The closer the first swim got the more excited but also nervous I got. I still had a few unknowns and don’t deal with the unknown very well so it was a case of trying to distract myself.
As we weren’t swimming in the morning the organisers had arranged talks/swimmers chats and also coaching sessions. I decided that I didn’t want to do too much but at the same time, I love to learn and so I asked if I could attend and shadow the coaching session with Andy Donaldson to see how he coaches and if I can improve my coaching at all.
However, we got the news that the swimming pools were closed because of storm debris from the night before and as a result the swim coaching session ended up being an indoor coaching session. In someways it made it more interesting because I was intrigued on how he was going to deliver a swimming coaching session in a ballet studio….
I actually found the session quite useful because we were discussing different open water swimming techniques. I realised it’s something I do without realising I do it. When I am coaching I always ensure that it isn’t just about what I get my swimmers to do in the pool, it’s about the conversations we have too and going to the session helped me realise that.
After the session I went back to our room to get all my stuff ready before lunch. Lunch was supposed to be at a different location after our first swim but due to the weather and not doing the first swim, it wouldn’t be possible so instead they brought it all to us and we had it at the hotel. So that we didn’t have to rush I took my bag and all my stuff for the first swim to lunch with us. As a result, it meant I could take my time eating and then go straight to get my tracker and head to the boats.
I was nervous, not about the swim, it was only 5.1km. I was nervous as it was the first time I would discover if I could get on and off the transfer boats and how difficult and painful it would be. I knew for the following days I would need to get on and off the boats and it would have huge impact on my experience if I struggled with it.
We headed to collect my tracker at 1.30 so that we were early and had plenty of time as it was quite a walk to get to the jetty where we were getting on the boat. We had discussed and figured out that I wouldn’t need my wheelchair as the swim entry was directly off the boat and we were finishing on the beach before getting straight back on the boat. However, the walk to the boats was WAY too far for me so I had to use my chair to get round. I decided that since it was a reasonable distance and I had a swim ahead of me I would save my arms and on this rare occasion, let my sister push me.
We arrived by the jetty and I noticed the bridge onto it wasn’t flat to the jetty and I wasn’t going to risk face planting so got out and pushed my chair the short distance over the bridge before sitting back down and heading to the end of the jetty to meet the boat. Other swimmers were following us and volunteers were there too, the atmosphere was buzzing, smiles all round, lots of excited chatter going on, but you could also tell people were a little nervous. It was like me, a bit nervous but couldn’t wait to get in the water and start swimming!
The F1 boat arrived, and I was told this would be the boat I would be on each day. There was quite a step to get onto it and I didn’t think I could manage it. The skipper asked how I was going to get onto the boat and frankly, I had no clue. My sister and I had a chat trying to figure out how to do it and we decided the safest way was to sit on the edge of the boat then have someone behind me and someone under each arm to help me stand up and turn round. It wasn’t easy and definitely wasn’t pain free, but we managed it and I was helped down the couple of steps and on board the boat using my crutches.
My sister then took my wheelchair back to the office so it was left somewhere safe and she could bring it back to the jetty when I was coming back to the harbour after the swim. I sat by the entry/exit to the boat with my bag as the rest of the boat filled up with swimmers and we were off to the start.
During the boat trip we were reminded about the course we would be swimming and I kept an eye out for the buoys we would be swimming round the coast too. We all started getting ready, putting hats on, sorting out our trackers and tow floats. There were swimmers zipping up each other’s wetsuits and greasing up. It was only a short boat trip to the start and once there I let all the other swimmers jump into the water first.
It was actually quite a drop from the boat and I didn’t feel comfortable jumping in with my tow float like others were, instead I jumped in and then was passed my float. I headed to the back of the group of swimmers as I knew I would be one of the slowest.
When everyone was settled James, the race director started the race, and we were off! The first thing I was glad of was that I started at the back because there were some very fast swimmers. I was hoping for 2 hours but from seeing some of them at the start I reckoned the fastest swimmers would likely do it in half that time but, it didn’t matter because to me, it wasn’t a race, and I was just happy to be swimming.
Credit: Lloyd Images
The water was lovely temperature wise, a little warmer than I thought it would be. However, it wasn’t as clear as I expected but we had been warned as there was still storm debris about and the waves were a bit all over the place. I quickly settled into a rhythm that was consistent and comfortable for me. There was quite a bit of current behind us pushing us making the swim easier, which was quite fun. I reached the first shipwreck much earlier than I expected and as a result I didn’t see it. It’s ridiculous because it was huge and white and obvious, but I was sticking to swimming by the shore/rocks and suddenly there was a kayaker in front of me telling me to head further out before I swam into the hull of the boat!
Credit: Lloyd Images
I think I was just enjoying the swim too much so wasn’t paying attention…I certainly paid attention after that though!
