Apologies for the delay in this blog. I had naively thought that I’d be able to run training, run a training camp, swim a channel relay, live in a camper van for a week in a campsite and still keep up with these blogs despite long days and dodgy data connection!! I quickly learned that it wouldn’t be possible and once I’d learned that I was able to relax and simply enjoy the week, knowing that I would catch up later. This blog captures the weekends, I’ll post another blog about the Intensity Week.

Following the mini heat wave that we’ve had, the water temperature has finally started to get back to what is more typical for this time of year and as a result we saw so many people crack their qualifying swims over the last two weekends. Whilst we found one temperature measurement of 15.9C on Sunday of week 8, much of the time the harbour was over 16C and so, unless we have seriously weird weather during the week, I suspect that is the last of the qualifiers in Dover and we focus purely on training.

As always, you’ll hear tales of big swims by swimmers and these are a normal part of training each week. Don’t be misled into thinking that everyone is doing big swims each week, as they’re not. We continue to follow a cyclical pattern with periods of recovery and build - all aimed at getting the most out of the training that you do and to get you to the starting beach in the best shape that you can be.

Your pod leaders’ observations

Mixing feeds - 100% Maltodextrin

Following the blog post on feeding last week, I’ve had a number of questions on how to mix feeds. It really is super easy. You can mix some or all of the 100% Maltodextrin in advance. It’s quick and easy to mix on the go, too.

The video below shows how to mix CNP (the previous maltodextrin brand we used), whilst the scoop measurements are different, the method is the same. For 100% maltodextrin you use 6 scoops per litre.

Mixing feeds - UCAN

UCAN is just as simple; take a shaker bottle with a little whisk ball in it, fill it to about ¾ full and add 2 scoops of UCAN and shake. That’s it! Again, this is double strength and you dilute it 50 / 50 with warm water.

With UCAN it is important to alternate a UCAN feed with something else like sugar free squash or tea to ensure you remain well hydrated.

Sources of the products we use

100% Maltodextrin

We buy the HUGE 5kg bags as we get through a lot, but you may not need quite so much! You can buy it here, there always seems to be a special offer on, so you can normally pick up a pretty good deal. Our referral code is available should you wish to use it.

UCAN

This is their website.

The only product in stock at this time is one tub of plain UCAN. I spoke to them today. This is a global issue as the manufacturers in the USA were also out. However, they are expecting notification in the next day or two that their next batch is available for collection and it is likely to be a week until they then are in receipt of the product.

I’ve been added to their list of people to notify when this happens. If you wish to also get in touch with them, you could be added to the list too. Or, let me know if you’re after some and I’m happy to put a bulk order in once the stock is available for pre-order.

I have enough for training, and if you’re concerned about a swim which is rapidly approaching, please message me and I’ll do my best to support.

Electrolyte

Choose your favourite electrolyte and use it every 4-6 hours. We use Zero.

Shaker bottles

They’re pretty much the same. Find the cheapest with a mixing ball.

Getting the feed to you

Channel swimmers can be REALLY creative. The stories I’ve heard of the complex contraptions use to get feeds to the swimmer are quite mind boggling at times. It really doesn’t have to be all that difficult.

My preferences are……

Feeding bottle

A 1 pint milk bottle works well. Have a few on board in case of losses. Tie some string or cord around the handle and pop a hole in the lid - push the cord through the lid and tie a knot. The swimmer can then take the lid off and drop it without it being lost.

Bottle

We’ve been using bottles for feeding from the kayak from time to time. These bottles proved to be very popular.

Reel

You can pick up a builder’s reel from B&Q, Amazon or from us. If you want to replace the thin cord with something thicker, it’s easy to do and will result in less knots on the day. Tie a carabiner to the end and this can be attached to the bottle of your choice.

Make sure you have enough cord so that the swimmer can drift away from the boat as they feed. Once they’re done, the swimmer drops the bottle and carries on. The crew can then reel it back in.

Feeds should be 20-30 seconds max. You don’t want to waste that time faffing with trying to get the feed to the swimmer.

Questions?

If you want to see us do this on the beach, why not hang around after one of your shorter training swims and see the process in action. If you want your crew to see how feeds are mixed, then also feel free to get them to come along for a day and see how it all works.

Channel Swimmer on the beach

Sunday saw Ken Mignosa, the first soloist for 2021 come to the beach to a massive round of applause for his swim. I hope this is the first of a long list of swimmers for the year.

Shout outs

I am bound to have missed someone in this list and if that’s you, I apologise. There have been so many impressive performances over the last two weeks.

In no particular order

All the relay swimmers who achieved their qualifying swims. Especially those who had intended to wait another week or two and were encouraged to get it done before the water was too warm.
Hayley, Mel T & Paul C for buddy swimming
‘Slipway’ Steve for a massive breakthrough in easily achieving 3 hours in the water.
Nicolie Chaffe for your 5 hour swim
Catherine Stefanutti, Paul Cross, Anel Sytdykova, Jane Carnall, Andrew Freeman, Donna Nicholas, Janssen Bostock, Piers Dingemans, Hayley Brant, Dawn Palmer, Nicki Murch and Kirstie McArthur for your 6 hour swims.
Suzanne Gough and Tony Ferguson for your back to back 6s
Mel Tyrrell, Janssen Bostock, Ollie Phillips and Philip Duma for your 7 hour swims
Mark Kennealy, Philip Brice and Danny Hanlon for your back to back 7 & 6
John Royden for his back to back 10s

And in the channel:

Every success in the channel (and other swims) are noteworthy. What I intend to call out here are swims where people who’ve trained with DCT have been successful. I’ll also call out individuals or teams who are DCT alumni.

