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In April 2014, I attempted to climb Mt. Everest before an avalanche in the icefall claimed the lives of 18 Sherpa. A year later (May 2015), I returned to Mt. Everest only to witness a 7.8 earthquake while at camp 1. I am preparing to climb again in April 2018 but this blog is dedicated to my purposeful pursuits. Please be sure to check out the charities that I support and follow me on twitter (@pem725) or instagram (pem725).
Friday, July 29, 2016
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Holy smokes! People are reading my blog - Last UK post before heading home
Thanks everyone for coming here to read about my adventures. I am relaxing in London right now with my family, trying to lick any residual wounds from my two past swims over the past weeks, and preparing for one final swim around my home town of New York City before I call it a summer of adventure.
Apparently, others are reading my blog. See this post from the Daily News from Open Water Swimming (.com). Much appreciated that Steven took the time to write up a nice piece about my activities.
Nothing much to report other than very little swimming (one day to loosen up my upper body), a ton of cycling around the city (to avoid traffic and actually see the city), and way too much eating and drinking. Here are some pictures to keep you entertained before I post my lead-up to the 20 Bridges Swim.
More later. I am still ironing out the details of the 20 Bridges Swim. When I learn more, I will post more. We are off to cycle the city again and then take in "The Book of Mormon" at 7:30pm tonight before departing tomorrow for the states. Probably my last post from the UK.
Thanks again Steven for posting on the OWS website.
Apparently, others are reading my blog. See this post from the Daily News from Open Water Swimming (.com). Much appreciated that Steven took the time to write up a nice piece about my activities.
Nothing much to report other than very little swimming (one day to loosen up my upper body), a ton of cycling around the city (to avoid traffic and actually see the city), and way too much eating and drinking. Here are some pictures to keep you entertained before I post my lead-up to the 20 Bridges Swim.
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| One morning swim at Parliament Hill Lido - 61m long pool (Thanks Cheryl for the info). |
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| Cycling throughout the neighborhoods of London. Sweet 30mph hairdo, eh? |
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| I did say eating and drinking...well, here we stopped for a pint. |
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| My Peroni - Kat hates beer. |
Thanks again Steven for posting on the OWS website.
Monday, July 25, 2016
What is next?
Glad you asked. It appears I am headed to New York City to complete the 20 Bridges Swim (formerly known as MIMS or Manhattan Island Marathon Swim). Yes, I intend to swim around my home town in mid-August (August 15th for now). If I am successful, I will beat the record for the shortest period to complete the Triple Crown of marathon swimming. The current record stands at 35 days and if I am able to successfully finish the swim on August 15th, I will have done the three swims in 34 days. Should be fun trying to beat that record. One thing at a time though...gotta finish the swim. So, I guess taking a few months off from swimming will just have to wait. I'm already fit and fully recovered from my two channel swims, so why not tackle another marathon swim?
Back to training: Today, Kat and I swam in this outdoor pool in London. It was spectacular. Here are a few photos of the Parliament Hill Lido:
Neither Kat nor I could figure out how long it was but it was longer than a 50 meter pool. How much bigger I haven't a guess. I loved the water temperature and the morning weather couldn't be beat.
So, I'm back to swimming again. I think I will lose a few pounds too since the rivers surrounding Manhattan are a bit warmer (mid-70's F or mid 20's C) than either the Catalina or English channels. Time to lose this extra warmth. No better time than the present. Expect a leaner Patrick soon....perhaps not by my next swim but I do intend to eliminate all excesses. Well, maybe I keep a few beers in there for safe measure.
More later. I have some planning to do. Thanks for following.
Back to training: Today, Kat and I swam in this outdoor pool in London. It was spectacular. Here are a few photos of the Parliament Hill Lido:
Neither Kat nor I could figure out how long it was but it was longer than a 50 meter pool. How much bigger I haven't a guess. I loved the water temperature and the morning weather couldn't be beat.
So, I'm back to swimming again. I think I will lose a few pounds too since the rivers surrounding Manhattan are a bit warmer (mid-70's F or mid 20's C) than either the Catalina or English channels. Time to lose this extra warmth. No better time than the present. Expect a leaner Patrick soon....perhaps not by my next swim but I do intend to eliminate all excesses. Well, maybe I keep a few beers in there for safe measure.
More later. I have some planning to do. Thanks for following.
Sunday, July 24, 2016
English Channel Recap - Part 2
Before I continue my recounting of the channel swim, I need to update and memorialize our day yesterday in London. It was a spectacular day full of luck and surprises.
Getting to London: First, we caught the train from Folkstone just in time. Most in the US would not be aware of much going on locally in the Dover area so let me fill you in. After some recent terrible events and potential news of more, the French government decided to search each and every car, person, bicycle, or stroller as it came into the country. Can't say I blame them. What that did was cause a backup on the highways (motorways they call them here) from Dover almost to London (a 2 hour drive!). Yes, it was a nasty mess. Most of the traffic consisted of trucks (aka lorries) carrying cargo to cross into the mainland.
