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27.06.11: I DID IT!!!

On 18th June I successfully swam around Manhattan Island (28.5miles) in a time of 8hr20mins, finishing 19th overall and 5th female.

It was a challenging challenge - with a good few miles of it being a flat-out sprint in order to reach the cut-off checkpoint on time at the start of the Harlem River. I have never sprinted so much - I usually just plod!

The water was a comfortable temperature (a bit too warm actually after sprinting), but there were quite a few cold patches coming down the Hudson.

My crew-member Clair was a great support, and there is no way I would have made it past the checkpoint in time if she hadn't been encouraging me (and shouting at me) to speed up. It worked though!! So I am very very grateful to her. My family were there to support me too, and caught up with me at various points on the island to give me a cheer from the riverside.

08.06.11: Only 10 days to go!!!!!!

Over the weekend just gone, I swam a total of 9hrs in Dover harbour; 4hrs Saturday and 5hrs Sunday. I did enjoy myself - it brought back the memories of my channel training!

On 28th May I swam in the Dorney 10km swim and beat my target time of sub 3hrs - I swam it, sans wimpsuit (sorry wetsuit) in 2hr 52mins.

 

Background info........

Having successfully swum the English Channel in August 2009,  I was in need of a new challenge - it had to be water-based, require a fair amount of training, and be over a fairly long distance.......... why not attempt to swim the 28.5miles around Manhattan Island in New York?!!......in June 2011!!!!

In November I submitted my application for the swim, accompanied with an essay, and it was a first-come-first-served type of process (if the swim requirements were met) for 37 places, with entrants from all around the globe!

Mid November I received the news that I had been selected - one of four swimmers from the UK.

I was very pleased with the news, excited about the challenge that lay ahead....and it dawned on me that I had less than 8months to train for a 28.5mile swim!!! Brilliant!

So, now with less than 5 months to go, I have increased my pool training sessions - both number and intensity, and I am continuing to swim in the river once a week for cold acclimatisation.

 At the end of January I swam in the UK Cold Water Championships in Tooting Bec Lido, and completed the 500yard endurance swim in 3.5degrees water. It was refreshing to say the least!!!

 

As with my Channel Swim, I have decided to raise money for the Stroke Association in order to help them fund their research projects for stroke prevention, rehabilitation and long-term care for stroke victims.

 

Thank you in advance for your support.

 

I plan to keep my page updated with my training efforts and training events that I enter along my journey to completing the 2011 Manhattan Islan Marathon Swim, or MIMS)!!

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