Didnt make it!

After two years of training and prep I swam for 3 hours and covered 7 miles before I abandoned my Channel attempt due to injury. I will post full detail asap but just wanted to thank everyone for their love and support.

This did make me realise how great and valuable my friends are!

Full details to follow...................

Monday?

Well 37 today and a day to go before I swim!

Speaking to Eric Hartley(pilot) it seems likely that Monday morning 3am will be the start of my swim. As if I am not nervous enough and scared enough I now have to start swimming in the dark as well. The bonus is that I will reach France in the light at about 6pm provided I do a 15hour crossing. But then again it stays light until late so I will land in the light irrespective of my time. I am hoping to cross in less than 20hours!

Its all very real now! I had a photographer from the Haringay Independent take some pictures last night and just thinking of the magnitude of the swim I got this lump in my throat. I have never been this scared of attempting anything before.

Anyway my crew will be sending regular messages of my swim on Twitter so check it out. JoesSwim.

Well I will post after the swim successful or not!

Again support my charities!!!!!

A week to go!!!!

Oh yes. Its that time! Only a week to go. Loads of emotions going through me but all of them ending in fear! I am scared of this mammoth swim!

I met my pilot and went out for a swim and a practise feed yesterday. Nice boat, nice people and they are well experienced for the swim. I felt good next to the boat with a lot of thinking going on the whole time. My head is full of various thoughts that range from cold, depth, distance, failure etc.

Eric my pilot says that it is likely that I will be leaving at 3am on Monday 29th June. Nice just 2 days after my 37th birthday. He also says there will be almost 12 swimmers trying that day so I wont be alone. Still doesn't put my mind at ease.

We also have a dinner on Tuesday for the crew to go through feeding etc. Rosie have got it all in hand so I am not worried about any of that. I also have an amazing crew that will be there for me every step of the way.

I have now raised almost £11 000 for my designated charities and feel very happy about that. Keep your donations coming because they need every cent they can get.

Anyway will post a few more before I swim!

Good luck to all channel swimmers...........................

31 Days/1 Month to go!!!!

Sitting at home watching 'Britains got Talent' the realization came to me that I have a month to go to my Channel attempt, no let me actually rephrase that, until I swim the English Channel! I am not doing this again, once and once only so no room for failure!

The preparation has been done and the final touches has to be added but that is it, all I have to do now is swim.

I had one or two hick-ups and have wondered in the run-up if I can do this. Simon (CoreHealth) has always been on hand to change those negative thoughts and to refocus me. I must also add that without Rosie I would have thrown in the towel a long time ago. She is the one that also brings reason and reality to my sometimes irrational thoughts.

I still struggle with the cold as the water is still only a 12.7 degrees. But cold is all in the mind and that is something I have to work through!

I will try and post a regular update for all of those at ActionAid, TACT, The Hall and elsewhere watching my progress.

Well that's all for now. Time to vote for Stavros Flatley.............

Dover in full swing!

Yes Dover training is now in full swing and every weekend we head out to Dover to swim under the expert hand of Freda Streeter. Its cold but I feel every weekend I add to my experience for the Channel crossing in 45 days time! Yes we have been braving 10.5 degree water and can I say that its not fun! Rosie is always on hand with hot chocolate and blankets as the shivvers set in soon after we exit the water. We started with a 30mins and have now built up to 1 hour.

Our days are broken up in two segments. We arrive for 9.30am meet. We get told what our first swim entails and we are in the water at 10.00am. We get out get warm and we get in for a 12.15am start. Our day currently finishes at 1.30pm and it all repeats the next day!

Rosie and I normally stay over in Little Satmar Holiday park.

We stay in our VW and love it! It was such a great buy.

Anyway speak soon and keep swimming!......

Malta, Gozo and that 6 hour swim!

As the title suggest it has been an eventful week in Malta. Swimtrek, a long distance swimming company, took us to Gozo to take part in a weeks training and eventually to swim the qualifier for the Channel.

The week started a bit rough as we were hit by a massive storm. We even swam a 2 hour swim with some rough conditions. It was experience and that's all its about, getting used to rough seas as that can also happen in the Channel.