Well, that tidbit wouldn't be terribly interesting if it hadn't affected our trip from Dover to Folkstone. Our train was scheduled to depart at noon and we ran into gridlock after gridlock - even on the back roads. I was getting a bit anxious thinking that if we missed our prepaid train, we might have to purchase another ticket and wait. Ah, nothing to fret. We have time. Still, I was hot and not in the mood for waiting around. We caught the train with seconds to spare - literally seconds. Speaking of caught...I caught myself feeling like the ugly American as I watched the people in front of us purchase tickets for some train trip days in advance. Many of us on line needed to pick up tickets for the train that was approaching. No sense of urgency on their part but Kat and I were getting a little anxious.
The train trip up was unspectacular. A one hour trip seemed like nothing and next we were in St. Pancras to sort out our next leg. Once we arrived, the AirBnB contact alerted Kathy that our accommodations would not be ready until 7pm - not 3pm as advertised on the app. It was 1pm, hot (for some of us), and quite crowded at the train station. Kat was not happy. I figured we could just meander through the city along the path to our AirBnB - roughly 4.5 miles (7km) from St. Pancras.
About 30 minutes into our walk and after a 20 minute stop to grab lunch, Kat's bag stopped rolling. Patrick took over and just dragged it for a bit until we intervened. Apparently cheap Amazon luggage doesn't hold up on the cobbles and odd surfaces of London's streets whereas Patrick's and my cheapo Costco roll aboard bags held up just fine. The luggage fiasco caused a bit of a stir but we solved the problem by taking a cab to our digs. Away we went! Four hours too early but hopeful something would work out.
Saved by luck: And work out it did! We rolled up to the AirBnB and a very nice Romanian fellow asked us which flat we rented. He directed us to the one he and his compatriot were cleaning. Somehow or another, we met the cleaning staff at the place at the right time. I guess the stars were aligned for us. We dropped off our bags and quickly headed out to explore the area - so happy we didn't have to lug around Kat's broken bag in the 80F (27C) heat. All worked out in the end.
More luck: We walked out to a outdoor market. For those of you who know me well, you know I hate shopping. I don't shop; I buy. And, when I buy, I buy online. Walking down a crowded alley with people who are mindlessly hunting for knick knacks and chachkies drives me nuts (and makes me thirsty). So, Patrick and I "offered" Kat some freedom to browse while we set off for some cool shade. What better place to find cool shade than a pub?
While there, I figured I would send a FB message to my friends Sam and Alex to inquire about things to do while in London. Shortly after the note, I got a reply from Sam. Many of you know that Sam, Alex and I were climbing together on Everest in 2014 and 2015 when our expeditions were halted by circumstances beyond our control. Since those trips, we stayed in touch and last year we even attended their wedding after my failed attempt to swim the English Channel. Sam and Alex are great people and great friends. I love their company and always like to hear about their adventures - and they have a ton. Kat got to know Sam and Alex's parents as well during our fateful 2015 trip so we are now all well-acquainted. Unfortunately, Sam and Alex live in Africa (Kenya and Ghana) now but I know they have many suggestions about what to do in London. So, I asked. What a great stroke of luck! Sam was in London for 24 hours. Even greater luck was that Kat booked our AirBnB just a 5 minute walk from Sam's parents house. How cool was that? I guess this trip is just full of luck.
After we arranged to meet Sam and his folks at their place for some pre-dinner drinks, we grabbed another pint at a local watering hole (Kensington Park Hotel or KPH). Apparently the place had changed operators and it was a shell of the pictures we saw online. Oh well. A quick pint and then off to our BnB to freshen up before more drinks.
A great surprise indeed: We sat around with Sam's family talking about all the goings on - some recounting of the swims but mostly talking about the current state of our respective countries. It was a blast. We loved hanging out and visiting with friends. Talk about the stroke of luck. During our chat, we found a ton of things to do while in London. Mostly, I think Kat and I wanted to explore the areas while Patrick seemed quite keen on touring the museums (and catching up on his lost hours of sleep). We departed after a few hours for a quick bite and then retired to our room for the evening. What a great time!
Makes me smile just looking at that picture above. Thanks Chappatte family for hosting us McKnights. We look forward to returning the favor soon.
