We set off for Dover early Saturday morning (03:00) and arrived in plenty of time to register and gossip with fellow swimmers and the "General". The Champion of Champions consists of 3 races in one day, starting with a 5 miler, followed by a 3 mile effort and finishing with a 1 mile sprint at the end of the day.
We all happily entered the water for the first race and spirits were high. Ali Streeter started us off and I immediately found myself near the back!! I set off at a steady pace telling myself that I shouldn't go off too fast, this ploy worked and I started catching swimmers after 2 miles. I then wondered how soon the leaders would catch me, hoping that I could reach the finish before I was lapped, this was not to be as 2 swimmers flew past me before I'd finished my 3rd mile!! I continued my own race with 2 others, coming in 2nd in our mini race in a race. My time of 2 hrs 13 min was better than I had expected, but poor in respect of the winning time of 1 hr 35 min.
After a good rest it was back in for race 2 over 3 miles, I decided to "race" this one and had a great battle with 3 other swimmers for the majority of the race. Once again I managed a sprint finish to come in 2nd in our little group. I was disapointed with my official time of 1 hr 21 min (Ruth clocked it as 1 hr 18 min), but I enjoyed the race.
There seemed to be a big delay before race 3 got underway and there wasn't quite the enthusiasm for the final sprint, the numbers were also down on the original starting field. I simply went as fast as I could and managed to stay with a big group for the 1st half mile but then had to slow, finally managing to come in under 26 min (just!).
All in all a good day with a provisional 25th place, out over about 66 starters, not bad for a hairy old git.
Sunday saw my back in the harbour for a 6 hour swim courtesy of Freda. All was going well at the 1st 2 hour feed, but coming in for the 3 hour I was feeling cold and was dropping back from Rob. I remember approaching the beach, but the next thing I remember was sitting on the beach staring at Freda, completely covered in towels from everybody on the beach!! Apparently Barry caught me and dragged me out of the water and Freda broke the 30m beach dash!! Thankyou to both and all the others down on the beach last weekend.
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Birthday Weekend Swims
Last weekend was a good time for swim progress. Friday I was in Colemere with Ruth at the canoe helm, 5 circuits of the Mere and 2 hrs 15 min later, I was back out feeling warm, but with a very sore right shoulder, a little worrying to say the least.
After a soak and a massage on the shoulder, it felt a lot better, so Saturday saw me in Ellesmere for a 5 hour effort. Today Ben and John were duty paddlers and feeders. We started in sunny conditions, but it clouded over as the day progressed. Brother John was amazed at how the crowds gathered to watch the "Mad Bloke" swimming with the ducks and geese. He said he'd never had his photo taken so many times in one day! The shoulder held up and actually felt better towards the end of the swim, good news indeed.
Sunday we were up at lake Bala in North Wales for the Middle distance triathlon. For the first time in 5 years I was not racing and I felt a little left out, but it was good to gossip. I did a quick lap of the swim course for the triathletes, without a wetsuit of course, just to show off... a little! The race organisers claimed it was 17.4C in the lake, I would say it was a tid cooler than that (I've never known Bala to go above 16C in all the years I've swam in it!!). I was told later how the water temp was taken, but I won't divulge the details here!!
The weekend was a good end to a good week of training, with 35000m in the bank. I will be easing off during the coming week, ready for the Champion of Champions event in Dover next Saturday. More on that later.
After a soak and a massage on the shoulder, it felt a lot better, so Saturday saw me in Ellesmere for a 5 hour effort. Today Ben and John were duty paddlers and feeders. We started in sunny conditions, but it clouded over as the day progressed. Brother John was amazed at how the crowds gathered to watch the "Mad Bloke" swimming with the ducks and geese. He said he'd never had his photo taken so many times in one day! The shoulder held up and actually felt better towards the end of the swim, good news indeed.
Sunday we were up at lake Bala in North Wales for the Middle distance triathlon. For the first time in 5 years I was not racing and I felt a little left out, but it was good to gossip. I did a quick lap of the swim course for the triathletes, without a wetsuit of course, just to show off... a little! The race organisers claimed it was 17.4C in the lake, I would say it was a tid cooler than that (I've never known Bala to go above 16C in all the years I've swam in it!!). I was told later how the water temp was taken, but I won't divulge the details here!!
The weekend was a good end to a good week of training, with 35000m in the bank. I will be easing off during the coming week, ready for the Champion of Champions event in Dover next Saturday. More on that later.
