my warm kit to hand. He helped me get dry and warm clothes on. I didn't really shiver or feel cold. I knew my throat was sore though. No other feelings at this point really, but lots of well dones from the crew once back on the boat!
All our kit had to be packed up and tied down Apparently the trip back was going to be long and bumpy! They couldn't go any quicker than 6 knots now there was a 2 plus metre swell (I know, I was swimming in it!) It was a uncomfortable 3 hours back from about 5.30-8.30pm. I had a drink to soothe my throat, and promptly threw it back up! Dave and I were sharing the bucket, and even Matt and Sambo who dont really suffer sea sickness, wished they hadn't gone down below to the toilet. That starts the stomach churning off! We were all so tired and relieved and couldn't wait to get back to the warmth and comfort of the cosy Varne Ridge caravan! The swim was tough, the journey back was not pleasant either! What a day! After thanks to the crew, we quickly disembarkead and took the kit back to the car so we could get to the caravan. Eric gave me my course print out. I was pretty useless at carrying anything at this point! It was over! Done!
Once back at Varne Ridge, David and Evelyn were there to greet us. I had big hugs again and a massive banner on the caravan 'Congratulations on Swimming the Channel'! I was aware there was one lady still out there who I had met previously. Later after a shower. (Hard to wash hair and dress with one arm!) I found our she had battled on too, to complete in 16 hours 38 minutes. She had got a Canadian record! I was feeling for her as it was horrid in there and she had landed in the dark near Calais! We had a chill out that evening and chat. I couldn't really sleep that night, with a buzzing mind and shoulder pain. Even the next day, after a big cooked breakfast and signing the wall (tradition for Channel swimmers) at the White Horse pub in Dover, I was still in a bit of a fuzz. It doesn't seem real. It was, I clearly had a red swim cap mark and white goggle marks! It has been nearly two weeks now and it's still sinking in. I can't believe it's done! A massive part of my life was dedicated to this. So much time, committment and focus. I needed to do every single bit of prep I did. I don't feel ecstatic, just relief still. But I'm sure I will be chuffed at some point! Everyone else around me is more pleased and proud! Thanks so much for all the messgaes, congratulations and support. I am in awe of how many people were behind me during this challenge and in the build up. Also for the donations. Please please keep them coming! I did my bit for a whole 14 hours and 8 painful minutes, please do yours!!
I will post again soon when I am feeling a bit more human, and my shoulder settles, with some post Channel thoughts. A HUGE thank you again. Kim :-)
It is nearly two weeks now that I had a missed call on my phone from my pilot. We ended up having a conversation late on the Friday night and he told me I could possibly 'go' 2am Sunday morning! It would meaning doing last bits of packing the next morning and heading to Dover straight away. I literally had a chat with my crew early the next morning and we were off! There is no point in dithering about not having enought time to prepare! You are given a good tidal/weather opportunity, and you have to take it, or I could still be waiting now! Matt and I arrived in Dover late afternoon on the Saturday and Dave and Sambo followed that evening! I wanted to have a look at the water when we got there - it looked lovely from afar! It was clear, you could see France in the distance! We booked into our caravan at Varne Ridge, chatted to a few swimmers, and I did last minute sorting of boxes for the boat, food bits and made up all my energy drinks. We had a group chat and went over the feeds and timings etc. It's good though, once all together the usual banter begins and I like that, it keeps you relaxed and is the environment we are all used to! All my crew are experienced and know me well. We all swim train together. Dave succeeded in crossing the Channel just 3 weeks before (Sambo and I crewed for him), Samdo did a Channel relay last year and Matt knows me well and has obviously been with me at most of my big races and training week ends. So, I felt like I had the 'Dream Team' crew!
I had about a 3 hour 'rest'! Went to bed about 10pm ish, with a little bit of a churny tummy! It is so real now. I could see Dave was so glad it wasn't him again! Up at 1am! I covered myself in suncream, had porridge, we packed the car up with the final bits and all made sure we had our own kit. The crew need more clothing than I do! You never know how the weather can change! We drove off down to the Marina and met Eric my pilot and his helper Gary and John the official CSA observer. All nice guys. I was feeling nervous, yet ok at this point. I knew what I had to do, and had a good idea what was ahead of me. I had never once kidded myself this was going to be pleasant or easy. I knew I was going to suffer and it was going to be a tough day. I was as ready for it as I could be. I now just had to go through all the emotions and feelings I had trained myself for in one go - and yes, ultimately get to the other side!! I had obviously touched down for our Relay last year and with Dave just 3 weeks ago. My turn now, solo! Just one little prayer to the Channel Gods, to be on my side.......just a little! The boys checked all the boxes and kit were on board, and I got my hat, goggles, night lights and grease out! We motored out of the harbour and around to Shakespeare Beach. Dave and Matt were plastic gloved up and applying the grease! (I didn't do it, if it gets on my goggles - not helpful!) A lot on the neck, strap, underarm and rubby areas. (In hindsight they did a grand job, I didn't get one bit of rubbage, which I have done in the past!) The boat settled about 100 metres from shore. It was high tide. I had my hugs and quick good byes to the boys, and at 2.36am in the darkness I jumped off the side of Pathfinder the boat, into the sea. It was calm, peaceful and dark! The boys said they could see the green flashing lights (one on my swim cap and one attatched to the back of my costume). I swam to shore. You have to clear the lapping water, arms aloft, they hoot the horn and then you can go! I adjusted my goggles, took a couple of deep breaths and waded straight in.
The water was a pleasant temperature at 16.8 degrees. So used to this by now. I like night swimming. It is calming and I quickly got into a relaxed stroke. The water was fairly still. I knew I had a good 3 hours in darkness, I used the bright light on the boat to guide me. It was to the right side of me, as I predominatly breathe to the right. I was being fed on the hour for 4 hours. So this is what I did. Swam, fed (Maxim with summer fruits juice and warm water), swam, fed, swam, fed, swam fed. I was feeling great and according to the boys 'flying along'. I know in 2 hours I had covered 4 and a half miles! To be honest the first 5-6 hours are a bit of a blur. I was in my 'channel pace' zone and time does fly by when you have trained to keep swimming at this pace. I sort of go into a little 'fuzz', as explained before! It's great to see the boys on the side of the boat, and they helped the time go by. Every feed they shouted encouragement or shouted out messages from people following me. To this day I am stil in awe with how many people were actually following, wanting updates and sending messages throughout the swim! I was also party to receiving many messages and pictures on a white board! Some funny, some encourageing and of course.....a few rude ones!! They made me smile.....that was until about 7 hours when I could slowly feel my sense of humour fading, as my sore right shoulder was kicking in! I was aware of it getting lighter and that there was a beautiful sunrise. I didn't realise again until after, hw amazing it actually was - you must see the photos! So, I had a pretty calm and pleasant 6 hours swimming from dark to light. As it was getting lighter I was also aware I was in the English shipping lane, as there were BIG boats in the distance, and at a couple of points also very close!! It is the pilot (who we pay good money to), that directs us across the shipping lanes and keeps us safe. He also chooses the course to take depending on my swim speed, the sea conditions, tides, wind etc, to try and get me there via the shortest possible route. Yes please!
I was pleased with how slick the boys were with my feeds. The bucket on a pole, to put my water bottles in, worked a treat. Having the bottle attatched to thin rope, then to a carabina and onto a masons reel was great too. I could throw the bottle after feeding, continue to swim and the boys could reel it in after! All time saving. I made a concious effort to drink lots - the boys were amazed at how much I did consume each time. I did need the toilet alot, but I think this really helped me, and kept me hydrated. I never felt too bad with energy depletion and my stomach behaved too! I didnt have much sickness, so I'm glad I got used to the Maxim/squash combination! Some of my later feeds, I had Ambrosia rice pudding too - straight out of the pot! Again not glamorous, I would shovel it out with my fingers and into my mouth, while treading water. It is a technique I've practised lots by now, so it worked well too. I still get it all around my mouth though! It fuelled me and didn't come back to feed the fish! It's true what they say - keep using what works for you. I had a few jelly babies on the odd occasion too. After 4 hours my feeds reduced to every 45 minutes. I was so lucky I didn't have the stomach cramps, sickness or projectile vomit, that is so often common in Channel swimmers - I had prepared myself for it though!
