Channel Solo Attempt - 4th August 2007
What has left me absolutely speechless is the volume of message received before during and after the swim (see below). Thank you to everyone who took the time to sent messages. They have all be read and are cherished. You helped me more than you can imagine during the lead up and during the swim, and probably as importantly they have helped me come to terms with not finishing. The kind wishes have certainly helped the healing process and have encouraged me to have another go. Emma vs The English Channel. Round 2!
A big thank you from meIn excess of 40 people signed up for email updates, and over 20 for text updates (although these were not as frequent as we planned due to tough conditions and delicate stomachs!). Thank you to Georgia, my daughter for staying up all night to take calls and provide the updates that she could.
The outcome is not what I wanted nor what I trained for, but it was quite an experience, and I am glad I had a go, I would have always wondered. I do feel deeply disappointed, partially because I never anticipated not finishing whilst I still had fight left in me, and as a result I do feel like I have failed. But at the same time I was aware that I was not making sufficient progress and had to accept that this was the only possible outcome. So I gave it once last half hour to say goodbye to the channel and the dream.
So what was it like? This is my account of the swim written on day
The journey to the Marina was quite eventful. It's normally a very predictable 1.5 hour journey, but with the M20 shut we were diverted, and arrived a little after midnight (slightly late) to the boat. There were lots of people buzzing around the Marina, with other boats getting ready to go, and some fabulous people just down there to wave people off and wish everyone well. Barry the shingle stomper came onto the boat and gave me a tight squeeze and told me that I'd done the training and could do this. 'Swim from feed to feed, don't look for France'. It was great to see him and the others. We got organised quickly and ended up being the first boat out of the Marina. we had a short trip to Samphire Hoe which was to be the start point. It seemed strange putting on suntan lotion in the moonlight, but would be the only opportunity to do so.
Neil took the boat close to the shore, and after a brief panic about what it was that I was about to do, I jumped into the very dark and cold looking water, wearing only a swimming costume, hat, goggles, ear plugs and lightsticks (so that I could be seen by the boat). The water was actually just over 17C so was quite a pleasant surprise. I swam the short trip to the shore and cleared the water ready to start the crossing. Although I'm told a Klaxon was sounded, I didn't hear it, so I started, slightly concerned that I'd get as far as the boat and they would turn me round and send me back to try again. But I got to the boat and I couldn't see or hear anyone waving or shouting so I started the swim.
Very quickly the nerves disappeared and I entered a very calm zone. I remember thinking 'Oh my goodness, how cool is this, I am swimming the channel!' It was quite a buzz.
Apart from a couple of small lights on the boat, and a few light sticks hanging from the lower and upper decks the boat was in total darkness. I couldn't see any of the crew or my team, so it was a bit lonely out there. However, strangely enough it was quite comforting as the harbour can also be a very lonely place, so I felt right at home.
The water felt quite rough, and I wished I'd spent more time at the 'washing machine' end of the harbour. But it was nothing that I hadn't experienced in training . What I hadn't experienced before was only feeling the waves without the ability to see what was happening. My only visual was the boat - and it did look like it was being thrown around quite a lot. I figured it was probably better in the water, and could imagine people and boxes being thrown around all over the place.
I started the swim with a 'not quite recovered' shoulder injury. I had calculated that I had approximately 14 hours of pain relief by alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen. As I was expecting to be in the water longer than this, I decided to not to dose up before the swim but to wait and see, and only take pain relief if and when I needed it. However, at the first feed I quickly discovered a flaw in this plan. The boat was all over the place and when the sports bottle was thrown over the side it took 4 or 5 attempts to get it. There was absolutely no chance that in the dark and with the waves, that I would be able to get hold of any pain relief. So I accepted that I would need to wait until dawn and calmer water before asking for anything.
The signal for a feed was one of the crew waving two lightsticks and it was a very welcome sight. I couldn't hear much of what was being said, and it took quite a while to get the feed down, but then I was off again. This pattern repeated for 3 hours after which the feeds moved to every half hour.
During the dark hours I saw a few ferries, some lit up like a Christmas tree, and some came remarkably close.
I also saw another escort boat go past remarkably closely and at quite a pace. It turns out they had a relay team. I have no doubt that the team achieved an awesome time.
Slowly but surely the water got calmer and after about 3.5 hours I noticed the colour of the horizon change from black to blue, gradually getting paler before a hint of orange crept in. Then in a matter of minutes sunrise was upon us, it was almost as if someone switched the lights on!! The world became a very different place. I knew it wouldn't be long before I felt the warmth of the sun on my back.
