Al Gale
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Roller Coaster Training

28/5/2014

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My blog, to date, has mostly been focussing and reporting on the success of my progress along the preparatory route to Channel swimming success.  But not every swim is better, or even as good, as the last.  Today was a huge reminder of this.

Following on from a very successful and recent 10km swim in Eton Dorney Lake, today I set myself a goal of three hours swimming in the cold waters of Tooting Bec.  This seemed like a very realistic target on the face of things.  But an anecdote from Nuala Muir-Cochrane, a successful Channel swimmer, quickly hit home.

For some reason that it’s impossible to describe, temperature in a pool feels absolutely nothing like the same temperature in a lake or the sea.

And it’s more than purely psychological.  The water in Dorney seemed warm on Monday.  We were floating around for a minute or two prior to the start, and I remember thinking it was very pleasant.    I almost, almost thought it was warm.

Not so today!  When I put my face into the water today, I really felt the cold.  I felt chilly from the start, and I soon had to face the fact that three hours would find me in hospital... or so exhausted from fighting the cold that my swimming would be over for the week.

Bitterly disappointed with myself, I climbed out of the water after less than an hour.  I was not tired, nor was I as cold as when I’d been when swimming in five degrees.  But once I knew that my original goal was not going to be realised, my resolve collapsed.  It was a massive setback after the encouraging four hours of exposure so recently beforehand.

The rest of today has left me to rue my lack of mental strength.  It’s always so easy to do that when you’re warm: simply promise yourself you’ll ‘man up’ next time.  But the negativity has gnawed away at me all day, and in the end I have decided to go back to the pool tonight and do another hour.  That still won’t make up the initial three I intended, but it will make me feel a lot better... once I’ve warmed up again.


One truth remains:  nothing about this challenge will have been easy!

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Major Milestone #2

26/5/2014

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Cold and wet... before the swim!
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4 hours 12 minutes and 14 seconds later.
It was warm and sunny when Alistair MacLeod and I set off from Worcester towards Windsor, and it was for that reason that I forgot to take my coat.  When we arrived at the lake for today's event, however, it was just nine degrees, and it was pouring with rain.  We had to park some distance away from the start, and I was soaked by the time I arrived at registration - soaked and cold.

For most of the contestants, the Eton Dorney 10km race was just that - a race.  I used it instead as continued cold water acclimatisation.  My indoor swims tend to be at a steady 2.5km/hr, so I anticipated this swim taking me in the order of four hours - if I could maintain the same pace outdoors as I do in the warm water!

Compared to the 12 degrees at Windermere just over a week ago, Dorney was like a bath at 16.5 degrees.  It was a shame that the outside temperature was so cold and wet.

It must be mentioned that the vast majority of contestants choosing the 10km distance then swam in wetsuits.  Only a few of us swam without.  The lady giving the briefing thought we were mad.

The event consisted of swimming 1.25km up one side of the Olympic rowing venue, then down again the other side....  four times, in an anticlockwise direction.  I mention this last fact as it served to make things somewhat difficult for those of us who breathe to the right, as it was awkward to ascertain where we were, and if we were swimming in a straight line.  For the first lap I swam straight past the feeding stations, not having looked over to the left to see them.

Laps one and two were completed in 59 minutes, and then an hour and a minute respectively.  After that my speed dropped off a smidgen, and I finished the event in four hours and twelve minutes. 

I was one of the very last out of the water, but the only aspect of timing for me was of continued exposure to the colder water.  Next week I have a six hour qualifying swim back in Windermere, and no matter how fast I swim, it's the time that is all-important, not the distance.

All in all I feel comfortable and confident that I can now complete the qualifier satisfactorily, and today's milestone was an excellent confidence boost towards that important event.

Don't forget that it's not too late to donate.  I'm still trying to achieve £10,000, so please visit my JustGiving page and dig deep....  like I'm having to!
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Major Milestone #1

17/5/2014

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Looking far happier than I felt! Nice hat, eh?
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Dr. Julie Bradshaw and me (that's a high visibility safety float I'm wearing)
Dr. Julie Bradshaw MBE - holder of 20 world records, and my mentor for my Channel Swim attempt - had been assuring me that my continued exposure to the cold water throughout the winter would pay dividends.  

But self-doubt is a killer.

To date, I had been struggling to endure cold water exposure for durations of longer than two hours - pitifully short when compared to the 16 hours I knew I would need to be capable of.

Julie and I had planned two meetings at Lake Windermere.  On Friday 16th, we met for the first lake swim.  During the three hour drive I explained to Alistair MacLeod (my boat crew for the actual swim) that his main duty for today was not to feed me, but rather to ensure I did not get out of the water in less than three hours - no matter what I said later.

