Arch to Arc Blog | Photos | Race Information

 

 

01/11/09

Due to personal issues I have made the decision to pull out of the Enduroman Arch to Arc.

BUT... that doesn't mean that I'm giving up on my London to Paris dream!

Check out www.londonchannelparis.co.uk in a while for info of my new challenge!

 

17/10/09

5 mile run and upper weights. All good here, went out for a lovely meal last night and am feeling a bit fat today from too much honeycomb cheesecake, but this weeks training will sort that out

 

 

15/10/09

7 mile run with the devil chasing me. Tried to go for a 'steady run' but it didn't happen, ran like a loony and totally knackered myself.

14/10/09

3100 metre swim at lunchtime. I'm starting kickboxing tonight, no real benefit to my Arc to Arch training, but I used to do it years ago and really enjoyed it then, so I'm looking forward to punching the cr*p out of some poor bloke (until he does it back of course!!)

 

13/10/09

2 hour swim followed by 1 hour bodypump class, how hardcore am I? (although my attempt at press ups were quite funny but totally rubbish)

 

12/10/09

50 minute swim followed by a 30 minute spinning class (30 mins doesn't sound much, but trust me it's enough at the moment!) and finally a 5 mile hill run. Really enjoyed today's training.

 

11/10/09

5 mile easy run on treadmill.

 

Isle of Wight swim pics

7/10/09

90 minute pool set and run interval session. Ran into an old friend today who happens to be a swimming coach, over coffee I explained what I was training for and he said that he would be able to help me out with some coaching :-) Feeling good about stuff, my running is getting better again (it helps to be able to breathe!) and I'm really enjoying the pool stuff.

5/10/09

1 hour run and 1 hour sea swim. The problem with swimming in the sea is that whilst swimming, weird green stuff attaches itself to your face and I often crawl out of the waves looking a bit like this...

30/09/09

I woke up feeling ropey yesterday and was running through the reasons why I should bike today, when I hadn't really trained for it and already had pushed myself and my poor lungs to their limit, when my daughter came into my bedroom complaining of blurred vision and a bad headache. She had a migraine and that took my decision out of my hands, which was a blessing (not that Jess had a migraine) but that I had no choice as I can be very hard on myself and would have made myself complete a 60 mile bike which probably would have finished me off!!

Anyway, I'm pleased with what I have achieved and have made some new contacts that will hopefully help me in my training for next year.

So now its 6 months of pool training. I know that I have to be completely focused on improving my speed and strength and intend to swim 5 days a week. I know that the swimmer I am right now won't make it across the channel, but I also know how incredibly determined I am when I'm in the right place with nothing pulling me down or distracting me. When I want something I won't stop until I get it. And that's how I feel about the Arch to Arc. I will complete it.

 

 

28/09/09

Yesterdays run was really hard due to Asthma problems, not much sleep the night before and getting carried away with red wine (one won't hurt I thought, oh go on I'll have another....cut to the next morning, oh sh*t!) Anyway, I ran the 6 miles to New Milton and met my friend before she started the half. I had been coughing for most of the morning by then and getting some funny looks. Had some food and then started the Marathon.

From the word go I knew it was going to be a long day, I had nothing in my legs and couldn't really breathe that well. By 12 miles I was feeling pretty pissed off as everybody was passing me, I knew that I was supposed to be running at my A2A pace (1.50 run 10 min break) but I felt like I couldn't stop for fear of being completely at the back and being scooped up by the dreaded sweeper!! I then decided 'sod it, I don't need to run in the Marathon, I will pull out and continue on my own' That way I could stop and not have any pressure. I felt much better when I had done that and stopped to change my socks and eat crisps! The rest of the run was uneventful, just very hot and very hard. Did about 28 miles and was very glad to finish.

Today I woke up and after regaining the use of my legs, I packed my stuff and set off for Gosport. When I arrived I was really pleased to see the sea looking gorgeous! Dead calm and sparkly. I met up with Glen, Keith and Paul (top blokes!) and we went through safety stuff, who was doing what etc. After I got suited up, me and Paul had a coffee while the boys got the boat and then we got my drinks and jellybabies in the kayak. We made our way down to the sea and I started swimming straight away. I felt good, and the first hour went really fast. Keith and Glen were in the boat ahead and Paul on my left.

The second hour was ok but I started feeling a bit cold (no change there!) There was quite a lot of boats and ferries around and I spent a bit of my time, looking up and wondering where everyone had gone, then Paul would shout 'over here' and I would get back on track. I started counting to 100 over and over (sounds mad but kind of stops me thinking negative stuff)

By the third hour I was starting to feel ropey, my chest was aching and worrying me a little. I decided then that swimming back today may be pushing it slightly and said to Paul that I would just do a one way. It was really good to swim into the coast. The water became warmer and the seabed came into view (exciting stuff huh?) Once I had reached the Isle of Wight I held on to Paul's kayak and he whizzed me back to the boat.

I am really pleased with today and it took me 3 hours. It would have been great to have achieved a two-way, but I knew I was pushing myself after being ill. It was brilliant to swim 'to' somewhere rather then along the coast. I have booked in with the boys for next June/July for a two-way, and I look forward to doing it having actually trained properly and being healthier as the day was a great experience and confidence booster.

For anybody wanting to swim the Solent I definitely recommend booking Glen and Keith. Contact Glen on glenfish41@aol.com

Just a little bike tomorrow... ;-)

 

26/09/09

It's all go for my third of an A2A training thingy (catchy name huh?!) My run will start at my Mum's (so I can drop the kids off!) and I will run to the New Forest Marathon start in New Milton about 6.5 miles away for the marathon start at 10am.

My swim starts at the beach nr the Bayside Cabin Cafe, Stokes Bay in Gosport at 9.30am on Monday. Dare I say that the weather is looking good at the moment...!!! I have 3 blokes looking after me (so I am high maintenance after all!) Glen and Keith in the boat monitoring shipping and weather stuff and Nick in his Kayak, who will be feeding me Jaffa Cakes, making my Lattes and ensuring that my mascara doesn't run too much.

My 60 ish mile bike will be on the Tuesday from 9.30am (after the school run!) and follow the back roads of Ringwood, the New Forest and a small part of the A35 (ick!)

I am still having some health issues and wish I felt fitter. My Asthma is playing up due to the chest infection, but I know my body and limits and feel well enough for this. The only problem could be the cold in the swim as that can effect my Asthma sometimes. Mentally I feel really good though and strangely excited about the swim!

 

21/09/09

Two amazing women I have been following whilst they train for their channel goals are Lisa Cummins and Laurin Weisenthal.

Lisa has just completed a 2 way, TOTALLY AWESOME!!! and Laurin is going for the Women's Record (7hrs 25mins) later this week.

Lisa's Blog

Laurin's website

Both totally inspiring. I need some inspiration at the moment, I have a chest infection and am now on antibiotics. But I think I will still be ok for the weekend as long as I rest up. Totally rubbish timing to be ill though :-(

 

20/09/09

Ha ha!! Well, in true Ultrabunny stylie I have a stinking cold and have lost my voice almost completely (which some people might say is a blessing) But in terms of training and generally feeling confident about the weekend it ain't great at all. I had a think about things though and I remembered my first Ironman in 2007. The 2 months leading up to it I had 2 cancer scares, I left my husband, moved house and started a new job. On the day I was alone, scared and almost got in my car and drove home but in the end I knocked over an hour off my predicted time and all my family and friends were waiting at the end for me. So bring it on and whatever happens, happens.

15/09/09

A 4 mile sea swim yesterday and a 10 mile run today, both should have been longer but if I'm honest I'm not feeling great. I have picked up a bit of a bug I think. I'm also really feeling the cold in the sea, nothing new there I guess, but it's flipping September and I have a wetsuit on FFS!! I have lost about half a stone in the last month and I know that if I want to do the Solent swim, I gotta put in back on! I have just bought a tub of Cookie Dough icecream - time to chunk up!

Going away for a few days this weekend for some much needed r&r (and nosh) and I think I will be back on form next week.

4 mile swim.

 

13/09/09

Naff all training done this weekend, just chilling out with kids and friends. Need to do some big stuff over the next few days, starting with a long run tomorrow, long swim Tuesday and some early turbo work Wednesday. I saw the sign for the New Forest Marathon yesterday and I'm starting to get excited about it all now (and nervous for the swim!)

My swim route - Stokes Bay to Ryde and back again- gulp! I wonder if there is a McDonalds in Ryde so I can have a quick McChicken sandwich break halfway?

 

10/09/09

45 mins on the turbo and upper weights.

09/09/09

1.30 run and 2.5 hour sea swim Both went well and the sea was fab (ie - teeny tiny waves!!)

I had tea at my mum's later (she's trying to feed me up) and my little brother mentioned that his mate had been fishing on the French side of the Isle of Wight and a Great White Shark nicked his cod off the line!!! Sharks?? Now, hang on a minute... when I came up with this idea of a little swim over to the IOW, Sharks were NOT part of the plan, although it is quite hardcore. Anyway I emailed the boat pilot and he said...

"There are thresher sharks off the back of the island in the summer as its part of their migration route but it was more than likely a tope. We do not get anything man or woman eating in the Solent, I promise you!!"

That's ok then.

07/09/09

1hr 30mins sea swim, pretty choppy and a bit rubbish really. Upper weights

 

Nobody has ever called me an angel!!

 

03/09/09

Went out for a 45 minute run then realised that I had got up an hour earlier then I needed to (how blonde?!) so ran for 2 hours instead. Leg bit sore the last 45 minutes but nothing major. The sea was wild!!