I put my head back down and carried on but was only breathing to the left so that I could see the shipwreck as i swam past it. I then relaxed back into my stroke and bilateral breathing and noticed the kayaker had stayed with me. I felt quite alone as it had been a while since id seen another swimmer so it was reassuring to know someone still had their eyes on me. Not long after he had paddled to another swimmer, I somehow managed to catch a lump of wood (storm debris). I was grateful I caught it with my hands, and it didn’t hit me in the face as I think it would have hurt.
I felt like I was last, I could now see a couple of pink tow floats in front of me and as normal I was trying to catch up with one after the other, but they were pretty spread out. I wasn’t treating it as a race, but I didn’t want to come last. There are such negative connotations around being last and being the slowest, to me if I finish, I’m happy. However, after my English Channel swim I realised that many others think that slower swimmers aren’t as good as fast ones, and some go as far as saying slow swimmers shouldn’t be doing events like the UltraSwim33.3. I felt like I needed to prove to myself and others that I am a strong, confident and an accomplished swimmer.
We had been warned about a second shipwreck just round the corner of the bay where the finish was and there was a giant pink buoy there that we had to swim on the outside of so we didn’t risk swimming over the shipwreck in the shallows. By this point in the swim I had started to get a bit of a headache, I put it down to my swimming hat being one I wasn’t used to but a headache wasn’t going to stop me, it ended up being dehydration. I kept pushing forward and turned the corner into the bay where the finish was. I felt my anxiety about the finish kicking in, would my crutches be there? Would I be able to get out? Would I be able to get to where the transfer boats to take us back to the hotel? Would I be able to get onto the boat, would it be the same kind as before? Is there a plan B for if the plans didn’t work?
As I headed into the bay, it was the first time the water was clear enough to see a few fish and the bottom. I had been disappointed so far as the water was a bit cloudy and I was expecting crystal clear water so I could see the fish since one of my favourite past times when swimming is watching fish. I’d promised myself that I wouldn’t get distracted by watching the fish during the swims and I noticed another swimmer just to the left-hand side of me and with the finish line in sight, how could I not push myself and sprint to the finish to try and beat her?!
We ended up crossing almost next to each other but she beat me by 00.02! It turned out to be Pascale Butcher (@butcherpascale) that just pipped me on the finish line. I did have to remind myself that I wasn’t here to win a race but it felt good that I had enough energy to be able to give a final push to the finish line, even if she beat me, plus it gave me someone to try and beat the next day too! On top of that, it was a 5km PB for me – 1.42.55!
One helpful things about the water being clearer by the finish was that I was able to see the bottom and could see where my feet were going. The beach was made up of small shingle, which made me a little nervous because I knew it would be a bit tricky getting out.
Credit: Lloyd Images
Credit: Lloyd Images
Credit: Lloyd Images
I was greeted by Andy (@andy.swimming) and Zoe (@alpineprincess) who were there waiting with my crutches and ready to help me out. With some help from them and other volunteers, I was able to get up the beach and find somewhere to sit so I could get organised. Someone brought my bag over to me so I could get changed, they also got me a drink and asked if I needed any other help. Being honest, I was in shock as I have never experienced that level of help at the end of a swim. Normally I am given my crutches and left to struggle to get to my bag and wheelchair. I often cant get to the table that has the recovery drinks and nutrition on and if I am at an event alone I just get changed and leave.
Instead, at this event the volunteers couldn’t do enough to help me. They got me all that I needed, but what was even more surprising to me was that when I said I was all sorted and just needed to sit, rest and get changed they left me to get organised rather than standing over me making me feel like I needed to get changed and leave as soon as possible! All I could think was “this is how you run an inclusive event”.
Once I was all sorted I started working out where the boats were and how I got to them to get the ride back to the hotel. I was told the walk to get to the transfer boats was a bit rocky and they weren’t sure if it would be safe for me. I asked them to take a picture of the rocks and then I could judge if it would be safe or not, as soon as I saw it, I knew it wasn’t going to work. I However, as soon as I said that, Susie said not to worry, we will get the other boat to come to the jetty for you. They showed me where to go and carried my bag and by the time we arrived the boat was waiting. It was a rib boat just with a couple of guys on it and I wasn’t sure how best to get on it. They asked how they could help me and other than giving them my stuff I had absolutely no clue. I informed them it wouldn’t be pretty or graceful, knelt on the edge of the rib and rolled into it, it was actually oddly satisfying and easier than I thought!
I was met by my sister on the jetty with my wheelchair and we headed back to our room so I could have a shower before the following days briefing. After the briefing I had managed to book a physio/sports massage appointment with Neil from Chamonix Physio Clinic and I am so glad that I did as it helped my shoulders a huge amount and with 5am start and 2 swims the following day I needed all the help I could get! After my appointment we got dinner and headed straight to bed –
Day 1 – Complete
Distance Covered – 5.1km
Distance Left – 28.2km
