Julie Ryan's Cross Channel Swim

Success at last!!

2011-07-13T19:13:00.003+01:00

Our swim felt like it was a long time coming with the weather window set for the tide between 23rd – 28th June.
The weather was lousy on the 23rd and the swim got delayed until the weekend – Stuart, our pilot, indicated that Sunday would probably be the best day but it was open.

I have attempted the channel twice before – a solo in 2009 ended after 13miles and 5hours 4 mins due to the weather and sea state changing and my 2 person relay ended after 20miles and 8hours 35mins again due to the weather and sea state changing and my fellow relay swimmer suffering from hypothermia. The channel weather gods just weren’t smiling on me on both days and I secretly thought I would never experience getting to French shores.

It all started when I got a phone call in January 2011 from Dan Earthquake, a swimming friend who manages various swims in Swan Pool and Folkstone. Dan was putting together a relay team and wondered if I would like to join the team. At first I had to think about it but John was adamant that I did it! I think he secretly wanted me to get swimming the channel out of my system! I set about upping my swim training in the gym and went on the SwimTrek Long Distance sea swimming training camp in Gozo in April. The local lake Allerthorpe had also opened its doors on Monday and Wednesday evenings for local triathlon clubs so I joined them when I could. This was quite funny as all the swimmers were in wetsuits and shivering a lot and there I was in my swimming costume!

The swim came around quicker than I thought and I spent the week leading up to the swim in our motorhome in Little Satmar campsite, Capel-le-Ferne. John unfortunately had to work so couldn’t join me until the Thursday. The campsite was lovely and quiet and I was able to relax a little before the swim. Dan and my fellow swimmers (except Steve) all descended on Folkstone on the Monday and we spent the following days swimming in Folkstone and Dover – Tejesh and Caroline were both in training for their solo attempts so they spent hours in the water. Myself and Paul potted about the sea just keeping loose whilst Dan proceeded to eat his way through every café in Folkstone!!

Eventually I got a phone call from Dan on the Saturday evening to say we had to be at Dover marina by 0430hrs the next morning. John and I tried to get an early night but obviously my nerves were all over the place and so didn’t really get too much sleep! We got up at 0315hrs and quietly got ourselves organised. The campsite was bathed in thick fog and I wondered whether it was as thick in the channel and whether we would be able to set off. When we arrived at the marina the news wasn’t good! Stuart had spoken to the coastguard, the met office and fellow pilots and all agreed it wasn’t a good idea to set off in the fog! We decided to wait until 0600hrs to see if the fog would clear! Sadly it didn’t and we all decided to head home and wait! Stuart indicated that an evening swim would probably be possible but it would mean swimming through the night! My heart sank as I had never experienced swimming at night but as I had to be back to work on Tuesday I didn’t really have a choice!

We waited nervously in the motorhome trying to catch up on sleep. The fog began to clear at 1300hrs and the sun started to shine. It suddenly got really hot and humid. A phone call came at 1430hrs from Dan – ‘We’re on! Be at the marina for 1630hrs’ Gulp!!

We got down to the marina early and met up with our observer, Arti and Tejesh. Stuart was already on his boat and we waited for Dan et al to turn up! They soon got to Dover and we loaded the boat – Stuart was keen to get going so we didn’t hang around. Caroline was the first swimmer and I told her to start getting ready as we were going to swim from Shakespeares Beach rather than Samphire Hoe! I kissed and hugged John – sadly he was unable to be on the boat and his plans to get the ferry over to France and then drive to Cap Griz Nez were thwarted as he had to be back at work Monday morning! He headed off to the beach to get some photos.

