There are now only four months left until my attempt to swim Cook Strait. The first three months of training have seemingly flown and with a steady increase in training over that time I am on track to be fit enough on the day to complete the swim. However this will be dependent on my ability to withstand cold temperatures and the weather and tidal conditions on the day. Philip Rush will co-ordinate the swim on the day and I believe I will be in very good hands on that score. It is up to me to do the hard work and for my support team to deliver me to Wellington in peak condition thanks to coach Carmel in the first week of April (from the 2nd of April, not the 1st as has been suggested by some witty individuals).
I would also like to acknowledge the huge commitment Carmel has made in agreeing to undertake the task of preparing me for this swim and also those who are giving up their time to help fundraise, set up and maintain this site and also to support my training with hours spent in the sea. Thanks to those who will accompany me on the support craft and I appreciate the extra hours of training you are putting in to ensure that you can be of the utmost assistance to me on the day.
I have been training for this swim now for fourteen weeks and have covered seemingly endless kilometres in the pool and sea. Mind you, I love the water and can’t think of a better thing to be doing. To the best of my knowledge this is not due to any amphibian ancestry although people keep inspecting my hands and feet to see if there is any sign of webbing developing. There has also been some recent talk of mermaids so I need to stop here and state now for the record… I can honestly say that I have never, intentionally or otherwise, been guilty of luring any sailors to their doom (or to anything else for that matter)!!!!!
During this time I have spent many hours training at the Roskill Aquasport pool and have been privileged to meet many fellow pool users who are interested in my progress. Much helpful advice has selflessly been offered me. Here are three examples that spring to mind. One gentleman who had just been told the reason for my prolonged training session leaned over the lane rope and with a concerned look on his face said, “You know there’s a ferry, don’t you.” Another felt the need to tell me on seeing me exit the spa pool that I would not encounter currents that warm in the Strait and a third gentleman informed me that he had just flown over Cook Strait the day before and it hadn’t taken that long at all. I acknowledge the spirit in which this advice is given. It brightens times which may otherwise become repetitive and boring. I’ve also found that it’s hard to laugh and stay afloat at the same time.
Carmel tries to keep my training sessions interesting and prepare me for anything I may encounter. The other morning I had a rather slow woman in the lane with me and although it was nice to have the company, this required some navigation and sighting due to the fact that she made little splash and was difficult to detect. I kept thinking yep, this is going to prepare me for when I meet one of these in the middle of the ocean. Again, swimming and laughing are a difficult combination.
Recently coach Carmel informed me that I had to leave the warm waters of the Roskill Aquasport pool with its friendly, supportive and helpful staff and patrons and venture forth to the outdoor chills of the Parnell saltwater Baths to return only for Masters and torture…woops… I mean squad training sessions (really Carmel…59 X 100’s!!!!!) necessary to maintain speed while building endurance. This is a 60 meter pool and for those of us who are mathematically inept, it takes some doing to convert programs designed for a 25 meter pool into the appropriate format (well, it would have except for the fact there was a helpful life guard with a calculator on hand). For those not familiar with this pool, it is a favourite place of training for the wetsuited variety of open water swimmer, therefore during hours of training one passes by many black shadows. With a great deal of imagination one could consider this a simulation of a Dolphin visitation in Cook Strait (which we are hoping for). Best not to consider what else they may resemble.
Rejection is a word that comes to mind regarding the shift outdoors and a certain empathy for those children packed off to boarding school in the past, present or future. However when I felt the warmth of the sun on my back the other morning it brought back happy childhood memories of many hours spent in the Central baths (no longer in existence) in St Georges Gate, Wanganui, which was also an outdoor unheated pool and I thought aha, I might have the best deal here, especially as the weather continues to improve. In fact the beach is also looking more inviting by the day and a great incentive as we embark on the last four months of preparation.