02/09/09

1.20 pool session and upper weights. Super tired today, training catching up with me and am insomniac girl at the moment too :-(

01/09/09

20 minutes in a choppy sea and 2 hours in the pool all before 9am!

Boat pilot confirmed last night, he's called Glen and is really helpful and enthusiastic about the swim. His website is www.wighthuntress.co.uk
The coast guard has been told and has no problems, I even have some support to help throw Jaffa cakes and Lucozade at me during the swim. Although still missing the person who tells me to 'stop messing about with your googles and bloody swim' and 'stop moaning and start swimming or you're getting out' and many more classics...!!

So...

Sunday 27th September - 30 mile run (inc. New Forest Marathon)
Monday 28th (Tuesday is weather bad) - 7/8 mile sea swim from Gosport to Isle of Wight and back again.
Tuesday 29th (or Wed) - 60 mile bike ride in Ringwood/New Forest area.

flip, it's really happening then :-0

 

31/08/09 (still)

What I saw on the webcam wasn't quite what I got when I got down there!! Major chop. I was literally knocked off my feet twice whilst trying to get in and so I made the decision that it really wasn't safe swimming unsupported for 3 hours, and I wasn't even sure that I would be able to do that.

The problem now is that today was the best day to swim this week. The weekend looks a little better. I will drive down to the sea and keep checking but if the wind charts are correct, it ain't gonna happen.

I have to keep remembering that my training never goes how it should do. Never. My first Ironman training was a disaster but on the day I knocked more than an hour off my predicted time. The double Iron was the same. I can never do enough as I have a very small 'child-free' window. It's very frustrating, but it's real life.

I will have to do a 3 hour pool swim this week, groan!

 

 

31/08/09

Ok, so in an hour or so I'm off to the beach to get in a 3 hour swim. This will be the equivalent of swimming to the Isle of Wight and I'm pretty nervous. Why? All I have to do is go and get is the sea and swim one way for an hour and a half and then swim back. Pretty simple really. But it's been over a week since I swam and my confidence is low.

Last week I managed to damage my Adductor muscle (inner thigh) and I have had to spend the weekend on the sofa in enforced rest, as it is only 4 weeks till I do my third of an A2A and this injury will put a serious spanner in the works if I don't get in sorted. Still bit sore this morning but heaps better then Saturday morning when I couldn't walk properly and was in quite a lot of pain.

I have just checked the webcams and the sea is swimmable (that can't be a real word) so I'm off to eat porridge and 'suit up' !!!

 

25/08/09

40 length swim in just over 20 minutes (rest of the time on the water slides with Jake!) and 2.30 bike, which considering I haven't biked since April wasn't bad at all. Mind you, the last ride was the Deca bike course...!

I had some good news today. I have found a boat pilot to take me across to the Isle of Wight. This is very exciting as I plan to run the New Forest Marathon (from my house to increase distance) on Sunday 27th September, swim to the Isle of Wight and back again the next day and then finally bike for 6 hours on the Tuesday. This is all weather permitting and kids etc etc but fingers crossed!

To be able to complete a third of the Arch to Arc before the end of the year would be great and a fantastic boost to my confidence. Just the small matter of some sea swimming to do then...!!

23/08/09

Upper body weights and 45 min run - jog - run goddamit!!

My daughter Jessica is going to complete the Aspire Channel Swim from September 14 to 6th December. She has to swim 118 lengths a week, Jess used to be a club swimmer, so is used to that sort of distance. I'm hoping it will get her back to enjoying swimming again and also keep me company as I also get the lengths in for my A2A.

22/08/09

2 hour sea swim!!! Sitting here with a cup of tea feeling pretty pleased with myself. I got up at 5am, feeling a little nervous and a bit sick. I put it down to having a crap and stressful week and tried to eat a bowl of porridge before heading down to the coast. The sea was calm for a change which gave me no excuses to get the 2 hours in and I knew that I would before I got in (always a good sign) The sickness never really went away and the last 40 minutes were quite hard and I started to feel really manky and my head was shouting 'I feel like throwing up and you're drinking salt water, stop it!!!'

Anyway, apart from feeling green the swim went well, lack of power in my arms but I haven't been pool swimming due to the kids on hols/Double Iron etc and that is soon to change. No panics at all which is great and I feel now that I have that side of thing pretty much under control. Was happy to get out though and haven't fancied eating yet. I was thinking when I was swimming that it's bloody hard doing this when feeling sick, it's a bit like the cold, it's a real mental battle. I was trying to imagine what it would be like to swim for 20 hours feeling like I did this morning eek!! Still, I want to deal with every possible issue where the sea is concerned in my training, so bring it on!! (might try some sea sickness tablets next week though!!)

21/08/09

45 minute run, a little bit faster than Wednesday... but not much ;-)

20/08/09

Upper body weights

18/08/09

1.50 run which was so slow it probably looked like I was running in slow motion
:-(

45 minute of unexpected sea swimming improved my day. I really enjoyed it and felt very confident and happy in the water, which was not bloody flat, as it has not been for flippin ages!! Still, the more body surfing I do the better. Gonna do another sea swim Saturday morning.

17/08/09

Weights and a DVD workout that made me feel like I was the most unfit person ever. Not really feeling great right now.

26/07/09

Weights and 35 minute run wiv da boy on a bike and dog.

25/07/09

45 minutes perfecting my 'body surfing' in the sea. The wind is pissing me off and making for tough swimming, but today as I got out I realised that I had just been chucked about and had experienced no panic attacks, result!!

24/07/09

45 minute speed swim and 2.15 minute run.

23/07/09

Rubbish pool session squeezed in a lane with loads of other swimmers. Aqua-bloody-aerobics at 7am? why why why???!!!
A very hot 45 minute run later on.

20/07/09

1 hour pool session.

18/07/09

1 hour 40 minute swim session and 2 hour run. I did the two sessions quite close together and the run felt bloody hard for the first hour but after that I seemed to get stronger and could of easily gone on.

17/07/09

90 length swim. 80 lengths done in 44 minutes. 4 minutes off last weeks time, really pleased with that. I felt a bit wibberly after though and I have major chlorine head at the moment.

16/07/09

45 minute speed swim.

Jo didn't complete her channel swim today (as part of her A2A) and I was completely shocked by this as I really didn't think for a moment that she wouldn't do it. Just can't believe it. I can't imagine how she must be feeling. She has gone on to do the bike and I think that shows how strong Jo is. I don't know if I would have the motivation and strength to do that.

15/07/09

1 hour 10 min run at mod pace.

14/07/09

2 hour pool session. I had forgotten what fun a long pool swim is! I was aching (and sneezing) afterwards. The summer holidays are close which makes training hard for me with the kids around, kind of frustrating really but not much that can be done about it (except buy an endless pool!)

13/07/09

Went to weymouth today and did about 45 minute swim with the boat. I was pretty nervous, as the previous boat swims this year have gone very badly. The water was quite choppy and I was having a job keeping the panic monster at bay, but it was a positive swim and I am looking forward to going down next week and hopefully doing a 2 hour, weather permitting.

11/07/09

I wanted to do a sea swim today and try out my new Blue Seventy wetsuit but the sea was not playing fair. I went in anyway just for confidence stuff and had a good laugh being chucked about. The waves were massive at times, properly towering over me. The lifeguard came over to tell me to move away from the groins and I got out. My suit feels good but I felt frustrated at not being able to swim, which is a giant step forward for me :-)

10/07/09

Short interval session at the pool between clients. After I warmed up, I completed x10 50s fast. By the ninth I felt that my heart might actually burst out of my chest 'Alien stylie' Cool!!

2 hour run along the beach. My knees hurt, my Achilles hurt and I was tired. I may be over training slightly ;-)

9/07/09

90 length swim. 80 lengths done in 48 minutes. Off road hilly run with the dog. All good but I am impatient with my fitness levels, things aren't happening as quick as I want them to!

8/07/09

1 hour swimming.

7/07/09

45 minute interval run session. 10 min warm up, 8 mins hard, 1 min recover, 6 mins hard, 1 min recover, 4 mins hard, 1 min recover, 2 mins hard, 1 min recover, 10 min cool down. 45 min swim session after the run.

I am really happy to be back training again and I'm feeling so much stronger and healthier already. Things haven't been right since January and I needed a few months time out to work things out and get my head sorted. My personal life is a lot more settled now too which is a big help.

5/07/09

Yesterday, whilst swimming in the sea, or rather screwing about with my goggles in the sea, I thought to myself 'really Claire, who are you fucking kidding with this whole swimming the channel shit?' Let me explain how I feel about the sea... For as long as I can remember I have been drawn to it, sitting by crashing waves when I have a problem and collecting sea glass and pebbles with my kids. Not living by it seems unthinkable. But I never swam in it. I have a memory of being very young and me and my dad having some issues with a very large wave breaking over us, I think my dad was freaked by that and I may have picked up on his fear, he is still uncomfortable with being out too deep to this day. Also, when I was about 7 years old I fell into some sinking sand and was up to my chest before 2 men heard my screams and pulled me out. If they hadn't of done I would have died without a doubt. So, I guess that's where the 'sea issues' come from.

Yesterday I read a quote from Marcia Cleveland's book 'Dover Solo' which said..."I am willing to work as hard as I have to because I want to succeed" and that struck home with me as I know that my Arch to Arc next year is the biggest thing I will ever do and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to push through all my fears and become the confident sea swimmer that I want to be. Sometimes when I'm out there, swimming along the coast on my own, I get little tasters of how that feels. A few minutes of inner calm, as my body relaxes and I roll with the waves and feel the swell pull me back and forth. At times like that I know that I can do this.

I did a 5 mile off road race with my good friend, Lynn today in 52 minutes. We had a giggle but it was tough and hot. I was pleased that I am starting to run again with my asthma effecting my breathing too much.