On June 26th at 1700hrs on the dot Caroline set off from the beach following the sound of the Sea Leopard’s horn to attempt to swim the channel. We gave a big cheer and off we went! I got a phone call from John saying he had been sent by a policeman to the wrong beach and was at Samphire Hoe! He could see us even though we couldn’t see him! The sun was shining and the sea was relatively calm. There was a swell as we left land but Caroline was swimming really well! We were soon joined by a curious seal and a couple of porpoises! Dan reminded us not to point from the boat as Caroline would wonder what we were looking at! I remembered during my swim last year when John and the observer spent a number of minutes pointing furiously from the boat over my head – I was terrified that they had spotted a shark or something sinister! It wasn’t a good move!!

Tejesh was next in swimming backstroke! He has the most amazing style and manages to somehow block his nose whilst swimming so he doesn’t ingest too much sea water! Paul, Caroline and I had tried it earlier in the week and ended up not being able to breathe!!

Steve (enduroman) was next. Steve had already swam the channel as part of a challenge called Arch to Arc (ie: run from Marble Arch, London to Dover – swim the channel – then cycle from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe, Paris!). He pointed out that he had worn a wetsuit so is didn’t count! Well it counts in my book!! Anyway he made good way! Caroline, Tejesh and Steve had propelled us into the first shipping lane and then it was my turn.

