SO THIS IS HOW IT WENT.......
Some background
The journey for my solo started in 2005 after
a very enjoyable relay swim in conditions that were, quite
frankly, unbelievable perfect. I don't know about you but if I
ever entertain the thought 'I wonder if I could.....' I normally
end up having a go to find out. After that day I wondered if I
could do a solo.
In 2007 I signed up to one of the SwimTrek Gozo training camps
and had my qualifying swim nicely tucked under my belt before
the Dover season started, which is just as well as had I just
turned up in Dover that first Saturday in May I don't think I'd
ever had come back - it felt so cold!!! I just had to hang on to
the thought that I'd be able to handle it once the weather
improved which I did, physically, although mentally it was a
real struggle and I can't say that I learned to love it that
year. I did attempt a solo that year, it was not successful. I
could give you a list of excuses as long as my arm - fact was it
was me that didn't make it and I had to decide whether to try
again or just say that it was an interesting experience and move
on. This is where the stubborn streak comes in. I concluded that
there were a few things that I could improve on which may make
the difference - one was repairing the shoulder that I damaged
the week before the swim, another was to look at my feeding (I
had some nasty sickness as one point on the attempt).
So in 2008 I started seeing a rehab specialist who I have worked
with ever since for some personal training designed firstly
around resolving the shoulder injury and then around building
core strength and conditioning as well as swimming specific
conditioning. I enjoyed my training in Dover much more in this
year although I still struggled mentally quite a bit, I managed
to get through the season injury free and finished it off with a
3 person relay - now that was a really fun day out - I loved
every minute of it.
So to the here and now, 2009. I now absolutely adore my weekends
in Dover, the beach crew are as good as family and it has become
a home from home, however, training was really variable. There
were some days when I enjoyed training so much I'd high 5 anyone
who stopped to say hello, there were even a couple of days when
I asked to stay in longer than I'd been asked to do, yet other
days when I was a crumpled heap of tears and simply couldn't
cope with it all. During the season it became apparent that
feeding was still a big issue and I switched feeds to see if it
would improve - it didn't. I attempted Lake Zurich and although
it was a huge confidence boost in terms of it being a long
training swim and I proved that I could swim for longer than I
ever had before, it completely destroyed my confidence due to
the issues that remained with feeding. At this point there was
only 4 weeks until the start of my tide and we tried everything
from Ginger tea to porridge, it just seemed to get worse and
worse. My head was now in exactly the wrong place at exactly the
wrong time.
I was booked on the tide between 16-23rd August and watched it
get blown out. I then watched the next tide get blown out too.
Throughout all of this I carefully collected and stored all the
additional demons and the self doubt became larger and larger. I
almost bottled it on many occasions, eventually I did bottle it
and decided to defer the swim until next year and told everyone
who had helped and supported me of this decision.
My pilot, Alison, had other ideas and pointed out the weakness
in my argument and I was convinced to give it a go. The good
thing of course was that now nobody knew I was going to attempt
it and we agreed to keep it that way, just to reduce the
pressure. The whole swim also seemed just too big to comprehend
so we agreed that I was just going on a long training swim, no
hope or agenda and no promises. All that said at just after 4am
on Sunday morning when we were heading for Shakey beach I was
very, very nervous.
So here's how the swim went from my
perspective
At 0425 precisely the horn on the boat
sounded and I walked into the sea and set off on my training
swim. I deliberately started out quite hard and strong as I know
that I struggle to pick up pace once set and I wanted to set a
pace that could get me across rather than just plod. I did get
quite a bit of cramp in my legs in the first couple of hours –
perhaps that was just due to the tension easing off which it
did, at which point I starting really enjoying myself. I decided
to feed on the hour rather than every half hour. This was for a
couple of reasons – firstly to minimise the amount of feed that
I was taking in to prevent sickness and secondly to enable me to
really make some progress between feeds.
We had agreed before the swim that I would be told when I had
reached significant milestones. I was absolutely gob smacked
when Andy told me at my 4 hour feed that we had entered the SW
lane about 20 minutes ago. Fantastic!! I’d already achieved more
than last time. The next few hours just flew by. I felt strong
and fast, the conditions were perfect, the water was calm and
flat and I even had a bit of a tail wind which was helping me
surf across. Somewhere around this point I also heard that Ros
had successfully completed her swim, simply brilliant! A couple
of hours after that the boat she was on came alongside and gave
me a cheer. It was fantastic to see them and the extra support
was a great boost.
At some point I was also told I was keeping up with another team
that had also started before us on Gallivant. Being a bit
competitive it was nice to have Gallivant to try and chase all
the way across.
The next shock was when I stopped for my 7 hour feed to be told
that I only had 100m to go until I left the separation zone.
Wow, wow, wow – I didn’t know how that was even possible. I
remember saying something like ‘you’re kidding’ to be told to
look up and sure as anything there were ships in front of me
going in the direction of the NE lane.
