How NOT to do Open Water swimming!

This is not going to be an easy Blog to write. I have always tried to keep my posts positive and inspiring, dealing with successes and how I go about getting there. Sadly, after 5 years of Open water endurance swimming I have found a way "not to do it right!" In the interests of presenting an unbiased view of this game that I play, I think it is only right I have to show the ugly side as well. Am at a bit of a loss of how to tackle my biggest fears. Although I am NOT entirely blameless in this sub-standard performance, there was a few things beyound my control and some major curve balls been thrown in from outfield.

At the beginning of the week, After failing to reach the deadline to book onto this Champion of Champion Swim., there followed a plethora of emails and phonecalls between me and the organiser and I managed to secure a space on the swim.

Friday night arrived and the demons started to play games, I busied myself with household chores, catching up with friends, who have been absolutely awesome at offering up support and good tidings. Trying to keep the demons at bay is a constant battle but tonight I was winning. I did spend a fair amount of time mentally impressing my game plan in my head,I had it all sorted ---So I thought!! I was going to succeed. 

- 5 miles first challenge. Not un-attainable by any means. I had absolutely breezed through 6 miles       10 days previously although there were a few problems at the start. 

- The cold, Again, 6 miles 10 days earlier and 4 miles 2 days before in similar 12 dgree water - No       problems.

- Salt water, although I do not like it, Something I CAN deal with

- Waves, I knew how to deal with swiming in a washing machine.

- The rest, recouperation, feeding and subsequent getting back in was a bit bigger to deal with, but   I     had a plan for that.

- The three mile- again not a train smash.

- Rest and feed. Easy now I had done it once

- 1 mile a breeze.

All in all it looked great I was physically capable of the distance and the cold, Mentally capable of the distance and looking forward to a fun day.

Some very positive affirmations from some friends and comforting that I was going to be fine. Oddly after all this coaxing, I did manage to drift into the land of nod at about 2 in the morning. Had a good 4 hours of solid sleep before waking up and going through my days preparation.

A friend joined Rachelle and I, I went to the bathroom to get something just as we were leaving and realised I had not shaved so had to do this, believeme when I say, you do not want to gouge out holes in your shoulders whilst breathing, I have made that school boy error before, not pretty and not fun. Shaun, Rish and I were off to Dover for the day, the weather forcast was looking good, albeit a bit windy, gusting up to about 45 Mph. Day trip here we come.

We arrived at about 8.30am. I headed to registration to book in and get ready for the pre-race briefing. Got changed and lubed up and then it was hurry up and wait.

that guy in the background right. He is far better eqipped for the task at hand.

Rish an Shaun

The briefing was postponed a bit as the course was not laid properly. It was then stipulated by the organisers that instead of a 1 mile loop, of which we would have to do 5 laps, it would be a shorter, half mile loop.with swimmers having to to 10 of them. Not a terrible thing but when I saw where the bouys were and knowing the harbour, the comments were abuzz, "there is no way that course is half a mile!!"  From here on, the goal posts were changing pretty regularly whilst the organisers tried to secure the Bouys correctly.

Another stipulation was when we are in the Northwest corner of the course, we had to shout out our numbers to officials who were then going to log our laps. Problem here is we are in the water, they are on a pier about 20m above us and, a howling Wind!!

Further delays as they struggled to get the bouys set, plans then changed back to 5 - 1 mile laps then back to 10 - half mile laps, then miss out the one bouy altogether and swim round a boat that is moored, start and finish points changing. my game plan was fast becoming very opaque. Fall back to plan B. Start at the back and just follow.

Forty five minutes after the prescribed start time we were, in some way, ready to start,  A water based start.Swimmers started entering the water and this was a bit of a problem for me, and most of us. when you jump into 12 degree water with nothing but a pair of Budgie smugglers, a cap and goggles, the first thing on your mind is SWIM!! and pretty hard. I NEED TO START GENERATING BODY HEAT, AND FAST. The last thing you want to do, is mill around in that water waiting for the start, every second your core temp dropping. All this time, the plans still changing. Plan B firmly now fixed in my mind. Start at the back and see what happens. last minute final plan change and then we're off. I was near the back and starting to work my way through the swimmers, By the first Bouy, I could see that I was about 6th or 7th with three people out ahead in a group and then the next 4 of us single file.