It was 2000hrs by now and the sun was slowly going down. By this time the waves had got up and there were several swells which resulted in me swallowing several amounts of sea water. I must admit as I started a dread engulphed me! Something didn’t feel right and I was struggling to get into some kind of rhythm! The last 2 swims suddenly haunted my mind and I had a massive urge to give up then and there! I looked up at the boat and suddenly stopped swimming – panic set in to all on the boat! “I’m alright” I shouted at the worried faces! I gave myself a massive talking to and set off again! This urge to give up haunted me again and again and for a couple of times I started doing breast stroke! I desperately asked Paul how long was there to go and he told me 20minutes! I was surprised at that and just put my head down! I thought Dan was following me next and kept looking at him waiting and hoping for him to start changing into his swimming things! He didn’t and my heart sank and sank! Suddenly Paul appeared on the side of the boat in swimming gear and green flashing lights on his head and back and promptly jumped in behind me! I remember saying to Paul later on that I had never been more relieved to see him take his clothes off!
It was over for me for the time being. As I made my way to the boats ladder I just sat there holding onto the rails – Stuart asked if I was okay – “Yes I’m okay, I’m just having a pee!!” I clambered on board and was immediately tearful and glum! Dan and Arti tried to talk to me and I felt terrible! I thought I’d let everyone down as I felt I hadn’t really swum that far! I got changed and had some hot food and tried to think of something differently. In the meantime Paul was going really well even though he too was swallowing loads of sea water and having to battle the huge swells that were coming in from the big ships!!
As night fell Dan was next! He started swimming on the same side as everyone else but unfortunately it wasn’t comfortable for him so he asked to swop sides. This did cause a bit of a problem for the pilots as the pilot steered on the right. Both settled down and Dan made good way. In the meantime Caroline was getting ready for her second dip. By this time she was experiencing sea sickness and hadn’t really warmed up! I found out later that she had kept her swimming costume on which isn’t a great idea as you never really get warm. I told her that she would feel a lot better once in the water as a friend of mine also got dreadfully sea sick on her relay and her only relief was when she was in the water! Caroline eventually took over and just got on with it! My demons kept surfacing and I was really struggling to get my head together! Tejesh followed Caroline who by this time was physically throwing up over the side of the boat! I started to help her get dressed and gave her some warmer clothing which I had spare in my bag! I gave her a little pep talk about getting some warmer clothes and ensuring she took off her wet costume! She was still shivering so Dan brought over a sleeping bag which we proceeded to put her in! It did look silly on her but I do think it warmed her up despite the sea sickness! It was midnight by now and Steve followed Tejesh! When Tejesh got back into the boat he told us he had been stung by Jelly fish on his back and legs! Dan had some white vinegar on board so rubbed that into the stings – I think it must have worked! Steve stopped at one point to say he was being stung to pieces by jelly fish and my heart lurched! This wasn’t helping with my mind and I became tearful again! Dan came over to talk to me as I was preparing for my leg – he proceeded to quote the following from Karen, a close friend of mine:- “There is nothing so urgent in open water swimming that cannot wait half hour or more” I didn’t know then but this was all I needed! I thought to myself that I just had to get on with it and not think about the hour – I actually told myself that I could flounder for an hour actually knowing full well that I was very capable of swimming and swimming hard. My head emptied and I swam on! I decided to concentrate on the boat rather than try to look forwards – it was dark anyway so all I could see was lights from passing ships! I got on with it occasionally glimpsing the beautiful red crescent shaped moon and the odd star! I wasn’t sure about the jelly fish and think I got stung but I was concentrating so much this didn’t bother me! Whilst in Gozo I got stung badly on my arm and face and it bloody hurt for hours afterwards so my worries were real! Soon Paul appeared – I was really surprised as it didn’t feel like an hour! I jumped back in with a smile on my face! I had actually enjoyed it but was convinced that I would never get in the sea again! My channel swimming days were over (or so I told myself!). Later I realised that Stuart was busy sighting several big ships and trying to calculate their speed and course in relation to us. It appeared that they had to make a diversion to avoid a tug with a phenomenally long cable pulling a barge the particular hazard. Stuart calmly altered our course to run parallel with it in the opposite direction so we went round the back without having to get close or stop and I actually didn’t even notice. We thought this might have cost us twenty minutes as the position we was hoping for was slightly negated by the diversion. My 2 mile swim leg gave us a fighting chance of not being swept around the cap, putting extra pressure on finishing with the tide!
Paul continued on as the sun was just starting to emerge in the sky! Dan was next and actually swam into the light! The sea was calmer by this point and we could see Cap Griz Nez. It still looked a long way off and we knew we were still another couple of hours away! Caroline got ready for her 3rd leg and was told to go for it! By this time everything she had eaten or drank had been thrown up so she was really tearful and dehydrated! I had a chat with her and said this would certainly be her last leg! She reluctantly jumped in and just got on with it! Dan got back on the boat! He was actually hot and sweating and when he took off his swimming cap he asked me to feel his head – it was really hot!! Amazing!! Caroline battled on! Dan discussed with Tejesh about whether he could make land! Steve was keen he did otherwise he would have a third dip! Tejesh then jokingly asked for a vote about whether he should tread water so Steve could have to make a third dip! We did a show of hands and agreed with Tejesh!! Steve said he wouldn’t let Tejesh back on the boat and he would have to make his own way back to England! This made us all laugh – spirits were really high! Caroline’s hour was soon up and Tejesh took over! A tired body climbed back on board – I think she was done and still had to endure sea sickness for the way back to blighty!!
Tejesh went for it! Stuart had to stop the boat in the bay whilst the other Stuart escorted Tejesh into shore using a small inflatable rib! We waited with baited breathe onboard and watched closely! Eventually Tejesh landed on shore and our swim was complete – at 0651hrs Monday 27th June 2011 we had taken 13hours, 51minutes and 23 seconds. Tejesh picked up some pebbles for us all and then jumped into the dingy and headed back to the main boat! We all hugged each other and cried!! Emotions were high – I felt elated! I briefly called John and tearfully told him we’d done it!! He cried back! This had been 3 years of our lives with several lows and some highs! This was most definitely a high!! When all were on board Stuart turned the boat around and headed back to Dover! We heard that the other boats who had set off the same time as us had given up hours before and we were the first channel swimming association boat of the season to be successful. He put his foot down whilst we all relaxed and tried to get some rest and sleep! John met us at the harbour and presented us all with a medal and little trophy! He gave Stuart a trophy to put in the boat for good luck!
We then had loads of photos taken and then headed off to our respective homes. John had to go to work so dropped me off at the motorhome and headed off! I then had to have a shower and sort out the motorhome and then too had to drive the 5 hours back to Welburn. I had to be on a train to London with my boss at 0615hrs the next day to attend a conference so it was important I got back early enough to have a rest!