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Four Hour Swim - Saturday 31 May
Last Saturday saw me back in Ellesmere for a 4 hour swim. The aim being to extend the endurance and practice various feed ideas. The sun was out and a very pleasant water temperature (16.5C) made for a really enjoyable swim. Feeding worked well with Ruth lobbing a 500ml bottle of warm Maxim at me. The Maxim was flavoured with forest fruits squash, and I fed after 2 hours and again at 3 hours. The feeds also gave her a well earned break from paddling around as safety cover.
Next weekend will be a 5 hour effort, following the same pattern for feeding though I'm going to try 3 scoops of Maxim per 500ml - should be turbocharged if I hold it down!!
Ruth is going to share the safety cover this week with my brother, John, who had a practice last night in Colemere, as Rob and I did 3 laps of the lake. He only paddled over me once whilst he watch an aeroplane practicing aerobatics!! I feel safe really.
I have kick started my bid to raise money for Hope House, and a big thank you to all of you who have given so generously already. If anyone wishes to help this charity, I have included the link below, and you can read all about Hope House on one of my earlier posts.
http://www.justgiving.com/andychannelswim
Next weekend will be a 5 hour effort, following the same pattern for feeding though I'm going to try 3 scoops of Maxim per 500ml - should be turbocharged if I hold it down!!
Ruth is going to share the safety cover this week with my brother, John, who had a practice last night in Colemere, as Rob and I did 3 laps of the lake. He only paddled over me once whilst he watch an aeroplane practicing aerobatics!! I feel safe really.
I have kick started my bid to raise money for Hope House, and a big thank you to all of you who have given so generously already. If anyone wishes to help this charity, I have included the link below, and you can read all about Hope House on one of my earlier posts.
http://www.justgiving.com/andychannelswim
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Swimming in Colemere
Last night saw Rob Windsor and I back in Colemere for the first time this year. Having been restricted to swimming in Ellesmere all of this season, (awaiting aceptance of the Colemere risk assessment), it was good to be back in my favourite local lake.
The water seemed much colder than Dover, and this feeling did not change during our 2 lap curcuit of the lake, I suspect it was down around 12C. We both agreed to call it a day after an hour and retire to Rob's house for supper. Since I'm not down in Dover this weekend, the thought of a long swim in this temp water on Saturday, does not inspire, but it must be done.
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Hope House Childrens Hospices
It takes over £3,000,000 to keep The Hope House Hospices open each year. That's around £8500 per day, or about £360 per hour, which is £6 per minute.
By swimming the English Channel as a solo swimmer in late July 2008 I hope to raise enough money in donations to keep Hope House running for a day, but a week would be even better!
It's a big request I know, but if you know anything about the work that Hope House does, you will be more than happy to help. If you have not heard of Hope House then please visit their web site, http://www.hopehouse.org.uk/, for more information.
Please help to keep Hope House open for a few more minutes, by donating what you can, and I'll attempt to swim upto 30 miles in just my speedo's, hat and goggles. All in water that might only reach 16C (60F) in July, whilst avoiding all the scary things that lurk in the Channel.
Donating through http://www.justgiving.com/andychannelswim is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Hope House Children's Hospices will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please sponsor me by clicking on the button. Many thanks for your support.
Best wishes
Andy
By swimming the English Channel as a solo swimmer in late July 2008 I hope to raise enough money in donations to keep Hope House running for a day, but a week would be even better!
It's a big request I know, but if you know anything about the work that Hope House does, you will be more than happy to help. If you have not heard of Hope House then please visit their web site, http://www.hopehouse.org.uk/, for more information.
Please help to keep Hope House open for a few more minutes, by donating what you can, and I'll attempt to swim upto 30 miles in just my speedo's, hat and goggles. All in water that might only reach 16C (60F) in July, whilst avoiding all the scary things that lurk in the Channel.
Donating through http://www.justgiving.com/andychannelswim is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Hope House Children's Hospices will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please sponsor me by clicking on the button. Many thanks for your support.
Best wishes
Andy
2nd May Bank Holiday Weekend
Following a successful 1st Bank Holiday weekend at the start of the month, it was up at 3 am on Saturday morning and off on the 5 hour drive to Dover. The forecast isn't good but, "it's all good training"!!
We arrive in full sunshine, but the water is quite choppy, I'm hoping "The General" will give me a 3 hour swim. After paying homage to Freda, I meet up with all my new friends and fellow swimmers to gossip about life, well swimming! Freda calls us all together and says that we will be doing 5 lengths of the harbour, except for the privileged few, who get to do 8!! As she called out some names I tried to hide as best I could, but she caught my eye and suggested that I would do the longer swim. Quietly I was pleased, because that should take the 3 hours I hoped to do.