The CSA name all relay swimmers so much easier to spot. If I miss you, it is purely accidental.

Reasonable Excuses successfully crossed the channel 13th June. Julia Maguire was in the team who finished in a time of 14:04 and piloted by Fred Mardle.
Dover Darlings successfully crossed the channel on 14th June in a time of 14:53, piloted by Fred Mardle. The team joined us for our night swim.
A splash of orange with DCT alumni Michelle Robinson & Darren Parfitt successfully crossed the channel on 14th June in a time of 12:51 piloted by Andy King
Langland sharks with DCT alumni & webinar presenter, Sue Croft, successfully crossed the channel on 14th June in a time of 13:28, piloted by Stuart Gleeson
Channunicorns with Stuart Handley, Sarah Hyatt, Stuart Holbrook, Jessica Hassall, Fiona Marshall and me, successfully crossed the channel on 14th June in a time of 13:58, piloted by Reg Brickell
Jon Southey, Lucy Ashdown-Parkes and Stephen Maloney successfully swam Windermere on 20th June in a time of 7:15

We had a flurry of celebration tunnels for our 6, 7 or 10 hour swimmers. This is a tradition that never grows old.

Swim stats

Weekend Stats

Note: Water temperature taken during the swim session in the harbour. The lowest recorded reading is shown here. Air temperature, wind direction & wind speed taken from the Port of Dover app.

Saturday (week 7):

Swimmers: 46
Water temperature: 15.1C
Air temperature: 21.2C
Conditions: Calm water with slight chop at ferry wall at high water due to swell. Sunny. F1 SSW.

Feeding time

Saturday (week 8):

Swimmers: 47
Water temperature: 15.2C
Air temperature: 14.5C
Conditions: Cloudy & calm. F2 ENE.

Sunday (week 8):

Swimmers: 34
Water temperature: 15.9C
Air temperature: 15.2C
Conditions: Choppy to start, with ferry wall on washing machine spin cycle. F4 ENE, SW at start.

Volunteers & beach crew

Thank you to the pod leaders and to our volunteers. We had new volunteers in Kirill & Liesl as well as everyone who just rolled up their sleeves & helped. It’s lovely to see loved ones involved as well as swimmers helping swimmers once their training is done. Fabulous team effort!

Reminders

Next Saturday is our final night swim (the early addition). We won’t be able to accept any new swimmers on this swim. You will all need to wear two green guardian lights. Be on the beach by 02:30. The briefing will explain the additional safety features and restricted swim zone during the hours of darkness. This swim is very weather dependent and I’ll advise of any changes nearer the weekend.

Remember to book your sessions online. Bookings close 24 hours before the session though as mentioned above, this is the very latest. It would be a massive help if you booked by Thursday morning.

The system doesn’t arrange automatic refunds, so please message me if you cancel ahead of these deadlines and I’ll arrange a refund.

You don’t need to sign into the website to book a session - just pop your email address in to the booking system and it will remember you. Remember to click into the discount code box if you are a subscriber and it will auto complete your discount code. If you are a pay as you go swimmer and are also a member, remember to use your discount code to get your membership price.

Please remember to give your number in when you get out, when you get back in for a second swim and when you feed. This is arguably our most important safety process. Please be patient too, we can only process one person at a time!

Remember to give your band in at the end, it is a back up check for us, as are all crocs being claimed. 100% return rate this weekend - well done!!

Collect any shop purchases from Emma or Paul.

Remember to cancel any subscriptions when you no longer need them.

Pod Ponderings: Appreciate the moment

Wins and losses come a dime a dozen. But effort, nobody can judge effort. Because effort is between you and you. Effort ain't got nothing to do with nobody else. -- Ray Lewis

When most people think about hard work, the image that comes to mind is pain and struggle. It is true that hard work results in both, but it also brings with it loads of benefits.

Embracing hard work gives you much more than just results - which are reason enough in itself - but it also acts as a type of release, freeing your mind and soul as you devote yourself utterly to the task at hand.

When we bury ourselves into our training, we free ourselves from the shackles of whatever is going on in our lives. You’re in the water and it’s just you. No phone, no email, no family dramas. Just you, your fellow swim buddies and the sea.

Instead of shying away from hard work, or trying to avoid it, learn to love the hard work.

Forever is composed of nows. -- Emily Dickinson

With each training session you have a clean slate and are given an opportunity to challenge, surprise and improve yourself. Take advantage of these opportunities and make the most of them.

One day you will look fondly back on the tougher weeks, the camaraderie, the seven and six weekends, and feel a deep, warm sense of nostalgia. It’s a bit like parents telling children that school years are the best years of your life, enjoy them. ‘Yeah right, mum’. Only to find they really were, for most, fantastic and carefree years.

This is like school. Embrace this journey while it lasts.

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. -- Goethe

Those who get the most out of their journey and become the names that you hear about later, are already etching their names in the record books long before you've heard their name. Training with purpose every time. Making each training session count. Refining their technique. Helping others, whilst also allowing others to help them.

By doing this, each day they woke up and acted like a channel relay or solo swimmer, even at that point they were still only bottled potential.

At the end of the day it is the journey that creates the channel swimmer, not merely the final landing point or recorded time.

Enjoy the journey.

Looking ahead

We have a night swim coming up on 26th June, starting 3am. If you need lights, please order in advance, you’ll need two green adventure lights. They can be hired or purchased.

Given that it’s such an early start, let’s make it a PJ & onesie theme!