Well the Rottnest Channel Swim is complete, and I am now enjoying(?) a scorching heat wave in Perth. The swim was tough as the conditions were way rougher than last year, so much so I got seasick for the first time in my life (only to the point that I couldn't eat any solid food from the 8km mark on). It was a new experience to hit the wall so early on in a swim, but I decided that I could be completely miserable for the remainder of the journey, or put the head down, stretch out the arms and focus on swimming until the next drink stop. This I did and managed to feel stronger again by the 10km mark. I kept swimming from feed to feed which were at half hourly intervals, feeling stronger and stronger each time. The last couple of kms were extremely tough as we had to fight against being pushed north. Was a bit like swimming on a tread mill, but I was expecting it as last year I had the same problem only the opposite direction. All in all, the swim took 8hrs 45mins, just over an hour off last year which I owe to my crew, Des McLean, skipper, Mick and Derek Hurley, Matt Holden, kayakers and my increased strength since last year due to the programme my Coach Eilís has set for me.
Have been enjoying a bit of a break since, catching up with family and hanging out with the kids. Back to it today though which is no problem since it's a good way to escape the heat!
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Hey Jen, read this update last thursday but didn't get a chance to tell you well done. You're making Rottnest your own!
ReplyDeleteWe missed you on friday, it was hell. Took me 3 days to recover. Talk when you get back, slan abhaile.