Ben's English Channel challenge 2014
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The home stretch - time to make this challenge count!

8/29/2012

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So here we are – more than a year of training done, and only three weeks to go until I finally embark on my English Channel crossing!  I feel positive, strong, healthy, and absolutely committed to making it across.  I fly out on 15th Sept, have a week to rest and prepare in Dover, then the crossing window of the neap tide opens on 23rd Sept.  I am the first swimmer off in the window, so hopefully will be swimming pretty close to this date.  I will provide tracking details soon so you can follow progress should you wish!

It’s been an interesting year:  I’ve met some great people, learned a lot about myself (both mind and body), improved my swimming technique and done lots of different types of swimming training, but most of all covered lots and lots of distance in the water.  I tallied it all up last night, and in the last 12 months I have swum an average of 35km per week (max 55km), and covered a total distance of 1,400Km.  To put this in perspective, that’s equivalent to driving from Sydney to Adelaide or Rockhampton, or from London to Edinburgh.  It’s a long way!

Clearly swimming is slow, relative to other means of transport, and I reckon I’ve probably spent 450 hours or more swimming in this period.  6+ hours of squads per week, and then the long, lonely swims at the weekend.  These swims have been made much more pleasant by the good company I’ve acquired.  Whilst these people shall remain nameless for now, I really appreciate the support of the Frosty Nuts, Bold & Beautiful, Tattersalls swimmers, and of course Vladswim and the team.  The photo below sums it up really – Collie Kinsela (swimming the channel for the second time in a couple of weeks) and I up early, entering the water at sunrise, and heading off into the distance.  

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Whilst it’s been really hard to continually drag myself out of bed at 4.45am, and I have missed out on lots of family time, I do feel hugely privileged to have experienced some of the wonder that nature has to offer us.  Watching the sunrise from the calm crystal waters of the ocean is a magical experience, and we are so lucky to be able to do this.

I was reminded last weekend of just how lucky we are, and also of the greater purpose of the challenge I have undertaken here.  I have been an ambassador for Opportunity International Australia (OIA) for almost five years now, and attended a fundraiser at the weekend that included video of some success stories and facts about the people we help in India.  It’s largely women, who are motivated to provide a better life for their kids.  These families often live on less than $1.25 per day, qualified as extreme poverty.  OIA provides small loans (e.g. $100) to a woman, then training and support, helping her develop, grow and maintain a business.  They then repay the loan, which gets recycled and goes on to help others.  Staggeringly the repayment rate is 97% - a figure a commercial bank would be more than pleased with.  The reason why I believe so strongly in this microfinance model as a solution to poverty is that it’s a hand-up, not a hand-out.  It’s sustainable and it’s commercial.  It gives all the people involved self-respect, and the ability to provide for their family on their own – something we all strive for.  Just as I have worked hard for a year to swim the Channel, these women work hard to create a better life for their families.

In 2009 I raised $11,000 for OIA, which went off to a programme in the Philippines. This money will have since helped more than 300 families break out of poverty, and it will help more than 100 each year, forever.  This is a great impact to have made on the world, and I am thankful to all those who sponsored the challenge.

The objective for the Channel swim was $50,000.  We’re a way off that now, but I am confident with your help we can have a good crack at making it.

Please sponsor me if you can (click here), and please send this to friends, family, and anyone else who would like to or be able to make a difference.  $100 donated here can make a lasting impact on families FOREVER!

Lastly – well done to training buddies Wayne, Ali, and Wyatt – who followed Tori and all made it successfully across in August.  Great effort guys, and I hope to emulate your successes.


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A 30km, 10 hour training in ocean's finest aquarium!

8/5/2012

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Just a brief update to let you all know that I'm still training hard!  Only 48 days to go now......pretty scary but very exciting indeed.  I am really reaching the point of being completely over all these early mornings and training pressure.

However, that said, I had a wonderful day yesterday.  As you're aware, it's been on my mind that I will be in the water for a long time on the day, possibly 18 hours or so.....and this is a long time to be in 16 degree water!  So, yesterday I had planned a longer swim than the normal 6-8 hour sessions we've been doing at the weekend.  My goal was to swim 30km, 20 return laps of Manly to Shelley.

We (Collie, Iain and I) started in the dark at 5.30am which was surreal.  The stars were magnificent, and the water so clear with wonderful phosphorescence.  After two laps my left hand was absolute agony.  It was like I could feel a tendon joining my chest to my  thumb, and on every stroke there was this tight, yanking sensation.  I got out, had a stretch, and started worrying........how could I possibly cope all day!?

For the half hour from 6.30-7.00 I was seriously contemplating getting out, and also bailing on the whole channel challenge.  I had thought through the consequences, the apologies I would need to make, the inner sense of failure, and the knowledge in my heart that if I didn't make it this time I would have to try again.........I had it all worked out.



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Then at 7, the 100+ Bold & Beautiful swimmers were in the water with us.  We did a lap, Julie announced my challenge for the day, and on we swam.  I was still festering then after a couple more laps stopped for a feed and my "handler" for the day brought out the pill box!  Pills are very important to long distance swimmers.  It's not unusual for a discussion to ensue when you meet marathon swimmers about what pills they take.......when you put the body through so much strain over long periods, you need to be able to block out the pain.

Nicole (handler) was a legend with me yesterday.  She gave me at least one pill almost every half an hour.....paracetamol, neurofen, ibuprofen, voltaren......you name it!  I think the pills helped, also about 10am we strapped my wrists up even more than they were already (see photo), and by the time I had done 7 laps I knew I had to finish the swim.

I was blessed, the water was so clear I felt like I was swimming in Sydney aquarium.  There were all manner of fish, and lots of friendly Port Jackson sharks.  I was joined during the day by lots of people, and never swam alone.  I am shocked by the level of support people have shown me, and I thank everyone of them.  I could not have done this without you.

On each lap, there was a mini-simulation of the last 3kms at France, where the tide pulls against you.  To get in at North Manly there was a reasonably strong rip, particularly on the outgoing tide.  This was mildly annoying at the time, as you faced a choice of swimming an extra 200m around the rip, or pushing through it for 5 mins (which I chose).......good training!



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By the end (10 hours 20 minutes) I was elated.  My family turned up to say Hi, and I got to see bewildered looks from my Kids - "where's daddy been all day?!?".  I got very cold when I got out, but was saved by my friend James and the Manly SLSC showers (thank you!) which were clearly plumbed pre-drought as it was like standing under a hot niagra falls.  Perfect! 

The great news about yesterday was that I made it, and mentally was able to push through, and also that my nutriion plan worked.  No sickness or tummy problems, so I was really happy about this!

So, on we roll.  Not long to go......some tough weeks ahead, just hoping my hand calms down a bit, and I may have to get some more injections in m wrists!  Oh the trials and tribulations of a Channel Aspirant!

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    Sydney dwelling, ocean loving, hard working, decidedly average swimmer and devoted family man.

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