However, I got the excrutiatingly painful shoulder instead! :-( I was aware of it from about 5 and half hours. It lingered and then got worse and worse, just as the water started to get choppier and the wind picked up! Great! In past swims I have felt the shoulder, but it is not consistent with presenting itself! I remember it in my first Torbay swim and also Lake Windermere. But in these swims I only had about an hour to swim like it. Here, in my head , I knew I had this for a good 8 hours. I knew it wouldn't go away. So, this is where the head kicks in. I wasn't stopping - I'm sure at that point some would have, when realising the enorminty of the task still ahead. I asked for a painkiller and anti inflam at my next feed (they were prepared in a bag in one of my boxes!) Matt said he knew I must have been struggling at that point to ask! In my head I tried to block out the pinch pain every time I put my arm over to take a stroke. I knew it would eventually affect the strength of my pull with that arm, but carried on! I said to the boys I was going to really need their support now. I was feeling it. I cannot describe the comfort of having them on the side of the boat. Every breath to see someone there with you watching and supporting is so helpful. I even noticed when Matt went off for a few minutes more to the toilet!! I asked for Dave (my support swimmer) to come in at about 7 hours I think it was. I saved it up, as I needed him then. I could have him 4 times for 1 hour if I wanted. So in my head I rememeber thinking, 'ok, do an hour with Dave, then an hour without him'......if I could keep going like that one hour at a time, it would break the swim down into smaller manageable parts. I knew my body was going by then ie. the pain was horrid, but I also know me and my head, and that I would keep going whatever!! It is again a comfort to have someone swim next to you. I did the same for Dave and I knew, he knew he was helping me!! The problem we had now, was that I was tired, my shoulder was gone and the water was getting rougher. It just changed in an instant! I could feel the wind had picked up and it made such a difference to the lovely calm water I had previously. Matt said it was like two different swims! It felt like it! Dave said he wasnt overly keen to keep getting back in to it, but knew I had done it with him! By now it was a good Force 3-4 apparently. The boat was trying to shield me, but I was still getting enveloped in the swell and wash off the boat. A few mouthfuls of saltwater too, if a mis timed breath coincided with a wave! I think on Dave's third swim with me, he copped it and was sick, I could hear him vomiting behind me!! What a struggle it was trying to move through that water. Tired, sore and being thrown around all over the place. It's a vulnerable place to be, especially when your legs and arms are being taken away from you in the rougher waters, and the stroke is all over the place!
I had said to the boys on my earlier feed, I knew I was blessed with how calm it was. I also knew in my head it would pick up in the shipping lanes. That was fine, I was prepared for that! However, it picked up more than anticipated - Eric said he would never start a swim in those conditions! I think he knew I would keep going though - the boys told him I wouldn't give up easily!! Too right - I was in bits, but I wasn't stopping. It didn't enter my head to stop. I know I would have to be told to get out or be dragged out for safety reasons. If I knew I was still making forward progress, I was going to keep chipping away. I also knew the quicker I got there the quicker I could rest my poor shoulder! The rougher conditions had slowed my swim a fair bit, and although I could have been on for a good 12 hour ish swim, they knew it would now be longer, especially as the tide would turn too and take me past the Cap (the shortest landing point) and along past the beaches towards Calais! I was struggling now. They didn't tell me two boats had turned back. Although they knew I would keep going, alot depended on my strength over the next hour to push across the strong lateral tidal flow. The difference of forward progression across the tide can add not minutes to you swim, but HOURS! I think it was the only point the boys said they had an inkling of a worry. I had to get across it, so I wasn't swept sideways. We were all to familiar with this, as that was exactly what had happened to Dave last year on his first attempt, and he had to abort at 16 hours 38 mins, as he was just not going to land it :-( (Happier note, he did it this year!). To add to this, I had asked for my feeds to be shortened to every 30 mins now. Not that I think I really needed the fuel. I just needed to focus on something sooner. The water was taking it's toll. I could see the cliffs (even though we are advised not to look frequently!) You are still not convinced they are getting any closer! The boys shouted at me on my 30 min feeds that they must be so brief, I had to keep swimming hard! I knew deep down what this meant - having delivered exactly the same speech to Dave. They couldn't hide it from me. I knew I had to respond. It was crucial I tried to dig in a little more to push across the tide. I responded. Matt said it was one of the hardest moments for him, to have to shout at me to push harder, when he could see I was pretty broken and so tired! At the next feed, they asked the same again! I know I dug deeper. I remember trying to pull harder with my bad side. The pain was unbearable, but I was getting closer, so I pulled harder!
I remember the second half of the swim better than the first. People have asked what I would think about. I went through in my head every person I knew from family, friends, training partners and who knew I was doing this and what it would mean to them if I did it etc etc. Anything to keep my mind off the pain. I had visualised sections of the swim so many tinmes in my head, and here I was in this last torrid bit, so close, yet still so far! It was make or break time, but I WAS going to get there. I could hear in my ear the boys shouting. Sambo's tones of 'pull' 'pull' - exactly what I had been saying to Dave 3 weeks previously. He had got to this point in the dark. I kept trying to make positives out of the situation. 'At least you are here in the light, you are making forward progress (many wouldn't have been at this point), you can land this in the light, come on, come on'. I also knew exactly what sort of a red line this part of the swim was drawing across my swim course map right now, and I just wanted it end it sooner, to have a shorter red line - all the swimmers will know what I mean! Finally I could see the cliffs were bigger! I knew we had missed the Cap, and hence why I was still swimming, but every now and then I thougth I saw a glimpse of sand. This was only when I was on the top of a wave! But you never know if your mind is playing tricks on you! I knew when I could see sand or the beach, I was going to make it! I remember in Daves swim, the cliffs were a black line and then we suddenly saw white! The foam of the lapping waves and the sand! All these thoughts going through my head, all the while, swimming, swimming, swimming!
I turned to breathe and saw Dave had his trunks on. This lifted me, as I knew I must be close. I knew he would want to swim to shore with me. I had done it with him! I really wanted that company! I kept pulling and yes, the last bit seemend to take FOREVER! Dave was in, yes!! I must be less that half a mile now!! He was making his seal noises, I knew he was so pleased, he knew I was going to make it too! He also had a waterproof camera at this point! It must have looked so funny, he was half swimming, half treading water taking pictures with one arm in the air! I could see the beach, there were people on it!! I turned to breathe again, Matt and Sambo were both stood on the boat in their speedos!! Yes! Eric was going to let them swim in with me too! How they wangled that I will never know (apparently Matt said he asked and Eric said yes eventually after being persuaded they could swim ok. It was pretty swelly out there, and he said yes as they were nice people?!!.....) Dave gave me what I thought was a 'high five' - I was too tired to respond and hit his hand back! I've since realised it was 500 metres to go!! :-) I then got 400m, then 300m, then 200m. Yay! I heard a splash, the boys were in! The boat had to stay back, and Gary had launched the little RIB to follow us in. What a spectacle to the people on the beach! I got to the shallows, could see the sand and heard Dave shouting at me to stand up, I swam a few more strokes, felt pebbles and drew my feet in. I took this bit slowly. You can be very wobbly at this stage. I was a bit, but suprisingly ok! I didn't fall over or get cramp, just waddled out on to dry sand. Hands aloft, wave to the boat, so they can get a time on my landing. Approximately 4.45pm on the Sunday afternoon. I had made it! In 14 hours and 8 minutes on Sangatte beach! I promptly had a big hug from Dave - 'you've done it, you've done it! I didnt feel elation - just relief! Followed by a massive hug from Matt (how fab to see him there) and then Sambo too! Yes! I landed with my Dream Team - cliched, but couldn't have done it with out them! They were fantasic! I had the usual banter. Swollen face and lips from the salt, they wondered if I'd had botox etc etc! I remember saying that was horrendous and never again! The audience we now had were taking pictures and asking questions. The boys said they knew I was ok, as I was blabbering on in French to them! I remember, I was! Dave also got them to take pictures with the waterproof camera. Can't wait to see them! I took some pebbles as memories and to give to the family! We then decided to swim back to the little Rib. They don't like to hang around too lon in swelly waters. So, no, no duty free shopping! I went to swim front crawl and realised I couldn't lift my arm - buggered. Breastroke it would have to be! I then got towed by the rib across to Pathfinder. Helped up the steps, my poor shoulder was complaining! Matt was back on board already and had all my warm kit to hand. He helped me get dry and warm clothes on. I didn't really shiver or feel cold. I knew my throat was sore though. No other feelings at this point really, but lots of well dones from the crew once back on the boat!
All our kit had to be packed up and tied down Apparently the trip back was going to be long and bumpy! They couldn't go any quicker than 6 knots now there was a 2 plus metre swell (I know, I was swimming in it!) It was a uncomfortable 3 hours back from about 5.30-8.30pm. I had a drink to soothe my throat, and promptly threw it back up! Dave and I were sharing the bucket, and even Matt and Sambo who dont really suffer sea sickness, wished they hadn't gone down below to the toilet. That starts the stomach churning off! We were all so tired and relieved and couldn't wait to get back to the warmth and comfort of the cosy Varne Ridge caravan! The swim was tough, the journey back was not pleasant either! What a day! After thanks to the crew, we quickly disembarkead and took the kit back to the car so we could get to the caravan. Eric gave me my course print out. I was pretty useless at carrying anything at this point! It was over! Done!
Once back at Varne Ridge, David and Evelyn were there to greet us. I had big hugs again and a massive banner on the caravan 'Congratulations on Swimming the Channel'! I was aware there was one lady still out there who I had met previously. Later after a shower. (Hard to wash hair and dress with one arm!) I found our she had battled on too, to complete in 16 hours 38 minutes. She had got a Canadian record! I was feeling for her as it was horrid in there and she had landed in the dark near Calais! We had a chill out that evening and chat. I couldn't really sleep that night, with a buzzing mind and shoulder pain. Even the next day, after a big cooked breakfast and signing the wall (tradition for Channel swimmers) at the White Horse pub in Dover, I was still in a bit of a fuzz. It doesn't seem real. It was, I clearly had a red swim cap mark and white goggle marks! It has been nearly two weeks now and it's still sinking in. I can't believe it's done! A massive part of my life was dedicated to this. So much time, committment and focus. I needed to do every single bit of prep I did. I don't feel ecstatic, just relief still. But I'm sure I will be chuffed at some point! Everyone else around me is more pleased and proud! Thanks so much for all the messgaes, congratulations and support. I am in awe of how many people were behind me during this challenge and in the build up. Also for the donations. Please please keep them coming! I did my bit for a whole 14 hours and 8 painful minutes, please do yours!!
