Bridge to Bridge - 14k

O.M.G.

What an event this was.

The only time I have superceeded this distance was when I did CPCPCPC back in 2012.  And this year I've only met a 5k distance in one hit so this I considered a real challenge.

Very well organised and a really friendly bunch of emails coming through saying that if anyone had any dietary requirements, would they let them know so they could accommodate them.  Well, I don't have any medical dietary requirements, but for a 14k swim, I do need my Herbalife24 sports range rather than subject my body to the usual rubbish of bananas, cake etc.   They were very accommodating and said it was not a problem and please bring your own food, fully labelled and they would make sure it got to each section of the Thames ready for the next feed.

So we checked into a hotel on the Saturday.  A right dump.  3 star Travel Lodge in Reading Central.  What a dump - don't go there.  Only took it because they accommodate dogs.  Now I know why!  We had a nice meal in the high street and then headed back to the hotel for an early night.   7am registration!.

This was the weekend of all the storm warnings.  We were being threatened with the biggest storm to ever hit the UK.  The organisers weren't sure if the event was going to take place or not so we were on constant TWITTER watch throughout the night.  6am a final TWEET advised the event would go on but any sign of bad weather, they may have to stop it half way through.


Only other Redcaps I saw there were Tom Durhsen and Caroline Harvey, Julie and Rob Warren. Chris brought Millie with him and the intention was for him to travel to each food station to say Hi, before moving on to the next one.

We took this fab photo of Caroline, myself and Rob and it wasn't until afterwards that we realised we were a fabulous advert for HUUB wetsuits and we were standing right in front of the BLUESEVENTY stand.  Funny.



So, I queued for registration and then asked the question "where does the nutrition go for those people bringing their own".  The registration desk then went to enormous trouble to find out how they could get my bag to the 4k stop mark and then work out what POD I would be in, and then at that point, I could put my bag with the lead kayaker.  I really did feel a nuisance now.  And the ironic thing was, I had my CHILLSWIM with me but Chris had already taken my bag back the car, so if only I had known what a blooming nuisance I was going to be, I could have just carried my food in my CHILLSWIM.  I live and learn once again.

Yesterday had been a tough race and The Great Pier Swim had taken a lot out of me.  But I never realised how much until I started swimming. Hundreds of competitors and I was bruised and battered when the gun went off.  I immediately hated it and then when the heavens opened and I couldn't see a blooming thing for the rain splashes on the river, I hated it even more.  I'm not sure I've experienced this 'not wanting to do something' situation before, and I found myself talking myself into pulling out at the 4k stage.  Go home.  Crap hotel, doubt I will find my nutrition bag, been hit on the head and kicked several times and now its belting down with rain.  Just go home Lorraine.

I got to the 4k mark and struggled to find my bag.  No one knew where it was and the thought of cake now was Yuk with a capital Y.  When I eventually found it, soaking wet and most of the product in a sorry state, I got teary.  What a wimp!  At this point Chris located me and offered a cuddle and a smile and said those immortal words "No one is holding a gun to your head Lorraine - You don't have to do it".

That's all it took for me to MTFU (I just learnt this one recently).  Erm, excuse me. I am holding a Gun to my own head thank you.  I'm not a quitter, so let's get this job done. It seems that it's OK for me to decide to quit, but when someone else tells me to quit, my usual stubborness kicks in and I won't be told what to do!   My only issue was my bag to which Chris very kindly volunteered to get to each feed station for me (a decision he came to regret later on).

So, I was now in POD 3 with about 20 swimmers, much more civil and headed off with the instruction that one more clap of thunder, and please make your way to the nearest bank and then walk 4k back to the start!!!!    Wasn't looking forward to that one happening.

And so I pressed on, the stubborn swimmer that I am.  As each 2k feed station passed by, my hero for the day who was getting wetter and muddier each time, was there to meet me with my Herbalife.

























I gradually got into the swing of it so that by the time the last section came around, I was now up with the lead swimmers in my pack.   The finish was a site for sore eyes.  But, unfortunately Chris and Millie were not so happy this time to see me.  If you can imagine, whilst I was swimming down a tide assisted river, he was having to jump in the car, clean the mud off the dog, strap her in and zoom around the windy roads to find the next access point to the river.  Park up, Pay and Display and then get across muddy wet fields to see if he could spot me.   So when he finally found me, the dog and he were soaked and covered in mud so I won't go into the foul language that came from his mouth.   But he did mumble "don't ask me to come to Dartford with you next weekend"   Another decision that he would regret making - read Midnight Man to discover why !

 

The Great Pier Swim - Southend - July 30th 2014

How I love the Southend Great Pier Swim.  Mainly due to the fact that there are so many of my Redcap training mates entered.  And of course, it's the most local one to me and extremely well supported.  Havens Hospice did a fabulous job once again in ensuring the safety of all competitors.

