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 :-)
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