Swimming the Channel

[Donna]

Hi everyone....

OK, I have/still am giving some serious thought into swimming the channel in aid of cancer research. Its a disease that is very very close to my heart and I just want to do something positive in a pretty crap situation and I also want to challenge myself. Its not me that has cancer so with the right training/determintaion etc, I am sure I can do this.

So, over to you guys. I'm looking for hints, tips, advice on training, a coach, a boat pilot, encouragement, support, sponsorship etc etc etc. Don't want much do I

A quick google tells me that planning this type of event is up to 2 years in advance! Blimey.....wasn't expecting that. But I haven't contacted cancer research yet, I want to make sure its actually acheiveable first. My background.....

In my youth, I was a competitive swimmer, all distance events (800 + 400m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 400m IM) and spent hours and hours in a pool every week, my staminer level was high and I am confident that I would be capable of acheiving my target, once I get swimming fit again of course. Because of the training I did, I have retained a faily high natural fitness level, and I know from past experience that I get swimming fit fairly quickly, its more a case of building the hours up and being able to swim for a very long time in difficult conditions! And I have to remember I'm not a kid anymore, so it will take a bigger toll on my body and organs!

Scuba diving and freediving are hobbies I took up after I gave up swimming, although haven't been doing either for a while now.

Not sure what else to say really - looking for helpful tips and suggestions on where to start ...... so over to you :t

Donna

 

[BennyB]

Get in touch with Haydn Welch (Haydn on the forum) Donna, he's been there done that, i'm sure he can give you a few pointers

Cheers,
Ben

ps. WOW! Go for it!!!!!!

 

[podge]

Donna during training what ever you do don’t eat too many pie’s, I’ll do that bit for you.
Seriously though, give it your best shot and I’ll happily sponsor you.
Can’t give you any useful tips other than just keep going.
Good on you girl.

 

[AlanMc]

Just a few min. ago I got the news that a another good friend has just died because of Cancer.

Good luck and i hope you make it happen.

 

[sross]

Hi everyone.... Looking for

encouragement

Certainly . . . I say you can definitely do it, and what a life changing achievement it would be . . . You go girl!

And forget about age concerns . . . You're nowhere near the age where it can't be done. The oldest woman to swim the channel was 57 and the oldest guy was 67.

this was a different means of crossing the Channel, but I'm sure you'll find it inspiring:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7smqqJ2Y0KU]YouTube - Sport Relief Water Ski Challenge w/Christine Bleakley - Part 1[/ame]

(you can click through all 7 episodes).

support

Well, I don't live in the UK, so can't pitch in with direct efforts, but post a notice in this thread if there is some support us remote folks can provide.

sponsorship

Once you've got your date and the arrangements with the Society set up, why don't you get a PayPal account set up and post an announcement on DeeperBlue. Probably lots of people will pitch in as sponsors.

looking for helpful tips and suggestions on where to start

Donna

Every Channel swim starts here:

Channel Swimming Association Ltd Home

This is the governing body that regulates the swims, provides advice, captains & logistical support.

 

[agbiv]

Good luck and Godspeed.

 

[Mr. X]

Wow! Good luck. I reckon getting used to being it the cold seawater (sans wetsuit) for a long time is probably as important, if not more important, than being super fit -- I'm thinking the tides/currents will play a major role in propulsion. I'll sponsor you too. [This year has been awful for friends, villagers, and family (though no blood relations or in-laws thankfully) passing on - never known anything like it. Biggest cause: brain tumours, 5 ].

 

[Donna]

Thank you to everyone whos pitched in so far. I am inspired.....
I am going to contact the Channel Swimming Association today, hopefully will get some useful advice on dates and timings etc.

My biggest hurdle at the moment is that I'm not in the UK and waters in Cyprus will never get as cold or conditions as difficult as a channel swim, for me thats part of the challenge Having said that, I do know that I need to acclimatise to cold water conditions etc., hopefully by June next year I'll be back in the UK around family and friends. For now, I just need to get out there and swim and walk, and weight train and eat well etc etc etc......

Once the training starts, I will start a weekly blog to bore you all with my progress!

Thanks again - keep the ideas coming, its going to be a long haul

Donna

 

[mermaidgirl]

Thank you to everyone whos pitched in so far. I am inspired.....
I am going to contact the Channel Swimming Association today, hopefully will get some useful advice on dates and timings etc.

My biggest hurdle at the moment is that I'm not in the UK and waters in Cyprus will never get as cold or conditions as difficult as a channel swim, for me thats part of the challenge Having said that, I do know that I need to acclimatise to cold water conditions etc., hopefully by June next year I'll be back in the UK around family and friends. For now, I just need to get out there and swim and walk, and weight train and eat well etc etc etc......

Once the training starts, I will start a weekly blog to bore you all with my progress!

Thanks again - keep the ideas coming, its going to be a long haul

Donna

contact Lynne Cox at her website or on Facebook. she is the cold water expert. Swam the channel and Anarctica, Bering Strait, etc

Good luck

 

[Marwan]

Donna Great initiative..All the best, yesterday i watched a documentary about 3 runners who ran the sahara desert, from senegal to Egypt over 111 days without taking a break for one day..the feeling at the end of that journey was undescribable...this is the sort f stuff you pass on to future generations, so go for it!

 

[Donna]

OK, info and registration pack now ordered Looking at gyms to join that have a half decent pool and training will begin.... :martial:martial

 

[podge]

Donna there was a piece on the BBC news this morning about how the powers that be might bring legislation with a possible ban on Channel swimming, although I can’t seem to find anything about it on the internet???
They gave the reason that there are now so many people wanting to have a go that our lovely friends the Heath and Safety tossers:head:head are going to get involved.

 

[Donna]

Oh joy!!! Sure I can find an equally challenging swim to do if that happens.....

 

[Mr. X]

Yur 'tis:
BBC News - Ban on swims across Channel urged by French coastguard

 

[Donna]

Hmmm, look's like I'll have to get my act together then