Final details

Saturday I was down at Dover for my last group training session . Chris - marine boy came down too to have a gentle swim next to me just to get used to my slow pace .Only two hours in the sea , what joy eh .....after getting warm we had at least another two hours gaining final details from the many channel veterans on the beach. I was given a boat checklist with essential items for me and my crew, and some top tips from Freda - just keep swimming one arm and then the other arm until you get to France. Focus on swimming to the next 'feed' small swims not one huge swim . On our way home we popped into Folkestone to have a look at The Viking Princess - a small bright blue fishing boat . I will spending the next few days getting my things together , eating well and sleeping as much as possible

Last few days , the nerves are starting

The last few days I have been thinking alot about the challenge ahead of me . Many many good wishes from friends and colleagues and the whole thing is becoming so very real and so very close. I am off to Dover in the morning for a swim and checking out where my boat will leave from , where the hotel is and also catching up with two friends who are now 'Channel Swimmers ' as of last week - I am looking for Top Tips

Eating well and sleeping lots is my main focus for the next few days and of course praying for good weather .....

Communication coordinator invades blog !!

Nuala has given me her User name and Password, so that whilst she is swimming hard, I can be visiting all of her credit cards and having a party !!

Andy G
xxx

Sunday 13th July - an easy swim

Sunday was a very exciting day , as I drove down into Dover I could see four boats off across the pond - yes a few lucky swimmers had just set of on their own personal challenge- I had goose bumps as I watched them .

My swim today was an easy three hour swim - with no feed / drink which did make it a little harder . By the end of the swim I was starting to cramp on my legs this soon eased when I had finished my swim . The sun was shinning when I started my swim but the clouds soon filled the sky . As I drove back home I was thinking about those swimmers crossing the pond as I drove - my thoughts were how lucky are they , I am ready to swim just need to be patient and rest over the next ten days .

My swims this week will be nice and gentle , a few in the pool and two visits up to the Lido . I will eat well , rest and I have a massage on Wednesday - Tapering is my favorite training phase

12th July - Dover in the sun .........ish !

Saturday was to be the penultimate weekend of training in Dover harbour . Usually procedure up at 5am leave at 6am and arrive at Dover 8am - via my usual pertrol station for a hot chocolate . The sea looked great and very inviting . Five hours today - was to be four but tomorrow I cant do four as advised so it was swiftly changed to five today and only three tomorrow . As usual the first two hours were the hardest but after that each hour feed was my goal - helps mentally to think of small challenges not the whole picture. As five hours approached I was more than happy to be getting out . Not my greatest swim today but I managed it OK , the sun when out was great but the dark clouds weren't too pleasant . As I chatted on the beach whilst getting dressed I heard a few were heading to Shakespear Beach - mental note need to go with them as this is where Mum & Dad and any others waving me off will be . Off we went in a car convoy...........shakespeare beach everything becomes very real when you look out across the sands and sea to France. All that seperates us are the busiest shipping lanes in the world !!! Very Very scary but very very real too .

Many thoughts went through my mind as I then headed back home , I have done the hard work , its just a time to keep focussed and prepare mentally - as if I havent been for the last ........forevever !!!! Sleep is calling .........

SW region Open Water - Weymouth

The weather forecast wasn't great and maybe I was being rather hopeful that the races would go ahead . Saturday morning , the sun was shinning but the wind was blowing a gale . The 10 k race was cancelled , I wasn't a happy bunny at all . Despite the race being cancelled a few of us still managed a dip in the sea - playing in the waves really. Saturday in Weymouth was just about bearable , a really nice walk with friends and Jakey ( Ali's puppy)
Sunday morning was really grim , the wind was blowing , the rain was pouring and there was no way the 5 and 3 k races would be going ahead . After checking with the races organisers , the decision to head back to London was made . Its a very long drive back home when the purpose of the weekend hadn't been achieved - maybe I should have just gone down to Dover !!!! Next year I will be giving this event a swerve .........
A week in London training in the pool and maybe a visit to the Lido , just gentle swimming nothing too hard . Two weeks to go before the big swim !!!!!!

Three week taper !

The joy of swimming in calm waters indoors this morning was hard to put into words . This week I am swimming gently just easing my muscles , so a short session this morning was perfect . I just wish that my sun burn would calm down I look like Rudolph - what will they say at the conference today !!! I also discoverd to my dismay that I did infact get got at by the jellies , just didnt feel them until last night when the itching started - all round my tum the little critters must have got inside my cozzie ....Arghhhhh