I noticed that one of my team was absent for a very long time, I figured that she was either taking opportunity to sleep or was suffering with seasickness. It turns out that it was seasickness which started within the first hour and just kept coming back! Poor thing. Jo also struggled on and off, mostly when going downstairs. Prof, who has the reputation for her ability to vomit was the only one of us to come away in one piece!
But with dawn came the news that we weren't progressing much, going up and down the channel with the tide, but not progressing forwards very much. I needed to up the pace and make the feeds quicker. With the help of pain killers I tried my hardest and felt like I was getting faster. At 3.5 hours solid foods were given as well as Maxim with banana being the first bit of food on offer. At 4.5 hours it was a chocolate mini roll, which is normally my favourite, but I was starting to feel a little queasy so only had one bite. Because of the need to keep the feeds short, I didn't drink all of the Maxim, but on the basis that I had more fluid, more often than training, I wasn't too concerned.
At 5.5 hours the feed is anything but Maxim to give the chance to clear your system out. What I didn't realise was that Maxim was added to my tea. However my body took the 'clear out' instruction quite literally and I was violently sick. So what could I do but put my head down and carry on swimming, so I did just that, still feeling nauseous. What I hadn't realised that the time it took for me to stop and be sick meant that all the distance that had been covered in the preceding 30 minute segment had been lost.
Just after that Jo, one of my trusted crew joined me in the water. I assumed that this was because I'd been sick and needed the morale boost, which I did. What was depressing was that she was doing easy breaststroke and keeping up with me with ease.
I remember noticing the shipping lane at about this time and had a quick buzz of excitement. I also remember thinking about the mind games that I would use to get through the following 12 plus hours. I had 2 options, look at the crossing as 3 x 6 hour training sessions; or swim until 9am (8 hours), then do a 7 hour normal set (as those in the harbour would be doing at the same time), followed by either a warm down or do Sunday's 6 or 7 hours session.
I noticed the observer go upstairs and chat with the crew. I assumed that this was to talk about what to do and that I wasn't progressing. The shipping lane wasn't getting any closer. When I came in for the 7.5 hour feed I said 'I'm not making progress am I?' 'No you're not' was the reply. If we carried on at this rate of progress it could take 40 hours. Whilst this would be a clear record for the slowest crossing I knew I would never achieve it and knew that all was lost. I was given the choice to give up or carry on. What a choice to be faced with. It was a battle between logic and emotion. Logic said to stop, but emotions meant I couldn't bring myself to get back on the boat, it felt wrong, so I said one more feed. During this last half hour I said my goodbyes to the dream and the channel and had a good cry about what was now lost. At the end of the half hour there were no 'would you like to carry on' questions so I got on the boat very reluctantly. I never dreamed that I would get out of the water unless I either a) finished, b) was pulled out due to hypothermia or c) had to quit due to shoulder injury. None of these were the case and I got out knowing I could have carried on for much longer, but to do so would be futile. On a positive note I did get to the first shipping lane in that last swim, so at least a recognisable milestone.
On the boat my team were fantastic and talked about all the positives, but I have an overwhelming sense of failure and disappointment. I wanted to do this for so many reasons and in tribute to so many people who have helped me along the way. To these people, I am sorry, I gave it my best shot, but today that was not enough. I think it will take some time to get over that.
Million dollar question - will I try again. Honest answer is I don't know. Never is a very long time. But if I was to consider trying again I would need to understand what I need to do differently. After all if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got. I'm fairly sure the maxim made me sick, and being sick caused me to dehydrate and would have affected performance. But I don't think this is the only reason. I would need to work out what needed to change before thinking of doing it again. So although I promised myself that I wouldn't go through this training again I'm not saying a definite 'no', but it certainly is a 'not yet'.
24 hours later
Time is an interesting thing, isn't it. It changes everything. So a day later and I remind myself of some of my favourite sayings
So I need to answer a couple of questions:
At the end of the day only a fool would continue to do the same thing and expect a different outcome - do what you've always done and you'll get what you've always got! If I can identify what I need to do differently, maybe, just maybe, I'll give it another go!
3 weeks later
During the last 3 weeks I have been through every emotion possible, although the first few days were the worst. Having returned from a family holiday in Florida I decided to pop down to Dover to chat with Freda about the future. I have to admit I was a little nervous, I feel like I have let others down as well as myself, but I shouldn't have worried, I was welcomed with a hug.