I will post again soon when I am feeling a bit more human, and my shoulder settles, with some post Channel thoughts. A HUGE thank you again. Kim :-)
Thursday 25 August 2011
Tuesday 23 August 2011
DONE IT!!
I conquered the English Channel solo in 14 hours and 8 minutes on Sunday (21st August 2011), on my first attempt! :-) Will do a full update very soon............it's still sinking in!
Wednesday 17 August 2011
Lady in waiting! ;-)
Well the taper is happening and the waiting is about to start! It has been different the last couple of weeks reducing the duration of my training sessions. I have noticed I am a little more energised, but still tired early evening! I dont think the restless nights are helping! I have been thinking about all the things I need to get organised and if I have missed something! I also keep going over the swim in my head. All psychological prep I suppose! I will be in constant contact with my pilot from now on, to see what the weather/sea state/tides are doing, and how likely it will be and when I could possibly go. It could be up to 3-4 weeks time, but is usually always lastminute.com.!! Bag, kit and boxes for the boat are all semi packed, so I could travel to Dover with my crew at the drop of a hat if need be. Just waiting now! So, will let you know when I know, in the meantime, will go about my day to day routine as normal, trying too stay as chilled and focussed as poss! Byeee for now! :-)
Thursday 11 August 2011
Donation details.......please do!
Lots of you have been recently asking how you can donate, now the attempt is getting ever closer. Thanks!
My charities are Pied Piper Appeal (PP) and Brainstrust (BT). There are links on here on the right side bar, to my two just giving pages. Please click on either of these.
You can also donate to the fundraising account, details at the top of this page.
You can also donate by text to: 70070. Put in either code: KOBT70 or KOPP70, followed by £ (the amount from £1-10). Then send!
Thank you so much for understanding what a massive challenge this is for me and how I hope the attempt can help these amazing charities. Thank you for any donation you are able give. Kim :-)
My charities are Pied Piper Appeal (PP) and Brainstrust (BT). There are links on here on the right side bar, to my two just giving pages. Please click on either of these.
You can also donate to the fundraising account, details at the top of this page.
You can also donate by text to: 70070. Put in either code: KOBT70 or KOPP70, followed by £ (the amount from £1-10). Then send!
Thank you so much for understanding what a massive challenge this is for me and how I hope the attempt can help these amazing charities. Thank you for any donation you are able give. Kim :-)
Taper time!!
Time to tone it down! All my BIG training swims and races have been done. The previous posts will have kept you all informed! May, June and July were pretty intense months for me. High meterage. My body has been swum out on many occasions and depleted, and then done the same again the next day. It has been crucuial to get the sleep and recovery right too. Eating the right food, sleeping enough and reducing work a little bit has all been part of the preparation. I have had to sacrifice lots of things, especially social stuff and catching up with people. I've struggled to stay awake past 9pm! The early mornings do take their toll, a regular 4 or 5am something start is tough! The travelling away has also been tiring, but so worth it - especially to Dover to meet and train with like minded poeple, who just 'get' why you are doing what you are doing!
Thank you to all of you who have supported me and been interested and understanding thus far in the journey. My social life has taken a bit of a hit, but I'm sure the sacrifice will be worth it! Most of you understand why, so thanks and will be seeing you lots more after September hopefully!!
Tapering now means I am ticking over. Need to stay well and hopefully injury free. Still training though. I need to continue to do up to two hours most days. I aim to keep my fitness and routine, but the sessions are shorter, still with some intensity, and my week end swims are shorter too. I can recover quicker and hopefully allow my body to regenerate a little this month, in preparation for the big day. I need to start it with some extra resources and energy in my body rather than totally depleted and fatigued - for obvious reasons!!
Bags and boxes for the boat are now slowly and methodically being prepared ready for the end of month. I will then communicate again with the boat pilot to get an idea of when will be a good time to go back down to Dover! All weather dependant, so cannot pinpoint a date! Will keep you updated!
Thank you to all of you who have supported me and been interested and understanding thus far in the journey. My social life has taken a bit of a hit, but I'm sure the sacrifice will be worth it! Most of you understand why, so thanks and will be seeing you lots more after September hopefully!!
Tapering now means I am ticking over. Need to stay well and hopefully injury free. Still training though. I need to continue to do up to two hours most days. I aim to keep my fitness and routine, but the sessions are shorter, still with some intensity, and my week end swims are shorter too. I can recover quicker and hopefully allow my body to regenerate a little this month, in preparation for the big day. I need to start it with some extra resources and energy in my body rather than totally depleted and fatigued - for obvious reasons!!
Bags and boxes for the boat are now slowly and methodically being prepared ready for the end of month. I will then communicate again with the boat pilot to get an idea of when will be a good time to go back down to Dover! All weather dependant, so cannot pinpoint a date! Will keep you updated!
Thursday 4 August 2011
Last BIG swim week end!
A double header in Dover it was. Phew! What a quick turnaround. Back home after Dave's epic encounter with the body of water that is the English Channel , unpack, wash stuff, dry stuff, re pack stuff and travel back to Dover again the next day. Like my second home. After a massive two months of increased meterage and races, this was to be the last BIG back to back swim week end. The Channel training suggestion is to do two long swims (of approx 6 hours) - one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Obviously there is a little recovery time between, but you are still training fatigued the next day. As with marathon run training, you do not generally do the distance you are ultimately going to run in one go. The recovery time after would be weeks, and that is just not feasible or good for the body!! (Q: And 2x 6 hours is?!!) The weather for the 2x 6hr was fantastic. As two weeks previously it had been so hideously windy and rainy - you may remenber we all got taken out of the water! So, we were lucky this time! I even remembered to apply suncream to my arms and back. I don't klike putting much on my face as it stings your eyes and makes your goggles slip up and down......so minimal there, oh and school boy error - forgot to put on my bottom (just below my costume!!) Condsidering this is the probably the highest part of my body in the water - not clever, as I found out later!
It was a get in at 9 am with about 12 others, swim for 2 hours then feed, then a feed every hour up to 6 hours. That was it then. I got in, I swam steady at my 'channel' pace - I call it my forever pace, for 2 hours feed....we got a milky way and a cup of maxim, swam a bit more, sun blazing down, swam a bit more, fed again......and on it went. Long time to be face down, but apart from a bit of a tight neck on the right (I predominantly breathe to that side) I felt fine! I generally have so many thoughts/plans going on in my head, it keeps me going - I think about my stroke a bit too and just zone out quite frankly into my 'swim fuzz' as I call it!! Matt had been running up and down the piers and harbour front again (about 15 miles he said, and popped down to say 'Hi' at feeds, I reckon he was just sunbathing!). He also donned the old speedos and braved the 16 degrees to get in the water for the last hour! He swam alongside me - that was cool, I was in my zone, but any company is nice. A good shower, feed and sleep and apart froma bit of a crunchy left shoulder (took an anti inflam for that!) , and a red raw bottom (that was on fire ALL night!) I would be ready to go again in the morning!!
So, up I was and plastering suncream EVERYWHERE bright and early. My god, although you know you catch it, 6 hours on the surface of that water in the blazing sunshine.....didn't I ever! Nice brown freckly back, arms and face, RED RAW bottom and legs! Big Oops! Another fantastic day. Water calm, just a little breezy ripple on top. My god I thought, how different to 2 weeks ago, and that is in the sheltered harbour. It just puts into perspective how different it can be and what it is like out there outside of the harbour walls! Once suncreamed (again) and vaselined up, off we go again for a 9am start. I want to do 6 hours again. A few others had to get out the day before I found out, as their wrists were sore - guys too! But when you are that close it's hard to know wheter to be tough or to risk injuring yourself. Up to the individual I suppose. I had in my head 6 hours, Mich said I could have done 5. I knew I was going to do 6.
Across the harbour one way, back the other. Spot the red buckets, spot the clock tower, spot the black pier, spot the lines on the walls, spot other red swim caps. Ooooo must be gone 10am....there are yellow and multi coloured swim caps dotted about now (relay swimmers training)! On this goes, swim, swim, swim, broken up by feeds - Wow! I got a mini chocolate brownie and jellie babies and banana today! Must be 'treat' Sunday! Once again after another run (sunbathe ;-), my fabulous support Matt got in at hour 4-5. Again in speedos - he has truly ditched the triathlete neoprene and 'manned up'. Dave will be so proud! Last hour on my own - yes I'm a bit tired, but no shoulder soreness, neck ok, head ok, just hungry!! DONE!!
Recovery shake and warm drink later feel great! Good confidence boost to get it done, with no real ill effects. Just a red raw bottom and a wicked swim cap line across the middle of my forehead and white eye goggle marks!! God this sport is so not glamorous!!
Safe to say, a few days later.......well recovered, fed, slept and back into a bit of 'tapering' swimming, all is good. Fantastic tan lines settled on my back and face, giving me a healthy glow! Body ok. Had Sports Massage and a chiropractic session. Just really looking forward to the 'wind down'. I plan to do between 1-2 hours each day now, split between lido, pool and lake. Let the body recover and regenerate a bit. Lay down a few stores so I'm not totally depleted and tired, and be ready in a few weeks for the BIG swim day! That's how I see it.....putting it all together in one long day out!! Hope my crew are also ready for it!! I know it won't be an easy day out!