If you would like to see our course please go to the following website:-
http://www.instamapper.com/trk?key=10715650666388191286

If you would still like to sponsor me with all proceeds going towards International Rescue Corps please go to www.mycharitypage.com/julieryan

I would like to thank my team of Dan, Caroline, Tejesh, Paul and Steve, our pilots Stewart and Stuart on Sea Leopard, our channel swimming association observer Arti and most importantly my husband John who has suffered the highs and lows in 3 years of me trying to swim the channel!!!

Juliex

3rd time lucky

2011-06-05T23:27:00.004+01:00

Hi everyone it's been a long time since I blogged but I have been contemplating attempting again!
Well you'll be pleased to know I am trying again! I am swimming on the 23rd June tide on a team with Dan Earthquake! It should be fun as there will be 6 of us! John is getting the ferry across whilst we swim to get to the Cap for our finish!! Fingers crossed!

Back Again

2010-09-13T19:52:00.004+01:00

I know its been a while since I updated my blog but I was in quite a depression following last years attempt! Silly I know - its only a swim!!

Anyway as an update - I tried again!! Well this time as a relay but that didn't go as planned either! I started the year with 4 of us but slowly over the firth coming months people dropped out and then others joined and then dropped out! It culminated in just the 2 of us swimming week commencing 3-5th August - Fred Mardle our pilot.

Dave Fawkner was my other fellow swimmer - thats him above. Dave is lovely and very lean and fit - I don't think he would mind me saying that he didn't have a lot of fat on him and did struggle with the cold!

Anyway we set off at 0403hrs on the 5th August in the dark - I started first and we took it in turns - 1hr each. It was amazing! the water was warm and calm and we made excellent progress. 9 other boats were out in front of us and we began to catch them!

At the 6th hour I spotted something in the water and realised I was swimming with jelly fish - in fact I spent that hour swimming through them and getting stung!

At the 8th hour I swopped sides as the wind had got up and so I swam in the lea of the boat! Unfortunately I nearly ended up under the boat a couple of times and the weather got worse! I looked up at the boat and asked how far there was to go! Fred said we were standing still and had another 6 miles to go! We had covered 20 miles and could see the lighthouse at Cap Gris Nez! We were almost there but it was just too rough to continue!

We stopped the swim at 8hrs 34mins! Foiled again!!

Messages of Support!!

2009-08-07T12:24:00.004+01:00

Well I have been battling with feeling so disappointed following the swim but today is the first time I have felt a little better - Why? Well this came through the post today...

Its from Johns nephew Joseph - I think its fab!!!

I have also received a massive bunch of roses and lilys from my brother and people are still giving me sponsorship! I need to have another go in the next few years just prove I can do it - I know I can!!!

Big THANK YOU to everyone supporting me - it means a lot!!

Hi everyone!

2009-08-05T18:36:00.002+01:00

Gosh I can't believe how upset and bitterly disappointed I feel. In training I have swum over 600miles and couldn't even managed 21miles!!
I started out in glorious sunshine and even though there was a swell I made good progress with the Folkestone Angler (and my support crew) keeping an eye on me! Ann Sloan was my observer from the CSA. I was loving it and felt sure I could do it - I felt strong and fresh but at 4 hours the waves started to get higher and rougher and the wind blew up from no where! I was trying to think how best to swim but my lack of experience in these conditions my stroke rate dropped and I was being blown off course! We made it past the Varne bouy but were in the ferry seperation lane (boy they are big!). At 5 hours I fed and told the crew I was struggling! I continued but then took 2 big waves and inhaled a lot of seawater! I looked over to the boat and suddenly felt despair - I could see the look on Johns face - it had to end!! I managed 13 miles (be it some off course) and before the weather change I was on for a 16hr crossing!!