The first thing Freda said was 'Don't give up the dream'. It was such a relief to hear that. She asked what I was going to do next and I told her that my reason for popping down was to talk about that very subject.
I said that I was considering another attempt in 2009. She agreed that it was a good idea. After some thought she then suggested that I do Lake Windermere in 2008.
But before all that I should take some time off to ensure my shoulder had healed and then do lots of sprint work and fins work.
So here's the plan:
Messages from crew and supporters
From the boat
Time: 1.20am
Location: 1.16.60, 51.6.16
Comments: In the water at 1.20am, we're
off and swimming
Time: 4.36am
Location: 1.48350e, 51.13803n
Comments: Going well, shame about the
support crew!! A couple of close encounters with ferries but overall
going very well
Time: 8.40am
Comments: Not much progress made as
the tide is against us but still swimming strong
Your Comments - Before the swim
Date: 29th June
Name: Jackie Patel
Comment: All
I can say is I think you are mad and wish you good luck and will sponsor
you. Can’t think of anything better to say but will think of you in the
cold love Jackie.
Date: 3rd July
Name: Nicola Latty
Comment:
Good
luck with your last few weeks of training and with
the swim. I’ll be signing up for the updates on
your progress so will be supporting you from afar.
As I have no real experience of open water swimming
(apart from a couple of swims in a warm lake which
don’t count) I can’t offer any useful advice.
However, from spending many hours training in a pool
I can advise you to avoid watching TV just before
your swim. Having a song from an advert in your
head for a 2hr training session is one thing but for
a channel swim….
Date: 11th July
Name: Jenny
Comment:
I
wouldn't be saying anything even vaguely surprising
if I said ""YOU'RE BANANAS!!!"" cos it's true, and
you know it is. But never mind, at least now
you're a roasted banana after last weekend's
sunbathing in Dover Harbour!
Keep up the enthusiasm old bean, I have every faith
in your ability to finish the course.
Date: 13th July
Name: Paul Robinson
Comment:
Glad
to read that you are still on course for your
Channel swim next month. I know that you have put in
many many miles and hours training over quite a few
months now. At least you are being sensible and
resting when your body is telling you to. Lots of
admiration from me and all the best for the big day.
Date: 1st August
Name: Sally
Comment: Have a wonderful time and believe in
yourself I do.
Date: 2nd August
Name: Merlyn
Comment: Good luck!!!!!!!!
Date: 2nd August
Name: Nick
Comment: Good luck in what will be an
achievement of a lifetime! My thoughts will be
with you.
Date: 2nd August
Name: Darryn
Comment: Good luck Lunatic
Date: 2nd August
Name: Steve
Comment: Really, really good luck.
Remember that the pain is temporary but the glory
lasts forever. In years to come you will be
able to bore the grandchildren rigid.
Date: 2nd August
Name: Tanya
Comment: Best of luck Emma - hope it all goes
really well (nearly said swimmingly there, how sad).
Will be thinking of you.
Date: 2nd August
Name: Christine
Comment: Good luck for your swim Emma, keep
going you can do it!
Date: 2nd August
Name: Angela
Comment: Good luck - very brave of you what a
great challenge.
Date: 2nd August
Name: Ann
Comment: Thank you for the news. I wish
you all the best for Saturday and shoudl you go off
course you will find a barbecue at Hayling Island!!
Kings are doing a swim in the sea and I am clicking
a watch!
Date: 2nd August
Name: Lorraine
Comment: WOW! Good luck I really hope
you do it - I am so very jealous! I shall be
thinking about you as I am sailing about in the
Solent for Cowes Week! Really and truly all
the very best.
Date: 2nd August
Name: Jim
Comment: And you can do it! Good luck.
Get there and find me a landing place! All the
best of all that can smile on you.
Date: 2nd August
Name: Debbie
Comment:
Good
luck Emma. I really admire you - swimming is my
sport of choice but the most I ever do on a 'big'
swim is an hour or so - and over the last few weeks
every time I get puffed out on a swim I have been
wondering how on earth anyone does a challenge like
the channel!!! I will be thinking of you on
Saturday. Well done - however you do, the attempt
alone is courageous. Look forward to hearing all
about it.
Date: 2nd August
Name: Hazel
Comment: Oh my God Emma, you are amazing.....
all the very best of luck.