Just want to also mention another swim friend of ours, who also had an epic day out, just 2 days ago! Howard u star! He conquerd the NORTH Channel in 13 hours 25mins. It was very cold and full of jellies. It was windy and a bit rough.......and he still did it! Another crazy yet inspiring bod, so cool to be surrounded by you all. My turn next! Hope I can make you all proud too :-)
It was a get in at 9 am with about 12 others, swim for 2 hours then feed, then a feed every hour up to 6 hours. That was it then. I got in, I swam steady at my 'channel' pace - I call it my forever pace, for 2 hours feed....we got a milky way and a cup of maxim, swam a bit more, sun blazing down, swam a bit more, fed again......and on it went. Long time to be face down, but apart from a bit of a tight neck on the right (I predominantly breathe to that side) I felt fine! I generally have so many thoughts/plans going on in my head, it keeps me going - I think about my stroke a bit too and just zone out quite frankly into my 'swim fuzz' as I call it!! Matt had been running up and down the piers and harbour front again (about 15 miles he said, and popped down to say 'Hi' at feeds, I reckon he was just sunbathing!). He also donned the old speedos and braved the 16 degrees to get in the water for the last hour! He swam alongside me - that was cool, I was in my zone, but any company is nice. A good shower, feed and sleep and apart froma bit of a crunchy left shoulder (took an anti inflam for that!) , and a red raw bottom (that was on fire ALL night!) I would be ready to go again in the morning!!
So, up I was and plastering suncream EVERYWHERE bright and early. My god, although you know you catch it, 6 hours on the surface of that water in the blazing sunshine.....didn't I ever! Nice brown freckly back, arms and face, RED RAW bottom and legs! Big Oops! Another fantastic day. Water calm, just a little breezy ripple on top. My god I thought, how different to 2 weeks ago, and that is in the sheltered harbour. It just puts into perspective how different it can be and what it is like out there outside of the harbour walls! Once suncreamed (again) and vaselined up, off we go again for a 9am start. I want to do 6 hours again. A few others had to get out the day before I found out, as their wrists were sore - guys too! But when you are that close it's hard to know wheter to be tough or to risk injuring yourself. Up to the individual I suppose. I had in my head 6 hours, Mich said I could have done 5. I knew I was going to do 6.
Across the harbour one way, back the other. Spot the red buckets, spot the clock tower, spot the black pier, spot the lines on the walls, spot other red swim caps. Ooooo must be gone 10am....there are yellow and multi coloured swim caps dotted about now (relay swimmers training)! On this goes, swim, swim, swim, broken up by feeds - Wow! I got a mini chocolate brownie and jellie babies and banana today! Must be 'treat' Sunday! Once again after another run (sunbathe ;-), my fabulous support Matt got in at hour 4-5. Again in speedos - he has truly ditched the triathlete neoprene and 'manned up'. Dave will be so proud! Last hour on my own - yes I'm a bit tired, but no shoulder soreness, neck ok, head ok, just hungry!! DONE!!
Recovery shake and warm drink later feel great! Good confidence boost to get it done, with no real ill effects. Just a red raw bottom and a wicked swim cap line across the middle of my forehead and white eye goggle marks!! God this sport is so not glamorous!!
Safe to say, a few days later.......well recovered, fed, slept and back into a bit of 'tapering' swimming, all is good. Fantastic tan lines settled on my back and face, giving me a healthy glow! Body ok. Had Sports Massage and a chiropractic session. Just really looking forward to the 'wind down'. I plan to do between 1-2 hours each day now, split between lido, pool and lake. Let the body recover and regenerate a bit. Lay down a few stores so I'm not totally depleted and tired, and be ready in a few weeks for the BIG swim day! That's how I see it.....putting it all together in one long day out!! Hope my crew are also ready for it!! I know it won't be an easy day out!
Just want to also mention another swim friend of ours, who also had an epic day out, just 2 days ago! Howard u star! He conquerd the NORTH Channel in 13 hours 25mins. It was very cold and full of jellies. It was windy and a bit rough.......and he still did it! Another crazy yet inspiring bod, so cool to be surrounded by you all. My turn next! Hope I can make you all proud too :-)
Dave did it!
I am so proud and priviledged to say that Dave made his solo attempt across the English Channel last week! I had the pleasure (or pain) of being one of his crew, along with Sam (Sambo); and also be his support swimmer. It was a long tough day out there, but he made it 15 hours and 3 mins later. I was with him as he landed on the beach in the dark at gone 10pm. He had been going since 7.05 am that morning! Just awesome!
He won't mind me telling you it wasn't pretty. It got quite swelly and choppy out there early on and this made for quite an early mental wobble for Dave (having experienced this last year, and not quite making it). This surpised Sambo and I, and we had to use all tactics possible to keep him in the water and positively motivated - it wasn't easy! I just resorted to being a meanie and shouting and swearing at him like crazy in the end! This, coupled with him being unable to keep his feeds down at 4 hours, meant he had hit a dark place (we had to rescue feed him black tea and fruit sugar)......but it worked and gradually he moved through it! I had got in at 4 and a half hours, to swim alongside him for an hour, to try and boost him along. Dave recalls this definitely helped.....and in again 2 hours later! It was just good to be by his side, getting eye contact, putting thumbs up and shouting encouraging words. By this time he was feeding better, swimming steadily and mentally a lot more focussed. Phew! (thought Sam and I!). We relayed messages to him and words of encouragement at every feed. We constantly talked and made hand/arm/thumbs up/swimming signals to him as he was swimming. Again he said this was a great help. He was just fantastic, swimming, communicating a little (he even asked how his dog was, who had just had a little op!) and listening to our encouragement/messages/instructions.
The last 3 miles were tough too. The tide had turned, as had happened to him last year, and he was just missing the Cap (the shortest landng point). It took approx an hour to swim each last mile - so you can see how strong the tide was and how tired Dave was! However, he was slowy making forward progress. It was dark by now and Lance (the boat pilot) asked me to get in for a 4th and final time with Dave, to push hin in to land, and also to be there to help him back to the boat through the (now big) waves and swell in the dark! I had just got nice and comfy and warm and dry!! ;-) So of course, I went back in!! Last half mile....."come on Dave.....you can do this....you are doing this.....you are going to make it.......you are there.......come on......come on.......put your feet down (I shouted).....put your F..... feet down"......(I could feel the sand!) He did, and promptly fell over......"crawl" I shouted....he did, then slowly managed to stand up.....walk out of the shallows......turned around and waved his fists in the air....WoooooHoooo!! I shouted to the flashlight in the distance, gave Dave a big hug and then we headed straight back to the waves! He was desperate to get on that boat!
Dave reckons he was so elated he 'sprinted ' back to the boat....I have since had to tell him I was 'breastroking' alongside him......to keep an eye on him in the dark and the waves!! He stil reckons he was sprinting ;-)! What a feeling! Tough and torrid at times......we had to work hard as a crew (you cannot do this without solid support), but no where near as hard as the legend that is Dave, who swam for over 15 hours to achieve his dream!! Great experience once again for me too. I will try my very best to emaulate what he has done in just a few weeks time! Totally inspirational and AMAZING!!
He won't mind me telling you it wasn't pretty. It got quite swelly and choppy out there early on and this made for quite an early mental wobble for Dave (having experienced this last year, and not quite making it). This surpised Sambo and I, and we had to use all tactics possible to keep him in the water and positively motivated - it wasn't easy! I just resorted to being a meanie and shouting and swearing at him like crazy in the end! This, coupled with him being unable to keep his feeds down at 4 hours, meant he had hit a dark place (we had to rescue feed him black tea and fruit sugar)......but it worked and gradually he moved through it! I had got in at 4 and a half hours, to swim alongside him for an hour, to try and boost him along. Dave recalls this definitely helped.....and in again 2 hours later! It was just good to be by his side, getting eye contact, putting thumbs up and shouting encouraging words. By this time he was feeding better, swimming steadily and mentally a lot more focussed. Phew! (thought Sam and I!). We relayed messages to him and words of encouragement at every feed. We constantly talked and made hand/arm/thumbs up/swimming signals to him as he was swimming. Again he said this was a great help. He was just fantastic, swimming, communicating a little (he even asked how his dog was, who had just had a little op!) and listening to our encouragement/messages/instructions.
The last 3 miles were tough too. The tide had turned, as had happened to him last year, and he was just missing the Cap (the shortest landng point). It took approx an hour to swim each last mile - so you can see how strong the tide was and how tired Dave was! However, he was slowy making forward progress. It was dark by now and Lance (the boat pilot) asked me to get in for a 4th and final time with Dave, to push hin in to land, and also to be there to help him back to the boat through the (now big) waves and swell in the dark! I had just got nice and comfy and warm and dry!! ;-) So of course, I went back in!! Last half mile....."come on Dave.....you can do this....you are doing this.....you are going to make it.......you are there.......come on......come on.......put your feet down (I shouted).....put your F..... feet down"......(I could feel the sand!) He did, and promptly fell over......"crawl" I shouted....he did, then slowly managed to stand up.....walk out of the shallows......turned around and waved his fists in the air....WoooooHoooo!! I shouted to the flashlight in the distance, gave Dave a big hug and then we headed straight back to the waves! He was desperate to get on that boat!