So what's next.....?

Well the channel will still be there next year so I am going to do a relay with John, Helen (an old friend) and Oliver (a 14 yr old - don't worry we are friends with his parents!!). We are going to go in september so watch this space. I will keep the blog going as I think it will be an interesting year training - John can't do the front crawl!!!!!!

Attempt adandoned -weather turned and wind got up! I was going nowhere and being thrown around like a washing machine!!

2009-08-03T07:56:00.002+01:00

It now looks like Sunday!! The wind is in the wrong direction! God I am frustrated!!!

2009-07-31T09:03:00.003+01:00

It looks like Saturday!

2009-07-29T15:39:00.002+01:00

Well speaking with Kevin today it looks like I will be off on sat at 0600hrs ish!! I have been keeping busy by swimming in the harbour even though it's windy as hell!! John is still playing with his iPhone!!! We were stopped in Sainsburys this aft by a gentleman who thrust £20 in Johns hand saying GOOD LUCK!!! What a really kind and generous gesture!! I will confirm sat when I know for certain!!

Its nearly here!!

2009-07-27T16:03:00.004+01:00

Well the big day is nearly here and I am beginning to get a little nervous! Good news is my wrist is great! It feels a little sore but certainly not as bad as it was and I have been swimming without any problems! Today John and I are finishing off packing everything and the kitchen looks like a bomb site!

(See left)

We have just spoken to Kevin our pilot on the Folkstone Angler and the weather isn't great but he is hoping I can go on the tide window on saturday which will be excellent as its Yorkshire Day on sat!!

John is relaxing by constantly playing Harbour Master on his iPhone - its just not irritating enough!

I have downloaded the Dan Brown Angels and Demons audiobook so that should keep me entertained!

We are off to Dover tomorrow morning and we are staying in a studio appartment at Varne Ridge Holiday Park

Lets pray that the weather clears?

Injury free?

2009-07-23T11:39:00.002+01:00

Well I have spent the last 10 months virtually injury free but over the last few weeks my left wrist has got more painful! I have a history with my wrist as I had to have it reconstructed in Feb 2007 (I lost 3mms on my ulna and the head was removed!). Anyway I got to see a physio on monday this week and he referred me back to the surgeon at the hospital. I saw him yesterday and had an xray and was diagnosed as having a very inflammed joint - he then proceeded to inject it with steroids and told me to not swim for at least a week!!! At this point I protested so he compromised on 48hrs and put me in a splint. So I haven't swum for a couple of days already and it is drving me mad!!
My swim is scheduled for 8 days time so I am hoping this should tie me over!!! Fingers crossed!

It was one of those days....

2009-07-16T10:51:00.002+01:00

Last weekend I swam in the BLDSA 2 way Bala Lake in North Wales (6miles). John and I stayed in our motorhome and on a cloudy and windy sat morning we set off for the lake. I have to say both of us were not really 'in the mood!'. This was reflected in the swim! At 1300hrs the siren sounded and off we went. John was doing safety in his kayak and Karen T was swimming with Lisa doing her safety in Karen's kayak. As soon as I started swimming my goggles steamed up so badly that I could see barely nothing!! I tried to clear them regularly but it just wouldn't work. John spat on them a couple of times but still to no avail! I carried on swimming then stopping and was getting more and more annoyed!!! After almost 1.5 hours I was going nowhere and considered stopping for good. My last attempt of getting John to spit on them eventually worked - thank god!!!! I could now put my head down and get to the bottom of the lake, turn around and come back. The weather was awful as well - it was really windy and was against me as I swam. John also wasn't very well prepared and everytime I stopped to feed we got blown back down the lake. this was SO frustrating. Eventually I got to the bottom but it took me 2hrs 24mins which was terrible! I now had to redeem myself and set about to get to the finish! I passed a guy but was being catched by a lady with a rowing boat as her safety. I managed to finish in 4 hours 24mins so it took me 24 mins less to get back!! John told me we stopped a total of 18mins so if I hadn't messed about I would have got home quicker. I put this swim down to experience!