My motivation, strength and determination were at an all time
high. I started to think that I might actually be able to do
this. At 8 hours I pointed out to Andy and Alison that this was
as long as I lasted last time, and here I was in the 2nd
shipping lane. Each hourly segment felt strong and solid and
constant swimming. More importantly I hadn’t felt sick and that
normally happens between 3-5.5 hours. I was starting to notice
some discomfort and had some painkillers, when Andy asked where
it was hurting I reeled off, between the shoulder blades, back,
neck, forearms, knees, ankles….. to which Alison replied ‘the
usual then’ – absolutely!! Nothing serious just my body knowing
that it was doing something quite significant.
It was all good until about 11 hours when my energy levels
(physical and motivational) started to drop, my stroke whilst
maintaining the same stroke rate throughout started become a
little less effective and I was starting to feel the signs of
dehydration. All in all the wheels were starting to come off. We
switched to 30 minute feeds to boost the energy levels again
which worked, but everything after this became tough, very
tough. Doubt started to creep back in.
It took forever to get out of the shipping lane and even when I
had there was still a mighty long way to go. Around this time I
deliberately stopped counting how long I’d been in the water as
I figured that it wasn’t helpful and would only do my head in
further. Eventually the sun went down and it was dark and
getting cold again. Gallivant remained in sight and although I
wasn’t closing in on them, they weren’t pulling away much
either, that really helped me hang in there.
Everything was hurting at this point, particularly my forearms /
wrists. My knees and ankles were almost locked in their
positions. Slowly but surely I got closer and closer to Cap Gris
Nez. I was terrified that we would miss it and I’d end up
swimming for lots more hours as the tide swept us away.
Gallivant finished their swim before me and also came alongside
to cheer me on – again a great boost at just the right time.
Eventually after what seemed like forever I heard those words
you long to hear ‘you’ve got 300m to go and this is your last
feed’. I couldn’t face any more feeds and declined it.
My landing point was just round the corner from Cap Gris Nez on
some boulders. As I closed in I started seeing the water get
shallower. I had to clamber over some rocks in the water and
assumed that I could keep clambering until I got out, but that
would have been too easy! No - it got deeper again and right by
the final boulder that I would climb out on it was deeper than I
am tall, so it was a bit like trying to get out of the deep end
of a pool without a ladder – I never could do that, and
certainly not after over 17 hours of swimming. Eventually I
managed to coordinate my clambering with a wave coming in and
launched myself out of the water and on top of the rock, cutting
my legs to shreds in the process. I didn’t care – it was over!!
I don’t know what I was expecting to feel when I finished. The
only emotion I was capable of was relief – huge relief. I had
finished (I have to keep saying that as it still hasn’t really
sunk in).
After 17 hours and 37 minutes of swimming I
had become a channel swimmer!!!
The thank you's
What can I say, there are so many people that
help you achieve a goal like this, I can't possibly name all,
but some notable ones include:
Freda - there aren't words to describe what Freda
means to me. The 24/7 support has been a real life saver. I've
lost count of the number of times that she's picked up the
pieces and kept me going
The beach crew - Freda, Barrie, Irene, Louise,
Michelle - wow - those of us who train in Dover are truly
blessed. It's hard to understand why anyone would do this week
in, week out in all weather conditions, I'm so glad they do
though!
The beach bums - Rick, Michelle M, Jenni & Steve -
I had such a great and very positive training break in Dover in
June - thanks entirely to these people and Louise & Michelle
Alison Streeter - for putting me straight and
getting me to actually start. For knowing just how to keep me
motivated on the day - putting towards the back of the boat as
the sun went down so I could still feel it was a lovely touch :)
Andy Dickson - my one and only member of crew.
What can I say - he was awesome. I think he might actually be a
mind reader. He knew exactly what was on my mind without me
saying, was positive throughout. He enabled me to feel safe and
protected throughout.
Mike O - for all his freely given advice and
experience - and particularly for keeping Gallivant in sight on
Sunday!!
Tanya - for helping on the tough days by getting
me to help her relay swimmers - cunning move!
The classes of 2007-2009 - every swimmer I ever
met has left an impression with me
The old hands - Cliff, Nick, Alan, Laura, Sally,
Ned and all the swimmers who turn up year after year and freely
and willingly share their experience and advice
Swimmers from around the world whom I haven't even met,
but feel I know through what they say on the group
Dana - for starting this whole thing by creating
the relay
My chiropractor and personal trainer for keeping me injury
free
MOST IMPORTANTLY - THE HEAVENS ABOVE
FOR PROVIDING ME WITH PERFECT CONDITIONS AND LENDING BABY LEO TO
ME TO BE WITH ME EVERY STROKE OF THE WAY.
So my message for anyone who's thinking about taking this
challenge 'Dare to believe'.
What next - 2010 is the year of the beach bum!