 

6/07/09

2 hour run and 1 hour sea swim. Both felt pretty hard and the sea was a little frisky on the way back. Really felt it when I got home I was bloody knackered! I guess I am starting my training from scratch again after a few months of generally doing zero training and eating chips. At the moment I am concentrating on getting as much sea swimming in as possible in any condition and preferably after a run so it is even harder. Might just have a little sleep now...

2/07/09

30 minutes sea swimming.

27/06/09

1 hour run and 1 hour sea swim. I felt really pleased with this session and enjoyed the swim more than I thought I would.

 

12/05/09

I have been hiding in the cave for a while, I know that I haven't failed the A2A but sometimes it kinda feels like it. I have been feeling sorry for myself and generally being a bit grumpy. But I have enjoyed the break from training though and it has showed me that I have been pushing myself for long time (half IM, full IMx2, Double IM, Lanzo Ultra all in 3 years plus a whole heap of major personal stuff going on) and that it had all got too much and the 'fun' element of my training had disappeared and y'know what? I want it back!! I realised as I went for a dog run last week that my stress levels were really high and my fitness levels waaaaaaay too low for my liking. I haven't been looking after myself very well and been on a self destruct mission for a while now. Not good. I have been neglecting my college course big time too and need to get my head in the books again. So anyway, I have cleaned up my act and I am starting to feel more like myself again. I have also entered the New Forest Marathon and the Forestman, both of which I have unfinished business with. Although I am going to be realistic about my fitness levels right now and all I want to do is get back to enjoying my training/racing again. I also want to do a 6/8 hour sea swim by September.

This week Steve is starting the UK's first Deca and I am very excited about being part of it. A few years ago (in my previous life!) I sat in the living room and read about the Deca in 220 and I couldn't get my head round the time and distances involved. It's pretty cool that I am part of the organisation that is running the first ever UK Deca, and I love it!! And having ridden and run the courses, I also know that when Steve says it's the toughest ever Deca, he really means it. I have to admit that I'm nervous about watching someone I love push themselves to their limits, supporting Steve on the Lanzo Ultra was the first time I have experienced this and I found it hard. I know that he will be ok though, he is army tough and as long as the chips and jammie dodgers keep flowing, he will get to the end.

Off to the Chiropodist now, as the battle wounds of the Lanzarote Ultra still haven't healed!!!

23/04/09

So here's the blog entry that I have not wanted to write...I've decided to put my Arch to Arc off till next year. It's the best decision in terms of me actually making the channel swim. But I'm not a very happy ultra bunny right now.

I do have some serious confidence issues that need addressing where the sea is concerned.

I knew that if I failed this July, I realistically couldn't afford to do this again for a very long time, and I know myself well enough to know that when I fail something I don't rest until I have completed it. (I would also be a right pain in the ass to be around!)

So what I have decided to do (to keep my training on track and stop myself from going mad) is make up my own little 'half Arch to Arc' which will include a 45 mile run in the New Forest, an 11 mile 'Jurassic coast' swim and a 90 mile bike using the Deca bike route down to Lands End. This will be like the Lanza Ultra with 1-5 hours between each discipline. I will do this in Aug/Sept.

Which means I still have to get in the bloody sea this weekend!!! ;-)

15/04/09

The last few weeks I have to admit haven't been very easy. This weekend has been particularly hard, and I have even got to the point of questioning whether I am capable of completing the Arch to Arc. It's not the run or the bike, although both very challenging, it's the swim. To be honest, water has always been out of my comfort zone, but I'm working on that, it's something I can work on. But this whole cold thing is just so bloody hard. I keep trying to go and swim and end up in tears on the beach, just unable to put myself through what is in effect, a very unpleasant experience. I know that many people would say 'what the f@ck do you expect??' HTFU blar blar blar. When I get out of the sea at the moment, I am shivering uncontrollably and I don't know what I'm doing for at least 20 minutes. It's funny but it's not, if you know what I mean, and when I'm tired getting to that state voluntarily is very hard.

So yesterday I made a decision after talking to couple of channel swimmers and googling some channel swimming info. I am going to put a stone on. I am going to add some channel chunk!! Anybody who knows me well will understand that this may be a little tricky as I am a typical girly and have struggled with my weight and food issues for a loooooong time. BUT to put things in perspective, I have spent a shit load of cash and time on this and to not be able to make it across the channel is not an option. I have to do this, it's my dream.

Today I went for a little dip in the sea and it was probably the roughest I have swam in yet BUT what a difference, I was cold but not too cold and I actually found myself laughing as I got thrown about. It really was like a washing machine. The real difference was when I got out though, no uncontrollable shaking and no confusion. Could it be that 24 hours of eating A LOT and drinking loads of water has made that much difference?? I could not argue with the physical symptoms, or lack of them. Sunday I had done the exact same swim and I was in a mess, but today...fine.

I am going to continue my quest for chunkness and see what Sunday's boat trip brings.

14/04/09

I went for my long run on Friday and thought I won't bother taking any Lucozade, I'll be ok. Well, I was ok until the last 45 minutes when I got so thirsty that even the puddles started looking appealing. By the time I got home I felt pretty rough.

On Saturday I went to Weymouth for my first boat swim and managed to stay in the sea a WHOLE 25 MINUTES before having a flid and getting out.

On Sunday I went to Boscombe to try and redeem myself and lasted about 40 minutes, better but not great.

This whole sea thing is massive, innit.

9/04/09

No training this week, I'm shattered after the weekend (I haven't stopped eating since either) Also the school hols stop most normal training (great excuse!) I'm going to do a long run Friday evening and my first boat swim this year on Saturday morning. Part of me is nervous and part of me just wants to get going and start the real training for the Arch to Arc. You can run and bike all you want, but it's the sea swimming that's the most important training.

Next week the real challenge starts as my job begins properly, it's college weekend and it's still the schools holidays. Somehow, I have to find time to train and on top of that my boyfriend is turning into a Deca zombie!!

 

 

6/04/09

After not training much last week I decided on Friday morning that it would be a great idea if, rather then following Steve in the support car on the Deca route, I would cycle it myself!!! Excellent training for the A2A and I also wanted to really know the Deca route, even though it's not officially on the 'list' yet.... So after work type things, we met on some motorway and headed off to Cornwall. After 'testing' out the food in the pub at Polkerris beach, we went back to sort bikes and food in preparation for the ride the next day.

We set off as soon as it was light, and we hit a hill straight away, if you had of told me at this point that this was how it was going to be for the next 16 hours, pretty much non-stop, I'm not sure that I wouldn't of turned around and gone back to bed!! But I didn't know and so that's what we did, hill after hill after hill after hill. Some were short and steep, some never endingly long and some eye-watering, lung-burning types (Steve's favourites) I remember thinking that around every corner I should expect a hill and therefore would be prepared, sort of. My catch phase of the day was 'oh look, another hill' (I had other catch phases too as you can imagine)

I had thought that the first half of the ride to Lands End was the tough bit and I had it in my head that we would sort of 'roll' down to Lands End, hahahahahahaha! that so did not happen! It got even harder as we reached the 80 mile halfway point. We stopped for chips and sausage roll and I felt pretty rough but after some food and coke, I perked up a bit and felt ok to bike back (although I knew that things were going to get tricky later) It did feel a little easier going back, that was until I started hitting some real low points. I wasn't eating or drinking enough and my arms and back were very painful. Steve was great and really supported me when I felt bad. When it got dark, it got very cold and harder to concentrate, it reminded me of the Lanzarote Ultra and the Double last year, riding at night is a different beast completely. I just kept thinking that giving up is not an option, and it would be the same on the Arch to Arc and some how I got home.

In my mind the Deca bike course is like this...hills hills hills 40 miles - Starbucks - hills hills hills 40 miles - Lands End Cafe - hills hills hills 40 miles - Starbucks - hills hills hills 40 miles - home. Easy then... ;-)

The next day we had to get up early to have a meeting about Deca type stuff and then run the Deca course along the Coastal Path. On waking, I had that same feeling that I had in Lanzarote, I just felt utterly shite! Everything hurt, parts of me that I have never hurt, hurt! I wasn't alone though, even Steve muttered something about feeling a little sore and tired (see, he is human after all!!) I have to say I felt pretty pleased with myself though, I'm not a great cyclist and I really struggle with my hills (see Double Iron training blog - Wimbleball 70.3) But, I had done it! And that was my long training ride completed for the A2A, I only need a few 4/5 hour rides in the next few mths to keep me ticking over. Completing x1 day of the Deca bike course has increased my confidence no end and I'm really glad I did it (although, it's now Tuesday and I still ache AND I'm still knackered!!)

 

3/04/09

This week has been spent either working (gasp!) or sat in a classroom (yawn). Very frustrating in regards to my training, but I guess real life gets in the way sometimes. These are pictures of my first attempt of the pier to pier, taken by Black Claire.

26/03/09

2 hour pool swim and hard turbo session today, both felt really good.

25/03/09

3 hours of running in the wind. For the first half I felt like I was running on the spot. The knee pain I had before Lanza is starting to twinge again. I had a 45 min swim after, then lay on the sofa feeling shattered and eating Jaffa cakes.

24/03/09

After a few days of lazing around, today was pretty busy. I started on the turbo trainer at 6am and did 30 minutes of interval work, after dropping the kids at school, me and the dog did a hill run and got very muddy. After cleaning myself up, I went to a job interview, on the way I happened to pass by the sea and noted that even though it was very windy, the waves weren't too scary looking. So after sorting the whole job thing, I parked up at Boscombe and walked to Bournemouth Pier. I persuaded some worried looking bloke to zip up my wetsuit and dived in (well, I didn't dive in because I don't know how to, but it sounds better then, I waded in...) I felt better then I did on Saturday morning and got past the point where I got out last time, it was then I had a bit of a wobble due to finding that I had drifted out a bit far and then my calf cramped up. I had a little word with myself and remembered that someone once told me that it is very difficult to drown in a wetsuit!! I was thrilled to make it to Boscombe Pier and celebrated by throwing hot tea over myself!!

