I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my English Channel swim—not just the physical feat, but the emotional ripples that continue to surface. Maybe it’s the talks I give and the way I adapt them as life changes? Or is it the questions people ask that make me reflect more deeply? Im not sure but … Continue reading From the Channel to the Community
A story about Oona, she’s just 11 years old; she has faced many challenges and unseen fights in life. She uses a wheelchair full time. In 2023 I swam the English Channel firstly to raise awareness of swimmers with disabilities and what they can achieve with the right support. Secondly to help pay for swimming … Continue reading Let me tell you a story….
Its been ages since I wrote a blog and gave an update on all I have been up to! Since I last wrote here I have had 2 intense sea training weeks, a pretty serious accident, been interviewed by Disney and questioned my ability to complete the Bristol Channel Swim. At the end of May … Continue reading Bristol Channel Preparation!
I started the week strong with an open water swim in Hampton, followed by the 4th Bars and Bells session where we learnt all the different exercises that are possible with Kettle Bells. Monday night was then a pretty intense coaching session for BRJ. I think most people's response when they saw the set on … Continue reading I’ve lost count of what week of training it is…
I'm not sure how it's already week 3 of my channel training but it is and I'm making great progress compared to my level of fitness and activity just a month ago. I started the week tired and in a bit of a Fibro flare after pushing harder than I should have over the weekend. … Continue reading Bristol Channel Training Week 3
The madness of the past few months has meant blogs haven't been written because I've been so busy. So much has happened that I'm not even sure where I should start! Maybe all the way back in October at the STA Conference. STA Conference What a totally different experience I had this year! Last year, … Continue reading Update of the Madness that is Life
Last year I had a disastrous swim event experience, I desperately wanted to share it with people at the time to highlight how NOT to treat those with disabilities but at the time I was so angry that I knew the blog wouldn’t be constructive or helpful to anyone, so I waited. Since then, I … Continue reading One good, One bad.
I noticed the sun was starting to get lower and for me, that is when my swim really started. I knew I couldn’t be far off the time when I should have been nearly in France or getting out/landing, but France still looked miles away, and I couldn’t work out what I was doing wrong.
As I watched the sunrise it was a huge mental boost. I had got through the night and since I was expecting to finish late afternoon, I knew the rest of the swim would be in the light with the sunshine on my back. My only concern was last year during my relay swim, when … Continue reading STA Channel Swim 2023 Part 2
Something I have always loved is night swimming, be it in the river, lake or sea; there is nothing else like it and you’ll only understand it if you have done it but I will try to explain. When it is completely dark and you’re entering the water it makes you use your other senses as … Continue reading Cornwall, Day 5 – The Magic of Night Swimming
