Training
for 'The Ocean Gateway Challenge'
CHALLENGE TRAINING STATISTICS SUMMARY
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ULSWATER TRAINING
SWIM
For
Ulswater I set off at 9am and after only 200m my head was already
saying get out as water temp felt like 14C! However, I dug in and
the first hour and a half was very difficult - the cold was getting
to me. After 1.5 hours the water warmed up to about 16C and I was
much happier. I reached the end of Ulswater, which is 7.5 miles, in
3hrs 15 mins. Upon turning round to head back I was faced by a force
five gale. At times this slowed me down to just 1mph! To make matters
worse I nearly got run over by a boat!
The wind was throwing everybody all over the place. After 5 hours
I had enough and told the team that I could only manage half an hour
more. I passed the 10 mile marker and forced myself on to get to 12
miles. The last hour was horrendous , I was cold, tired and weather
beaten.
My total time for the 12.2 mile swim was 6hrs 10 mins. To make up
for the 2.5 mile shortfall the following day I jumped into the Mere.
Here's hoping the canal is warmer!
WINDERMERE TRAINING SWIMS
The training reason for swimming the full length of Windermere (10.5miles)
on two consecutive days was to closely simulate the conditions and
distances that James will experience on the Ocean Gateway Challenge
in September. The swims will be the longest James has attempted to
date.
DAY
ONE – Saturday 26th July 2008
SWIM COURSE –NORTH (AMBLESIDE) TO SOUTH (LAKESIDE HOTEL)
TOTAL SWIM TIME – 5hours, 27minutes (10.3miles)
DAY TWO – Sunday 27th July 2008
SWIM COURSE –SOUTH (FELL FOOT PARK) - NORTH (AMBLESIDE)
TOTAL SWIM TIME – 6hours, 50minutes (12.28miles)
CONISTON
TRAINING SWIM
Coniston was a night swim comprising 5.5 miles. Completed in 2 hrs
30 mins but it was mentally very tough as the water temperature was
at 13C. Next stop is Windermere, 10.5miles (a little warmer and a
little longer than Coniston) on Saturday 2nd August. (Attached imaged)
RIVINGTON
TRAINING SWIM
Rivington was a
4 mile swim. Completed in 1hr 48mins coming 6th out of 34 men
_____________________________
To
prepare for the world first swim, James has had to undergo an intense
training schedule, through the help of ASA Open Water Swim Coach,
David Quartermain. David’s experience and knowledge have been
vital in James’ training for this swim and he is no stranger
to marathon swims, coaching four different people to swim the length
of the channel.
The training
for the challenge started 10 months before the arranged challenge date
of 5th/6th September. James began his swim training seriously in November
2007, although prior to that he swam regularly to enable him to successfully
complete two Ironman triathlons in 2007.
To prepare
for his challenge James has progressively built up the time that he
swims, so he now completes over 10 hours a week spread over six swim
sessions. In addition James had his swim stroke analysed by underwater
video to iron out any stroke faults and improve his, already good, technique.
The progressive increase in distance protects James from the risk of
getting shoulder injuries caused by overuse.
At the peak of his training from the end June to mid August the time
spent in the water by James will increase to 16 hours a week spread
over eight sessions.
James has been in a strict routine of training six days a week, with
daily tasks and drills to help him adapt to everything from the cold
water to the stamina conditioning. James’ schedule is as follows:
• Monday:
4000m – Mainly drills / technique focus
•Tuesday:
3500m – Lot of IM work (Fly, Back, Breast) to develop overall
fitness / prevent injury
•Wednesday:
5000m – Distance focus, longer swim sets
•Thursday:
5000m – Open Water Training – speed work plus weigh training.
•Saturday:
- 10,000m – Open Water Training - anywhere from 2-4 hours –
long, slow distance
•Sunday:
4000m – Recovery session - Mainly drills / technique focus
David Quartermain
added;
“The next few months are critical to James’ challenge and
he must complete some difficult open water swims between now and August,
if he is to develop the stamina and strength to complete the 36 miles
in September.”
Open Water Swims
•Budworth
Mere – 3 miles (Completed – James came an impressive
5th in a time of 1 hour 12 minutes)
•Rivington
Lake – 3 miles (rivington was a 4 mile swim. Completed
in 1hr 48mins coming 6th out of 34 men)
•Lake
Bala – 6 miles
•Coniston
Water – 5.5 miles (Coniston
was a night swim comprising 5.5 miles. Completed in 2 hrs 30 mins but
it was mentally very tough as the water temperature was at 13C. Next
stop is Windermere, 10.5miles (a little warmer and a little longer than
Coniston) on Saturday 2nd August.)
•Lake
Windermere x 2 – 21 miles
•Ulswater
x 2 – 14 miles
His training
will be completed when he completes the 36 miles of the Manchester Ship
Canal, never before attempted and, maybe, never again!
James
(left) with trainer David Quartermain (right)
on the Manchester Ship Canal
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