Dave reckons he was so elated he 'sprinted ' back to the boat....I have since had to tell him I was 'breastroking' alongside him......to keep an eye on him in the dark and the waves!! He stil reckons he was sprinting ;-)! What a feeling! Tough and torrid at times......we had to work hard as a crew (you cannot do this without solid support), but no where near as hard as the legend that is Dave, who swam for over 15 hours to achieve his dream!! Great experience once again for me too. I will try my very best to emaulate what he has done in just a few weeks time! Totally inspirational and AMAZING!!
Tuesday 26 July 2011
Definitely Dover bound for Dave!
So it looks like we are definitely on for a trip to Dover and Dave's Solo Channel attempt Part 2! We are all packed and meeting up for the off in about 30 mins. We have decided to travel this afternoon, with Dave due to start his attempt at provisionally 0600 in the morning (Weds 27th July). As we know things can all change in a flash, but fingers crossed the weather will stay good and the waters calm. I am one of Dave's crew on the boat, alongside fellow tri club member and channel relay bod Sambo Windless and tri club swim coach Kev! I am also the support swimmer. So when Dave is really tiring or feels he needs a boost, I am able to get in the water and swim along side him. He anticiaptes asking me in approx 3 times during the swim. Great to be able to help a fellow swim buddy and also good practice/training/experience once again, before my own up and coming attempt! Waterproof kit, warm kit, sun stuff, swim stuff, vaseline, food, energy drink, ginger biscuits (good for seasickness), Sea sickness tablets, sleeping bag, blankets, camera etc....etc..... all packed and ready to go. ALLEZ ALLEZ DAVE!! Will keep you updated. Au revoir for now ;-)
Tuesday 19 July 2011
R and R in Dover!!
Rough and relentless or rocking and a rolling............Either way it was a pretty bumpy ride in there on Saturday! Let me explain: Dave unfortunately did not get away on his attempt across the Channel. As you will be aware it has been pretty windy this last week and the weather has meant he is still a man 'in waiting'!! Any day though.
So, I headed to Dover as originally planned for a BIG swim training week end. It is a fair distance to travel but is so much more beneficial training in the sea, with other channel aspirants. You really do need to train to type on occasions, but this means travelling! We stayed at Varne Ridge, the local caravan park, where David and Evelyn are always so accommodating to swimmers, and will do anything to help during your stay. Even when the weather was as atrocious as it was this last week end! Saturday was a close call. It was howling wind and torrential rain! Great! It was so foggy too when we got up in the morning, but was clearer down at the harbour. Freda and the beach crew were debating if we were going to swim and how long for. there was between 12-20 swimmers. The water was pretty 'up and down' to say the least!! We went in, and I must say probably some of the roughest water I've swum in!! It is hard to keep a good stroke, you get rocked all over the place and rolled around like crazy! I swallowed a fair few mouthfuls of salt water, and at times that can be a shock and make your breathing go to pot. The far side of the harbour, especially with the tide coming in, gets fairly heavy, with a mean backwash off the walls. Hairy at times. Pretty lonely, but you just have to keep cutting your way through it. Tiring, but great experience. Although you wouldn't want those conditions during your channel attempt - you never know!! If you have experienced them a bit, it helps and is then not a shock!! We had a feed at 2 hours, went back in for another hour, but at that feed we were all taken out. As Freda explained, it was rough and getting worse and unsafe for us all to be out there. They were struggling to see us all. There was no point in injuring shoulders that close to peoples attempts either. It was a correct call safety wise, although I had got in to my head I would keep sticking out for at least another hour. We did 3 hours (had planned to do 6), but in those conditions I think the work rate was considerably more!!
Saturday afternoon recovery earlier than planned: consisted of drying ourselves out and drying out lots of soaking wet clothing. Matt ran for 9 miles that day along the front and piers watching, so was also a drowned rat!! Oh, and watching the tour, while the caraven was rained on relentlessly and the wind continued to try and blow us to France!!
Sunday morning was a 5am start (due to a rowing regatta at 9am), so a 4 hour 'early doors' session it was! I figured 4am a good time to get up, prepped and then ready for swimming. (Matt not so sure!) You never know what random time your channel crossing may start. So it's good to confuse the system every now and then. I love swimming in the morning anyway. Apparenty there was a lovely sunrise (I didn't see it!), and the water was so much calmer that the day before!! Although, a little windchop did pick up in the last hour. There are some pics that I will try and put on here too at some point soon. Again a 2 hour swim stint, then a feed. The beach crew are fab, checking us as we stop, running down Maxim drink to us and giving us our rations of a mini chocolate roll and some jelly babies! Ravenous swimmers trying to stand up on the pebbles, and eat and drink in the small waves without falling over must be quite amusing!! A pleasure to swim that morning, another feed at 3 hours and out at 4 hours. Good solid swim in, with no after affects from the thrashing around the day before!! Matt once again managed to support, watch and kill time by runnning 12 miles along the harbour front and piers at each end, and being around the beach for each feed. So good to see a familiar face before heading back out to swim. Thank you for supporting me :-).
Afetr wrapping up warm and a recovery shake, I managed to have good a catch up chat with my boat pilot Eric Hartley. He often pops down to the harbout at the week end to be social and catch up with his swimmers, and see how their training is progressing. Nice guy, very knowledgeable and so willing to answer questions. He gave us even more info about wind/weather/tides etc...etc... Such a massive and interesting topic. So much to try and understand. I have really tried during the last 3 years to increase my knowledge about all this. You really have got to respect the pilots knowledge and that body of water out there that I am attempting to cross!
A soild 2 days of training, even though Saturday was a 'nasty' day , and one of the very few occasions they have had to pull the swimmers out of the water due to safety! So glad I made the journey. Just great being in the environment with other channel swimmers, where you don't seem to feel odd, crazy or mad! It is just an unspoken understanding as to why we are there, and got to get on and do, what we've got to get on and do!! Matt was a great support too. I take him to the most glamorous places for week ends away ;-) A lake week end near home this week end, need a break from travelling away. The last month has been non stop! Then back to Dover for a bit of the same again (with hopefully less wind and more sunshine) - wishful thinking eh?!
So, I headed to Dover as originally planned for a BIG swim training week end. It is a fair distance to travel but is so much more beneficial training in the sea, with other channel aspirants. You really do need to train to type on occasions, but this means travelling! We stayed at Varne Ridge, the local caravan park, where David and Evelyn are always so accommodating to swimmers, and will do anything to help during your stay. Even when the weather was as atrocious as it was this last week end! Saturday was a close call. It was howling wind and torrential rain! Great! It was so foggy too when we got up in the morning, but was clearer down at the harbour. Freda and the beach crew were debating if we were going to swim and how long for. there was between 12-20 swimmers. The water was pretty 'up and down' to say the least!! We went in, and I must say probably some of the roughest water I've swum in!! It is hard to keep a good stroke, you get rocked all over the place and rolled around like crazy! I swallowed a fair few mouthfuls of salt water, and at times that can be a shock and make your breathing go to pot. The far side of the harbour, especially with the tide coming in, gets fairly heavy, with a mean backwash off the walls. Hairy at times. Pretty lonely, but you just have to keep cutting your way through it. Tiring, but great experience. Although you wouldn't want those conditions during your channel attempt - you never know!! If you have experienced them a bit, it helps and is then not a shock!! We had a feed at 2 hours, went back in for another hour, but at that feed we were all taken out. As Freda explained, it was rough and getting worse and unsafe for us all to be out there. They were struggling to see us all. There was no point in injuring shoulders that close to peoples attempts either. It was a correct call safety wise, although I had got in to my head I would keep sticking out for at least another hour. We did 3 hours (had planned to do 6), but in those conditions I think the work rate was considerably more!!
Saturday afternoon recovery earlier than planned: consisted of drying ourselves out and drying out lots of soaking wet clothing. Matt ran for 9 miles that day along the front and piers watching, so was also a drowned rat!! Oh, and watching the tour, while the caraven was rained on relentlessly and the wind continued to try and blow us to France!!
Sunday morning was a 5am start (due to a rowing regatta at 9am), so a 4 hour 'early doors' session it was! I figured 4am a good time to get up, prepped and then ready for swimming. (Matt not so sure!) You never know what random time your channel crossing may start. So it's good to confuse the system every now and then. I love swimming in the morning anyway. Apparenty there was a lovely sunrise (I didn't see it!), and the water was so much calmer that the day before!! Although, a little windchop did pick up in the last hour. There are some pics that I will try and put on here too at some point soon. Again a 2 hour swim stint, then a feed. The beach crew are fab, checking us as we stop, running down Maxim drink to us and giving us our rations of a mini chocolate roll and some jelly babies! Ravenous swimmers trying to stand up on the pebbles, and eat and drink in the small waves without falling over must be quite amusing!! A pleasure to swim that morning, another feed at 3 hours and out at 4 hours. Good solid swim in, with no after affects from the thrashing around the day before!! Matt once again managed to support, watch and kill time by runnning 12 miles along the harbour front and piers at each end, and being around the beach for each feed. So good to see a familiar face before heading back out to swim. Thank you for supporting me :-).