The day was forecast to be the hottest of 2014 so far - but someone forgot to tell the local weather that fact.  When I stood on the pebble beach in little more than swimming trunks and hat, ready to enter the water, it was overcast, cloudy, and there was a cold wind.  I really, really, did not want to get into the lake.  I was scared almost beyond action: scared of failing a three hour swim miserably, and in front of the documentary film crew too!

Julie told me that the water was around 12 degrees.  That was good news in that it was not colder than Tooting Bec, but bad news in that I could not see where I was going to pull another hour's worth of cold water endurance from.

Despite the lake being massive, I was restricted to a small swimming area within which Ali and Julie could see me from the shore.  I had to dodge moored boats and swim round safety buoys.  Each 'circuit' took me eight minutes.

The water was choppy due to the wind and to the wash from the tourist boats.  This actually helped take my mind off the cold.  I cruised past the fifty minute mark before I knew it.

To the worry and slight annoyance of Ali and Julie, I changed our agreed plan and decided not to stop every hour to feed.  Instead I carried on for an hour and a half.  I wanted to 'break the back' of it, and know I 'only' had to do it all once more.  Coming out of the water into the cold wind and then having to get back into the water was not something I wanted to do twice!

Suffice to say that I survived, and achieved three hours without Ali or Julie having to force me back into the water.  Despite knowing I can swim for six hours in warm water, this cold water swim was a huge mental milestone, and a very encouraging performance.

My next milestone is a 10km open water swim in Eaton Dorney on May 26.  After that, my second meeting with Julie is planned for 6th June.  This latter one is crucial, as it is the mandatory six hour qualifier swim required before I am allowed to commence my actual Channel attempt.

Successfully completing this three hour swim has put me in huge confidence for the qualifier.

Bring it on!
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Metro Newspaper - Fundraiser of the Day

15/5/2014

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This morning, dragging my weary and reluctant body to the cold water of Tooting Bec, I received an unexpected morale boost courtesy of the Metro newspaper.

A few weeks back I submitted my Channel swim story to them, hoping to appear in the 'Fundraiser of the Day' feature they have been running.

Knowing that there must be a plethora of hopefuls also submitting their stories, and not having heard any confirmation back from the paper, it was quite a surprise to see my own picture and name in today's edition.

Thus far already, by 11:00, I have received in excess of an additional 30 donations totaling more than an extra £150 - which is fantastic!

Thank you to everyone who has donated - many of them anonymous - and to the Metro newspaper! 

All donations go directly to Acorns.

Text HOTG77 £3 to 70070 to add your own contribution.

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Acorns 24 Hour Swimathon - David Lloyd's, Worcester

12/5/2014

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In their continuing support of Acorns Children's Hospice, and of my Channel swim to raise £10,000 for Acorns, David Lloyd's in Worcester are holding a 24 hour swimathon.

The event is to be held over Friday 13th - Saturday 14th July.  Both members and non-members can sign up to secure half-hour slots in the indoor pool, where a lane will be dedicated to the event.  

The aim is to ensure that one person is swimming at all times during the 24 hour period, and to see how far we can all swim in that time!  

Ever fancied doing a swim at half past two in the morning?  Now's your chance!

All that is asked is that you raise some sponsorship towards my goal of £10,000.

Contact the club for more details, email Mandie Fitzgerald of Acorns, or ask at reception at David Lloyd's, Worcester.

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Acorns Open Day

6/5/2014

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Anyone who has heard one of my talks on our experience with Harry and Acorns will have heard me say, 'If you ever get the opportunity to go along and see the hospice, please do - I guarantee it is nothing like the mental image you have built up!'

Well now you do have the chance.  

Acorns in Worcester is holding an Open Day on Saturday 10th May.  Naturally this is by appointment only, so if you would like to go and see the facilities that your kind donations contribute towards, please contact Mandie Fitzgerald.  It could well be a life-changing experience.

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'Acorns day' at David Lloyd's, Worcester

2/5/2014

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Saturday 3rd May is 'Acorns Day' at David Lloyd's, Worcester.  The club is showing its on-going commitment to the support of the midlands-based children's charity, and potential new David Lloyd members are welcome to come along and find out more about the health club, as well as joining existing members in understanding more about the support provided by Acorns.

I met the Wayne this morning, manager of the Worcester club, and asked if I could help in any way.  We decided that I would deliver some talks/presentations to staff and club members closer to the 24 hour swimathon which will be taking place on Friday 13th June, and which is already being advertised on the ticker-tape on the club TVs (see image to the left).

Watch here for further details on the swimathon  - or visit David Lloyd's on Saturday 3rd May and ask at reception.

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    Alan Gale

    One time soldier, part-time author, full-time training manager, husband and father.

    Swam 21.8 miles of the English Channel in August 2014 for Acorns Children's Hospice, in memory of our son, Harry Gale, raising over £13,000

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