I enter the water with all the others and the water feels cold but bearable, (the early season Ellesmere swims are paying off). The choppy water is definitely noticeable one way as opposed to the other, but I try my best to relax and keep a steady rhythm, occasionally I see another swimmer and feel the sun on my back, I'm swimming well.
After 2 hours I head back to the beach for my Maxim feed, I feed as quick as I can and back into the water, but the feed doesn't sit well and as I take a mouthful of sea water it re-appears!! I finish the swim feeling sick with the nasty acid taste in my mouth, but 2 hours and 52 mins for the whole swim, overall a good start.
After a warm and something to eat, Ruth and I retire to our B&B for a well earned soak and a nap, ready for Sunday.
I look out of the window, it's 6 am and it's raining! Deep joy. Back under the duvet for an hour and pray for sunshine. There is a God, the sun is out and there is no wind. We arrive at the beach to see flat calm water, Freda tells us to do the same swim as yesterday. I intend to swim steadier today and work on stroke and relaxation, and hold down the maxim. It all goes to plan and I exit the water just short of 3 hours, feeling strong and able to do more, though my neck is chaffed and sore.
Oh Monday, I've used all my favours with that weather God. The wind is howling and the rain is horizontal. Even Freda looks dubious about swimming, and the 30-40 swimmers on the beach has dwindled to about a dozen hard or daft nutters who clearly have no home to go to!! Freda then suggests that we all swim to the East Dock Wall and back, twice! About an hour she says. Of we go, it's a fight just to get into the water as the waves batter us on the beach. I couldn't stop taking in water as I headed out to the wall, but I managed to control the urge to turn back as everyone else seemed ok. I soon discovered breathing to the left limited the intake of water and progress could be made, I was even starting to enjoy the experience of being thrown about. The swim back from the wall was great, body surfing all the way, and even the 2nd lap back was ok.
We arrive in full sunshine, but the water is quite choppy, I'm hoping "The General" will give me a 3 hour swim. After paying homage to Freda, I meet up with all my new friends and fellow swimmers to gossip about life, well swimming! Freda calls us all together and says that we will be doing 5 lengths of the harbour, except for the privileged few, who get to do 8!! As she called out some names I tried to hide as best I could, but she caught my eye and suggested that I would do the longer swim. Quietly I was pleased, because that should take the 3 hours I hoped to do.
I enter the water with all the others and the water feels cold but bearable, (the early season Ellesmere swims are paying off). The choppy water is definitely noticeable one way as opposed to the other, but I try my best to relax and keep a steady rhythm, occasionally I see another swimmer and feel the sun on my back, I'm swimming well.
After 2 hours I head back to the beach for my Maxim feed, I feed as quick as I can and back into the water, but the feed doesn't sit well and as I take a mouthful of sea water it re-appears!! I finish the swim feeling sick with the nasty acid taste in my mouth, but 2 hours and 52 mins for the whole swim, overall a good start.
After a warm and something to eat, Ruth and I retire to our B&B for a well earned soak and a nap, ready for Sunday.
I look out of the window, it's 6 am and it's raining! Deep joy. Back under the duvet for an hour and pray for sunshine. There is a God, the sun is out and there is no wind. We arrive at the beach to see flat calm water, Freda tells us to do the same swim as yesterday. I intend to swim steadier today and work on stroke and relaxation, and hold down the maxim. It all goes to plan and I exit the water just short of 3 hours, feeling strong and able to do more, though my neck is chaffed and sore.
Oh Monday, I've used all my favours with that weather God. The wind is howling and the rain is horizontal. Even Freda looks dubious about swimming, and the 30-40 swimmers on the beach has dwindled to about a dozen hard or daft nutters who clearly have no home to go to!! Freda then suggests that we all swim to the East Dock Wall and back, twice! About an hour she says. Of we go, it's a fight just to get into the water as the waves batter us on the beach. I couldn't stop taking in water as I headed out to the wall, but I managed to control the urge to turn back as everyone else seemed ok. I soon discovered breathing to the left limited the intake of water and progress could be made, I was even starting to enjoy the experience of being thrown about. The swim back from the wall was great, body surfing all the way, and even the 2nd lap back was ok. All in all, a successful weekend, with 2 x 3 hour swims and a rough 1 hour swim.
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