English Channel 2013

I love it when someone posts a link to this page. People ask me about my swimming, and I usually find a way to say, "I am not that good, but I will tell you that my photo is on the opening page of the Channel Swimming Associaitaions website." (If you look behind the girl who is all greased up, my daughter Mallory Mead, I am wearing the dark blue sweatshirt.):chug:

Thanks to all for the well wishes. I read Dover Solo in about 3 days...excellent resource! I'm in the process of reserving my Channel Pilot for the swim (yes, they are taking reservations 3 years out). I have selected the 1st neap tide in August 2013 as my time to swim the Channel. If you would care to follow my progress, I have created a simple blog to chronicle my exploits: channelswim2013.wordpress.com/ John

From a recent local news article on swimming the channel, it has good training info. www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp The swim is 24 miles from Dover to Calais, France, and it’s crucial that weather and the tides combine to offer optimum conditions. “We’ll each also have a boat pilot who will watch the tides and weather to decide the best time to swim,” Bakel said. “There’s a peninsula out there that can present problems. They talk about the gods of the Channel who suddenly bring weather changes. The tides pull you east and west, and if you’re late getting to the peninsula, the tide actually pushes you away.”

I am looking to do the channel my self in that same year. If you want to do it they say it books up to two years in advance for a boat, Mallory mead informed me of this today she is a former channels swimmer, she goes to many confrances on swimming and for marthon swims.I would also think about getting a coach that focuses on channel swimming. The coach I am working with does coach channel swimmers and I am training with one that he helped to cross the channel. He is now doing another marthon swim.You also want one that would be willing to go with you, that way they can make sure your swim stays on time and to feed you the right things. Read all you can tied is really tricky , goes in a circle in center, my coach warned me about getting stuck in it if you don't make fast time he said you could get stuck in it and its hard to get out. The time of year June-Aug is best. Also do some night swimming too cause you will either start or end in the dark or both. Right now I am swimming 10ks this year and next year trying to get into the Elderle Island swim 17miles. Best of wishes to you mabe I will see you in England, if you need anymore info feel free to contact me. This has become my life obsesson at the monent and read many books on the channel swim!

Thanks for the insight Aurora! I am in the process of booking my Pilot. I have contacted several swim coaches and am still trying to figure that part out. I highly doubt my swim coach will travel to the Channel with me. I plan on having my wife help me with my training here in Boise, Idaho. She has agreed to paddle along with me in the various reservoirs and lakes and assist me with my feeding and pace. She will know my swimming in and out by the time 2013 rolls around.

hey jkormanik it sounds like you got a good program down! I am booking for next fall for the channel! we moved it up beacause things worked out to do it. I was going to tell you that I am booking with Andy King, He is a great caption, dont know if you have one set. My coach worked with him for his last swim. Also just to pass info along to help you out, for feedings my coach has me on Carbo pro, It has worked well for long swims you can mix it with any sports drinks. Also in the way of coaches you can find ones that are in England that will do a written training plan for a year and then you dont have to pay travel coast of your coach they might be more willing to go on the boat. I know if you look into cambridge swimming there is a man named Edward Williams he does remot coaching and has crossed the channel him self. He has a vidioe on U tub that is quite impressive. Good luck and hope all goes well for you, any more info I find out I will pass along to you!

Aurora - thanks for the information. I just watched Edward's video on youtube. Very inspirational (as is virtually every video of a successful swim I have watched). I've booked with Reg Brickell as my pilot. Best of luck on your swim and training. Please keep in touch! John

We are set to go Sep 18-24th 2011 with Andy king so excited! I will let you know how it turns out and hope yours goes smashing!!

I hope all goes well on your crossing, yes the training is so important. I would say I dont know if I could do it on my own with out my coach. He has really helped me hit my times for my open water races and hopeful for 10k nationals I am with you on doing enough swimming it is so important, my coach and I do 2 swims a day and this summer are headed to a friends place were the live on the lake to do some 6 hour or more swims and to get my swim for the channel. It so much work but feel like I am living out a dream right now cant be live it is going to happen next year best wish to you hope it goes well in 4 months!!

"No set pattern for feeds and NO WATCHES allowed. Stopped 2 swimmers (next to each other) after 75 minutes and fed just one - and then sped off in the boat. I will say that the second swimmer looked a bit - neglected. Sent the fastest swimmer on a big loop so they were then last in the group (jeez- fastest swimmers really hate that). Back at the Island the swimmers were directed to come into the slipway after 2 laps (3k) and again some got fed and some didn't...and then sent in various directions. One swimmers came in and was ignored...eventually got the feeder's attention and was to told to do a 500m loop and come back....jeez if the drink wasn't then spilled before they got it....causing another 500m loop. One middle aged crew stripped naked to deliver one feed bottle - putting the swimmer off their feed and well life in general. Two swimmers arrived in for a feed to be greeted by a big round of applause for one....who was congratulated on a great swim and helped out the water - the other sent back around the Island. Another third set of swimmers were sent out with a boat - with a long swim back into the wind/current. Towards the very end some swimmers came in to feed to see their buddies enjoying hot soup, sandwiches and burgers. One came in to see the lastest soup pot in the world EMPTY (he didn't know that there was a second one!)" I assume you strip searched all the swimmers for weapons first.