So now I have a job, which is all good but it's going to seriously interfere with my training over the next 3 months. It's certainly going to add to what is already the maddest time right now. What with Steve doing the Deca in 7 weeks, both of us with new jobs, Steve moving down and I also start college this weekend. Then finally there's that little London/Paris trip I have planned! Bejesus.

21/03/09

50ish mins in the sea!!! Today, me and Black Claire (best friend, race support and drinking buddy ;-) headed down to the beach. It was a lovely day, with no wind and teeny tiny waves, perfect! We walked to Bournemouth Pier as I wanted to try and swim from one pier to the other (1.4 miles). I was a little freaked out by the jet ski blokeys who raced past us as we walked down, I really don't fancy one of those whizzing past my ear, but thankfully they disappeared down the coast. I started swimming and considering the amount of vodka I'd had the night before, I felt pretty good. After what seems like ages, I looked up and was disappointed to see that Boscombe Pier was still flippin' miles away. As the cold began setting in I started to struggle and although I knew I would be fed up that I hadn't made it to the other Pier, I got out. I was still pleased that I had managed to almost double my time in the water though, and I will give it another go this week, minus the hangover!

19/03/09

4 hour bike to just outside Shaftsbury. When I was training for the Double I used a couple of routes over and over. It was easy, close to home and I knew the milage. Now I am starting to do long bikes again I really needed to find a new route as I just couldn't face the old one. This route is an out and back, but takes you though gorgeous Dorset countryside. I felt good for the first 3 hours but then the back pain got bad and the last hour was tough. I was trying to remember how I biked for 16 hours in the Double last August, I really have no idea!!

18/03/09

35 minutes in a choppy sea had me questioning whether I have bitten off more then I can chew today. In the last year I have completed my first ultra fell race (IOM Mountain Marathon), my first double ironman (my 6th triathlon) and my first 'mega ultra' triathlon (Lanzarote Ultra) I have completed a 2 hour and a 4 hour sea swim last autumn, almost 10 hours in the sea during the Lanza Ultra and countless long pool swims in my training. But when I'm being thrown about in freezing 9 degree salty water, I am really wondering if I am strong enough for this challenge. Without a doubt this will be the toughest thing I ever do, and I don't mind admitting that I am seriously scared.

17/03/09

4 hour run. The first 2 hours were good as I ran with my friend, Lynn. It's good to have a giggle and a gossip whilst getting the training in. The next 2 hours I ran with Snow Patrol and The Kings of Leon, nice blokes.

My joints are feeling a bit stiff and niggley, I will up the cod liver oil intake from now on. I am really feeling the training this week, so so tired. One thing that is getting me through (other then huge amounts of coffee) is poached egg sandwiches with BBQ sauce, they rock!!

16/03/09

30 minutes in the sea, progress!!! The shivering after was bonkers though, it was a full 30 minutes before it stopped. The lifeguard tried to have a conversation with me when I got out, which went like... LG: 'cold out there yeah?' ME: 'err.. uh-huh' LG: 'whatcha training for?' ME 'errr...channel thing' LG: 'wow! good on yer, expensive though' ME: 'err.. uh-huh' LG: 'well, good luck, and keep training' ME: 'err.. uh-huh'

I also did a 45 minute run with the dog, which included 2 reps of the Lungbuster (hill) I will do 3 reps next week.

14/03/09

I am having 'issues' with the sea. No change there I guess, but it's not the cold now, it's panic. Both swims this week have ended with me hitting 20 minutes and freaking out. I am never comfortable in the sea, being out of my depth is something that I am still getting used to, but I'm not sure why this is happening after last years boat swims and Lanza. I need to sort ASAP though, as in a months time I will be going to Weymouth for the first of the boat training sessions. So, I was thinking and I remembered watching David Walliams being hypnotised by Paul McKenna and I wondered if that could help me? It couldn't hurt I thought, so out came the credit card and I purchased a 'control your fears' download (I looked for 'swim the channel in under 10 hours' but strangely couldn't find it) Luckily hypnosis works while you sleep and sleeping is my 3rd favourite thing to do at the moment!

The wind chart is looking good for tomorrow, so back to the beach I go.

 

12/03/09

Ok, so this weeks 'mini A2A' hasn't happened and I will now do it next week.

Today's training consisted of a hard fast 90 minute swim, which I was knackered by the end of the warm up, but pushed though and was really pleased with how I did. I concentrated on making my stroke 'more aggressive' to get though those big scary channel wave thingys. After I did a 3 hour bike, which was quite hard after the swim and it was also pretty windy. By the last 30 minutes I was completely shagged and I was reminded of training for the Double last year, all those hours in the saddle, very hard but worth it. I also learnt that pealing a banana, whilst on my aero bars and having a blood sugar wobble is not the best idea. I bought some Iron tablets today as I am becoming anaemic again.

I am not doing a triathlon next year, instead I am buying a motorbike to start my training for the Dakar, just don't tell my mum.

Black Claire, fancy it??

11/03/09

Yesterdays long run went ok, not great but ok. I ran back faster due to a strong tailwind and Steve's old school rave music! The run really wiped me out though and I was asleep by 9pm.

Today's training didn't quite go to plan. I was going to do a 4 hour outdoor pool swim at Esporta but found out that I couldn't get in without the member actually being there, and he's in Brum so that's wasn't going to work. So I thought that I would do a sea swim followed by a 3 hr pool session. The sea swim went ok up to the halfway mark (15 mins) where I turned around to go back and at this point I seemed to have forgotten how to swim. I felt very disoriented and got a little bit panicked. I know what's going on, I know it's the cold messing with my brain but it doesn't stop me really wanting to get to the shore ASAP. Anyway, I did 20 minutes which was not the 30 minutes I need to do. I was very very cold when I got out, worse than last week, the flask of tea really was thrown everywhere! I think that must be yesterday's long run doing making me colder. I then thought I would go and do my long pool swim, but there was no part of me that wanted to get into the pool, let alone stay in the for 3 hours!!! So after a massive 30 minutes I got out and had a long hot shower.

I am stressing big time at the moment about a lot of stuff. I have run out of money, I'm trying to find a job, my home life is manic and college starts in a couple of weeks. I really need to sort my shit out because if I don't get through this, I can't afford to do it again, nor can I expect my kids/family/friends to go through it all again. (just had to stop blogging to chase a gerbil across the living room!!) I feel that time is ticking away and I won't be fit enough or trained enough (swim) to finish the A2A.

I read this on a website of a bloke who completed a channel crossing in 2005...

"If anything can be taken away from this swim, I think it would have to be the power of the mind. This isn't just in endurance but in everyday living. Whether you want something dearly, or feel a certain way about something, YOU have the control and the power to change it or make it happen"

09/03/09

I have finally found a pair of goggles that don't give me massive panda eyes. They are called Barracudas (http://shop.swimmingwithoutstress.co.uk/sws/swimming-goggles/barracuda-ultimate-goggles.shtml) and they are so comfortable. Today I swam for 45 minutes in the outdoor pool at Esporta, which was great training and I have decided to do my long swim there this week.

I am doing a mini A2A this week for my training. Today I will do a 4 hour run, tomorrow a 4 hour pool swim and Thursday, a 4 hour bike. I did this for the lanza training and I know by the time I got to the bike, I felt pretty rough, although that was that a sea swim, which makes all the difference.

04/03/09

Today I ran with my big bro for about 7 miles. Nick is a 10K runner so the pace was a little faster then I would do normally, which is a good thing for me. After I went to Boscombe beach for another sea swim, which went very well and after to the pool for a 1 hour session. When I came out of the leisure centre it was snowing, which I thought was great considering I had been splashing about in sea an hour before.

02/03/09

3 hour pool swim. It is very very boring swimming in the pool for that long, but training is training. I kept the pace consistent and only felt tired in the last looooong 30 minutes. Whilst swimming, I was thinking that apart from the weather, the cold is my biggest problem where the channel is concerned. I need as much cold water training as possible, it concerns me that I could be very cold for up to 20 hours.

01/03/09

15 minute sea swim. I was really pleased with today's swim. I got my head down straight away (with my goggles on the right way) and swam for the whole time I was in there. I felt that I could have done another 5 minutes (obviously I didn't!) and I am coping much better with the cold afterwards too, although I don't advise driving home straight after getting that cold, as I was completely out of it and found it really hard to concentrate on basic stuff (like talking and finding my way home - Quiet BB!) I am going to do 20 minutes this Friday.

I have just worked out that it is 3 mths, 3 wks and 5 days until my Arch to Arc (roughly!) Holy Crow!!!

28/02/09

4 hour run. I ran along the sea front today, which is my 2nd favourite place to run. Last time I did this run it took me 2 hours to get to the end of the prom (Sandbanks) but this time I got there over 20 minutes quicker, which is odd because I didn't feel as if I was running any faster. I haven't eaten very well this week, so on the way back I was struggling with my energy levels, but overall a good run.

I have had a few people I know asking me about the Arch to Arc. They want to know all about it and then they want to know if I'm completely insane! I find it weird to talk about it to people I don't know that well, makes me feel like this is really happening.

25/02/09

1.5hr pool swim. I haven't been in the pool for a while cos of the half term and I really enjoyed it.

