The Rottnest Channel Swim 2011 is definitely a swim that will not be forgotten!
After 4 months of following the black line it was time for the final preparations heading into the 2011 Rottnest Channel Swim. Having swum over 200km, run the same distance and spent many Sunday morning’s at Ocean Swims it was now time to turn my focus to the 19.7km swim across the Indian Ocean.
After 4 months of following the black line it was time for the final preparations heading into the 2011 Rottnest Channel Swim. Having swum over 200km, run the same distance and spent many Sunday morning’s at Ocean Swims it was now time to turn my focus to the 19.7km swim across the Indian Ocean.
Destined for Perth on Tuesday 22nd February. The morning saw final preparations of a short swim, long massage to finally relax the muscles and confirm that I had everything I needed. However, during the final 30 minutes before heading to the airport tragic news came through of the earthquake in my hometown - Christchurch, New Zealand. This day would now be forever etched in my mind and would never be forgotten.
As I boarded the plane for Perth I was lucky enough to have made contact with my immediate family and learn that they were all safe. Viewing the devastation was heart wrenching and knowing that Christchurch would never be the same again was hard to comprehend. However, I knew that I needed to turn my focus back to the swim and use the heart break when times got tough during the swim.
I arrived in Perth to amazing weather and knew that hydration was going to be the key to success over the next few days. Picking Mum up from International Airport and heading for Cottesloe was a relief. We settled in to our accommodation and planned the next few days in regards to swimming, nutrition, hydration and final preparations to ensure that all the support crew knew what their role would be during the race.
An easy swim on Wednesday and Thursday was good for relaxing the muscles and still keeping a feel for the water. I also picked up the team (Muppets) and my support crew. Everyone was in good spirits and looking forward to either swimming or being part of my support crew.
On Friday we had a sleep in and headed to the briefing in 37 degree heat which saw a compulsory swim after to try and cool down. It was then back to the house to rest and ensure that everything was coming together as planned.
Nutrition, hydration and supplies were dropped off at the boat ready for the next morning. Support crew were also introduced to the boat driver (Simon) and shown where they needed to be. It was now time to head back to the house and relax, nothing else was needed to be done before Saturday.
Friday night dinner and all important meal in preparation for the swim as eating at 4am is a real struggle! My favourite and most successful meal was cooked - chilli, prawn and asparagus pasta. I can’t thank Damien enough for cooking it for me!
4am - Saturday 26th February 2011 and the 3 alarms signalled it was time to put everything I had planned and practised in action!
A quick breakfast and a bottle of water and everyone was out the door at 4.30am to ensure that the support crew were at the boat by 5am and Vlad, Becci and I headed for the registration area.
After registering it was time to reflect on what needed to be done over the next 5-6hours. I coated my body in Vaseline and anti-stinger cream (that would last all of 1km) and headed for the start line – looking like a shiny boxer ready to fight!
Becci and Vlad were ready to go and had made contact with the boat so I knew everything was going to plan and I wouldn’t be left without paddlers or a boat at the 1500m mark - as I would not have been able to continue past 1500 meters with no boat support.
5.45am - GO! We were off and swimming. I entered the water with great caution due to rocks being just below the surface and headed towards Rottnest Island. Well less than 1km in and the stingers were out in force. Even after last year, I thought I had got used to them but far from it. Being stung four times in the first kilometre, I thought I had got away with it but it was to be a long way until the number of stingers subsided.
I found Vlad and Becci easily and they then led me to the boat prior to the 1500m mark and I knew then I was on my way. With reasonable conditions I was on my way and there were around 10 boats in front of me. Happy with how I was positioned it was now up to Simon to lead me to Rottnest on the most direct route.
An easy swim on Wednesday and Thursday was good for relaxing the muscles and still keeping a feel for the water. I also picked up the team (Muppets) and my support crew. Everyone was in good spirits and looking forward to either swimming or being part of my support crew.
On Friday we had a sleep in and headed to the briefing in 37 degree heat which saw a compulsory swim after to try and cool down. It was then back to the house to rest and ensure that everything was coming together as planned.