Focus: During this period, I focused on two things - drag and propulsion. The drag comes from lifting my head, dropping my feet too deep, or any other odd things that most swimmers do when tired. Swimmers don't want drag. I focused on minimizing drag as much as possible. On the opposite end is propulsion. Propulsion gains and losses come from a variety of things including rolling my hips, entering into the water without creating bubbles, initiating the "early vertical forearm" catch, pulling with my lats as opposed to my triceps, and finishing my stroke by pulling through. Many of these things are natural to most swimmers and they tend to be fairly natural for me. When all swimmers tire though, some of them go away for many reasons. I focused on these two aspects of swimming - constantly checking my technique to be as efficient as possible. If I could shave off a few minutes here and there, I might be able to catch a favorable tide into the shore and gain valuable hours (yes hours).
Time counts: I mentioned in my recap of the Catalina Channel that time was not terribly critical. The water was relatively warm in the Pacific Ocean (68-72F or 20-21C), currents minimal (neap tide), and my energy levels were high due to low exertion and the high frequency of feeding (20 minute feeding schedule). Things were different for this swim. For the English Channel, every minute counts. I was swimming during a spring tide where the currents can be as strong as 4-5 knots (4.5 mph or 7.5-8 km/hr). Yep, fast. Those currents push the swimmer sideways. I was focused on swimming efficiently and kicking steadily throughout my swim. Doing so allowed me to keep a rhythm and keep a relatively strong pace. Ever minute counted if I was to escape the channel without an adverse tide pushing me to Nova Scotia or Norway.
Darkness sets in: The crew alerted me that night was coming and I needed to shift to my clear goggles and get myself lit up so they could see me. I had a pair of clear TYR socket rocket goggles with a light threaded through the straps. The combination proved perfect for Catalina so I opted to continue using what worked already. Unfortunately, I lost my setup during the finish of the swim and ordered replacements without trying them out before jumping into the EC. Not a huge problem since I use these goggles all the time BUT...still a bad idea. Thankfully that didn't come back to haunt me. What did haunt me was the strap of my daytime goggles - the same TYR goggles but dark tinted ones. One strap drooped around my neck and kept rubbing. It was annoying for a few seconds but I paid it no mind. That kind of equipment problem can really cause people to concentrate on the wrong aspects of the swim. I controlled what I could and kept pace.
Oh, almost forgot. The light I used was this one to the right. That little light is bright, water proof, and easy to see - at least according to my crew. I also stuffed a light stick into the fanny of my suit to light up my lower body. Kat said she could see me well from her vantage point so I would recommend this combination to all. I never felt either light during the swim.
The Dark Hours: Yes, the sun went down but as the sun departed, so did my optimism. I had no clue how I was doing and I kept thinking that I was going strong - at least initially. My kick felt strong, my stroke intact and efficient, my body position perfect, and my muscles felt almost no fatigue. All was great and I figured this swim felt like a solid 10 or 11 hour swim. As 10pm approached, I couldn't help feel discouraged that I wasn't within reach of the French coast. I tried my best. There were times when I started questioning the timing and trajectory of my course. Was I going to miss "the cap" and add a huge amount of time to my swim? I even inquired if the lighthouse was Cap Gris Nez (aka the point many swimmers finish). Neil was honest and answered my questions with positive optimism; Kat and Sam Jones had similar responses. I wish I were positive during that hour or so. I just felt discouraged. We all experience points in these swims (or other endurance activities) where we wonder when it will end. In mountaineering and other high risk activities, the saying "Be Here Now" is an important one to remember. Thinking about the future and forgetting about what you are doing at the moment is not a good recipe for success. I didn't care about the time per se but I did care about being out there for 18+ hours. Again, future thinking. My fear was that I would run out of fuel and really start burning out. More future thinking. Just as a hit a peak in my worry and questioning, I said to myself..."forget about it"..."swim and control what you can control." Controlling the controllables - that is what all of these endurance events call for before, during and after. I let myself slip but righted the ship soon enough and got back on track. Soon, I was back to being in the moment. I was back.
Closing in and closing the deal: Neil said to me during my frustrated inquiries that we missed "the cap" but he would find me a nice beach to land. I knew I was in good hands and far be it for me to question an awesome skipper like him. Kat yelled bits of encouragement and I pressed on. He then instructed me that we would land either on a real beach or some bit of rocks for a touch finish. I was good with either but wondered how treacherous the touch finish might be after my experience with the Catalina Channel finish. Donating more blood to the sea didn't sound too appealing as I neared the finish. Still, I kept my focus and pressed on.
I peeked ahead and could see the lights on shore. The end was near and I felt just as fresh as I felt when I started the swim with no muscle aches, no fatigue, and no worries. Now I knew I would complete the crossing - not that I had much doubt to begin with but the closing bit is just a strong confirmation that I will accomplish this feat. So I swam on until I got a flashing light from the boat. Neil said that he lead me as far as he could given the depth and terrain. The rest was up to me. I had to swim the next 4 tenths of a mile by myself into shore, touch the rocks, and wave my light stick when I touch. So, 4 tenths of a mile. Was that a nautical mile, a true mile, a country mile perhaps? I had these strange thoughts going through my head. Then I figured out how many meters and how many strokes I had left. My math was a little rusty at that point. 400 meters? Nah, perhaps 800 meters. Before too long, I was upon the shore.