15 min sea swim (probably not so much fun)

24/02/09

45 minute off road run with doggo.

23/02/09

45 min run and weights

22/02/09

10 minute 'swim' in the sea. After about 6 minutes I realised that I had my goggles on upside down and that was why they were filling up with water. After sorting that issue I did manage to swim, not much but enough to make me feel a little more confident.

1 hour run. This was supposed to be a 2 hr, but I felt pretty shit and my Asthma was causing me problems.

18/02/09

Another cold!! Enough already.

17/02/09

1 hour run along the back roads of a country village nr Taunton. I played 'dodge the 4x4 driving at high speed' Fun!

16/02/09

I swam this morning at 7am and the pool was 'gala cold' Which took my breath away, I could only do 2/3 of the set as it is half term and training is hard to fit in with having the kids 24/7. Later that day I managed 2/3 of a turbo session and then finally did the thing that I had been dreading all day. I pulled my wetsuit on, got the kids in the car and drove to the beach. After yesterday's swim I have ordered some neoprene gloves from Blue Seventy, as keeping my hands in the water really isn't a case of toughening up, it's not an option. The pain is unbearable after a minute or so. So once again I stood in the sea, jumping up and down, dipping my hands in the water and swearing A LOT!! I need to get my head down but that's Friday's treat ;-)

I got talking to a couple of blokes when I got out of the sea, and they asked me if I was confident of swimming the channel!! 'not at this moment' I replied. I had read 2 reports of men crossing the channel today that had ended in failure around the 16 hour mark. I want to start the big swims now, get the real training in.

 

Hey guess what I just got??!!

 

 

15/02/09

Ok, it's time to come clean about something... I have been totally not doing my sea swims! There I've said it. I have been finding every excuse in the book to get out of doing them, but they hang over me like a large hangy type thing. So last night I had a thought...my boyfriend is currently doing 100 runs in 100 days (and I'm a bit jealous, cos I would love to run every day, but my knees start to crumble!) I thought how about 100 swims in 100 days? So today I went down with the kids at 5pm, already in my wetsuit and after a little faffing about and whining, I finally got in the sea. I had explained to the kids to make sure I did at least 4 minutes, after about 30 seconds I started shouting 'how long'? and Jess replied '4 minutes to go', but strangely she kept saying this the whole time I was in there and I was getting quite cross after a while, but after I stumbled out, a little fed up that I hadn't managed 5 minutes, the kids told me that I had done 7 minutes!! Wahooooo!! I know 7 minutes doesn't sound a lot, but trust me when the sea is this cold, it's a loooong time! 1 down, 99 to go!

12/02/09

1 hour run. Great training for the A2A as I did this on exactly no sleep whatsoever and it was pitch black and v quiet out. Picked my pace up (mainly cos I was a bit scared!!) and it felt good.

10/02/09

Turbo session and weights. I quite enjoyed the TT session today, but I guess if I can text friends whilst doing it, I'm really not working hard enough ;-) I still feel a bit knackered from Mondays training.

09/02/09

3.30 run and 45 minute swim straight after run. I would like to say that I enjoyed today's training, but I can't. It has not stopped raining since 5am this morning and I spent from 9am till 2pm very wet and very cold. The leisure centre had dropped the water temp for a gala, which I didn't know until I got out. Good training and all that, but today I just wasn't in the mood for it and really struggled with getting it all done. I had to stop myself from thinking about the A2A in the pool because I was feeling so negative about it, mainly the cold water and whether I can cope with it for 18 - 20 hours!! I think today is one of those days where everything is getting on top of me, work, money, kids and general rubbish stuff blur... Off to buy a tub of Ben and Jerry's!! Not Phish Food though ;-)

07/02/09

1 hour turbo session

06/02/09

1 hour pool session

05/02/09

3 hour pool swim. I quite enjoyed this (as much as you can enjoy swimming up and down, up and down...!) And I felt fine when I had finished, which I was surprised at. I remember a few longs swims I did in preparation for the Double Iron last year, I felt exhausted after and had a huge headache.

1 hour running in eve - my treadmill has developed an annoying habit of switching off and on again every 10 minutes or so. This is a fun game to play when you are running at 6mph and trying not to say the 'f' word when it does it (kids) is also quite challenging!!

I was thinking when I was running that swimming the channel is the scariest thing I can think of doing, apart from giving birth to octuplets maybe.

04/02/09

1 hour swim session this morning. I really enjoyed this today, thinking about Jo Kilkenny swimming in the Lanzarote Ultra, made me appreciate a lovely warm pool and nice short swim, none of this freezing your bits off for hours in the sea malarky!

1 hour on the Turbo Trainer later, which I really really love!!

01/02/09

I spent the weekend with Steve in Cornwall, checking out routes for the Deca, it is very very exciting and really makes me want to do it myself. I wish I had more time, but with the kids, work and training for the A2A, I REALLY don't have the time. Still want to do it though. I have discussed boarding school with the kids, but they don't seem keen.

The bike route (although not yet finalised) is awesome! Incredibly scenic and incredibly tough! The Lands End bit is wicked, my favourite part. We also ran a chunk of the run route on Sunday morning and it is fantastic. I can't wait till next June.

29/01/09
3.20 hrs on the bike today, which I thought would be quite easy, but I was very wrong. The first half went ok, but after that I really struggled. My average speed was scarily low too. but it is still January, thank god.

28/01/09
Ran to the pool today (cos my car is in the garage, I'm not that keen!) Did quite a hard set, really concentrating on improving my stroke at the moment. Spent the rest of the day finding lots and lots of other things to do, other than the turbo training session that I was meant to do.

My son loves the gerbils and my dog really really loves them! She sits staring at them, longingly, whimpering a little.

27/01/09
Waaahoooo!! I made it into the sea today, ok not for very long, not very long at all, yeah ok, so it was about 3 minutes.. maybe 2. Look, it's flippin' freezing in there, ok??!!! 5 minutes next week (maybe 4!)

I really enjoyed the pool session I did after that, really lovely and warm!

26/01/09
1 hour run. Still not feeling as fit as I did before, but I think being 'unhealthy' over Christmas/jan maybe the cause ;-)
I got my son 2 gerbils for his birthday today. I went in to buy 'a small hamster and a small cage' Over £60 later, I have 2 flippin' gerbils and a gerbilarium . I didn't even know there was such a thing as a gerbilarium!! They are pretty cool actually, although not when they are hiding in my bedroom (till Wednesday) and digging all night.

23/01/09
Swim session. Trying out a new mask to try and avoid the whole panda eye thang I have going on right now. It's not a problem with 'normal' sessions, but I'm getting into the big stuff now and I get out of the pool looking like a freak!! (yeah, yeah.. more than usual etc etc!!)

19/01/09
2 hour run and 1 hour swim today. The run went ok, although I got soaked through. I ran by the sea and it was wild out there today, really amazing, but scary at the same time. I just can't look at the sea like a normal person anymore... Decided today when I was running, that I won't make anymore excuses regarding my training, I only have just over 5 mths to go and I just have to get it done.
The swim was good, but had huge headache by the end, pushing it too much maybe.

Been busy this afternoon sorting out a v v exciting new race that is coming to the UK in 2010, it's sooooo exciting!!

14/01/09
1 hour Turbo session, which I hate. I say it's because they are boring, but really it's because the sessions that Steve sets me are so bloody hard. Lots of 45 seconds fast and 15 seconds easy, repeat 40 times (slight exaggeration maybe ;-) ) Anyway, feeling a bit better today and I may have a little dip in the sea tomorrow...

13/01/09
1 hour run, with less 'old man' breathing today, still feeling el crappo though, but I have antibiotics now so I should be back to normal (?!) asap.
1 hour in the pool after lunch and that should finish me off for the day.

12/01/09
Training this last week has been sporadic as I have an annoying bug that I can't shift. I did a 1.30 run on Saturday, but I was breathing like an old man all the way round! I really enjoyed it all the same, as running in the forest in winter is one of my favourite things, everything is so bright, cool and crisp. I also did my first pool swim since Lanza last week, I am finding it hard to get in the pool when it's so cold outside though, once I'm in, it's fine, I really just need to HTFU I think!!

The Arch to Arc is on my mind quite a lot now, as it's less than 6 mths away!! I need to start cold water training when I'm well again. I watched Steve and Jo (Kilkenny) swim on Saturday. They both did really well and I was a little jealous (not a lot though!) And I'm looking forward to starting the boat training in Weymouth around March time. Although it scares the bejesus out of me, doing something really bloody hard makes you feel really bloody good later on (when you are sat at home with a glass of wine and a curry!!)

The Enduroman Lanzarote Ultra 18/19/20th December 2008
I have been avoiding writing this for a while...but here goes...you will need a coffee and some biscuits for this one!
Sitting at a table with 3 people who have already swan the English channel is not the best thing to do when you are already feeling a little nervous about attempting the Lanzarote ultra the next day. Sitting at a table with 2 people who have already completed the Arch to Arc isn't great either. Talk about feeling the pressure. On top of that I didn't feel too good, I had started coming down with a cold in England, not the sort of cold that stops you from doing anything... only maybe sea swimming for 10 hours!! Ok, so I really wasn't feeling the most confident I had ever felt before a race and although the weather and some support car issues played a part, it was me who asked to delay the start by 24 hours.