The LONG SWIM!

2009-07-07T12:46:00.003+01:00

Wow - I was in Dover this weekend doing a long swim - I wanted to swim over the 6 hour mark to see how my body reacted to it and whether I could manage a long swim! At 0800hrs I launched myself into the water in Dover Harbour under the watchful eye of John. The plan being 10 hours. Freda was there waiting for other swimmers to appear at 0900hrs but I would have an hour on my own. The water was okay and didn't feel too cold. John had put some 'channel grease' on me which was made from half Lanolin and half Vaseline. It is horrible stuff but I wanted to try it out also. My feed regime was to be feed every hour for 4 hrs and then half hour after that. After a couple of hours I was joined by other swimmers, people saling in dingys and rowing boats.

After 4 hours I turned at the hovercraft wall and was faced by fog rolling in and the sea got really choppy. I was worried for a while especially when I lost the white cliffs! It stayed patchy for a while but soon cleared after about 7 hours. After this I lost most of the other swimmers. I was on my own again!

John kept me organised with the feeds and spent the whole time running up and down the shore and kayaking all over the place.

After 8 hours I began hurting - my right shoulder was getting painful but not bad enough to finish. I did think I was going to stop but a bigger part of me told me to carry on! The weather had cleared and the afternoon sun came out! All the sailors and rowers had gone as well.

I continued and eventually came out of the water at 10hrs 2mins 2secs!!!!I felt amazing! I was tired but okay! When I dressed and got back to the campsite (Little Satmar). As I went for a shower I realised that I had sunburned my face with the most ridiculous sun lines - especially where my swimming cap had ended. Never mind I look at it as a battle scar - I came and conquered 10hrs in Dover Harbour - I can't wait until the big swim now!

The water was finally warm!

2009-07-01T15:29:00.002+01:00

Lake Coniston has finally warmed up! John and I were in the Lake this weekend. The water was lovely and it was exceptionally warm on the outside! John pottered up and down in his kayak whilst I plodded up the lake for 2 hours then crossed over to the other side and plodded back! The lake was full of canoeists, kayakers, yachts and inflatables which gave me something to concentrate on. I eventually swam just over 4 hours on the saturday and 2 hours on sunday - the trouble is that now things have warmed up so have the insects - I was eaten to pieces on sunday and still have the lumps and bumps to prove it!!
I am in Dover next weekend for a long long swim (8hrs +) before I finally calm down for the big swim!

Dover Champions of Champions

2009-06-25T16:48:00.004+01:00

Well this weekend was the BLDSA Champions of Champions in Dover Harbour. It was a 5mile, 3mile and 1 mile race one after each other! The 5 mile started at 0930hrs and the 1mile finished at 1730hrs so it was a LONG day! I went to Dover with Karen T and we camped in our motorhome (known as the beast!) at Little Satmar Camp site just outside Dover in Capel-Le-Ferne. It is an excellent site with clean facilities and they really like swimmers so I would recommend it to anyone visiting Dover! Anyway Karen and I got to the harbour in time for the briefing and before we knew it we were off. The weather was a mixture of clouds and sun and the sea was rolling a little. The course was a mile long so we had to swim around 4 big yellow bouys 5 times for the 5 miles, 3 times for the 3 miles and once for the 1 mile! The first 5 mile race wasn't easy and I was lapped by the leaders on my second lap which was a little demotivating!! I was also VERY slow but kept going. I ended the 5 miles in 3hrs 16mins (told you I was slow!) which was disappointing for me!

I didn't have much time to re fuel before we were back in the water for the 3 mile! There also seemed to be more people doing this race as others had appeared. Off we went and I completed the 3 miles in 1hr 51mins which is again slow but not too bad! This time the leaders lapped me just before I completed my second lap!!