Each stroke felt easy but I felt apprehensive about pushing too hard. With the end in sight, I didn't want to plow into a rock and break a finger, hand, arm, or my head. I proceeding cautiously - so cautiously toward the end that I swam breast stroke. Yes Cheryl, I swam a bit of the channel breast stroke. I even took my goggles off or rather put them on my forehead because I could barely see. The rocks or break wall Neil mentioned was a giant stack of black rocks (probably granite) that sloped out of the depths of the water and up about 15-20 feet (5-6m). I could barely make out the rocks at first and then they were crystal clear. It was eery. A small, gentle swell - perhaps 2-3 feet or 1m - lifted me up and carefully (almost as if the sea remembered its poor treatment of me last week) placed me on the second tier of the rocks. Instantaneously, I was done. No touch finish for me I guess. I was completely out of the water. The water then receded and I was left atop those rocks. Then, I grabbed the light stick that remained steadfast in my fanny crack and waved it to the boat. The boat crew immediately sounded the horn and I was done! My channel swim finished in 12 hours and 54 minutes (I am not sure about the minutes but will correct it if necessary).
I felt relieved. Still a bit spooked about sitting on top of some odd rock break wall in an unknown area of France, I waited for the next swell to carry me off and soon enough, one came. I rode it off and settled into the deeper waters. Once I was clear, I put my goggles back on and slowly swam out to the boat. I wasn't terribly tired nor was I cold; I just had a huge sense of relief come over me that the fears and doubts I had before and during the swim were now over. Nothing to worry about now.
Final Thoughts: I was in good hands all along. My family and friends helped get me through the tough times. The expert pilot and crew guided me toward success. All along, I should have recognized it but that brief hour or so of going dark lead me to appreciate what I had. These marathon swims require a team effort. My friends told me about the importance of the team repeatedly and I generally nodded in agreement but didn't really appreciate the depth of that truism until after both channel swims. These marathon swims require a team effort. I could not and would not have accomplished what I did without my team. The success is ours and ours to share. So, in accord with that motto, we shared the victory with our signature on the wall of the White Horse pub in Dover:
If you visit the pub, you'll see my post just as you walk in the front door. Look above the picture to the top left. My handwriting is the sloppy stuff that is barely readable, Kat's contribution is a happy Snoopy, and Patrick added a line from "Talladega Nights".
So, what is next? Apparently, I might be able to swim around Manhattan Island in a few weeks making my triple crown (if successful) one of the fastest but not quite the record fastest. One person did it in 35 days. If I can squeeze into the August 15th start, I will tie the record of 35 days but if I cannot then I would be happy just completing the three swims within 40 days. Not a bad summer, eh?
OK, more to follow. Time to figure out what our plans are for this fine London Sunday. Thanks for following.
Getting to London: First, we caught the train from Folkstone just in time. Most in the US would not be aware of much going on locally in the Dover area so let me fill you in. After some recent terrible events and potential news of more, the French government decided to search each and every car, person, bicycle, or stroller as it came into the country. Can't say I blame them. What that did was cause a backup on the highways (motorways they call them here) from Dover almost to London (a 2 hour drive!). Yes, it was a nasty mess. Most of the traffic consisted of trucks (aka lorries) carrying cargo to cross into the mainland.
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| Traffic backed up miles away from Dover. |
The train trip up was unspectacular. A one hour trip seemed like nothing and next we were in St. Pancras to sort out our next leg. Once we arrived, the AirBnB contact alerted Kathy that our accommodations would not be ready until 7pm - not 3pm as advertised on the app. It was 1pm, hot (for some of us), and quite crowded at the train station. Kat was not happy. I figured we could just meander through the city along the path to our AirBnB - roughly 4.5 miles (7km) from St. Pancras.
About 30 minutes into our walk and after a 20 minute stop to grab lunch, Kat's bag stopped rolling. Patrick took over and just dragged it for a bit until we intervened. Apparently cheap Amazon luggage doesn't hold up on the cobbles and odd surfaces of London's streets whereas Patrick's and my cheapo Costco roll aboard bags held up just fine. The luggage fiasco caused a bit of a stir but we solved the problem by taking a cab to our digs. Away we went! Four hours too early but hopeful something would work out.
Saved by luck: And work out it did! We rolled up to the AirBnB and a very nice Romanian fellow asked us which flat we rented. He directed us to the one he and his compatriot were cleaning. Somehow or another, we met the cleaning staff at the place at the right time. I guess the stars were aligned for us. We dropped off our bags and quickly headed out to explore the area - so happy we didn't have to lug around Kat's broken bag in the 80F (27C) heat. All worked out in the end.
