How long is your English Channel swim?

The English Channel is a 350-mile stretch of the Atlantic Ocean between England and France. In France it is called La Manche, the sleeve. At it's widest, the Channel is 150 miles (240 km). Channel swimmers cross at the shortest distance, 21 miles or 19 nautical miles from Dover, England to Cape Gris-Nez, France. But 21 miles is as the crow flies! The changing tides will push and pull me along so I will swim a bit more than 21 miles. The faster I swim, the less I will be affected by the changing tides, so the shorter the distance I will swim. Swims starting in France are no longer allowed.

In swimming distances, the Channel is 38,000 yards. One of our typical Masters workouts is about 3,000 to 4,000 yards. So it's like doing 10 workouts in a row.

The Channel Tunnel, or Chunnel, is 34.4 miles and runs under the Strait of Dover from Dover to Calais. During my swim, I will mostly swim along or criss-cross over the Chunnel as the tide ebbs and flows during my swim. I've been through the Chunnel on a train to Paris and it seemed like we were in that tunnel a really long time!

Look Ma, no sharks!

I often get asked if there are sharks in the English Channel. I have assured my mother that I am not at risk of being attacked by a shark in the English Channel. My biggest marine life threat will be jelly fish.

I don't know that sharks do not exist in the waters between England and France, but according to a recent report on the International Shark File website titled "ISAF 2007 Worldwide Shark Attack Summary," attacks in the UK are pretty rare:

"As in recent years, the majority (61%: 43 attacks) of unprovoked attacks occurred in North American waters. Traditionally, half of the world's attacks occur in United States (including Hawaii) waters. The total of 50 attacks in the U.S. waters was higher than the declines recorded in 2003-2006 (ranging from 30-40), returning to 2000-2001 levels of 53 and 50, respectively. Elsewhere, attacks occurred in Australia (13 - up from 7 in 2006 but similar to 2004-2005 totals of 13 and 10), South Africa (2), and New Caledonia (2), with single incidents reported from Fiji, Ecuador, Mexico, and New Zealand."

According to ISAF, my odds are 1 in 11.5 million for being attacked by a shark, and 0 in 264.1 million for being killed by a shark. (ISAF Shark Statistics)

Sometimes I bump into a stick while I'm swimming and it startles me. To ensure that I get a good night sleep before my swim I will pass on watching JAWS.

More information about sharks, research and conservation can be found at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

I Couldn't Resist

R.I.P Fish

Fish Rescue in Walden

My friend Tommy and I were swimming in Walden after work yesterday. It a cool, cloudy day, but according to our thermometer the water had warmed a few degrees, 60F. As we swam through the first coves on the left side, we stopped to look at the fish. I tried, as I always do to catch one, but the fish got away, as they always do.

We stopped to look at some smaller fish in a shallow cove. We had just started swimming again when I noticed another fish. Something about the way he was moving didn't see right. I stopped and went back to get a closer look. Even though I couldn't see a hook or fishing line, I could tell by the way he was struggling that the line was wrapped around a branch. Tommy stopped swimming and looked back. I called, "he's stuck."

Ducking under water, I located the line while Tommy tried to untangle the fish. The line was wrapped too tight so we broke the some of the branches so we didn't have to work underwater. For the next 5 mintues, we stood in shallow water trying to free our little fish. I held the fish while Tommy tried to work the hook free from the fish's mouth. The hook was in pretty good and getting the last bit out without trying to hurt the fish anymore was hard.

When we did get our fish free, I set him underwater. At first he didn't move. The we watched as he swum along the bottom, doing corkscrews toward his injured side. He didn't seem to have much fight left.

We didn't have any pockets or any place to put the line, hook and bait that was still on the line. Tommy dug the hook into a piece of wood so it wouldn't be exposed and we threw it into the bushes. Then I checked under water and saw our fish lying in the leaves and muck on the bottom. He didn't make it after all.

Now I was cold because I didn't wear a wetsuit so we had to start swimming again so I could get warm. I felt tight from the cold while I was swimming. We didn't make any more stops until we got back to the beach.

We decided to nickname that spot Fish Hook Cove. I'm sure Thoureau had his own name for the cove across the pond from his cabin, but I will remember it as the place we freed a fish.

Marathon Swimming is a Team Sport

I've always thought of swimming as an individual sport until I started competing in long distance swimming. One of the things I enjoy about marathon swimming is the partnership between the swimmer, my support crew, the boat pilot and crew and Mother Nature.

Before a race I try to learn as much as I can by going out on the course with the pilot and crew. I look for landmarks that I will be able to see from the water and note the sight lines between them. The pilot notes the water depths in case it is too shallow for the boat to follow where I will be swimming. I know in these spots that I have to stay on course and not follow my boat. I learn which direction the tides run in relation to my swim course.

Before the swim I prepare my supplies and discuss my feeding schedule with my crew. Without getting the enough nutrition on a long swim, my crew is likely to end up with a cranky swimmer. On each swim we learn a little more about what works and what doesn't with the food and the feeding system.

I also rely on my pilot and crew for my safety. In the water, a swimmer can see very little. In areas with heavy boat traffic, the crew on the boat has to keep a lookout for other boats, jet skis, ferries and tankers that don't expect a swimmer to be in the water. Last summer I was support crew for swimmer in the Boston Harbor and I had to constantly watch for recreational boats coming from all directions. Sometimes it is necessary to keep an eye out for things that like to nibble at swimmers.

Without other swimmers to chat with at the wall, the crew is the only source of encouragement and entertainment. A smile or thumbs up are usually all I need, but there are times I need something a little stronger. Out of sight of any landmarks, I watch the activity in the boat like it was TV. I have something to look forward to when I see my crew start to prepare my next feeding. It means I get a short break, a snack and a few words with my friends. The crew is usually amused by their new pet. I've also learned not to ask how far I have swum or how much farther. The answer is always 8 miles!

Last summer I stayed with a host family for the Lake George 41K race. They opened their home to me and treated me and my crew like family. Staying with them made preparations easy and I was happy to have their help and support.

Training for marathon swims, especially something like the English Channel is time consuming and tiring. I have relied on the support of my CMSC teammates and coaches to get me through many workouts. Thanks, Scott. I will miss you!