Attempt on the Channel!

The background to this should probably explain that I have now wanted to swim the channel for nearly twenty years. This is not supreme lack of motivation on my part it’s just that for the last ten I figured I was probably too old and it was an ambition that should be put aside.

I’m 26.

After David Walliams’ successful attempt last year and after doing a bit of research which puts the average Channel swimmer’s ago a good decade ahead of mine I’ve decided to bite the bullet and finally put the challenge to bed. I haven’t done much proper swim training over the last few years, especially over the last year where officer training with the RAF pretty much took over everything, but in 2006 I completed Ironman Germany so I figure I must have some predisposition to endurance challenges! Having been built for comfort not for speed, challenges where just to finish is a huge achievement have always been my bag and adventure racing, ultra-marathons and long-distance tri are all part of my repertoire. However, realising that the Channel is pretty much the equivalent of a DECA-Ironman (on a good day!) puts the Challenge in its rightful place, at the top of the list!

Starting early January 2008 in a cold and wet Northumberland here is the diary of my attempt on the Channel which I have scheduled (hopefully) for Summer 2009.