Date: 2nd August
Name: William
Comment: Good luck
Date: 2nd August
Name: Shann
Comment: If I don't speak with you before
Saturday...GOOD LUCK.....? will keep an eye on your
progress via your website.
Date: 2nd August
Name: Richard
Comment:
Emma -
Good luck! This is it, girl - just go for it - be
thinking of you!!
Date: 2nd August
Name: Guy
Comment: Good luck
Date: 2nd August
Name: Gail
Comment: Best of luck
Date: 2nd August
Name: Peter
Comment: Best of luck we will be thinking of
you
Date: 2nd August
Name: Margaret
Comment: good luck Emma!! Xx
Date: 2nd August
Name: Kate
Comment:
Emma,
that's so exciting to hear! I've written in my diary
in capitals and will be keeping up with you in
spirit. The very best of good fortune with the
weather. I'm rooting for you all the way! With
the greatest of admiration. Love and best
wishes
Date: 2nd August
Name: Tim
Comment: Good luck Emma!! We'll be
following you closely with fingers crossed.
Date: 2nd August
Name: Jenny
Comment: Really really excited for you! I
have every faith that you will succeed. Jenny
Date: 2nd August
Name: Richard
Comment: Good luck Vicky
Date: 2nd August
Name: Lucy
Comment: I am filled with awe! All the
luck in the world.
Time: Friday 6.47am
Name: Phil
Comment:
Best
wishes for the long dash at the weekend I hope it
goes well and is like a millpond. As I fly over the
channel Sunday morning I will keep my eyes open just
in case you are still going.
Time: Friday 8.58am
Name: Richard, Paul & Gemma
Comment: Have a great swim, we're with you
all the way
Time: Friday 10.41am
Name: Richard
Comment: Good luck on Saturday!
Time: Friday 10.47am
Name: 2.0mps
Comment: remember think like a drum get a
rhythm keep the rhythm and you will be fine!!!!!
Time: Friday 11.14am
Name: Wildswimmer
Comment: Good luck Emma - and don't forget to
bring back some cheap booze!!!!
Time: Friday 12.08pm
Name: Paul
Comment: Good luck
Time: Friday 12.19pm
Name: Brick
Comment: Good luck. I, and I'm sure
many others, will be checking your site.
Time: Friday 1.17pm
Name: Mike
Comment: Have a great swim early tomorrow.
Time: Friday 2.40pm
Name: Peter & Margaret
Comment: Good luck Emma. We will be
thinking you and telepathing support (in our dreams)
through your epic adventure.
Time: Friday 2.46pm
Name: Donna
Comment:
All
the very best, I mean that. I'm convinced you'll do
it. You're strong mentally, which is a large part
of it. You'll find that as soon as you get underway
and settle down, a lot of the
tension/butterflies/uncertainties will go - as with
any big event. Just give it your best shot. I'll
be thinking of you.
Time: Friday 5.04pm
Name: Verity
Comment: Go for it Emma, I'll be sending
positive waves.
Time: Friday 5.16pm
Name: Stevie k
Comment: All the very best Emma. We
will be thinking of you, go for it.
Time: Friday 5.15pm
Name: zanshin
Comment: Good luck
Time: Friday 5.25pm
Name: Verity
Comment: Jackie Patel said it all really
"you're mad" but good for you, best wishes.
Time: Friday 5.28pm
Name: KatieBun
Comment: All the best Emma. We'll be
rooting for you.
Time: Friday 5.30pm
Name: Abbie
Comment: My fingers and toes will all be
crossed for you – although it might prove a little
difficult to walk. People like you make this
world a better and kinder place. Good luck I’ll
track your progress until you get to the other side
– which you will. Go for it girl!!!!
Time: Friday 5.49pm
Name: Jean
Comment: Here's wishing you a successful
swim. Hope that when I get up tomorrow morning
you will be half way across. Take care and
watch out for the jellyfish!
Time: Friday 8.21pm
Name: Josh
Comment:
The
best of luck tomorrow, soryy I can't be there
cheering you on and I hope the conditions are kind
to you. GOOD LUCK again I'll be watching your
progress :)
Time: Friday 9.11pm
Name: Nigel Knowles
Comment: Good luck, I know you can do it.
Do try to enjoy it if you can, it will be a wonderful achievement that I
could never gain, but you certainly can.
