It was always going to be a tough ask, getting my body to race a 9 mile swim on the Saturday and then go on to do a 6 hour channel qualifier the next morning.
But here I am, just about in one piece, not feeling too shabby and recovering well!
First off, the Saturday.
Champion of champions is called champion of champions for a good reason, it is one of the hardest and most gruelling races on the UK open water calender. A 5 mile swim, short break, 3 mile swim, short break, 1 mile swim and REST! The 5 mile swim felt great and I kept a good speed and was managing to get quicker through the 10 laps of the triangular course in Dover Harbour. The 3 mile however, was hard.... The 1 mile was pretty good. But while swimming I kept scooping up these soft things and then one of them wriggled in my hand (shudders). As it turns out half the harbour had jelly fish, which fortunately, hadn't developed their tenticals yet! That aside it was a fantastic event, chance to have a bit of social between swims and meet some incredible new people. There is always such a buzz around Dover, it's contagious! I came 5th male over the 3 races in a total time of 4 hours 14 minutes and 24 seconds. Really pleased with the time. Some did it a hell of a lot quicker though, the winning male completed the course in 3 hours 25 mins, an astounding time!
Next day, channel qualifier
Never under estimate the set-up down in Dover with the beach crew, they really are a well oiled machine when it comes to marathon swim training. When I first got there, I signed in, said how long I was intending to swim for (6 hours) and then got my things ready and met friends who were also swimming. Then got myself greased up by their permanent Vaz man, did a really good job, no chaffing after the swim! Instructions on where you can swim and feeds were given. No feeding in the first two hours and then on the hour, every hour after.
The first two hours were long, but went well. First feed, warm cup of maxi and two jelly babies, gave a well needed boast. Time started fly by after that, the feeds broke it up nicely and I actually really started to enjoy the swim. This continued until I started 'hitting the wall' around the 5 and a half hour mark. But encouragement from Kate got me through the last bit. She hauled me up the beach (having just done a 6 HOUR SWIM HERSELF!) and handed me my dryrobe. Never underestimate the value of comradeship in swimming! A lovely lady handed me a massive blueberry muffin, I got my certificate for the swim and went home with Pauline and partner James to Plymouth. And so concludes the weekend, a great weekends swimming and now a pot of ben & jerries, a large beer and lots of sleep :)
Happy swimming!
But here I am, just about in one piece, not feeling too shabby and recovering well!
First off, the Saturday.
Champion of champions is called champion of champions for a good reason, it is one of the hardest and most gruelling races on the UK open water calender. A 5 mile swim, short break, 3 mile swim, short break, 1 mile swim and REST! The 5 mile swim felt great and I kept a good speed and was managing to get quicker through the 10 laps of the triangular course in Dover Harbour. The 3 mile however, was hard.... The 1 mile was pretty good. But while swimming I kept scooping up these soft things and then one of them wriggled in my hand (shudders). As it turns out half the harbour had jelly fish, which fortunately, hadn't developed their tenticals yet! That aside it was a fantastic event, chance to have a bit of social between swims and meet some incredible new people. There is always such a buzz around Dover, it's contagious! I came 5th male over the 3 races in a total time of 4 hours 14 minutes and 24 seconds. Really pleased with the time. Some did it a hell of a lot quicker though, the winning male completed the course in 3 hours 25 mins, an astounding time!
Next day, channel qualifier
Never under estimate the set-up down in Dover with the beach crew, they really are a well oiled machine when it comes to marathon swim training. When I first got there, I signed in, said how long I was intending to swim for (6 hours) and then got my things ready and met friends who were also swimming. Then got myself greased up by their permanent Vaz man, did a really good job, no chaffing after the swim! Instructions on where you can swim and feeds were given. No feeding in the first two hours and then on the hour, every hour after.
The first two hours were long, but went well. First feed, warm cup of maxi and two jelly babies, gave a well needed boast. Time started fly by after that, the feeds broke it up nicely and I actually really started to enjoy the swim. This continued until I started 'hitting the wall' around the 5 and a half hour mark. But encouragement from Kate got me through the last bit. She hauled me up the beach (having just done a 6 HOUR SWIM HERSELF!) and handed me my dryrobe. Never underestimate the value of comradeship in swimming! A lovely lady handed me a massive blueberry muffin, I got my certificate for the swim and went home with Pauline and partner James to Plymouth. And so concludes the weekend, a great weekends swimming and now a pot of ben & jerries, a large beer and lots of sleep :)
Happy swimming!