So a day later me, Steve and Eddie were pulling our trainers on and applying Vaseline to sensitive parts  (the boys, not me!!)  We started the 45 mile run at 6pm Saturday, this would give us 12 hours to complete it and 2 hours rest before the swim at 8am Saturday. I have to say that running with the boys was a real laugh, only on the last lap of El Golfo, when all 3 of us had injuries and the tiredness started to kick in, did the laughing stop, until then it was fantastic. 
When we got back to the Enduroman Villa I was feeling pretty crappy. In the last 5 miles I had started to feel very sick and I hadn't taken on any fluids or food, my foot was very sore and mentally I wasn't in a great place. I tried to eat or sleep but couldn't, the thought of swimming for 9/10 hours in the sea was scaring the shit out of me. The nearer the time came, the worse I felt. It was still dark outside and I think in hindsight that played a big part in the decision not to swim. Telling Steve that I was pulling out of the race was very hard, and the look on his face made me feel awful.  

We drove down to the sea and Steve and Eddie started their swim. I was feeling really bad, mentally and physically, and was finding it very hard to support the boys, as I felt that I should have been swimming with them and that I had let them and myself down big time. I tried to have a sleep in the car at one point, then I decided that I had to do it, and made Lynn drive all the way back to the villa to get my wetsuit (thank you Lynn!!) I was aware that I was acting like a complete loon at this point. I got in the sea and did a lap and a half before realising that there was no way I would finish in the light and my heart just wasn't in it. I got out and gave myself a bit of a talking to and then concentrated on supporting Steve for the rest of his swim and bike.

Steve completed his swim in 6 hrs and 41 mins, which is a great time and he was in good shape afterwards. We headed back to the villa for a rest and some food. Steve and Eddie started the bike at 9pm and me and Lynn were supporting. This part of the race was really hard for all concerned, as the weather started to get worse and worse. Watching the boys almost get blown off their bikes, whilst getting soaked by the storms was very hard. When Steve would come in for a break and feed, it was all I could do to stop myself from pleading with him to stop as he looked so incredibly exhausted, but I knew he would never give up. But it made me appreciate just how hard it is for a partner to watch someone you love put themselves through this kind of stuff.

I went to bed feeling shattered but ok about things, but when I woke up the next day (afternoon??!) I felt very differently. Something in me a changed and I knew I had to do the Lanzarote Ultra before I went home.  I went for a walk with Steve and as we sat in a cafe I told him how I felt. To his credit, he didn't even blink, just said that he would support me no matter what, and then set about sorting out timescales and changing flight times on his blackberry! I then had the tricky job of explaining to various family members back home why I couldn't possibly return yet and a fair amount of begging and apologising went on over the next 24 hours!!
I have to say that from the start of this attempt I felt completely different, really happy and positive. It never entered my head at any time during any part that I wouldn't finish this time.

I started the run (again!) on Thursday at 12pm, this was to give me enough time to complete it, as we all thought that with the lack of recovery, foot injury and the blisters I got on the first run, I would take a lot longer to finish. Apart from a little foot maintenance at the 2 hour mark and a couple of painkillers, I found this run to be easier than the first. I did take it a little slower but after a while we realised that I would have to have a couple of longer breaks in order to get me back to the villa for my maximum 5 hours rest and then 7am swim start, which would allow maximum daylight for the swim. I didn't mind this as my time was not an issue at this point and finishing was the only goal.

I remember running (ok, walking!!) up the big mountain and looking up at the stars and singing Madonna tunes to myself!! I felt a little mad but in a good way. I was getting so much support from everybody via my phone and the Enduroman forum, I felt people really cared about what I was doing (sniff!)  I had a longish food break at the villa and then started on the scary last lap of El Golfo. If there was a low point on the run, I guess this was it. Steve couldn't really stop here as it would have been too dangerous, and so it was just me running along side the very dark, black lava fields - on my own - did I mention that I was by myself here??!!  I have to admit that a phone call from my best friend was exactly what I needed at this point, and we discussed that there weren't really any lava monsters and at 34 I really shouldn't be scared of imaginary things! Once I got off the coastal road Steve was able to drive behind me again, which was a great relief to both of us. I was on the last hour of the run when I noticed that a car driving towards me didn't seem to be paying much attention to my flashing bike light and I had to jump off the road, which would have been fine if it weren't for the whole spiky lava thing going on! There is no give in that stuff at all!! So now I had a bloody leg, which hurt quite a bit!! I sat on the side of the road for a minute and questioned my sanity and then got up and finished the run.
I don't remember if or what I ate after the run, I think I slept but I don't remember that either. The only thing I remember is driving down to the sea with Steve and putting on my wetsuit in a carpark and waiting for it to get light. I was nervous but not too bad considering. As soon as the sun started to rise, we got the canoe and walked down to the waters edge.  

Getting in the sea at that time of the morning after no sleep etc etc isn't the best thing, but I was surprised how quickly I settled into my stroke. I had a few large objects that I had to sight on and when Steve wasn't in the canoe, he would feed me from the steps. After about 3 hours, I was noticing that I was getting thrown about a bit, but didn't think much of it as a couple of the Weymouth swims I have done have been a little rough. But when I got to the steps and Steve asked me to get out and sit on the side, he had bought me a lovely pink Lanzarote towel and as I threw tea over myself he broke the news that we would have to move the remainder of my swim to the smaller more sheltered bay next to this one. What he told me afterwards was that the lifeguard had told him that he would stop the swim if the conditions got any worse!!  I was quite pleased about this, until Steve worked out that I had to do 17 laps!!!  I know its all just miles and time, but having started the swim doing 12 laps (of the bigger bay) it was hard to get my head around it.  The cold started to really get to me now and my appetite just disappeared, which is normal for me, but I know Steve was worried and was doing his best to make me eat and drink.  The colder I get though the less I want to talk, but the support and messages I got from the forum were great, made me laugh and took my mind off the endless laps.

With 4 laps to go I got it in my head that Steve would tell me that I didn't really have 4 left but 2 instead! But to my disappointment he didn't and I had to flippin' swim them!!  It was a great feeling swimming that last lap though and I really couldn't believe that I had actually been swimming for nearly 10 hours.

I learnt 2 important lessons from my 11 mile swim - Tie my hair up properly next time and Vaseline, for god's sake never forget the Vaseline!!
The run was hard, the swim was harder but the bit before getting on the bike was the hardest part of all. I felt really bad, everything hurt, I couldn't eat and I felt really sick. The thought of riding my bike over a really hilly 80 mile course was unthinkable, I just couldn't imagine being able to do it! Still, I was hardly going to stop now and at 10.15pm I got on my bike, shaking all over the place and started to ride. Strangely, by the time I got 3 or 4 miles into the ride, I felt fine! In fact I remember shouting to Steve about wanting chips! The rest of the ride is a bit of a blur, I remember seeing things, riding hills and stopping for a couple of well needed naps in the back of the van, but not much else. Although riding on top of the Mirador with the wind blowing so hard, and me wondering if anybody had actually been blown off the mountain before stuck in my mind. Steve said watching from the van behind his heart skipped a beat a few times, mine felt like it stopped!! The only good thing about it was that because it was dark, I couldn't see the 1,000 ft drop just to my left!!  I cycled through the night and into the morning and I remember just after it got light, I looked down at my speedo and realised that I was doing over 40mph, cool! I thought, although that could have had some interesting results.

After 44 hours and 17 minutes (and a bit of a false start) I finally finished The Lanzarote Ultra, during which I lost weight, some hair and a toenail. I laughed, cried and bled. I lost my confidence and then found it again. I learnt a lot about myself and what I am capable of doing, when I really want to. The Lanzarote Ultra is an amazing challenge that I will never ever forget.

4/12/08
I was supposed to do one more big swim this week, but it hasn't happened. I lost my job last week and what with that and the big run on Saturday I haven't been feeling great. So it was decided that the swim would do more harm than good. To be honest I didn't know whether I had the mental strength to stay in the pool for that long again this year. Long pool swims are like treadmill running, it's ok for an hour or so but after that you start going a little crazy with boredom, and with the pool you have to contend with the other muppets either swimming too slowly or tapping you on the foot (I know you are there, get off my foot ffs... rant rant!) And no music either, I would rather be in the sea for my long swims (remind me of that next year) Anyway, just over a week till Lanza and I am getting excited and more than a little stressed. I don't feel as prepared as I did for the Double. Although, did I feel prepared for the Double? Probably not. Today I just feel unhealthy, scared and fat. I just want to get on with it now. The run I feel ok about, the swim - more than a bit nervous but the bike is really worrying me, mega lanza hills, mega lanza wind and knowing that I am going to be knackered too. I guess what will be, will be.

This is the link to follow our progress during the race...
http://pub38.bravenet.com/forum/3187759048/show/744588

29/11/08
Last big run till Lanza and it really did turn out to be a bloody long one! We started at 5am Saturday morning, it had just stopped raining but it was flipping freezing. We layered up and headed towards the sea, it was weird but nice to run in the dark, nobody around to get in your way, but running along side the sea was a constant and rather uncomfortable reminder that I will be swimming in the dark next year when I do the A2A. It's the getting in to the sea on Shakespear Beach that has put the fear of god into me, having seen Tom Beaver do it this year, I remember thinking 'f*ck that!!' I will be spending some late nights practising getting into the sea next year, me thinks. Anyway, we ran all the way to Sandbanks in Poole like last time but this time went on through Poole and managed to find a McDonalds for breakfast! I had my first sausage and egg McMuffin, and then started the run back. It was at this point that Steve told me that we weren't doing a 6 hour run but an 8!!! Luckily for him, I was feeling good and didn't feel the need to push him into the sea. We continued the run back along the beach, stopping for coffee when needed and it really wasn't until the last hour that I began to feel tired and a bit wibbly, the blisters were good and my knee and hip were both behaving. Being able to complete such a long run with no real issues was a great confidence booster for the Lanzarote Ultra.

22/11/08
This was supposed to be a 6 hour run along the coast, but due to too much cider, not enough food and a major wobble from me, it turned into a 4 hour run that really wasn't at a great pace. But it was better then nothing and thinking back to the Double prep, things rarely go to plan with my training and wouldn't it be boring if it did??