The last mile was hard - it was hard to get back in the water after being in and out all day but I did! I actually felt okay and managed to swim the last mile in 36mins which is much quicker than earlier in the day!

Anyone who completed all 3 races were presented with certificates at 1800hrs and it turned out I was the 10th senior lady overall which was okay! Karen was 7th - she did really well and was certainly much quicker than me!!! Well done Karen! Becky L was 3rd lady and was amazing - Well done Becky!!

I had a great day and weekend but it wasn't easy! Good experience and training for the channel swim!

BLDSA Wykeham Lake

2009-06-15T16:01:00.003+01:00

It was a relaxing weekend just gone as I was competing in my first ever long distance race. I swam the BLDSA Wykeham Lake 5km race. It was excellent - the weather was really sunny and the water in the lake was very comfortable. We had to swim a 5 lap course and it was really well organised. Karen T came up from the west midlands also to compete. We both finished - I managed it in 1hr 43mins which is quite slow as I understand the winner swam it in 46mins!! BUT at least I wasn't last!

Swan Pool

2009-06-12T13:55:00.003+01:00

Last weekend I made a trip to the midlands! On saturday I met up with Karen T (from my Gozo trip) to take part in a 1000m race with triathletes on a lake near Milton Keynes. It was fun watching 98 triathletes done full body wetsuits when all I had was a swimming costume. As we got in the water to start my initial thought was how warm the water felt - as I looked over all I could see was people shivering as they waited to start! Anyway I did the 'Big Cow' race in 20.58mins which turned out to put me 74th overall and 3rd female vet - not bad seen as it was my first ever swimming race!
Anyway on the sunday (the real reason for going to the midlands!) was a 6hour swim in Swan Pool, Sandwell, Nr Birmingham. Dan Earthquake from the Channel Swimming Association had arranged for the swim to take place in order for swimmers to undertake a 6 hour qualifing swim for the channel. Myself and Karen had already done our 6 hour swim in Gozo but I reackoned it was good practice! Well the weather was awful - it was ponking it down with rain and cloudy! Both Karen and I hid underneath our cagoules until the last minute in the vain hope Dan was going to cancel the event! He didn't and at 11am precisley off we went! The pool is a 800m lap course around 7 bouys so I worked out each lap would take me about 16mins or so! The water was okay and not too cold! To cut a long and boring story short both Karen and myself managed the 6 hours! I swam 20lengths (10miles) but I don't know how many lengths Karen did (it was certainly more than me!)
As I got out of the water at 5pm the rain had stopped and the sun was trying to come out between the clouds! I was tired but okay and not too shivery! I really enjoyed the swim (sad I know!). I then headed off to my aunts house 20mins away for a welcome bath and beef stew!! Big thanks to Karen and Peter, Dan, the lifeboat crew who did safety for us for the whole 6 hours (how boring was that!?), Aunty Linda and Jim!!

Lake Coniston Again Again!!

2009-06-01T11:44:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone
Yep I was back in Lake Coniston this weekend - this time I had visitors as 2 really good friends of ours - Gio and Kath joined us on the lake - they have a new inflatable kayak also so wanted to have a play! My aim was to swim at least 5 hours but this would depend on the weather and water conditions. As you know it was scorchio this weekend - the sun was out all of the time however the water hadn't warmed up that much! It was 13C which was okay! On saturday we got to the lake and I set off - after the usual 'oh my god its cold' thoughts I set off - the aim to swim for 2 hours down the lake - feed then cut across to the other side and then back down, next feed in 1 hr and every hour afterwards. As I got to just over 1 hour my mind decided it had had enough and I had an overwhelming urge to give up!! I decided to rethink at the feed and by that time came I was okay again! I carried on!! In the end I managed 5hours and 18mins which was really great - I felt good and could have carried on! The only thing I suffered was really bad cramp in my calfs!! God it was agony! I need to think about how to rectify this!

