5 of the 6 D.U.K.E.S What a weekend! Three swims over increasing distances in the 9 degree water off Dover. The longest swim on Sunday morning was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Having picked up a throat infection I was feeling under par before we hit the water, but as Captain Webb said in 1875 on completion of the first Channel swim, 'Great things are never easy'. He wasn't wrong!
We don't mess about when entering the water us Channel challengers. Off with clothes, on with the cap, cozzie and gogs, then in! The first few seconds are surreal. Some go into shock and forget to breathe. Some forget to take their head out of the water before they inhale. Me? I just tend to turn the air blue with 'sailor' words before just going for it! It's OK once you get going. Your skin tingles and your extremities go numb, but somehow you keep it together. For me 20 mins is OK, 30 is tough, but more than that?? Not nice!
Sunday's swim was supposed to have been a 30-35 min affair from Dover promenade to the western sea wall and back. I took a little longer as I chose to fall into formation with a lady who was having a tough time in the cold on the return leg. My left leg was starting to cramp when the 30 mins mark ticked by. I was happy to have someone close by. What good we would have been to each other if things had gone wrong I don't know. (Our fantastic coaches are never too far away though Mum so stop stressing!).
It was amazing how hard the last 200m proved to be. I had to let my legs trail, so pulled myself along with arms only. The tide wasn't helping either. It was wonderful to see my team mate Andy Wasley waving from the shore. I aimed for him! The water is murky so it was only when my hands touched shale that I knew that I could stand. Well.....tried to! I stood, tumbled. Tried again and flopped over once more. I must have looked like a fish on a mongers table. Hannah, our chief organiser kindly helped me up and chucked me my Crocs before checking me in as a safe arrival. I clambered up the steep pebble beach. Time is EVERYTHING at this point. Our instructions repeatedly hammer home the importance of getting into layers of clothes with urgency and order.
Unfortunately, another swim team had arrived and my clothes pile had got mixed up with theirs. I lost a vital 45 seconds fiddling about looking for my gear. The shakes had started. I did my best to dress. Its hard to explain how hard that is when you are shaking that much. You miss sleeves and head holes. I gave up on socks! I needed to get in the warm. The 400m walk back to the hotel was not nice. I was feeling colder and colder. You feel that cold in your chest and back, as your core has cooled. That's hypothermia setting in. My teeth were chattering so hard that I had to put my fingers into my mouth to stop myself from biting my tongue to bits. In through the hotel doors and straight up the stairs. Fortunately my brill roomy Helen Braid had kept the room open for post swim showers. The room door was already open. The housekeeper was in there! Poor lady! I stripped right there in from of her and pretty much pushed past her to get to the shower. What a relief! I filled the bath and stayed there chest down for a good 20 mins. Helen came up and got the coffee on! It was the best cup of coffee ive ever had in my life!
So, with the cold water weekend done, I am proud to announce that I have been placed into a team with the following amazing people:
Andy Wasley, Helen Braid, Jane Bell, Wendy Reading and Michael Mann
We are collectively known as 'The D.U.K.E.S.' Diabetes UK Extreme Swimmers
Together we are gonna take on the Channel. I can even tell you that our Pilot boat is called Seafare II. She's the last one on the following page :
http://www.channelswimming.com/escort-boats.htm
We don't mess about when entering the water us Channel challengers. Off with clothes, on with the cap, cozzie and gogs, then in! The first few seconds are surreal. Some go into shock and forget to breathe. Some forget to take their head out of the water before they inhale. Me? I just tend to turn the air blue with 'sailor' words before just going for it! It's OK once you get going. Your skin tingles and your extremities go numb, but somehow you keep it together. For me 20 mins is OK, 30 is tough, but more than that?? Not nice!
Sunday's swim was supposed to have been a 30-35 min affair from Dover promenade to the western sea wall and back. I took a little longer as I chose to fall into formation with a lady who was having a tough time in the cold on the return leg. My left leg was starting to cramp when the 30 mins mark ticked by. I was happy to have someone close by. What good we would have been to each other if things had gone wrong I don't know. (Our fantastic coaches are never too far away though Mum so stop stressing!).
It was amazing how hard the last 200m proved to be. I had to let my legs trail, so pulled myself along with arms only. The tide wasn't helping either. It was wonderful to see my team mate Andy Wasley waving from the shore. I aimed for him! The water is murky so it was only when my hands touched shale that I knew that I could stand. Well.....tried to! I stood, tumbled. Tried again and flopped over once more. I must have looked like a fish on a mongers table. Hannah, our chief organiser kindly helped me up and chucked me my Crocs before checking me in as a safe arrival. I clambered up the steep pebble beach. Time is EVERYTHING at this point. Our instructions repeatedly hammer home the importance of getting into layers of clothes with urgency and order.
Unfortunately, another swim team had arrived and my clothes pile had got mixed up with theirs. I lost a vital 45 seconds fiddling about looking for my gear. The shakes had started. I did my best to dress. Its hard to explain how hard that is when you are shaking that much. You miss sleeves and head holes. I gave up on socks! I needed to get in the warm. The 400m walk back to the hotel was not nice. I was feeling colder and colder. You feel that cold in your chest and back, as your core has cooled. That's hypothermia setting in. My teeth were chattering so hard that I had to put my fingers into my mouth to stop myself from biting my tongue to bits. In through the hotel doors and straight up the stairs. Fortunately my brill roomy Helen Braid had kept the room open for post swim showers. The room door was already open. The housekeeper was in there! Poor lady! I stripped right there in from of her and pretty much pushed past her to get to the shower. What a relief! I filled the bath and stayed there chest down for a good 20 mins. Helen came up and got the coffee on! It was the best cup of coffee ive ever had in my life!
So, with the cold water weekend done, I am proud to announce that I have been placed into a team with the following amazing people:
Andy Wasley, Helen Braid, Jane Bell, Wendy Reading and Michael Mann
We are collectively known as 'The D.U.K.E.S.' Diabetes UK Extreme Swimmers
Together we are gonna take on the Channel. I can even tell you that our Pilot boat is called Seafare II. She's the last one on the following page :
http://www.channelswimming.com/escort-boats.htm
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