Lessons Learnt from a Week in Gozo

Last week Mark and I spent a week on the small island of Gozo off Malta, on a Long Distance Swimming training camp with two of our other friends Tory and Deirdre. We were lucky enough to be joined on the camp by some channel newbies and some experienced channel swimmers including GB record holder Becky 'Our Becky' Lewis.

The camp was meant to be four hard core days swimming with seminars and a rest or two in between. What actually happened was 8 minutes on day 1 - swimming aborted due to force 6 winds and jelly fish. Day 2 we went from 0 to heroes with a gallant 6 hours, then day 3 it was 3 hours for Mark and only a short paddle for me, followed by short paddles for the remaining two days, one due to my sickness and two due to weather. Not the 4 intense days of training I expected.


Special mention has to go to Irene, who hails from Brisbane, Australia. At the tender age of 72, Irene is due to be part of a 4 person Channel Relay this summer. She is one fabulous swimmer and tough as nails. Having not swum in 15c water she pulled out a 2.5 hr swim on day two and a 3 hour swim on day 3, qualifying her for her channel relay and impressing the pants of the rest of us :) Can't wait to catch up with her on the beach in Dover.

Having said that, the week taught me a lot of things.....

My top 10 learnings: 

1. Go with the flow - the best layed plans will go astray

2. Always come prepared for the unexpected and carry backups - I rocked up with a costume that wasn't suitable for a 6 hr swim thinking we were doing two shorter swims. Which resulted in me swimming with my costume around my waist and flashing my boobs for part of the 6 hours to avoid too much chaffing.

3. You can't control the weather and conditions - not safe = no swimming

4. You can push your body beyond what you think you're capable of - I managed 6 hours with a rotten head cold and cough, Deirdre having done not a lot of training due to injury swam for 6 hours, Tory and Mark along with the others who'd never done a 6 hour before pulled one out of the bag too.

5. A decent layer of fat really does help - 6 hours in 15c and I wasn't cold or hungry

6. The demons who are in your head will come out - it's your responsibility to tell them to get stuffed, 'man up princess' and just keep swimming.

For the more light hearted......

7. Sea poos are possible, but try not to get yourself caught in the brown cloud

8. Nick Adams will always win a gibber competition on his own terms

9. Don't challenge Deirdre to a potato eating contest she will beat you hands down - 1) she's vegetarian 2) she's Irish 3) they're potatoes

10. And finally......... A night off drinking is acceptable but ...... dont challenge 'Our Becky' to a jager bomb/shot drinking competition she may be the GB record holder for the Channel but you'll be under the table before she is.