My first taste of the channel

2009-05-26T10:45:00.002+01:00

Hi all
Well this weekend was my first taste of the channel - we went to Dover on friday until the monday and stayed in Little Satmar Holiday Park in our motorhome which was lovely.
On saturday we turned up to the beach front and met up with Freda Streeter who organises the swims as a matter of safety. Everyone is given numbered and coloured hats - red for solo and yellow for relay swimmers. She then gives a brief of where to swim and for what length of time! I was number 12 and we had 3 hours to swim with a feed on the shore at 1 1/5hrs. The water was 12C and the sun was out so it was loveley swimming! John plodded up and down in his kayak keeping a watchful eye on me and the other swimmers. I managed 8500m in the 3 hours. Sunday was pretty much the same except we were given 4 hours this time - feed after 2 hrs, 3 hrs then swim 1 more hour if you could! The sun was shining but it was really windy so there was a big chop in the water especially swimming to the eastern side! I managed the 4 hrs!
Big thanks to Freda, Nick and John! 7 hours sea swimming was difficult but good fun!

My lovely support team!

2009-05-21T13:34:00.003+01:00

This is my lovely support team - all 3 will be on the boat coordinating my swim and feeds. They are (from left to right) - Laura, John and Carol.

Lake Coniston Again!

2009-05-21T13:25:00.002+01:00

John and I went back to Lake Coniston last weekend (16 - 17th May) and stayed in a really good campsite called Park Coppice (Caravan Club) in our motorhome. It was quite blustery and raining for most of the weekend. The water temp was 10.5C which was freezing and instantly my hands and feet froze again! I put my head down and started swimming however the wind was making the water choppy and difficult to swim in! I managed 2hrs and 7mins before my entire body froze and decided it was time to get out. I struggled to stand due to my feet being numb but John helped me out! The shivers came quickly and it took me a while to thaw!! I did love it though!! Thanks to John for keeping an eye on me in his inflatable kayak even though he struggled to keep going in the wind!

Swim Trek Gozo

2009-05-15T10:53:00.003+01:00

Just thought I would show you some photos from my swimtrek holiday / training in Gozo, Malta. It was really hard work and very demanding and I learned a lot about my stroke and how to make it more efficient. I hope I have improved since then - I think so!

The water was very clear but very cold - myself and 4 others still managed our 6 hour qualifying swim for the channel which was brilliant! (I can't say it was easy though!)

Maxim (with a twist!)

2009-05-15T10:43:00.001+01:00

This is Johns idea of taking in Maxim!

Lake Coniston

2009-05-15T09:57:00.003+01:00

Last bank hols we ventured to the lakes to see what it was like to swim in Lake Coniston. It wasn't disappointing! We loved it even though it was 11C so my hands and feet froze instantly. It is a beautiful lake surrounded by the mountians. John whizzed up and down in his kayak, happy as Larry!
We are off to the lake again on the weekend of the 16th / 17th so hopefully the water will have swarmed up by then!

How to sponsor me!

2009-04-19T18:40:00.001+01:00

I am swimming the channel on behalf of International Rescue Corps - www.intrescue.org
If you want to download any sponsorship forms or posters please go to the fundraising section on the site.
You can always sponsor me directly on www.justgiving.com/julieryanswim
Many txs
julie

John's new toy

2009-04-17T09:41:00.001+01:00

This is Johns new toy! I suppose he needed something to keep him interested whilst I am in the water!

Hello bloggers!

2009-04-14T12:52:00.000+01:00

Well this is my first time at blogging so please bare with me!!
As you can see I am swimming the channel on 1st August 09 and have just got back from a Swim Trek Long Distance sea swim training in Gozo, Malta. Boy it was really difficult but I learned SO much and the other participants and guides / coaches were brilliant! More to follow....