Afetr wrapping up warm and a recovery shake, I managed to have good a catch up chat with my boat pilot Eric Hartley. He often pops down to the harbout at the week end to be social and catch up with his swimmers, and see how their training is progressing. Nice guy, very knowledgeable and so willing to answer questions. He gave us even more info about wind/weather/tides etc...etc... Such a massive and interesting topic. So much to try and understand. I have really tried during the last 3 years to increase my knowledge about all this. You really have got to respect the pilots knowledge and that body of water out there that I am attempting to cross!
A soild 2 days of training, even though Saturday was a 'nasty' day , and one of the very few occasions they have had to pull the swimmers out of the water due to safety! So glad I made the journey. Just great being in the environment with other channel swimmers, where you don't seem to feel odd, crazy or mad! It is just an unspoken understanding as to why we are there, and got to get on and do, what we've got to get on and do!! Matt was a great support too. I take him to the most glamorous places for week ends away ;-) A lake week end near home this week end, need a break from travelling away. The last month has been non stop! Then back to Dover for a bit of the same again (with hopefully less wind and more sunshine) - wishful thinking eh?!
Tuesday 12 July 2011
Dover bound!!
Well, off I go to Dover. A few days earlier than planned.........although I still have my BIG swims to do this week end. (A 6 hour stint on Saturday and an early 5am 4 hour stint planned for the Sunday!!) A few of us are now travelling to Dover in the morning, to crew for my swim buddy Dave. It is his solo Channel attempt Wednesday eve 10pm start. I am feeing excited for him, and obviously nervous too! He has also put in an amazing volume of work. We have swum a huge amount of meterage together in all sorts of pools, lakes and seas! We can only pray for kind seas and that the Channel gods will be on his side. Please keep everything crossed for him. I am packed and ready to go - even bought sea sickness tablets for the boat - just in case! ;-)
Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid, North Wales).
I had never been to Bala before, so was a novice in this lake! What an awesome setting though. Like the beautiful Lake District but in Wales! It was a double bubble weekend, with a 6 miler on the Saturday (two lengths of the lake), and a one way 3 miler on the Sunday. The lake was a balmy 16 degrees, so I knew that would be no problem. Although the sun was out on the Saturday, there was a fair bit of wind. For those of you that know Bala, it whips along the lake and can make it a pretty choppy swim. That it was!! Fighting up through the quite relentless chop all 3 miles to the other end was a hard task. It takes its toll on neck and shoulders. I managed well and got to the turnaround in 1 hour 33mins, ably guided by boyfriend Matt in the kayak! The swim back was tiring even though the wind was now coming across, it was still quite fatiguing! I had a 'fuzzy' patch for a good 20mins on the way back, and realised my last feed should have been Ambrosia as well as energy drink. I stopped early for my next feed, Matt obliged and I gulped down a whole pot of rice pud and flew off on my way again!! More fuelled, made such a difference and I felt I had a bit more to give then to the end. When it finally arrived 3 hours 9 secs later I felt I had put in a great effort. 6th lady overall. Recovery shake, a good meal and sleep should be sufficient to get me to the 3 mile start line in the morning!
Sunday morning came and it was a grey, dull, rainy one! Well, couldn't expect the sun to last! Again there was a breeze, but this makes it more interesting - my arms were going to ache anyway, was how I saw it! My race strategy was pretty much to go out hard, and hold on to the pace for just as long as I could. I knew I should be able to last 3 miles, even if I did tire a little towards the end. Matt guided me really well. I managed to stay on the feet of another swimmer and keep their kayak in sight for most of the way, before it gradually pulled away. I really prefer to have a focus for my eyes when I'm swimming and even more so when I'm tiring!! I did feel that this race was harder, but then it was shorter and faster, with tired arms! I was pretty stoked at the end (again the stone jetty at the finish seemed to take forever to get to!), when I was told I was 3rd lady. The pain was worth it!
A good 9 miles in the bank this week end. Great crewing from Matt, and support from the banks at various points from my parents too. Thanks so much guys, couldn't do it all with out you (X).Well done to all the other competitiors too - a really fab bunch!
Sunday morning came and it was a grey, dull, rainy one! Well, couldn't expect the sun to last! Again there was a breeze, but this makes it more interesting - my arms were going to ache anyway, was how I saw it! My race strategy was pretty much to go out hard, and hold on to the pace for just as long as I could. I knew I should be able to last 3 miles, even if I did tire a little towards the end. Matt guided me really well. I managed to stay on the feet of another swimmer and keep their kayak in sight for most of the way, before it gradually pulled away. I really prefer to have a focus for my eyes when I'm swimming and even more so when I'm tiring!! I did feel that this race was harder, but then it was shorter and faster, with tired arms! I was pretty stoked at the end (again the stone jetty at the finish seemed to take forever to get to!), when I was told I was 3rd lady. The pain was worth it!
A good 9 miles in the bank this week end. Great crewing from Matt, and support from the banks at various points from my parents too. Thanks so much guys, couldn't do it all with out you (X).Well done to all the other competitiors too - a really fab bunch!
Sunny Torbay!
The beginning of July was a quick day trip to Torbay. The swim across the bay was from Meadfoot beach to Brixham (and back), 8 miles in glorious sunshine and pretty calm waters to boot! How unusual! I actually had to plaster myself in suncream! Mike was my crewman and having paddled with me last year, knew the drill! The rest of the Roberts clan and Matt surveyed the scene from the beach and cliffs (getting a sunbathe and dip in the sea too). It was a good continuous swim out. With the water being fairly calm, I got into a good stroke and kept it going. The only thing that I really remember, was the sporadic cold patches!! The water temp was only 14 degrees, and even colder every now and then. Just makes you swim faster! I amused Mike with the odd "cold patch" words being uttered throughout the swim! I got to the turnaround boat in good time - much faster than last year, and headed back strongly, encouraged by the time I saw on my watch. I was fueled every 45 mins with energy drink and Ambrosia rice pudding! This was great practice for my Channel feeding routine. The only really tough patch was the last mile in to the beach. I couldn't see the finish yellow buoy for what seemend like forever. But I remenber last year the tide was strong and not very forgiving at this point, and it took a long time to get through that last mile!! Got there in the end, after a little bit of swearing (sorry Mum!) and felt relieved. Mike did a fab job guiding me in. I was 5th lady overall (again the top two women beat the first man!!) in 3hours 47 mins (24 mins faster than my time last year).....can't be bad! On to Bala (Lynn Tegid, North Wales) next week end, and a couple of Lake swims to conquer!
Wednesday 22 June 2011
Lakes, Lido and lumpy sea swimming!
English summer weather didn't fail to disappoint on the morning of my first open water swim race. Pretty gusty, with driving rain and grey skies, was what we had to encounter - nothing new there then! The lake at Bowmoor Sailing Club, Cirencester was actually pretty warm though! However, due to a drifting buoy, (because of the wind), the 3.8k course was a little short. We all thought our times were a little on the rapid side! ;-) The race went well, usual carnage at the start, settling into a nice firm pace for the 3 laps. A bit more effort into the finish. Felt strong and happy with my 7th position non wettie (I worked out in a wetsuit I would have been approx 3rd lady) - happy with that and getting the first race out of the way. Off I toddled to the Lido after (in the rain) for a little bit more meterage (in the rain)!
There has been the opportunity to get some longer swim sets in at the lido the last couple of weeks. So, a 6.30am start till approx 9am, sees me ploughing up and down the lovely open air 50m pool, and will continue to do so for the forseeable future! I would rather stay in there for hours, than a chlorinated 25m swiming pool believe me. Even if it is pouring with rain! We are very lucky to have this facility so close. It is awesome. If you haven't already, you should try a little swim there - you may just like it!! Yesterday morning (June 21st) was summer solstice, and it opened for sunrise swimming! Even though the sunrise was shielded by grey clouds (gotta love our country's weather!) I was in there at 4.45am with swim buddy Dave (his Channel solo window is mid July). It was pretty busy and great to be swimming so early. We took the opportunity to do a 10k set. So much easier with someone else. We followed that up with a trip to the lake in the evening for a steady 'open water' 3k. Solid day's training! Just need to recover well now.
The Lake was also party to a 'night' swim last week. A few crazy swim buddies used the full moon (even though once again we couldn't see it because of the cloud) to our advantage! We didn't get in to the lake until about 10.30pm, this was then 'dark' enough for us to have to sight the glowing lightsticks placed on the buoys. It was brilliant swim practice in the dark. It is pretty surreal, but also quite calming and peaceful. All you can hear is the sound of your own breathing and hands entering the water every stroke. I really quite like swimming in darkness. Just as well really as this is likely to happen during the Channel attempt. A hot drink and slice of cake after, made the journey and late night worthwhile!! (I'm normally dropping off to sleep these days by 9.30pm!)