The rest of the week was good, I would not say awesome, just good! The reason for my good rating is two fold. I can only explain myself by saying jelly fish and injury. Yes on the 3rd day we swam out along Gozo and then crossed the channel between Gozo and Comino. About 1 hour 15 into our swim we encountered them. The evillest little buggers in the ocean, JELLY FISH! I got stung on my side, legs and as a result tried to avoid one coming for my face. The result a pulled muscle in my shoulder. Damn jelly fish! Anyway after some painkillers and a visit to the physio I was ready for day 4, 6 hours of swimming.

Did I say jelly fish?


I was worried because it was so important and I was still sore but it proved that there was nothing to worry about. I did it! My 6 hour qualifier completed. Simon was ecstatic although he would have to fix me when I got home!

So all and all an amazing time with Swimtrek. Great advice and help from Lizzie, Cliff and Andy and another job done. 10 weeks and its go time!!!!

One stroke at a time!!!

Step 2: Qualifying Swim in Malta

In preperation for the Channel swim on the 29th June I have been going to see Simon Heale from CoreHealth Suites and he broke the whole swim, training etc down into steps hence my title.

I am off to Gozo, Malta tomorrow to complete a weeks long distance swimming course and attached to that is a 6 hour qualifying swim in cold water (16 Degrees). Step 2, as this is in addition to my training and this is a step closer to that day!

The whole Channel swim has been messing with my mind because I go through stages of such negative thoughts and total lack of commitment to training and times of positivity thinking the Channel is nothing. I know its a mental thing and that is where Simon does some awesome work with hypnotherapy to get me focussed and relaxed. Honestly amazing.

I will keep this more updated now as the Channel is just round the corner and I know a lot of you have been following the blogs to keep updated on news. I will post some pics and more info on the qualifier in Malta next week on my return......

In the meantime get friends, family and collegues to donate to my charities!

The Adolescent and Children's Trust
The Lera Town Fund

Back from Barbados and......

Yes well I am back from a nice 10 days in lovely sunny Barbados. Wasnt like you think at all as I had 25 boys to look after on a cricket tour. Man 13 year old can be hard work but and let me add the but, so rewarding. And having a great bunch of boys made it easier!

But now I am an absolute wreck! It started with my back. Moving a badminton base and my back started hurting. I have never been in so much pain. All the swimming has started taking its toll and I think the muscles must have just said thats it and organised their own little protest! Good thing for Simon. Simon is onboard for the Channel as my massage therapist and also my head coach (if I can put it like that Simon?) He makes sure my body is in good working order and my mental side is even healthier! Back sorted and now my tooth started aching! Whats next......

Anyway I have come to the conclusion that all these things have been left too long and now they are revolting! So getting everything sorted and then attacking the training for my qualifying swim in Malta!

Will keep you all updated on the efforts and the charities in my next post.

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Training and the Snow

Yes just as we thought winter is almost over the snow came. Well on the positive side it gave me two days off work. Always a bonus if you don't expect it.

Anyway training doesnt seize as the Channel is only 5 months away. I now swim between 20 and 24 hours a week and have lost count on the distance I cover in the pool. No actually I cover 31,6km a week, and who can forget that when you are swimming up and down in Swiss Cottage pool. I am actually using the time to think and sometimes relax. Work has its issues and stress but the pool seems to be a massive escape and relax. So believe it or not, I love the pool.

Next week I have the wonderful opportunity of taking 25 boys on cricket tour in Barbados. I will fit in training around looking after them and the availability of pools or the open sea. Will post some lovely pics of warm and sunny Barbados so keep looking back for my posts.

Well thats all for now speak soon......

Swimming, swimming, swimming.........

Yes and with the New Year in full swing that is about all I now do. Swimming, swimming, swimming.........

I have had my first session in the endless pool with Ray Gibbs and 'oh my goodness' what a eye opener. I have a lot of technique issues to work on and hopefully, touch wood, it will make me swim more effective and I will make the 22miles ahead of me with ease.

My good friend Chris has also been hard at work and have booked me on a swim course with Robin Brew on the 24th January 2009. He has also been investigating nutrition with High5 and I am changing my lifestyle and eating habits considerable. I must say that I have never been healthier and fitter, oh and so exhausted. And all this for a very long day in the water. Now I know I am nuts!

I have also gone bald again, yes shaved my head ready for action! I will include picture but have recently switched back to Mac and it seems to not agree with my camera. All a bit of fiddling.

Anyway keep sending money for my charities and tell mates and tell rich business men!

Till next time.....