We rounded this bouy onto a course which took us directly across the the prevailing wind. It was not very long before I had my first lungful of salt water. I breathed to my right just as a wave hit me face on and a gust of windsprayed fruther water into my mouth. Memories of swimming for hours in this same harbour flooded back and they were comforting memories. My brain automatically switched into rough sea swimming mode, Rolling a lot further over to get my mouth higher out the water to get as much clean breath as possible. often you had to change your game plane, lifting your head up for a breath and see the conditions, you had to make a split second decision NOT to breathe-until the next opportunity. One good thing is that I was breathing on both sides. My legs were working fine, I had got into a decent stroke - for the conditions. One problem was sighting the next bouy, having to get your head pretty high out the water by arching your back.

by the next bouy I had passed two more people so I think I was in about 5th place. I was happy with this and pressed on. I was counting my laps - albeit I am not very good at it. Round the third bouy you have to stop and shout up your number at the officials, straight into an ever stiffening breeze.

Lap 1----lap 2---- lap 3---- lap 4---- I kept going challenges so far realised and dealt with. It was on about Lap 5 that we started to lap the tail enders of the race,This now mad it difficult to ascertain where i was in the pack. So still thinking I was in about 5th place and quite comfortable I just got on with it. An hour past, then the next hour. This was the "best case scenario" time for this distance of swim that I was doing. I got to about lap 8/9 in my mind. I figured okay, the conditions have been pretty tough so that is probably about correct so I tried to ask how many laps I had done and was told by a kayaker that they would find out for me next time round. Off I went. Cold now starting to get to me, I was now at the limit I know I can comfortably do without any feeding but figured, you probably got one more lap so all good.

I got back to the officials and stopped at the kayaker and asked and she now informed me I had another three laps to go. My Heart absolutely sank - lower than it had ever sunk before. Thank good Dover harbour is not that deep. I tried to argue the toss but it ws futile. My brain then had to engage Plan C ----- oh hang on, I didn't have a plan C!!!!!  I now had to make one up. I new I was at my absolute maximum with regards to how long I could go in 12 degree water without an energy boost. My core temp was dropping, My legs were seizing up, my groin was killing me, as was my back,I now had another problem to deal with, My Ribsand side of my body. Beacuase of the rough water I had had to over rotate for most of my breathing. This was putting strain on muscles that were not used to being over extended. I had no way of getting pain killers.I figured that with my current lap times that would be another hour of swimming - AT LEAST. Taking me to nearly 3 hours 10 min - best case scenario, which I could not hope to achieve in my current state, I was now running very far into the empty category of my physical reserves and my mental reserves were running low.

It was now into survival mode, My arms were all I had to rely on now as my legs were seizing up, the feeling had gone from my feet and lower legs. Shorten my stroke, conserve as much energy as possible. I pressed on my brain complete mush my emotions running very high, thoughts of failure permeating my being.

1 more lap, 2 more then onto my third. I was passed by a channel swimmer and struggeled to respond, try as I might. She is due to do her channel swim in a little under two weeks so just had to let them go.  we got to the end and both started heading to the beach and were chased down by a kayaker informing us we still had another lap.I was now livid, heart could not sink any lower. it was now just "suck it and see territory" I was now at 3 hours 8 min. well beyond what I thought to be my limit. Body now freezing, Legs---what are they?? Groin, back and now ribs in absolute agony, and getting worse from all the sighting and over rotation that I had to do.


So 1 more lap it was then!! Off we went, this current channel swimmer and a relic like me. I had no fight left in me, alarm bells were ringing loud and clear. I finally got to the end. Stumbled up the beach and promptly tripped, on the beach and collapsed and that is where I just broke down, lay there completley broken, Shivering started, My body had long since lost its humanly glow and had started to take ona lovely shade of purpleish  blue. My wife was there to watch it all, but there was nothing she could do to console me.St Johns ambulance came to see if I was alright. It seemed like eternity that I lay there in a foetal position shivering, but I was soon able to compose myself enough to at least stand up and walk on my own up the beach - without slops, Couldn't feel anything below my knees anyway so I did not really care.

About half an hour later, I was dry and slowly warming up. I headed to the change rooms to get warm clothes on. The site which greeted me were SHOWERS!!!  I did not want to get in but could not resist. I was still shivering. My body, although a lovely shade of blue, was very slowly getting its humanly hue back. I stood shivering under a hot shower for about 30 min. Until Shaun, a friend, came to check on me.