I have got a turbo, a few swims and a run this week topped off by a 6 hour night run on Friday and a 6 hour pool swim the following Monday. Lanzo is getting very close now (18 days, but who's counting?) My knee is feeling much better, but my blister bloody hurts, but it's 'just a blister' and really nothing to make a fuss about y'know?!!

I'm constantly hungry and eating loads and feeling a bit porky, trying to resist the temptation to cut down as losing weight before Lanzo isn't a good idea but it's not very easy, I wanna be a boy!!!17/11/08
Pool swim, up down up down up down. Tried to concentrate on technique and not what I was going to eat when I got out. (bacon sandwich with BBQ sauce)

I have just posted a rather large cheque to my boat pilot eek!!!

14/11/08
4 hour run, 11 minute miles with 10 minute break every 1.50. Steve and me ran from home, along the sea front to Sandbanks in Poole, which is one of my favourite places to run, except for the bit when you turn around and see how far you have got to run back. Luckily for us it was dark when we got to the turnaround point. My knee behaved itself for the whole run which was surprising, but what was not so good was the HUGE MASSIVE ENORMOUS GIGANTIC BLISTERS (see pics) that I got on the arches of my feet. Did they hurt? Yes they bloody did. When I got home and pulled my trainers off I was expecting a little more blood and gore, but instead there were just two smallish red marks, how hardcore am I?? Not very really.

12/11/08
Knee update - I ran last night on the treadmill, which although is tres dull, allows me to control my pace, attempt to adjust my running style slightly and worse case, get off if it really starts to hurt. It seems that while I’m running it doesn’t hurt too much (I am running with my cyborg knee brace) but it’s after that the problems start, normally the next day BUT today it’s all good, very little pain and stiffness. I have a long run planned with Steve on Friday and it will be interesting to see how it copes with that. Last weeks 2 hour run was good, but I made the daft decision to not wear my brace the day after (BECAUSE I couldn’t wear my new skinny jeans with it!!!) and paid for that on the Sunday. Vanity before training?? Muppet.

Whilst running, I started thinking about the Lanzarote Ultra, which probably wasn’t a good thing. As I am a ‘little’ pre-occupied with my personal life at the moment ;-) I haven’t been giving my training my usual time to worry over every detail. In fact I have barely thought about it at all. Once I started to think about it, the distances that we will cover started to scare me and the ‘will I actually be able to do this’ thoughts started to creep in. Luckily it was a short run and I was able to become pre-occupied with nice things again.

7 /11/08
2 hour treadmill run at A2A pace. This went really well, although I did it at 5am before work. Knee was good, although I felt the other knee in the same place starting to twinge WTF!!?? Hopefully it will come to nothing.

Lanzarote is in about 4 weeks!! Steve thinks it will take about 30 ish hours to complete the 45 mile run, 11 mile sea swim and 90 mile bike. I'm not sure which I'm more worried about... The run because of my knee, the swim because of the sea and the bike because of the hills. I am looking forward to having a break from normal life though, and getting out there to do the stuff I love. The best bit will be after, chillin' with a glass or two.

5/11/08
I have been avoiding my blog for a while as I have been injured and having to rest and not train. Anyone who knows me well, knows exactly how hard I find this. My injury is the inside of my left knee and could either be the medial ligament or a hamstring problem or both! Anyway, it’s taking a bloody age to clear up and pissing me off in a big way. I have been having massage, icing, using ibru gel, taking Arnica tablets, getting ultrasound and this last week using a knee support with magnets inside and finally it is showing signs of improvement, and I’m feeling happy as I have been able to start running again, albeit slowly. On Tuesday I did a 30 minute treadmill session with the support on and my knee only started hurting by the end of the run. The following day it was a little sore but I had a physio session for some ultrasound. But before my appointment I had the small matter of a 5 hour pool swim to do. After Monday’s poor attempt (got out after 20 minutes cos I felt crap) and was determined to get this in the bag, and to be honest it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I broke the hours down into 10 minute chunks, 10 minutes - pull, 10 minutes - speed, 10 minute - technique, then a food/wee break. I just had to repeat that 5 times which by the last hour I was struggling to do, but that was just spent looking at the clock and wishing that my arms/head/anything else didn’t hurt so much. The food breaks were the highlight, and I had oatcake, cereal bars and rice pudding. I didn’t drink enough in the last 2 hours and that was probably why I had such a headache. I was really pleased to have finished and although I felt and looked like shit afterwards (the physio thought I had a bad cold) it is a big confidence boost to get this done, just the 6 hour to do in a few weeks then...!!

The day after the 5 hr swim I have to admit I felt pretty shocking, really tired, sore throat etc etc Normal stuff, been here before with the double training, so I knew what to expect, don’t really feel like eating much though and I know I should.24/10/08
4 hour pool swim. This went well, although I didn't get out of the pool to eat enough. Super tired by the end.1

3/10/08
3.45 bike
I was completely shattered when I woke up this morning, I had ulcers in my mouth, sore throat, blocked sinuses and aching shoulders, I didn't really feel like riding but went anyway. After about 30 minutes I woke up and began to enjoy it. I should have only done 3 hours, but went further out then I needed to and I really felt that last 45 minutes!! I'm pretty pleased with the last few days training, I have done a quarter Arch to Arc but bloody hell do I feel it!!

12/10/08
Sea swim - Weymouth - 4 hours
I was determined not to make so much fuss for this swim after what happened last week, so even though I was freaking out driving to Weymouth, I really tried not to show it. Walking down to the Marina was pretty hard, and even though it was a gorgeous blue skied day and the sea was calm, what I really wanted to do was find a cafe and have a big fry up and then maybe take a little stroll along the beach and go home. Instead, Steve, Jess and me got onto Tom's boat and started the routine, wetsuit, Vaseline, hats, goggles etc etc... The time came for me to jump out of the boat and I really hate this bit, it's a small boat so it really should be no big deal but it is for me, and there it is, I've said it. Muppet.

After coughing and spluttering I started swimming, it felt colder on my face for a bit, stinging my cheeks but I was told that the temperature was no different to last week. I got into my stroke pretty quickly and 'enjoyed' the first 30 minutes or so. Seeing my daughter, Jess on the boat was really nice and watching Steve stick Jellybabies up his nose made me laugh. It's so strange swimming for that length of time, you are so isolated, all you do is look at the boat and try and figure out what they are doing... maybe sorting out my next feed... laughing about something... telling me to stop drifting away from the boat... fishing... eating Space Raiders/Jammie Dodgers... telling me to swim further away from the back of boat....!!

After the 1st feed I really really needed a wee, it was getting beyond painful but I just couldn't go! I told the boat and they left me treading water for some privacy. It felt very odd, just me in the bay trying to go.... In the end after relaxing my legs, I got the centrally heated wetsuit feeling I was after and swam back to the boat with a smile on my face! I guess 1 - 3 hours went ok, the last hour however went a bit Pete as the water got choppier and I drank more and more salty water and began to feel very sick. At this point my goggles started leaking again and I began to feel very similar to last week... very very cold, very sick and very pissed off! Steve gave me some new goggles (and very kindly disposed of BOTH sets of my old ones for me!!) and told me to get on with it. I was in full 'throwing toys out the pram' mode at this point and was doing a lot of stop/starting and swearing, Steve would then shout things like... 'get moving' and 'stop stopping' etc etc and I would shout something back and then get a mouthful of salty water as punishment!

I remember seeing the boat getting thrown about, but it never occurred to me that the water had got choppier. Then Steve said that there was no point in doing what I was doing and I might as well get out now, something about the way he said it got though to me and I declined my last feed and just swam. For the next 30 minutes I was on full 'ladder watch'. The last 10 minutes was spent sending Steve telepathic messages that involved ladders and finally it appeared over the side of the boat, oh lovely lovely ladder! After getting into the boat I spent half an hour in sea spaz mode, which is me just sitting there, shivering whilst people tell me to get dry and dressed. I noticed how much the boat was rocking at that point which really wasn't helping the whole wanting to throw up thing. Once we were back on dry land I tried to work out how I felt about what I had just done and although I should be really pleased (longest ever swim, longest ever sea swim AND it was is flipping October) I still felt naffed off with myself for throwing a tantrum in the last hour, it's not how I normally do things, but as Steve pointed out later, getting across the channel was the goal, how I do it is irrelevant. Tantrums all the way then, I already feel sorry for my support crew!!

11/10/08
4 hour run at Arch 2 Arc pace, which suits my injury. The weather was perfect and me and Steve ran in the New Forest, returning to the car for flapjack and lucozade halfway. Our main mission though, was to try and wear the dog out so we could have peace later that evening... we failed, but will try again in 2 weeks.

10/10/08
Pool swim - I hour

9/10/08
Evil turbo session in which the Jake and the dog decided to run away (albeit briefly) cutting my cool down short and forcing me to run outside covered in sweat in my bike kit past the neighbours - twice.

8/10/08
1 hour run with the dog on the hill. I spent the whole time at work waiting till I could get out in the mud with honey (the dog!) and it was sooooo good. My leg is still a little sore, (nothing major though STEVE!!) I did some weights when I got home then ate a huge bowl of chili, which is my latest addiction.

6/10/08
Pool session - I really enjoyed this, probably because it was warm and there are no waves slapping me in the face every minute.