More luck: We walked out to a outdoor market. For those of you who know me well, you know I hate shopping. I don't shop; I buy. And, when I buy, I buy online. Walking down a crowded alley with people who are mindlessly hunting for knick knacks and chachkies drives me nuts (and makes me thirsty). So, Patrick and I "offered" Kat some freedom to browse while we set off for some cool shade. What better place to find cool shade than a pub?
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| Bugger drank my pint! |
After we arranged to meet Sam and his folks at their place for some pre-dinner drinks, we grabbed another pint at a local watering hole (Kensington Park Hotel or KPH). Apparently the place had changed operators and it was a shell of the pictures we saw online. Oh well. A quick pint and then off to our BnB to freshen up before more drinks.
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| Has my pint again!?! Enjoying the KPH. |
A great surprise indeed: We sat around with Sam's family talking about all the goings on - some recounting of the swims but mostly talking about the current state of our respective countries. It was a blast. We loved hanging out and visiting with friends. Talk about the stroke of luck. During our chat, we found a ton of things to do while in London. Mostly, I think Kat and I wanted to explore the areas while Patrick seemed quite keen on touring the museums (and catching up on his lost hours of sleep). We departed after a few hours for a quick bite and then retired to our room for the evening. What a great time!
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| From L to R: Patrick, Sam, me, and Kat |
RECAP OF SWIM - PART 2
I left off my recap about halfway across the channel. By this point in the swim, I was feeling pretty solid. Nothing ached and I knew the swim was well at hand. The funny thing was that nothing went wrong. Nothing. Adventures start when things go wrong. I guess this wasn't much of an adventure; well, read on.Focus: During this period, I focused on two things - drag and propulsion. The drag comes from lifting my head, dropping my feet too deep, or any other odd things that most swimmers do when tired. Swimmers don't want drag. I focused on minimizing drag as much as possible. On the opposite end is propulsion. Propulsion gains and losses come from a variety of things including rolling my hips, entering into the water without creating bubbles, initiating the "early vertical forearm" catch, pulling with my lats as opposed to my triceps, and finishing my stroke by pulling through. Many of these things are natural to most swimmers and they tend to be fairly natural for me. When all swimmers tire though, some of them go away for many reasons. I focused on these two aspects of swimming - constantly checking my technique to be as efficient as possible. If I could shave off a few minutes here and there, I might be able to catch a favorable tide into the shore and gain valuable hours (yes hours).
Time counts: I mentioned in my recap of the Catalina Channel that time was not terribly critical. The water was relatively warm in the Pacific Ocean (68-72F or 20-21C), currents minimal (neap tide), and my energy levels were high due to low exertion and the high frequency of feeding (20 minute feeding schedule). Things were different for this swim. For the English Channel, every minute counts. I was swimming during a spring tide where the currents can be as strong as 4-5 knots (4.5 mph or 7.5-8 km/hr). Yep, fast. Those currents push the swimmer sideways. I was focused on swimming efficiently and kicking steadily throughout my swim. Doing so allowed me to keep a rhythm and keep a relatively strong pace. Ever minute counted if I was to escape the channel without an adverse tide pushing me to Nova Scotia or Norway.
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| (Above): TYR Socket Rocket 2.0 clear/blue |
Darkness sets in: The crew alerted me that night was coming and I needed to shift to my clear goggles and get myself lit up so they could see me. I had a pair of clear TYR socket rocket goggles with a light threaded through the straps. The combination proved perfect for Catalina so I opted to continue using what worked already. Unfortunately, I lost my setup during the finish of the swim and ordered replacements without trying them out before jumping into the EC. Not a huge problem since I use these goggles all the time BUT...still a bad idea. Thankfully that didn't come back to haunt me. What did haunt me was the strap of my daytime goggles - the same TYR goggles but dark tinted ones. One strap drooped around my neck and kept rubbing. It was annoying for a few seconds but I paid it no mind. That kind of equipment problem can really cause people to concentrate on the wrong aspects of the swim. I controlled what I could and kept pace.
