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!!
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