Time: Friday 9.45pm
Name: Limeycat
Comment: Very, very best of luck Emma
Time: Friday 11.04pm
Name: Sam Ayling
Comment: Vince is away in Swansea
with his log book and didn't realise you were going so soon. He sends
his love and says good luck, he is with you every stroke and wishes he
was there. Good luck from all the Aylings.
Time: Friday 11.44pm
Name: Kate
Comment: Thinking of you, Emma. Just
off to bed but I shall be reading for a while and
hoping that it starts well. Will catch up
during the day.
Time: Friday midnight
Name: Kerry
Comment: Go for it girl!! Just because
some of us lazy slobs will be asleep for the next 8
hours doesn't mean to say that we're not still
urging you on!!!
Time: Saturday 0.22am
Name: Tim
Comment: Are you there yet? It strikes
me that if it is now warm enough for Great White
Sharks off Cornwall then the Channel must be quite
pleasant to swim in.
Your Comments - During the swim
Time: Saturday 2.12am
Name: Jeni Johnson
Comment: Emma Jane, you're amazing in a
crazy sort of a way!!
Time: Saturday 2.22am
Name: David Jefferies
Comment: Nice moon here in Guildford
must look good on your boat. Good day for a swim!!
Time: Saturday 3.36am
Name: Ross Clement (Brick on swimclub)
Comment: It must be brilliant (or will
be) seeing the dawn break and the sun rise while you're swimming. Go for
it!!!
Time: Saturday 5.43am
Name: Jeni Johnson
Comment: We're in Idaho and you are
being cheered on by Jeni, Arlan, Melanie, Grant, Boyce, Eric and Maddie.
More people will be gathering around the computer soon. You're
awesome...crazy but awesome!
Time: Saturday 5.45am
Name: Jim Boucher
Comment: Go Emma, swim to the next feed!
from jimbo jellyfish. Tell the support crew to buck up their ideas xxx
Time: Saturday 6.35am
Name: David Jefferies
Comment: Keep it up, well done, sunny
morning in Guildford. Invite the folk in the ferries to get in to!! Very
impressive. And a word for the crew as well, have some breakfast. You
may well feel better!
Time: Saturday 6.46am
Name: Jeni Johnson
Comment: Mum would be proud of
you...annoyed that you would do something so crazy but still proud!
Time: Saturday 8.43am
Name: Leprechaun
Comment: she
has been going for over seven hours so its uncharted waters now!
watching website for news but not much other than support crew suffering
- not sure what from but suspect sunburn later! go emma we are all
shouting for you! x x
Time: Saturday 8.55am
Name: Tim Whiting
Comment: Trust the French to push the
water in the wrong direction! Emma, I suggest that you show them that
their tricks don't work on you! It's started out a great day here in the
U.K. Hopefully, tides allowing, that's good news for you. Keep it up!
Time: Saturday 9.21am
Name: Kate
Comment: Emma, you're amazing. Keep going! Will be
watching.
Time: Saturday 9.26am
Name: Robin
Comment: Get your skates on, the channel might still freeze over!
Time: Saturday 9.29am
Name: Jeremy
Comment: Tell emma that the payne family are sending emma all our
support today.
Your Comments - After the swim
Time: Saturday 9.44am
Name: Robin
Comment: Congratulations! What a fantastic achievement, not even
King Canute could change the tides!
Time: Saturday 9.44am
Name: Katie
Comment: Lots of love from Katie at Serco. You haven't
failed. You have achieved so much more than most. Smile.
You are amazing!x
Time: Saturday 9.49am
Name: Kate
Comment: You've done a fantastic job.
Nobody can legislate for tides. Extremely well done. Very few people
have ever even started such a challenge. You have achieved so much and
earned every penny of your fantastic sponsorship total.
Time: Saturday 9.52am
Name: Jacqueline
Comment: so
sorry to hesr that the swim was stopped will you be able to have another
go in sep or do you have to start all over again, well done anyway hope
that you are ok
Time: Saturday
9.56am
Name: Karen
Comment: Oh dear. Poor Emma, bet she is disappointed.
Give her a big hug from me. X
Time: Saturday 9.56am
Name: Jeni Johnson
Comment: Brilliant effort Emma Jane. Not
much you can do when mother nature is against you. Pack your bags and
I'll see you in Florida next week. What an experience, well done!
Time: Saturday 9.56am
Name: Jenny Richards
Comment: Gutted for you, but a sterling
effort. You might not have made it to France but you certainly haven't
failed - we are all so proud of your achievement, well done you!