Oh, almost forgot. The light I used was this one to the right. That little light is bright, water proof, and easy to see - at least according to my crew. I also stuffed a light stick into the fanny of my suit to light up my lower body. Kat said she could see me well from her vantage point so I would recommend this combination to all. I never felt either light during the swim. The Dark Hours: Yes, the sun went down but as the sun departed, so did my optimism. I had no clue how I was doing and I kept thinking that I was going strong - at least initially. My kick felt strong, my stroke intact and efficient, my body position perfect, and my muscles felt almost no fatigue. All was great and I figured this swim felt like a solid 10 or 11 hour swim. As 10pm approached, I couldn't help feel discouraged that I wasn't within reach of the French coast. I tried my best. There were times when I started questioning the timing and trajectory of my course. Was I going to miss "the cap" and add a huge amount of time to my swim? I even inquired if the lighthouse was Cap Gris Nez (aka the point many swimmers finish). Neil was honest and answered my questions with positive optimism; Kat and Sam Jones had similar responses. I wish I were positive during that hour or so. I just felt discouraged. We all experience points in these swims (or other endurance activities) where we wonder when it will end. In mountaineering and other high risk activities, the saying "Be Here Now" is an important one to remember. Thinking about the future and forgetting about what you are doing at the moment is not a good recipe for success. I didn't care about the time per se but I did care about being out there for 18+ hours. Again, future thinking. My fear was that I would run out of fuel and really start burning out. More future thinking. Just as a hit a peak in my worry and questioning, I said to myself..."forget about it"..."swim and control what you can control." Controlling the controllables - that is what all of these endurance events call for before, during and after. I let myself slip but righted the ship soon enough and got back on track. Soon, I was back to being in the moment. I was back.
Closing in and closing the deal: Neil said to me during my frustrated inquiries that we missed "the cap" but he would find me a nice beach to land. I knew I was in good hands and far be it for me to question an awesome skipper like him. Kat yelled bits of encouragement and I pressed on. He then instructed me that we would land either on a real beach or some bit of rocks for a touch finish. I was good with either but wondered how treacherous the touch finish might be after my experience with the Catalina Channel finish. Donating more blood to the sea didn't sound too appealing as I neared the finish. Still, I kept my focus and pressed on.
I peeked ahead and could see the lights on shore. The end was near and I felt just as fresh as I felt when I started the swim with no muscle aches, no fatigue, and no worries. Now I knew I would complete the crossing - not that I had much doubt to begin with but the closing bit is just a strong confirmation that I will accomplish this feat. So I swam on until I got a flashing light from the boat. Neil said that he lead me as far as he could given the depth and terrain. The rest was up to me. I had to swim the next 4 tenths of a mile by myself into shore, touch the rocks, and wave my light stick when I touch. So, 4 tenths of a mile. Was that a nautical mile, a true mile, a country mile perhaps? I had these strange thoughts going through my head. Then I figured out how many meters and how many strokes I had left. My math was a little rusty at that point. 400 meters? Nah, perhaps 800 meters. Before too long, I was upon the shore.
Each stroke felt easy but I felt apprehensive about pushing too hard. With the end in sight, I didn't want to plow into a rock and break a finger, hand, arm, or my head. I proceeding cautiously - so cautiously toward the end that I swam breast stroke. Yes Cheryl, I swam a bit of the channel breast stroke. I even took my goggles off or rather put them on my forehead because I could barely see. The rocks or break wall Neil mentioned was a giant stack of black rocks (probably granite) that sloped out of the depths of the water and up about 15-20 feet (5-6m). I could barely make out the rocks at first and then they were crystal clear. It was eery. A small, gentle swell - perhaps 2-3 feet or 1m - lifted me up and carefully (almost as if the sea remembered its poor treatment of me last week) placed me on the second tier of the rocks. Instantaneously, I was done. No touch finish for me I guess. I was completely out of the water. The water then receded and I was left atop those rocks. Then, I grabbed the light stick that remained steadfast in my fanny crack and waved it to the boat. The boat crew immediately sounded the horn and I was done! My channel swim finished in 12 hours and 54 minutes (I am not sure about the minutes but will correct it if necessary).
I felt relieved. Still a bit spooked about sitting on top of some odd rock break wall in an unknown area of France, I waited for the next swell to carry me off and soon enough, one came. I rode it off and settled into the deeper waters. Once I was clear, I put my goggles back on and slowly swam out to the boat. I wasn't terribly tired nor was I cold; I just had a huge sense of relief come over me that the fears and doubts I had before and during the swim were now over. Nothing to worry about now.
Final Thoughts: I was in good hands all along. My family and friends helped get me through the tough times. The expert pilot and crew guided me toward success. All along, I should have recognized it but that brief hour or so of going dark lead me to appreciate what I had. These marathon swims require a team effort. My friends told me about the importance of the team repeatedly and I generally nodded in agreement but didn't really appreciate the depth of that truism until after both channel swims. These marathon swims require a team effort. I could not and would not have accomplished what I did without my team. The success is ours and ours to share. So, in accord with that motto, we shared the victory with our signature on the wall of the White Horse pub in Dover:
If you visit the pub, you'll see my post just as you walk in the front door. Look above the picture to the top left. My handwriting is the sloppy stuff that is barely readable, Kat's contribution is a happy Snoopy, and Patrick added a line from "Talladega Nights".
So, what is next? Apparently, I might be able to swim around Manhattan Island in a few weeks making my triple crown (if successful) one of the fastest but not quite the record fastest. One person did it in 35 days. If I can squeeze into the August 15th start, I will tie the record of 35 days but if I cannot then I would be happy just completing the three swims within 40 days. Not a bad summer, eh?
