Swimming always seems to start early. Sunday of the bridge 2 bridge challenge was no different and I was up at 04:45 to get ready for the safety swim. I even dragged my wife along with me, slightly cruel I know, but it was nice to have someone to share the pain with.
I was originally going to swim without my wetsuit but the weather was so bad the organisers asked if we could set an example and "suit up!" All the safety swimmers walked the first 4km, I don't recommend walking in a wetsuit and flip flops in a rain storm of biblical proportions for that sort of distance. Once the swimmers were split into their pods at the first feed stop we got to meet the brave guys and girls who were attempting the challenge despite the tail end of a hurricane. I was one of two safety swimmers looking after pod 11; once pod 11 were fed and watered we hopped in the Thames and started leg 2.
Now the whole point of being a safety swimmer was to guide the pod down the river making sure that we kept together, this meant that the safety swimmers were stronger swimmers than the ones in the pod and that way we could pace the group. For this reason I was glad of the wetsuit as I had to swim much slower than I would do normally and if I hadn't suited up I might have been a bit cold. Before long we were at the 2nd feed stop, with everyone swimming really well. The 3rd and 4th legs felt quite short in comparison. At some point we had a massive flock of geese fly overhead, luckily none decided to attack me (birds normally make a habit of attacking me while I'm swimming).
I don't like wetsuits usually as they have a tendancy to try and rip my neck to shreds and at the last feed station I ditched the suit as I was starting to have issues. The last leg was the shortest one, but managed to feel like one of the longest.
I'm pleased to report that we had no issues during our swim and we all made it to the Marlow bridge! Well done to everyone who swam, paddled etc!
From my point of view having safety swimmers worked really well, I've never seen it done before but I think having someone in the water to help pace, sight, and support you if you have difficulties while you are swimming really helps.
On the channel crossing I'm allowed to have a support swimmer get in occasionally, I hope it will help me, having someone else in the water if I need it.
I was originally going to swim without my wetsuit but the weather was so bad the organisers asked if we could set an example and "suit up!" All the safety swimmers walked the first 4km, I don't recommend walking in a wetsuit and flip flops in a rain storm of biblical proportions for that sort of distance. Once the swimmers were split into their pods at the first feed stop we got to meet the brave guys and girls who were attempting the challenge despite the tail end of a hurricane. I was one of two safety swimmers looking after pod 11; once pod 11 were fed and watered we hopped in the Thames and started leg 2.
Now the whole point of being a safety swimmer was to guide the pod down the river making sure that we kept together, this meant that the safety swimmers were stronger swimmers than the ones in the pod and that way we could pace the group. For this reason I was glad of the wetsuit as I had to swim much slower than I would do normally and if I hadn't suited up I might have been a bit cold. Before long we were at the 2nd feed stop, with everyone swimming really well. The 3rd and 4th legs felt quite short in comparison. At some point we had a massive flock of geese fly overhead, luckily none decided to attack me (birds normally make a habit of attacking me while I'm swimming).
I don't like wetsuits usually as they have a tendancy to try and rip my neck to shreds and at the last feed station I ditched the suit as I was starting to have issues. The last leg was the shortest one, but managed to feel like one of the longest.
I'm pleased to report that we had no issues during our swim and we all made it to the Marlow bridge! Well done to everyone who swam, paddled etc!
From my point of view having safety swimmers worked really well, I've never seen it done before but I think having someone in the water to help pace, sight, and support you if you have difficulties while you are swimming really helps.
On the channel crossing I'm allowed to have a support swimmer get in occasionally, I hope it will help me, having someone else in the water if I need it.