Nutrition, hydration and supplies were dropped off at the boat ready for the next morning. Support crew were also introduced to the boat driver (Simon) and shown where they needed to be. It was now time to head back to the house and relax, nothing else was needed to be done before Saturday.
Friday night dinner and all important meal in preparation for the swim as eating at 4am is a real struggle! My favourite and most successful meal was cooked - chilli, prawn and asparagus pasta. I can’t thank Damien enough for cooking it for me!
4am - Saturday 26th February 2011 and the 3 alarms signalled it was time to put everything I had planned and practised in action!
A quick breakfast and a bottle of water and everyone was out the door at 4.30am to ensure that the support crew were at the boat by 5am and Vlad, Becci and I headed for the registration area.
After registering it was time to reflect on what needed to be done over the next 5-6hours. I coated my body in Vaseline and anti-stinger cream (that would last all of 1km) and headed for the start line – looking like a shiny boxer ready to fight!
Becci and Vlad were ready to go and had made contact with the boat so I knew everything was going to plan and I wouldn’t be left without paddlers or a boat at the 1500m mark - as I would not have been able to continue past 1500 meters with no boat support.
5.45am - GO! We were off and swimming. I entered the water with great caution due to rocks being just below the surface and headed towards Rottnest Island. Well less than 1km in and the stingers were out in force. Even after last year, I thought I had got used to them but far from it. Being stung four times in the first kilometre, I thought I had got away with it but it was to be a long way until the number of stingers subsided.
I found Vlad and Becci easily and they then led me to the boat prior to the 1500m mark and I knew then I was on my way. With reasonable conditions I was on my way and there were around 10 boats in front of me. Happy with how I was positioned it was now up to Simon to lead me to Rottnest on the most direct route.
I worked through the first 7km trying to keep an even stroke. (Taking 3-4km to warm the body up and feel lighter in the water). I was stopped by a container ship which gave me an opportunity to eat my first jelly & fruit. I was then away again and the next 3-4km went very quickly and smoothly. Vlad and Becci keeping my spirits high and ensuring that I was continually hydrated and well fed.
Unbeknown to me at this stage I was sitting second female and Vlad and Becci made the call not to tell me for the next 4-5km as they knew I would increase the speed and then struggle over the last 5km to maintain my pace, speed and stroke. It was to be the right call!
At the 13km mark I hit the wall or as everyone describes it went into the black hole!!
It was time to start thinking of the work that I had done to get myself to this point and the sacrifices that I had made and the sacrifices that those close to me had made!
I then took myself back to my hometown and thought about the devastation that I had seen and how much more pain they were going through at home.
The stingers, sore arms, sore legs is minimal to the pain that Christchurch had endured. This then spurred me on for the next 4km.
At the 13km mark I hit the wall or as everyone describes it went into the black hole!!
It was time to start thinking of the work that I had done to get myself to this point and the sacrifices that I had made and the sacrifices that those close to me had made!
I then took myself back to my hometown and thought about the devastation that I had seen and how much more pain they were going through at home.
The stingers, sore arms, sore legs is minimal to the pain that Christchurch had endured. This then spurred me on for the next 4km.
At the 16km mark one of my favourite quotes emerged thanks to Becci - “Pain doesn’t last forever, but results do!” My response can’t be repeated, however, it gave me the momentum that I needed to pick up into the next gear!
I was also informed that I was sitting second female and 7th overall. I knew then it was time to pick it up and increased my stroke rate. It was time to start picking off the boys. I knew if I did this I would slowly move forward and in contention for first placed female and top 5 finish overall.
At the 17km mark I had overtaken two of the boys and I was now sitting even with the other female. I knew I had only 3km of pain to endure and luckily the stingers had decided to move towards the bottom of the ocean. It was one less obstacle to think about.
It was also the point at where there were a number of media boats taking photos along with the Channel 10 helicopter circling. Not realising it was the media I begun to ask questions about what else was swimming close to me. Quickly informed it was just media I carried on not thinking anymore about the other sea life.