OK, more to follow. Time to figure out what our plans are for this fine London Sunday. Thanks for following.
Saturday, July 23, 2016
English Channel Recap - Part 1
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| Avram Iancu and me - at the beach |
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| Rough entry on those stones. Good thing she had her trusty sidekick to hold her flip-flops.
Like I said, I stood on the beach, meeting new friends and talking about swimming (of course). Above, you can see a picture of my new friend - Avram - who plans to be the first Romanian to swim solo across the Channel. We got on very well and I feared our chat would ruin his opportunity to hop into a peaceful Dover harbor. No need to worry, it was a spectacular day; too hot for me though.
My Swim Recap (Part 1 of 2 or more)
Enough about the post-swim relaxation, I want to recap the swim from start to finish. Here is how it unfolded on Thursday, July 21st, 2016.
Morning (pre swim): We woke up at our usual times; I got up to eat breakfast with the Churchill Guest House guests and hosts, Kat got up about an hour later, and Patrick slept until the last possible second (10am local time). See picture below for photo proof of his position right before our scheduled departure. I don't blame him, I would do the same - especially at his age.
Our plan was to meet Neil and the crew at the boat by 11am, assess the situation, and make a decision about whether to go then or wait until midnight. We packed up our things, got a taxi to the Dover Marina, and hauled our stuff to the locked gate. I knew we were early because I am habitually early and don't like to stress about time. So, being early, we waited (see picture of Patrick...waiting but very patient). Along comes a guy who kinda looks like Neil Streeter but way too clean shaven and tightly manicured to be him - at least not from my year-long recall. It was him indeed. We stared at each other as he walked down the gangway and then we connected. It was a strange sensation just standing around looking out of place at a marina. I almost felt like a displaced tourist. After we confirmed our presence, Neil came back up and helped us with our bags. It was nice to not have to haul our load down alone.
Deciding Factors: Once on the boat, we made a quick decision to go. The weather looked fine. You need to understand what the word "fine" means for the English Channel. For most waterways, fine would probably represent calm, warm waters. Not so for the EC. Instead, the word fine meant that the swell was about 2-4 feel (1m or so) and water temperatures hovering in the low to mid-60's F (15-17 C). It was a fine day indeed and one that would shape up to be even finer as we progressed - at least that is what Neil predicted. The forecast called for decreasing winds and a swell to subside throughout the day. Neil asked me if I wanted to check it out and I said..."sure." I really wanted to swim and I didn't care much about my time. Donating another hour or so to the EC would be a small cost to just getting out there. Seize the opportunity!
So we headed out. The going was pretty rough at first - not in the harbor but as soon as we got outside the breakwater. Things started getting a bit lumpy. See Kat below not looking too keen on the idea of a whole day of lumpy seas.
The boat pitched back and forth due to our westerly heading and the seas and wind come from the SSE (hitting us in our port forward quarter). That wind and wave combination - along with our heading made for some strange rocking and rolling for the first hour. I grew up on boats so I those motions don't affect me at all but I know Kat and Patrick don't like the pitching motion.
THE START: We arrived at the beach roughly 40 minutes after our marina departure to a nice swell. The waves were not breaking on the beach but it was pretty lumpy. Between the wind, waves, and current (spring tide so lots of water flowing through the channel), I knew I was in for a good struggle. The conditions didn't let me down. Once we decided to go, I greased up quickly, had my final pictures, a quick kiss for good luck (from Kat, of course), and off I jumped into the churned up sea. I swam to the beach where the beachgoers watched some crazy walrus-looking creature emerge from the ocean. They may be accustomed to the sight but I got a chuckle as they all backed away when I approached. Who would mess with a live walrus? Just as Dover Harbor's beach offers an excellent foot massage with those large rocks, so too did
That beach looks nice and sandy from above but don't be fooled; those rocks are tough on the feet. I crawled out, looked like a baby giraffe as I finally stood, turned around, and then waited for the horn to sound. The crew blew the horn and I was off!
EARLY SWIM: I struggled to find my stroke for the first 2 hours. The waves, wind, and chop interfered with my breathing - at least initially. I am typically a bilateral breather but my fast side is breathing to the left. The favored side for the boat and the conditions, of course, was to breath to the right. OK, off I went to settle my stroke down and get into a rhythm. That rhythm finally came but at about 2 hours - perhaps 3. I was excited to be swimming across the English Channel. How cool was that? I thought it was pretty neat.