Time: Saturday 9.57am
Name: Bully
Comment: Unfortunately the tides were against her, and she has
had to stop after 8 hours at 9.30. I just hope they haven't made
her swim back???
Time: Saturday 10.32am
Name: Kelly Stone
Comment: Brilliant effort which ended
through no fault of yours x
Time: Saturday 10.42am
Name: Michael Keen
Comment: Well done Emma, a great achievement,
something to be proud of. You can't do much about the tides. See you
soon.
Time: Saturday 10.48am
Name: KatieBun
Comment: What a tremendous effort though. Shame about the
tides. Well done Emma
Time: Saturday 11.16am
Name: Chris
Comment: Great effort Emma. Well done!
Time: Saturday 11.35am
Name: Stevie k
Comment: Well done Emma. Amazing effort! Hope your shoulder
is OK too.
Time: Saturday 11.48am
Name: Verity
Comment: Couldn't put it any better than Stevie K, Chris and
Katie Bun Awesome attempt.
Time: Saturday 11.52am
Name: Aliahyar Yairmohammad
Comment: Well done Emma. It is a great
achievement. You couldn't do much about the tides, they were against you
this time.
Time: Saturday 12.25pm
Name: NotVeryFast
Comment: A fantastic effort, Emma. I might be able to do a
decent 1500, but I'm sure I couldn't keep going for 8 hours even in a
pool, let alone the sea.
Time: Saturday 12.44pm
Name: Nicola Latty
Comment: Emma, what a great effort. I'm
really proud of what you've achieved. Sorry to hear the tide was against
you. With such an experience any future 200 fly races will seem rather
trivial for you!
Time: Saturday 5.57pm
Name: KatieBun
Comment: As
I've just posted on Leppy's thread, Emma, you're both awesome and I'll
gladly sponsor you both to have another go. One day the weather, the
tides and everything else will be with you. You both have the mental
strength to do it. I know that I couldn't even face the 6 hour
qualifier. Congratulations on being so many steps up the ladder already.
I shall raise a glass to you both this evening, with the greatest of
admiration and respect.
Time: Saturday
7.42pm
Name: Brick
Comment: Amazing effort Emma. The gods must be crazy to
turn the tides against you.
Time: Saturday
7.57pm
Name: Wildswimmer
Comment: Better luck next year, Emma. Perhaps you and
Leppie could go together!
Time: Saturday
7.59pm
Name: Pat and family, Uncle Tom and Auntie Joyce
Comment: Well done for trying. Will you give it another go
another time? If so, what can we do to help? If not, fanatastic try!!
Time: Saturday
8.18pm
Name: zanshin
Comment: Commiserations Emma. You tried to do something
many of us can only dream of attempting. However, in your case it’s not
a dream it’s a certainty , you will try again and you will succeed.
Time:
Saturday 10.59pm
Name: Joan
Comment: You must be disappointed to have had the swim stopped –
but CONGRATULATIONS on going so far! Hope you get warm again!
Time: Sunday
11.18am
Name: Julian
Comment: Make sure you look after yourself. You have done
what most of us can only dream of.
Time: Sunday 1.55pm
Name: Paul
Comment: I am a colleague of your sister and while we have never
met, I find your decision to even attempt to swim the challenge an
inspiration. I am a regular swimmer but the longest i have ever
swam is 110 lenghts of a 25 meter pool. To endure 8hrs in the.
English Channel is an accomplishment beyond my comprehension.
Congratulations and well done.
Time: Sunday 3.33pm
Name: Lucy
Comment: You haven't disappointed anyone Emma - what you
undertook was an enormous and incredible feat that has got the better of
countless people. What matters is that you had the courage to try and
the tenacity to get fit enough to attempt it. I know I am not alone in
admiring you very very much.
Time: Sunday 3.48pm
Name: Frances
Comment: YOU ARE MY HERO! Congratulations - hope you are
very proud of your achievement and I'm especially glad to know you're
safe and well.
Time: Sunday 7.32pm
Name: Amanda
Comment: Sorry you didn't make it, but you've achieved more than
most of us pool swimmers would dare to try. Well done!
Time: Sunday 8.37pm
Name: Spidey
Comment:
Emma,
well done on what you have achieved, OK it was not all the way, but you
did what none of us (leppy excluded) have ever thought of (and excluding
your relay team). What ever you decide for the future I know it will be
sensible. Thank your daughter for texting me.
............