And there it was the yellow buoy - that meant less than 2km to go. The aim was now the double yellow buoys where the boat veered off but not without supporting me to as close to the finish line as possible.
But not without drama when a spectator boat cut straight in front of me, I had swum 19km without injury and I was nearly taken out by the boat. I understand that the boat driver learnt a new language from my support crew!
I was also informed that I was sitting second female and 7th overall. I knew then it was time to pick it up and increased my stroke rate. It was time to start picking off the boys. I knew if I did this I would slowly move forward and in contention for first placed female and top 5 finish overall.
At the 17km mark I had overtaken two of the boys and I was now sitting even with the other female. I knew I had only 3km of pain to endure and luckily the stingers had decided to move towards the bottom of the ocean. It was one less obstacle to think about.
It was also the point at where there were a number of media boats taking photos along with the Channel 10 helicopter circling. Not realising it was the media I begun to ask questions about what else was swimming close to me. Quickly informed it was just media I carried on not thinking anymore about the other sea life.
And there it was the yellow buoy - that meant less than 2km to go. The aim was now the double yellow buoys where the boat veered off but not without supporting me to as close to the finish line as possible.
But not without drama when a spectator boat cut straight in front of me, I had swum 19km without injury and I was nearly taken out by the boat. I understand that the boat driver learnt a new language from my support crew!
Yellow buoys were now well behind me and I was heading for the final red buoys where I would say goodbye to Vlad and Becci until the finish line. It was at this point that I saw the feet of the person in front of me splashing. I then picked up the pace and tried to catch them. It was Oli Wilkinson and after nearly chicking him last year, I came even closer this year.
As I rounded the final corner, there it was - THE FINISH. I was nearly there and as I completed the final strokes, I tried to get to my feet and stumbled. After being on my front for 4 hours 56 minutes, my feet decided not work. I then headed for the finish chute to be greeted by camera’s.
As I rounded the final corner, there it was - THE FINISH. I was nearly there and as I completed the final strokes, I tried to get to my feet and stumbled. After being on my front for 4 hours 56 minutes, my feet decided not work. I then headed for the finish chute to be greeted by camera’s.
I HAD DONE IT! I was 1st Female across the line and 3rd overall.
The next 5-10mins were a blur and all I wanted to do was lie down and see my support crew. They had been the ones to guide me to this position and I wanted to celebrate with them. I had swam the distance but it is a team effort and I wouldn’t have been there without all of them.
It was now time to relax and reflect on what I had achieved!
The next 5-10mins were a blur and all I wanted to do was lie down and see my support crew. They had been the ones to guide me to this position and I wanted to celebrate with them. I had swam the distance but it is a team effort and I wouldn’t have been there without all of them.
It was now time to relax and reflect on what I had achieved!
I can’t thank the following people enough for helping me achieve back to back wins:
I can’t thank the following people enough for helping me achieve back to back wins:
Coach Vlad - the tireless hours that you have put in and being there to guide me to the end
Damien - the pasta, the hissy fits & grumpy moods and the endless support that you give me.
Mum, Dad, Kate & David - your continued support, and listening when things are good and bad.
Coach Vlad - the tireless hours that you have put in and being there to guide me to the end
Damien - the pasta, the hissy fits & grumpy moods and the endless support that you give me.
Mum, Dad, Kate & David - your continued support, and listening when things are good and bad.
Becci - the best paddler and friend that anyone could ask for.
Simon & G - the most amazing boat driver and support crew anyone could ask for.
Brad & Andrew - to have my cousin and his son on the boat for support was awesome.
Hanby and Spit-ii - the two guys that make me laugh when I am struggling in training and for helping keep my nerves at bay.
Each of you contributed in some way to this success and I can’t thank any of you enough.
Simon & G - the most amazing boat driver and support crew anyone could ask for.
Brad & Andrew - to have my cousin and his son on the boat for support was awesome.
Hanby and Spit-ii - the two guys that make me laugh when I am struggling in training and for helping keep my nerves at bay.
Each of you contributed in some way to this success and I can’t thank any of you enough.
WHAT NEXT…… Heading to FIJI and doubling the Distance!!