16/09/2024
Dock2Dock 15km race review / Medal Monday
I’ve dabbled or is it paddled with open water swimming for over a decade now. It started with a Great British Swim in the same place, Royal Victoria in London. Not the most beautiful setting, but certainly interesting; Canary Wharf takes up the skyline, there’s the Excel centre and huge aircraft from London City Airport, so close the passengers could probably see you wave from the water. Since that first splashy mile swim, I’ve entered various distances including a couple of 10km in recent years. I was probably only a matter of time before the nagging voice in the back of my brain started muttering about attempting the Ultra Marathon of swims. I had to apply to Dock2Dock citing my previous experience before being accepted, when I applied I actually thought they’d tell me to go and do some more 10km, I was both delighted and horrified to be accepted.
As usual training was not ideal, hurties and life get in the way of best laid plans but time rolls on and I found myself on the pontoon waiting to start with forty or so other swimmers, some wetsuit and hero’s taking it on in ‘skins’ (no wetsuit) in water that was 16.5 degrees C. It doesn’t feel too chilly initially but creeps in hour upon hour.
The start is in the middle of the flattened oval loop, the first low pontoon feed stop about 1.5km in after swimming past the Sunbourne Yacht Hotel and The F.R.I.E.N.D.S experience amongst other things, the water, a brownish green, tastes a mix of salt and fresh. After the first turn it could be a wee bit bumpy when the wakeboarding started up at the water sports centre.
The first lap my brain wandered into work problem sorting mode, thinking about various children I work with and what else I could be doing to help them with their learning. This kept me occupied in the sensory deprived green brown gloom between checking stroke for ‘long and strong’ and settling into a good breathing rhythm.
Halfway back opposite the start was another hydration station, another at the next turn then followed a low feed platform where they fetched your personal pre packed snack bag. They also checked you in and on what condition you were in and if you were safe to continue.
The first lap I think took approximately 1hr 53, I was happy at this as a cruising pace as it felt sustainable, I was worried about pushing too hard early and gassing out. The second lap I think I got lost in my own head thinking about my Dad, his role in my childhood, the relationship we had, why it evolved that way, all the other interactions. Swimming gives my brain breathing space to sort things out and be at peace with the way things are and identify if there’s anything I want to change how am I going to change it, we are crafters of our own destiny’s. All of this internal banter unconsciously slowed more than I’d have liked but it’s good therapy! The second lap took around 2 hours.
The third lap the cold setting in as well as sore spots on my shoulders got me down for the first third of the lap, I sunk into ‘plod’ mode. As I rounded the turning buoy I had words with myself, yes, my shoulders hurt my lower back ached, period pain kicked in too (because the gods are unkind and plan these things for you), my legs were thinking about cramping every now and then, for no apparent reason. I came to the realisation that it didn’t hurt any more if I put the effort into pulling harder, then I’d be out the water quicker and back to George for a hug and beer and burger! So I picked another swimmer to keep pace with and kept chugging away until the last pit stop to glug electrolyte before the last 1000m. Always keeping pace with the lovely South African lady who I thanked afterwards for being my unwitting pace maker as we staggered up the pontoon, one after the other on legs that were very much still ‘at sea’. My hamstring cramped as I found my footing and George’s video footage didn’t catch the expletive that fell out my mouth to the very understanding Marshall’s who took care of me while I found my feet!
6hrs 12mins in the water, I’d have like to have been faster, but I’m happy to complete. The question is now, do I want to go further? ……. Probably 🤪
I’ve been raising money in support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, in memory of my Dad, Jim.
Thank you so much to everyone who has donated, Ruth Gooch, Martin, Sophie, Dave, Lyndsey, Dawn Joy, James, Sarah, Elizabeth & Andy, Selina, (Grayson & Gia) , Hannah,Olena, Helen, Gill & Chris, and the anonymous your donations mean a lot and have got me to 78% of my £250 target. If anyone can spare anything to help hit the goal that would be amazing 🤩
Thanks again to family , friends & colleagues who have put up with swimming waffle, especially George who clocks up miles up and down to glimpse my aquatic escapades. Barry for being the best coach and the inspirational humans MedwayTri who’s examples I try to follow 🤩