Dover Harbour was the setting for last weekend. Mid June always plays host there to the 'Champion of Champions'. It is a 5mile, 3 mile then 1 mile sea swim in the same day. There was alot of wind on the Friday and forecast for the Saturday, so there was talk of cancelling the race. However, all hardy open water swimmers travelled anyway, the course was altered slightly because it was quite 'lumpy' out there in the harbour, but he 5mile race went ahead in balmy 14.5 degree water. True to form wind picked up during the race, rain hammered down in parts, visibility was reduced to 'not alot' and people retired! The start/finish boat drifted (anchor problem), and this race we swam the best part of 6 miles!! Nature of the sport - be prepared for anything!! I felt strong and swam well in those conditions. It seems to suit my stroke and mentality!! The 3 miler was cancelled due to longer first swim, conditions, safety of kayakers and swimmers. The 1 miler went ahead and again the course was brought in closer to shore, due to conditons. I swam quite strongly over such a short distance for me! The competion was HOT in the ladies. The first two females, beat the men!! I finished 7th (again). Note that the English Channel World Record Holder was 3rd!! Pleased with being thrown around, swallowing sea water and sighting in pretty tough conditions. All in all a good day at the office. Next day a two hour 'spin cycle' (as swim buddy Dave would say) training session across the harbour, with other like minded channel aspirants. True to form wind picked up in the second hour, leaving tired arms battling us back to shore! Even support crew man Matt got in for 40 minutes non wetsuit (couldn't stand the banter from the non neoprene, non triathlon lot!) ;-) Another good weekend 'training to type' in the bag!
Well, back to the lake this weekend for a 4 hour Saturday session, then a 3 hour Sunday session (we call these back to back swims). It will be a solitary face down effort for me - alot of this sort of swimming is fairly mental too. Will have all my energy drinks/feeds ready on the pontoon to keep me fuelled. It also helps focus to swim from feed to feed! Just need to get it done! The volume is really building now. Torbay 8 mile sea swim next weekend too! Wonder what delights our English summer will bring this weekend?........Who knows?! Be prepared for anything!
There has been the opportunity to get some longer swim sets in at the lido the last couple of weeks. So, a 6.30am start till approx 9am, sees me ploughing up and down the lovely open air 50m pool, and will continue to do so for the forseeable future! I would rather stay in there for hours, than a chlorinated 25m swiming pool believe me. Even if it is pouring with rain! We are very lucky to have this facility so close. It is awesome. If you haven't already, you should try a little swim there - you may just like it!! Yesterday morning (June 21st) was summer solstice, and it opened for sunrise swimming! Even though the sunrise was shielded by grey clouds (gotta love our country's weather!) I was in there at 4.45am with swim buddy Dave (his Channel solo window is mid July). It was pretty busy and great to be swimming so early. We took the opportunity to do a 10k set. So much easier with someone else. We followed that up with a trip to the lake in the evening for a steady 'open water' 3k. Solid day's training! Just need to recover well now.
The Lake was also party to a 'night' swim last week. A few crazy swim buddies used the full moon (even though once again we couldn't see it because of the cloud) to our advantage! We didn't get in to the lake until about 10.30pm, this was then 'dark' enough for us to have to sight the glowing lightsticks placed on the buoys. It was brilliant swim practice in the dark. It is pretty surreal, but also quite calming and peaceful. All you can hear is the sound of your own breathing and hands entering the water every stroke. I really quite like swimming in darkness. Just as well really as this is likely to happen during the Channel attempt. A hot drink and slice of cake after, made the journey and late night worthwhile!! (I'm normally dropping off to sleep these days by 9.30pm!)
Dover Harbour was the setting for last weekend. Mid June always plays host there to the 'Champion of Champions'. It is a 5mile, 3 mile then 1 mile sea swim in the same day. There was alot of wind on the Friday and forecast for the Saturday, so there was talk of cancelling the race. However, all hardy open water swimmers travelled anyway, the course was altered slightly because it was quite 'lumpy' out there in the harbour, but he 5mile race went ahead in balmy 14.5 degree water. True to form wind picked up during the race, rain hammered down in parts, visibility was reduced to 'not alot' and people retired! The start/finish boat drifted (anchor problem), and this race we swam the best part of 6 miles!! Nature of the sport - be prepared for anything!! I felt strong and swam well in those conditions. It seems to suit my stroke and mentality!! The 3 miler was cancelled due to longer first swim, conditions, safety of kayakers and swimmers. The 1 miler went ahead and again the course was brought in closer to shore, due to conditons. I swam quite strongly over such a short distance for me! The competion was HOT in the ladies. The first two females, beat the men!! I finished 7th (again). Note that the English Channel World Record Holder was 3rd!! Pleased with being thrown around, swallowing sea water and sighting in pretty tough conditions. All in all a good day at the office. Next day a two hour 'spin cycle' (as swim buddy Dave would say) training session across the harbour, with other like minded channel aspirants. True to form wind picked up in the second hour, leaving tired arms battling us back to shore! Even support crew man Matt got in for 40 minutes non wetsuit (couldn't stand the banter from the non neoprene, non triathlon lot!) ;-) Another good weekend 'training to type' in the bag!
Well, back to the lake this weekend for a 4 hour Saturday session, then a 3 hour Sunday session (we call these back to back swims). It will be a solitary face down effort for me - alot of this sort of swimming is fairly mental too. Will have all my energy drinks/feeds ready on the pontoon to keep me fuelled. It also helps focus to swim from feed to feed! Just need to get it done! The volume is really building now. Torbay 8 mile sea swim next weekend too! Wonder what delights our English summer will bring this weekend?........Who knows?! Be prepared for anything!
Thursday 9 June 2011
Training and Fundraising Update - Wind and Mad Hatters!
The end of May saw us travel to Cornwall. The intention was to sea swim.....lots!! It is a familiar bit of coast and a fair bit of my training (and body boarding) in the past, has been in these waters. However, the WIND...and lots of it (very strong too), put pay to my training intentions!! Even with knowledge of the tides, beaches and knowing the lifeguards present, it was far too risky to get in, and risk being sucked out. I would either have had to swim alone so far out back of a few surfers, I wouldn't have been seen. Or, dodge windsurfers, who were having a ball! I didn't fancy getting knocked unconcious or p***ing them off! There was alot of rough water moving around, and during the week, the wind just didn't settle :-( So, without getting too disappointed, I found a nice warm, chlorinated swimming pool to swim in, at lunchtimes, with all the retired regular lane swimmers - FANTASTIC!! But that was my only choice of getting metres in! Had to be done. I did dip in the cold sea a couple of times in the shallows and duck dived in and out of waves, and let them batter me about a bit, but that doesn't really count as 'swimming' in my book! Just bad timing, nature of the elements, but the sea will get a look in, as I have a race (9 miles total) in Dover on 18th June!
Fundraising is continuing to pick up. Thank you to all of you who have supported or donated so far!! To any of you who haven't and would like to, please use the links/info on here to do so. Thanks! Last Saturday (4th June) saw a fundraising Mad Hatters Tea Party take place. Luckily the weather had calmed down at this point and the sun was shining - phew! There was alot of different stalls and activities: Refreshments, raffle, guesser, jewellery, books, produce, bric a brac, clothes, childrens items, sports kit, face painting, darts etc. Most people also donated items and wore a (mad) hat!! Fun afternoon! It took a bit of organising and a BIG thankyou to those who helped and supported the event. We managed to raise some money that will help and go towards the charities: Pied Piper Appeal and Brainstrust. It is your support and these events that are so crucial to raising the funds. I do appreciate everyone's time and efforts. Please keep the donations coming!
Well, this weekend is my first open water race of the season. It is only a 3.8k lake swim, non wetsuit of course. I will be competing alongside mainly neoprened athletes, but it's cool to be different!! It will be great to get back in the mix. I love the pre race prep, few nerves, cold water feeling, the melee at the start (which I always seem to be in the middle of!) and the great feeling after once digesting well deserved tea and cake! The post race run down with fellow competitors/friends is always fun too. Once this one is done, they get LONGER.....and longer.....and even longer.....!! Will keep you updated :-)
Fundraising is continuing to pick up. Thank you to all of you who have supported or donated so far!! To any of you who haven't and would like to, please use the links/info on here to do so. Thanks! Last Saturday (4th June) saw a fundraising Mad Hatters Tea Party take place. Luckily the weather had calmed down at this point and the sun was shining - phew! There was alot of different stalls and activities: Refreshments, raffle, guesser, jewellery, books, produce, bric a brac, clothes, childrens items, sports kit, face painting, darts etc. Most people also donated items and wore a (mad) hat!! Fun afternoon! It took a bit of organising and a BIG thankyou to those who helped and supported the event. We managed to raise some money that will help and go towards the charities: Pied Piper Appeal and Brainstrust. It is your support and these events that are so crucial to raising the funds. I do appreciate everyone's time and efforts. Please keep the donations coming!
Well, this weekend is my first open water race of the season. It is only a 3.8k lake swim, non wetsuit of course. I will be competing alongside mainly neoprened athletes, but it's cool to be different!! It will be great to get back in the mix. I love the pre race prep, few nerves, cold water feeling, the melee at the start (which I always seem to be in the middle of!) and the great feeling after once digesting well deserved tea and cake! The post race run down with fellow competitors/friends is always fun too. Once this one is done, they get LONGER.....and longer.....and even longer.....!! Will keep you updated :-)
Tuesday 17 May 2011
Training Update!
Wow! We are now well into May! Finally I have managed to get round to doing a quick update. Spare time is very minimal at the moment. How I love this time of year! We get to swim outside in the Cheltenham Lido and the Lake (32 at Keynes Water Park in Cirencester). This is bliss compared to the warm chlorinated swimming pools we have been ploughing up and down throughout the winter months!!