FEEDING: My feed plan was to swim uninterrupted for 2 hours and then feed every 45 minutes. It was a well-thought out plan given my experience during the Catalina Channel swim. During that previous swim, I fed every 20 minutes and found that the frequency was too high and the feeds were not necessary most of the time. So, I opted for 45 minute feeds during the EC and I think I chose correctly. Also, I had fed for the entire swim in Catalina and, after consulting with many swimmers and judging from my own prior swim, I knew I could go for at least 2-3 hours without feeding since I almost always swam at home without feeding. Many of those workouts lasted at least 2 hours if not up to 5 hours and I trained myself to conserve energy. Again, I think that was a good call. I swam consistently for the first few hours without any worry at all.
SHIFTING OVER: About 6 hours into the swim, I decided it was time for me to shift over to the other side of the boat. I had enough of the waves hitting me in the face and my neck was getting a little sore. Once I made up my mind, I asked Sam (the crew aboard SUVA) if Neil would mind me moving to the starboard (right) side of the boat to continue. She said "yeah, OK with us." I was really looking forward to getting back to my comfortable side and reducing the amount of sea water hitting me in the face. The move was perfectly timed. When I shifted over, I fortuitously hit the point of my swim where the tide changed and I started going out to sea - the Atlantic instead of the North Sea - and I could concentrate more on my stroke and less on my breathing. That shift came at about the apex of my initial trajectory. You can see it below:
You can also see from the figure above that the dots got closer during that period - simply because I was no longer being pushed by a strong tide. The slack tide happened right as I passed through the "separation zone" or part of the channel where the traffic shifts from one direction to another. I now felt comfortable both with my stroke and my breathing. Life was good.
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FEEDING ON THE GO: Kat and Patrick mastered my feeding routine and I had all the faith in the world that they were looking out for my best interests. Only one mishap occurred and it was so minor. A bottle (water only) flew away after they tossed my feed toward me. No worry but I did feel bad that we added more plastic to an already polluted sea of plastic. Sorry ocean; I promise to pick out more than I put into you. The combination of CarboPro, CarboPro supplements, plain water, and mouthwash (not mixed together mind you) sustained my energy and interest throughout. My feeds were less frequent but perhaps not terribly quick. The bottles we used - ones I posted about in a previous blog entry - had relatively small mouths so the fluid took a while to exit. That delay created a much slower feed than I expected. I would recommend a wider opening for anyone looking for tips on what to use for their swims. More on those tips later.
So at this point, I was about half-way through my swim, I was breathing on my "good" side, and I felt fantastic. The wind and waves didn't really calm down and I still felt the push from my front right side. Regardless, I felt fine and knew I was making reasonably good progress.
END OF PART 1
We need to pack up now. Our plan is to catch a train to London and tour the city. I intend to post another entry either later tonight or tomorrow. We have 5 days of non-swimming adventures ahead. I'll post more soon. Thanks for following.
Friday, July 22, 2016
English Channel Crossing - A simple thanks for all your support (pints to follow)
Family and friends,
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you who supported my swim(s). The English Channel was a long haul and one made slightly harder by the sea conditions and jellyfish. Otherwise, it was an unremarkable day. I felt the love and support from all of you before, during and after the swim and that made me very happy. When we returned at 4am from the boat, I was overcome with emotions from the outpouring of support via Facebook, Twitter, Email, and even voicemail. Thanks to you all. I am heading over to the White Horse right now with my crew (Kat and Patrick) to sign the wall, enjoy a pint, and take some pictures. See you in a few hours when I begin recounting the swim. After a pint, I may not make much sense so I apologize in advance for the word salad I may spread before you.
With Love,
Patrick
P.S. Despite my objections, I may try for the Triple Crown in August and go for the record of shortest time to complete all 3 swims. More (much more) on that later; for now, the siren call of a pint at the White Horse keeps yelling at me to visit.
P.P.S. Kat wants to swim. Needless to say, I don't. I am going down to the beach with her first so she can swim and then we hit the pub. How's that for teamwork?
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you who supported my swim(s). The English Channel was a long haul and one made slightly harder by the sea conditions and jellyfish. Otherwise, it was an unremarkable day. I felt the love and support from all of you before, during and after the swim and that made me very happy. When we returned at 4am from the boat, I was overcome with emotions from the outpouring of support via Facebook, Twitter, Email, and even voicemail. Thanks to you all. I am heading over to the White Horse right now with my crew (Kat and Patrick) to sign the wall, enjoy a pint, and take some pictures. See you in a few hours when I begin recounting the swim. After a pint, I may not make much sense so I apologize in advance for the word salad I may spread before you.
With Love,
Patrick
P.S. Despite my objections, I may try for the Triple Crown in August and go for the record of shortest time to complete all 3 swims. More (much more) on that later; for now, the siren call of a pint at the White Horse keeps yelling at me to visit.
P.P.S. Kat wants to swim. Needless to say, I don't. I am going down to the beach with her first so she can swim and then we hit the pub. How's that for teamwork?
Thursday, July 21, 2016
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