Now marginally warmer and fed, I turned to what I dreaded most, Should I go back in for another bashing. After very careful consideration, with still no feeling in my feet and my groin still in agony, my ribs still in a fair bit of pain.I Figured if I go back in all I have to rely on is my arms as I figured my legs would be pretty useless. As for mentally. I had pushed and very nearly broken myself once today, there was not a lot left.

I went and sat on my own for a while to contemplate this. I then heard that we had not actually swum 5 miles in that first race but much closer to 8.5 miles. I had figured this a long time ago but it did not help me right now. As it was a great day and I had a few friends down I finally came to a decision based on the following

1 - I had come to do 9 miles in 3 stages and had just done about 8.5 of those in one hit
2 - My body was broken, over an hour after the event I was still shivering and a bit blue
3 - I had just way surpassed - pretty spectacularly -what I thought I was  physically capable of -  8.5       miles (13.6km) on just a plate of serial and a banana
4 - The above had seriously taken its toll on me, both physically and mentally
5 - It was a great day and I had Great people down to see me for the day. A walk on the cliffs was in     order
6 - If I did go back in - it was decided - by the organisers -that we were going to do 4 more laps and        then a final 1 lap.

Upon reflection, I decided that it was not in my interest to get back in unless I could give it a really good shot. In my current state I would be in survival mode for pretty much all of it. Only doing further damage, compounding what I had already done

I went up and retired. After this, I bumped into my old Friend and English Channel training partner. Gregg Wood.Over the years we have done battle in open water occasionally and the score is 1 all so I am currently trying to set up a grudge match between us, He is marginally faster at 10 km than I am and I am marginally faster across the English Channel so I see it only fitting that we go head to head again. Rules and regs still to be deiced but I relish the thought of getting back in the water with this awesome guy. He is faster than me but I may just have it over him if we decide to go with no rubber.

The day was then finished with a lovely walk on the cliffs and Dinner at theWhite Horse, where a task was set for Shaun and Audra, To find my name in that history of channel swimming. Ome peoples' powers of observation is pretty terrible!! It is a cute pub where nearly every wall and ceiling is adorned with names of past channel swimmers. Very moving to see all that history in one place.

Was My day a failure?

If you take it down to the raw meaning of "Failure" yes it was, totally and utterly. Did I Fail? Well I think it is a matter of perspective. I set out to do something and did not. I did however learn a load about myself and where my shortcomings may lie.

The Cold is still a big problem whenever I get into the water, Was 5 years ago and still is now., bearing in mind I am 20Kg (3.1Stone) lighter in the last 6 months making me VERY ACCUTELY conscious of the fact that I lack the wherewithall to handle cold water. like I used to
Getting out after something like that, and then have to face getting back in. Well that is still a problem that I will have to learn. Luckily for me My big goal this season does not entail  me doing this.

Things I learnt about myself.
 I can push myself way beyond the mental and physical limits that I had imposed upon myself. I  DO NOT aim on making it a regular occurance. This comes down to the "6 P's"

Perfect Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance

When all your plans are reduced to a pile of rubbish, you can still make another one.

Know when your limits are reached. If it is absolutely necessary to push further then go ahead and try, you will amaze yourself, but if the necessity is not there don't do it!!

I need to try and focus on getting my cold water acclimatisation up.

When you are down and out, surround yourself with people who believe in you and can pick you up, go for a walk and enjoy the lighter things in life. Do not Knock yourself directly after an event that you have not succeeded at. Give it time to sink in then do a post mortem.

WHAT'S IN THE PAST YOU CANNOT CHANGE, BUT YOU CAN START MOULDING YOUR NEW FUTURE. STARTING NOW!

Fund-Raising

Trickling in slower than I would like but every pound helps. So please, click on the link below and help the old age pensioners. they need it more than anthing.

Zimhippo Fund raising

So where to now?

Moving forward, I do not have a huge amount of big swims planned, but am looking at a few. In the next couple of weeks I have to do a 10.5 mile ratifying swim o will hope to do that in mid to end July.In the meantime I will be pushing my distances up to hopefully get to about15km swims in one swim. I think my next swim race will be on 21st July, still need to look into it, it may be a classic time to settle my score with Gregg.

I hope this has been an interesting read and Please leave a comment either here aof on Facebook.

"If you are willing to do only what's easy, 

life will be hard. 

But if you are willing to do what's hard, 

life will be easy."

T. Harv Eker