Sunny and hot and 3 weeks to go

First, let me explain the picture. I finished my contract at John Lewis last week and they bought me a few things to help me with my channel attempt; a pair of speedos, a nose clip and a pair of killer shark armbands. This was me, in my garden, mentally preparing for the swim.

This week has been another big swimming week. In Dover there are a number of volunteers, who give their time free of charge every year, each weekend from May to September, to help people achieve their dream of swimming the English Channel. These volunteers are led by Freda, a fantastic lady who has been doing this for ever. Ably helped by Barry, Irene, Louise, Michelle and Emma - to name but a few. This weekend Freda told us that we were to swim for 7 hours (So I got in the water at 09.00 and left at 16.00. Then on Sunday she gave us a 6 hour swim. My biggest concern was the fact that the sun was out in full force this weekend and I am a pasty ginger - but fortunately I have escaped with just a red neck and shoulders and they are not too burnt.

3 weeks to go - wow!!!

Champion of Champions 2010 and 6 hour qualifying swim - 4 weeks to go

This weekend (19th and 20th June 2010) I took part in the Champion of Champions, a race organised by the BLDSA in Dover harbour. To complete the Champion of Champions you have to complete 3 races over the course of the day; a 5 mile race, a 3 mile race and a 1 mile race. I completed the 3 races in just over 5 hours. The conditions around one section of the course felt a little bit like being in a washing machine, but it's all good practice for the Channel. I was actually slower this year than last year and came 10th in the Men's competition (Last year I was 9th). Don, my mate who is also swimming the Channel this year, came 6th and absolutely destroyed his time from last year.


Got a text on Saturday night from Scooba Steve, the Aussie guy that trains in Dover harbour with us to say that he had completed his 6 hour qualifying swim. This is a fantastic result as he had been having some concerns about the cold - not anymore though.

On Sunday, I did my 6 hour qualifying swim in Dover harbour. Only 4 weeks until my tide now. Just need to get a few more longer swims in over the next few weekends. 6 hours will be the minimum from now on.

First week over 40km - 5 weeks to go

Last week (w/e 13 June 2010), I swam over 40km for the week and managed two 5 hour swims in Dover harbour; one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. The sun was out in force on the Saturday and with my pasty complexion I have been trying various sun tan lotions and other things to avoid turning into a lobster. This is a real worry for me - as on the day if it's really sunny I won't have time to stop and reapply sun tan lotion. I had read an e-mail from a channel swimmer who recommended Sudocrem (the stuff for babies bums). This person said they had worn it on their channel swim and it was still there when they got out. I must be using it wrong because it was long gone after 2 hours swimming. However - it gave the people on the beach a chuckle - see if you can spot me in the pictures (I am the one that looks like Casper).

6 weeks to go - A trip to Cornwall and beautiful weather

This week I drove down to Cornwall after my swim in Dover on the Sunday (30 May 2010). Me and my girlfriend Andrea left at around 2.30pm and arrived in Cornwall at 9.30pm. We did stop for an hour at Pizza Hut, so not a bad journey.






We were staying with my parents in St Agnes and the weather was fantastic. You cannot beat Cornwall for a holiday when the weather is good. I did three sea swims during the week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. All the swims were at Trevaunance Cove. The scenery was beautiful, the water was turquoise - what a difference to Dover harbour. I swam for 2 hours Tuesday and Thursday and 30mins on Wednesday, because the beach was closed due to misty conditions. On the Thursday my Dad asked me if I had seen the seal that had been swimming with me. I hadn't seen a thing. Apparently it was as if I had it on a string. It followed me for about 5 or 6 laps, keeping the same distance from me and turning when I turned. I wish I had seen it, or had a picture but unfortunately I have no evidence.



We left Cornwall on Friday afternoon and then on Saturday, I drove back to Dover for some more harbour training. Saturday was a 4 hour swim in beautiful conditions (Sunny/Hot) while Sunday was a 4.5 hour swim under gloomy skies. All in all it has been a great week.

7 weeks to go - swims getting longer

This week has been the furthest distance I have swum so far. I swam 37k this week, which included a 3 hour swim on Saturday and a 3 hour 12 min swim on Sunday.