DCT Week 22 - a bit of rain doesn't dampen our spirits 💨☔️
And that was that for the year
This weekend marked the end of training for this season. Whilst I know of at least one soloist and one relay team still waiting to swim, it is the end of training for the year.
Ordinarily, we’d all get back together and celebrate the achievements of the season and share nice BBQ food. This is no ordinary year though. Whilst training is OK as it’s organised sport, a BBQ would be problematic on many levels.
I didn’t want the season to just fade away though, so instead we organised something more in keeping with ‘organised sport’ and that was a badge weekend. My original thought had been for us to finish big with a 7 & 6 weekend for anyone who wanted to earn that badge. The weather forecast thought otherwise so, in true 2020 keeping, a bit of last minute creativity was required. A special giant STA distance swimming badge coaster would be the reward for anyone getting in the water on Sunday.
As I reflect on the season, it has been a challenging yet rewarding year. One where perceived norms have been challenged. A year where tough decisions were required by swimmers and beach crew alike. A year where we were forced to change some things and will now keep those adaptations. A year where it has become a springboard for a new and reimagined future (more to come over the coming weeks).
I have been incredibly impressed by the Class of 2020. Whether your decision was to defer until 2021, to go ahead and swim or to bring your swim forward from 2021 to 2020, it wasn’t an easy decision to make, yet individually, I think you all chose well.
I’d like to thank all of you for your trust. You looked to us to help you prepare for a swim in unusual and challenging circumstances. You looked to us to come up with a way forward and some answers when old methods weren’t possible. You did what we asked of you and you did it with a smile on your face.
I love to work with people who dare to believe and you did that. We challenged conventional wisdom and you allowed us to do that. Thank you. You have been a delight to work with. Thank you also for the gifts on Sunday and the lovely words - I did get a bit of rain in my eye at that point 😉. It was so unexpected and such a lovely gesture. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Many people will remember 2020 for all the negative stuff going on in the world, and yes there has been a lot of that. There is also much that has been positive to remember.
It has been a year of firsts:
The first time we’ve not started until July and then only started with short swims initially
The first time that I’ve fed anyone on the final weekend of the season
The first time we’ve worn PPE on the beach
The first time we’ve signed people in with an iPad
The first time we’ve had individual bottles for swimmers
The first time I’ve asked you to sign-up in advance
The first time we’ve imposed a limit on numbers
The first time we’ve fed from the kayak for almost all sessions
The first time that we’ve not provided treats
The first time we’ve offered a ramp-up camp or any type of focused mid-week training camp
The first time that we’ve offered community calls
The first time that remote support has been practical
The first time that we’ve created and used a senior leadership team (SLT)
The list goes on. Whilst much of this has been born out of necessity, some of the innovation has been really positive and will carry forward. It has only been possible because of the investment made into our systems and processes. These seemed like nice additions as the world moved on and expected these things, but have proved to be an essential part of what we now do. Never before have I had to move Sunday training at 10pm on a Saturday evening. Our systems and processes enabled me to text and email everyone who had booked in and individually tell them. I did put it on the facebook group too, but that was more for the benefit of those using the beach outside of the group.
We already know that there are significant benefits from training in a group - studies have shown that you can endure more in a group setting than you can as an individual. Over the last few years our numbers have grown and grown. This year was an opportunity to almost go back in time to when numbers were smaller. That too has some benefits. The quiet and shy person doesn’t run the risk of getting lost in the crowd. So watch out for our plans for next year as we address how to be both big and small simultaneously!
The SLT has been working hard in the background considering how we should move forwards and I’ll share more information in the coming weeks. This is partly born out of the learnings from this year, which have been significant, and partly a need to balance the books - to stop subsidising training which I have been doing now for five years. I think we have exciting times ahead. 😁.
DOVER SWIMS
Saturday:
Swimmers: 5
Water temperature: 16.6C
Air temperature: 10.3
Conditions: Force 5 gusting 7 NW. Choppy with some swell. Bumpy along the buoy line. Rain.
Sunday:
Swimmers: 16
Water temperature: Probably the same as Saturday
Air temperature: Bit warmer than yesterday
Conditions: F6-6 N. Bumpier than yesterday. Drizzle.
Well done to all swimmers this weekend, especially to Heather who completed a six hour swim on Saturday and Jon who did just under 2 hours on Sunday.
CHANNEL SWIMMER ON THE BEACH
We had more enjoyed a couple of days of swims this week with:
2 new soloists
1 new relay teams
Of special note we saw:
Chloe McCardel (11:08) complete her 36th solo crossing (and 4th crossing of this year).
Guy Davis (10:50). I met Guy on a SwimQuest training camp in 2019. Guy is a Brit living in the USA and emerged from his quarantine to a very fast crossing.
Guy Davis, Channel Swimmer!
Mark Sheridan, 3 x Channel swimmer
Sarah Philpott, Channel swimmer!
BEACH EYE VIEW
Team work. Saturday wasn’t a nice day. It was windy and rainy. In the water it was bumpy. On the beach it was chilly and wet.
In some years swimmers would come and do what they needed or wanted to do and then disappear off again, especially on a bad weather day.
This year swimmers have generally acted as a team and waited for those still swimming, cheered them on and enjoyed sitting in whatever the weather has to offer.
That team work extends further too. When people have been stuck for crew, you have stepped forward to help.
I love the community feel in such a solo sport. I think we all perform better when we work as a team and it’s great to know that others have your back, that others believe in you even if you temporarily lose your belief in yourself.
#ClassOf2020 - you are amazing.
VOLUNTEERS
Thank you to Paul, Mandi & Richard.
We will be completely reliant on volunteers in 2020 with most of our regular volunteers also needing to train. If you would like to understand more about what is involved, please get in touch. We will need volunteers to help with feeds and watching the beach & swimmers.
HOODIES
This year there will be two hoodies. They’ll both be the same on the front and the backs will be different:
The first will show a list of names of swimmers who trained with DCT
The second will show a list of successful soloists and relay teams regardless of where they trained
The ordering process will be the same as previous years where you’ll get the chance to choose your colour option and any personalisation as you order on line and then I’ll post them out to you when they arrive at my address.
The mock-up shown will be changed slightly based on some feedback that I’ve provided to the company, but you get the idea. The final design will be shared at the point that ordering opens. Thank you to Mandi for your artistic ability!
UNTIL NEXT TIME
When I think about our group, I can’t help but chuckle when I think about the theme tune that Paul Cross has coined….. ‘Hotel California’ 🎶 ‘……. you can check out any time you like but you can never leave!’
So until we meet again, stay safe.
The community calls will continue, so if you need some contact, perhaps that is for you. It’s now free for all who want to join until the end of the year.
PHOTOS
A few photos from this weekend.