My cold water acclimitisation has been going well. We dipped our toes in the lake mid Feb after a hard frost over night, and then became fully submerged (nutty I know!) Each week following we managed to stay in longer and longer (non neoprene of course!) At one stage we were in for over 20 minutes in only 6 degrees! We built this up until 45 minutes was fine. It's just the getting in that is always hard, but you do get used to it. It's all about keeping calm and breathing and focussing - no panicking! This type of training is crucial though, and I will grateful for it if the sea and Channel is only 15 degrees when I am racing and doing my long swims in the next few months. It will feel positively balmy then!
April saw a trip to Guildford Lido, there was an event for Help for Heroes. It was to swim a mile on the hour, every hour, for 24 hours! Solo and Relay Channel swimmers all took part. I planned to take part as part of my training. It was stop / start and a very different approach. We had to concentrate on getting dry in between, warming up, feeding well and recovering enough to go again in approx 30 mins! I was chuffed with my consistency. I completed 10 miles. All between 24 mins 55 secs and 26 mins 19 secs. I can see how my strength endurance has improved. However, due to a sore/spasmy shoulder blade/back, I did the sensible thing and called it a day after 10 miles. There were no prizes for completing 12 at that pace and injuring myself in April! A great event, good training, and luckily I recovered well and was back into full training the following week, no problems. Thanks to swim buddy Dave (he was fab and did 24 miles), also Matt and Sambo who looked after us!
So, all races are entered for the season. There are fewer than last year, as there is a need for me to do longer back to back training week ends. I will be doing long swims on both days. I will however, be doing a 3.8k lake race in June, followed by the Champion of Champions in Dover (9 miles total). July takes me to Torbay for an 8 mile paddle across the bay to Brixham and back! Then to Bala for a week end of a 6 mile and 3 mile spalsh in the lake there! I also have to complete a 6 hour verification swim in this month, so I am allowed to attempt the Channel. Lots to keep me occupied!
I will endeavour to keep you all informed of my progress. It all seems very real now, especially as we are edging towards summer, and are now officially 'open water'! I have a week of sea swimming in Cornwall and Devon coming up, so am hoping to get in a lot of meterage in cold ish water (approx 12 degrees at the moment) and different conditions. Will be tiring, fun and hard work all at the same time, but essential boxes need to be ticked! I will try to keep posts coming shorter and more frequently from now on. Thanks for your interest and suppport..........Until next time..........Keep swimming :-)
My cold water acclimitisation has been going well. We dipped our toes in the lake mid Feb after a hard frost over night, and then became fully submerged (nutty I know!) Each week following we managed to stay in longer and longer (non neoprene of course!) At one stage we were in for over 20 minutes in only 6 degrees! We built this up until 45 minutes was fine. It's just the getting in that is always hard, but you do get used to it. It's all about keeping calm and breathing and focussing - no panicking! This type of training is crucial though, and I will grateful for it if the sea and Channel is only 15 degrees when I am racing and doing my long swims in the next few months. It will feel positively balmy then!
April saw a trip to Guildford Lido, there was an event for Help for Heroes. It was to swim a mile on the hour, every hour, for 24 hours! Solo and Relay Channel swimmers all took part. I planned to take part as part of my training. It was stop / start and a very different approach. We had to concentrate on getting dry in between, warming up, feeding well and recovering enough to go again in approx 30 mins! I was chuffed with my consistency. I completed 10 miles. All between 24 mins 55 secs and 26 mins 19 secs. I can see how my strength endurance has improved. However, due to a sore/spasmy shoulder blade/back, I did the sensible thing and called it a day after 10 miles. There were no prizes for completing 12 at that pace and injuring myself in April! A great event, good training, and luckily I recovered well and was back into full training the following week, no problems. Thanks to swim buddy Dave (he was fab and did 24 miles), also Matt and Sambo who looked after us!
So, all races are entered for the season. There are fewer than last year, as there is a need for me to do longer back to back training week ends. I will be doing long swims on both days. I will however, be doing a 3.8k lake race in June, followed by the Champion of Champions in Dover (9 miles total). July takes me to Torbay for an 8 mile paddle across the bay to Brixham and back! Then to Bala for a week end of a 6 mile and 3 mile spalsh in the lake there! I also have to complete a 6 hour verification swim in this month, so I am allowed to attempt the Channel. Lots to keep me occupied!
I will endeavour to keep you all informed of my progress. It all seems very real now, especially as we are edging towards summer, and are now officially 'open water'! I have a week of sea swimming in Cornwall and Devon coming up, so am hoping to get in a lot of meterage in cold ish water (approx 12 degrees at the moment) and different conditions. Will be tiring, fun and hard work all at the same time, but essential boxes need to be ticked! I will try to keep posts coming shorter and more frequently from now on. Thanks for your interest and suppport..........Until next time..........Keep swimming :-)
Thursday 3 March 2011
A bit of background and why I've decided to attempt to swim the English Channel!
I am a Sports Therapist from Abbeymead in Gloucester. I have always been involved in sport locally and used to work on the medical team for 11 seasons at Gloucester Rugby. I am now in partnership with my sister, in a Gloucester
By the age of 21 I was competing for the GB Triathlon Age Group Team, and took part in 5 World Championships. The swimming element proved to be my strength. Since then I have competed in many half marathons and multi sport endurance events. More recently my passion for the water has come to the fore; competing in Surf Lifesaving in the past and now Open Water swimming events, as a Master.
The previous 5 seasons have seen me race in 1 mile races (Padstow - Rock), 3.8k Ironman distance lake swims and sea swims of now up to, 9 miles (around Brownsea Island in Poole, across Tobay and around Dover harbour)! Last year I completed my goal of swimming the length of Lake Windemere (10.5 miles), and in a relay team across the English Channel! Each year my performances have improved slightly, as my endurance, stamina and confidence improves! So, naturally I've wanted to test this further!
Training for these events entails a lot of ‘anti social’ distance swimming! In 25m pools, the 50m Cheltenham Lido , Lakes and the Sea – to which I travel regularly with other like minded crazy swim buddies! In the summer swim sessions are far more regular, with some cross training sessions of running, cycling and gym work – to give the arms a rest! The lake and sea sessions are ideal opportunities to practice swimming in colder water with and without wetsuits, for sighting buoys (ie. trying to swim in a straight line!) and in choppier waters! The meterage will constantly be building throughout the spring and summer months!
I have always been one for a challenge and each year aim to do one event for charity. ‘I feel if I am going to challenge myself to go further than I have before in terms of training committment and the actual event, a charity should benefit from my endeavours!’ The choices this year are: the Pied Piper Appeal, a local charity helping sick children get better, at our local hospital. I have a few friends involved with Pied Piper, so it was the natural choice! Also the Brainstrust as I have a personal reason for supporting this charity as it is helping a family member through their recent illness.
I decided last year I felt ready to make myself available for a Channel Relay. I have some experience of distance sea swimming and this seemed the next logical step up! I was invited to join a team of 3 others, by Julie Bradshaw MBE (Google her!) I accepted! The attempt was in September 2010. It was the first ever attempt as a relay team to cross the Channel using Medley strokes! (E.g. Backstroke, Breaststroke, Fly, Frontcrawl) I was the frontcrawl swimmer. We made fantastic progress and completed in 11 hours 29 mins. I was lucky enough to land the team in France. It was also a new World Record!
So, the seed was sown! Could I attempt to make this crossing alone in 2011?! A completely different challenge. It would also mean a massive change to my lifestyle for a fair few months! Early mornings, relentless metres face down in water, lots of eating, sleeping and fatigue!! Time management and focus is key!
The conditions in the Channel are very challenging! The conditions will be similar for my solo attempt this year! Sections of it may have to be swum in the dark. The water will be cold, there will be big swell, waves, debris, jelly fish and many BIG ships passing through the shipping lanes we are attempting to cross! I could get millpond conditions and 18 degrees, or be faced with 15 degrees and 8 foot swell! I have to be alone in the water swimming at all times. I rest while treading water and feeding at the same time! My crew can feed me over the boat, but I cannot touch them or the boat! Although the distance is approx 22 miles, I am likely to swim a great deal more if currents/tides are not kind on the day. I could not attempt this without my pilot or my crew. So this challenge and the build up to it, also relies on a lot of support of those around me - for which I am already grateful! Fingers crossed the Channel Gods will be kind on the day, as there are many variables out of my control.
Channel Swimming Association Rules state we have to have an ‘Observer’ on our pilot boat – to verify our attempt and check we stick to the rules! We are only allowed to wear a costume, hat, goggles and grease!
I decided to attempt the challenge, and paid my deposit in Jan 2010! No going back now! I will have to be in Dover waiting in early September this year, and have a 7 day window in which to make the attempt. My boat pilot will track the wind and weather conditions, he will then calculate the most suitable time to start the attempt. He will also take into account my swimming ability, fatigue, tide times and currents! It could take approx 12-14 hours on a very good day, or maybe even more to complete, depending on conditions. The conditions could even change during the attempt and work against me.
I have chosen to do some Fundraising events between now and September for the charities. I preferred to do it this way, more fun, a few smaller events and this way a lot of people should be able to be involved in something! There is also a ‘Just Giving’ page for each charity and fundraising account details, for those people who are unable to support any events, but would still like to make a donation in some way! See the links.
Please support the Pied Piper Appeal, Brainstrust and me, by supporting the events or donating at one of the fundraising sites.
Many Thanks :-)
I will keep you updated with training progressions, races and fundraising details in the coming weeks!
Kim :-)
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