4/10/08
Sea swim in Weymouth. This didn't go quite as planned. I really wanted 5 hours, 4 hours I would have been happy with, but an hour and a half? Hmmm I think not. It was bloody cold for sure, but the real issue was panic I think and I guess it was always going to be the biggest problem for me. The sea was quite choppy and when my goggles started leaking. I started freaking!! Then I don't really remember what happened, other then me asking to get back into the boat. It took me a long time to warm up in the cabin, Tom the pilot patted me on the head and said that 'it wasn't my day' but I was pretty gutted. I thought back to when I was training for the Double Iron and there were plenty of times that I thought that I just wouldn't be able to do it, the bike in particular. Many times my back hurt so much at 100 miles that I just couldn't imagine riding 224 miles, but that's what the training for, to fuck up and then get back up and do it all again. And that's what I will be doing next Sunday.

30/9/08
Weight session, yawn. But I'm happy because strangely my credit card still works and I have ordered some Skins gear.
It's only 4 days till Saturday, which is 'big swim in the sea day' and I'm pretty bloody scared, but I'm thinking Chinese and ice cream Saturday evening if I manage the 5 hours!

29/9/08
1.50 minute run at Arch to Arc race pace. Due to knackering my leg in my last long run a few weeks ago, any running I do at this point, flipping hurts. But running at the pace that I will actually do the 87 miles at, feels ok. This cheered me up, as I was getting more than a little concerned that the 45 miles in Lanzo was going to be a real problem. It didn't really feel like I had actually done a run later that day, but I was told that was a good thing!

26/9/08
Pool session - This was a quick session, using the pull buoy. It was strange to be in the pool for such a short period of time after training for the double, but I really enjoyed it. After swimming (and eating!) I went on the bike for what was supposed to be 2.5 hrs but due to my 'navigational issues', turned into 3 hrs. The weather was perfect, sunny and windy, which as I'm training for the Lanzarote Ultra in December, is perfect as I have heard it can be a little breezy there. Unfortunately there are no real hills in the New Forest. The best bit of the day was riding down the old runway with the wind behind me, feeling like there is no where else that I would rather be at that point.

20/9/08
Saturday's 3 hour sea swim in Weymouth went well. I was really nervous before, I have never jumped out of a boat before and the thought of doing it was freaking me out. When the boat stopped and I was told to get in to the sea I wasn't too keen and as I jumped I grabbed onto part of the boat in panic and nearly wrenched my arm out of it's socket, what a muppet. The first 30 minutes were choppy but after about 10 minutes I started to relax and found it quite good fun. The first feed was really weird, to have hot tea and energy drink thrown at you in milk cartons and then be expected to drink them as quickly as possible whilst bobbing about in the water is mad. And banana dunked in salt water is not a good combo, although I'm told I will learn to love it, I'm not convinced though. I fed every 45 minutes and I just swam from feed to feed rather then thinking that I was swimming for 3 hours and that really helped. The last 30 minutes I really started to feel the cold and also began to feel sick from the all the salt water I had drank. The sight of the ladder being dropped over the side of the boat was the best thing ever!! Getting my wetsuit off and clothes on was very interesting and the trip back to the harbour really didn't help my sickness, and I also got some strange looks from other people dressed in shorts and t-shirts when I was in a hoody, coat and hat! but I was very happy to have completed my first sea swim and once the nausea had passed, post swim chips were bloody great.

22/9/08
2 hour pool swim, had lucozade every 32 lengths, easy pace. This went well, although right arm a little sore from Saturday.

The biggest thing that has happened recently is that I have been given the opportunity to bring my Arch to Arc date forward to next year. I am now booked in for the 1st neap tide of July 2009. The sports massage course is on hold till later next year so I can focus on my training, and I really need to talk to my bank manager!! I am getting mixed responses from people about this, but from the people that matter it is generally positive. I feel confident one minute and the next I wonder what on earth I have done. To be honest, I don’t think it has really sank in yet. I think back to January 2006 when I was feeling pretty pleased with myself for learning to swim 30 lengths without using my pull buoy!!

13/9/08
On saturday I woke up and saw the sun shinning and thought that it was a perfect day to go for a run. Rather stupidly instead of taking the dog out for an hours hill running, I decided to run to Sandbanks in Poole and back, which was about 20 miles. I started off with a niggle in one knee, which obviously I ignored and then an old injury that I have had on and off for about 3 years began to twinge, again I ignored it and ran on, But by the time I had got to Poole I was in a fair amount of pain, I took some painkillers and stretched but nothing really helped and I just had to get on with getting home. With about 30 minutes to go I resorted to playing Basshunter very loudly on my Mp3 player which actually helped. When I finally got in I sat in a cold bath for 15 minutes and decided that a trip to my physio on Monday was on the cards.

14/9/08
I drove to Birmingham on Sunday to complete my compulsory 2 hour lake swim. This is so I can use the boat in Weymouth for my Arch to Arc training. I stated in a positive frame of mind, but it wasn’t long before the cold began to get to me and I started feeling a bit crap. By the 2nd lap my fingers had started to separate and I couldn’t bring them together, swimming with your fingers apart really is not the best technique and I need to think of something to sort this out, is it cheating to tape your fingers together? or maybe I could grow webs.
This Saturday I am booked to do a 2/3 hour swim with the boat in Weymouth, which I am looking forward to mainly because it’s not a lake.

Tom's A2A
This weekend I went to support Tom Beaver on his Arch to Arc challenge and it was AMAZING!!
This is what I have learnt...
Getting lost with the race organiser’s car (with a Tomtom) at the beginning of the A2A in central London is very stressful.
87 miles really is a very long run indeed.
Getting lost with the race organiser’s car (with a Tomtom) in the middle of the 2nd day of the run is again, very stressful and a bit stupid.
Redbull is great stuff, but don't spill it in your car as it starts to smell really bad by the 3rd day.
It is possible to fall asleep standing against the side of a boat, but it’s not a good idea.
Throwing up is normally pretty bad, throwing up whilst swimming the channel must be bloody horrible.
Some boat pilots are a bit like pirates.
Watching someone do the incredibly hard race that you have signed up for doesn’t seem a very good idea at the time.
You can be really tired and sleep deprived and still do another 24hrs, but don’t expect what you say to make much sense to normal non-sleep deprived people.
Boats can tip over a really long way and not capsize.
The toliets on boats that are being thrown about - aren’t good places to be.
Jammie Dodgers are really nice but NOT for dunking.
Asking someone to swim as hard as possible for half an hour after already swimming for over 20 hours seems a bit mean.
Watching someone get so close to the end of the channel swim and not be able to quite get to the point they need to is heartbreaking.
You can get impressively smelly when you really try.
Going back to Dover in the boat at high speed in a rough sea in the dark was really really good fun!!
Having to go home to get to work later that day and not be able to see Tom become Enduroman no.5 sucked!!

4/9/08
My acclimatisation for channel swimming has started early with my boiler breaking down last night. This mornings cold shower was breathtaking but strangely enjoyable. I think I may have woken up my neighbours though...
I have planned my training for the next 12 weeks for the Lanzarote Ultra. I'm focusing on swimming rather than biking (as with the Double) And due to lack of child/work free time my long bikes will have to be on the turbo, where time stands still...
Training starts next week, until then I can still drink wine and eat crisps right?

28/8/08
I went swimming with Steve Haywood in Weymouth bay on Friday and it was great. He said that my arm turnover is good at 58 per minute and this will help keep me warm when I'm in the sea for long periods of time, but that I need to extend my stroke length. I didn't get cold (until I had to strip off on the beach!) so the scull cap is definitely working, even though I feel like I'm in a cave when I have it on.
Found out today that my job is going to change in a few weeks and my work load will increase, which is good in some ways, because it's very quiet in my present job and I don't like sitting around doing nothing, but when my training and college work kick in being able to do bugger all at work is great.

Missing my bike and proper outside running.... but the summer holidays are nearly over, just a week to go
:-)

16/8/08
I am fed up. I have post double ironman blues I think! I thought I was going to enjoy having the rest of August off but I'm going stir crazy. I can't do any proper training cos of the kids and the (too bloody) long summer holiday. Can't face the turbo trainer. Treadmill is ok, but I just want to go running on the hill or go for a long bike in the forest. What did I used to do?

14/8/08
My first thought this morning wasn't the A2A, it was 'oh shit, I'm doing the Double Ironman again next year!! Got up and went on the treadmill while the kids were still asleep and did some thinking. Next year is going to be mad, insanely busy, but that's what I like. I wish I could have a Sky+ for my life sometimes! Did 45 minutes on treadmill and my foot was completely pain free, shows that sports massage really works.
The date has been changed for my challenge, it's now July 2010, this is so the water is warmer and gives me better chance of getting across.
The first A2A woman - Trudy Dixon is starting her challenge today, how exciting is that? I wish I could be there.

13/8/08
Signed and sent off the A2A contract today. Mad.
I am so tired today, I think it is the Double catching up with me. All I want to do is eat bad stuff!! Injuries are all healing nicely, my foot was sore on the treadmill on Monday but feels better today. Me and the kids just took the dog to the beach and it was blowing a gale, I just looked out to sea... oh f@ck!

11/8/08
I paid the deposit today for my A2A challenge in June 2010! I felt quite shaky afterwards, bit like I did after I entered the double Ironman! I spoke to Steve Haywood later about the race in detail, he is a top bloke and said to me that swimming the channel 'is doable, definitely doable'!! That made me feel better, for a while. He also said that I need 2 support people, both for the run and bike, but in the swim, one has to be in the boat and one has to take the car and bike to France. I want Claire to be my boat support and I want to asked my dad if he will be the one who goes to France. I hope he says yes (when he's recovered from the shock) I need someone who I can trust to just get on with it and also someone who would enjoy being part of the whole challenge.

I can't really believe it.... I'm now officially training to swim the channel!

claire smith arch to arc claire smith arch to arc claire smith arch to arc