The same thoughts of failure and getting into the boat dominated the next thirty minutes and I slowed my stroke. As I approached the boat for the feed I was done. Before I could speak, Martin (one of my crew) told me, very calmly, that my stroke was still strong and I was still on track to do 9 hours and 45 minutes. Channel swimmers shouldn’t really care about the time – the object is to just get there. As a tall, somewhat thin man, I need a fast stroke rate to stay warm. So, for me speed and time equal warmth – I don’t have the option to relax for more than 30 seconds in cold water. So part of my motivation and fascination was time. A sub 10 hour swim constituted my entire vision. Martin’s comment worked and I swam away 100% rededicated and my stroke rate went up. From 100% quit to 100% rededication in a second – most things in life are more mental than physical! Thinking back I stopped feeling at this point and just went on some kind of automatic pilot.
The timing on my re-motivation was pretty close going into the sixth hour as I neared the separation zone. This is where the channel is shallow and tides from the two sides of the channel clash, the water is rougher and at some point you are in “French Waters”. The crew confirmed that I was half way and I kept the pace. During the next swim I yelled “soup” which sure tasted warm and good. The next feed went down very quickly and within two seconds it came up in a violent explosion. Then a second later the previous three feeds followed. Projectile vomiting in action!
I immediately dropped the bottle, put my head down and headed off again. Several thoughts ran through my head: I’d be off sports drink for a long time, I guess this is what Owen meant when he said he was violently ill three times during his swim, I hoped my boat crew didn’t see that, wished I could brush my teeth right now and it is going to take a lot more than that to stop me.
Ciaran (my third boat crew member) told me later that all seven on the boat saw every bit of “the drama” and my wife thought I was done at that point. About the same time the crew started to endure a 3 ½ hour period of rain. I noticed it once but it really had no impact on me so I swam through it.
At the next feed I started to drink 250 ml rather than the 500 ml as before. They told me that I had four hours to go and it motivated me to keep the stroke rate high. I then reconnected with time and started counting down. Two stops later they told me that I had three hours to go. At this point I could start to feel the cold so I yelled: “Hot Chocolate” during the session. I got that down in 19 seconds, kept it down and it seemed to warm me. I did “eject” banana flavoured “goo” and ¾ of a Mars bar during two different feeds. My stomach wasn’t good, but the liquid stayed down.
About the Author: Ned Denison played water polo goalie in the USA and England for twenty years before taking up open water swimming in 2000. His move to Cork Ireland allows all year sea training (no wet suit)in temperatures ranging from 7 to 17 C (45 to 63 F). Active in Cork Masters (www.corkmasters.ie) and up to 200 local open water swims annually in Ireland (openwater@corkmasters.ie) keeps him fit. Ned plans to join 50 other Irish swimmers on 30 Sept 06 for the Alcatraz race and then take on the 26 mile Santa Barbara Strait the next week.