All Redcaps

I was in the race, and hubby entered the challenge.  A 3.8k tide assisted swim from the Crowstone in Chalkwell to Southend and taking in a fabulous swim under the great pier.  Weather was kind today and sea temperature bearable (for me).  The race is non-wetsuit but the challengers are allowed to wear one.

It had been pointed out prior to the event that the race start time would probably mean it would not be tide assisted after all - and boy did I notice it.  Wind was up a little and it was tough.  I really did struggle to hold my stroke together and each time I popped my head up to site, all I saw was water, not land.  This made it very difficult as I kept saying to myself, don't worry, you are probably going in the right direction so catch a glimpse on the next site breath.  But sure enough, as soon as I lifted my head up again, what did I see - water, more water and more water.  I noticed some swimmers were actually doing a bit of breaststroke in order to catch a glimpse of where the pier was but I stuck to my guns, kept swimming in the hope that at least after every few attempts I would get the timing right and spot something familiar.

It soon became apparent when I was approaching the pier, which is quite a treacherous manoeuvre not to be swept into the support structure, that I clearly was way of course.  This became evident by the constant whistling of Iain Keenan, the beach lifeguard, in my ear who was out there on his surf-board alongside me screaming, move over, move over, BEEP, BEEEEEEP.   All I could think of was I am trying, I am trying, but the tide was insisting on moving me into shore.

It was probably at this point when I noticed a different coloured swim-cap beside me.  We all had the yellow caps on, but this one was orange.  I had remembered asking Danny Bunn at the start of the race, why are you wearing an orange hat, to which he replied, they ran out of yellow ones.   Surely I couldn't be level-pegging with Danny Bunn?   He had been having some banter on the B.O.S.S. WhatsApp page with Matthew Skidmore and James Cliff as to which one of these three guys would win it this year.  Then out of blue one of them messaged, "Never mind which one of us three will win, what about Lorraine Rate"?   Well, I didn't particularly think my swimming speed had been going great this year, so I just offered my own banter by adding "Don't worry, feeling slow and unfit" and left it at that.   Not that I would ever be capable of winning this event anyway, but we do all love a bit of banter.   So seeing this orange hat beside me, and being as competitive as I am,....... surely this isn't Danny Bunn alongside me.... IS IT ???

So I dug my heels in, upped the tempo and allowed my usual competitive streak to take over.  and sure enough when I crossed the finish line and turned round, who was behind me, Danny and Matthew.  Wow, I was so bloomin chuffed I can tell you.  First lady home too so what a great result for me today and I also won the over 50's ladies event.  Happy Days.

Dartford 1.9k - The Big Swim - 29th June 2014

This event came to me Free of Charge, courtesy of entering Midnight Man due to be held on 16.8.14.  So may as well do it.  Just a little baby 1.9k trip round the lake and bright and early on Sunday morning so no hassle.

Nice venue.  There were several different distances going on, with aquathons included, but only 19 swimmers in my 2k race.  Hundreds of people there but most doing the aquathon.  I came 2nd out of the 19 in the 2k event, being beaten by another female by just over a minute so she was supa dupa fast.  2k time for me was 30.26.  Forgot to take any pictures at this event - so here's one of Millie !!!!!  

British Gas - Great East Swim - June 22, 2104

Bring it on

Boy, had I been looking forward to this long awaited race.  Finally, I get to swim with my eldest son Mark Betts. 

Disappointingly, the Great East Swim was cancelled last year due to severe winds and Mark had been training so hard.  This year, all the training was done at the last hurdle.  Mark had gone back into semi-retirement, having trained so hard for the 2013 event, but had seriously lost his mo-jo this time round.


I forced him to join Woodham Swimming Club and insisted he stop over at our house every Monday night so I could keep an eye on his fitness levels.   As with all things, it started with great intentions but then it was "Mum, I'm gonna give it a miss tonight" and "Mum, I don't feel too good today".   I knew that if I didn't get him up to a mile continuous swimming, he would struggle out there. 

A cocky Mark - Stop worrying mum

I booked a few swims at the TRIFARM lake and the 750m loop was impossible at first.  I think he must have stopped about 10 times to roll on his back for breath.  How worried was I.  Each trip to the lake, I drummed into him to swim slow, pace himself better, but each time, we would only get a little further round the loop without stopping.   I was fearing for his life on the actual day when he would have to do it at Alton Waters.  A huge lake, much deeper, much colder and with 200 other people all flattening him!

I think on just one visit to TRIFARM we did manage to get round once with two stops?  That was his best effort.  He kept telling me not to worry, it will be alright on the night, so to speak.

Chris couldn't make this event and Sarah, Mark's girlfriend was there to support him as well as Millie.
 

Bored and tied up waiting for mum to swim.

The sun was shining, we took Millie and off we set.  Typical me kept drumming into him all the journey there of the importance on keeping to the outside and just going slow.  Yeh Yeh !!  

Just half hour into the journey, he tells me he has slept funny and has a stiff neck and in pain.  God - that's all I need.  I so wanted him to enjoy it today, so I over-dosed him on ibuprofen and told him to breath to the side that didn't hurt.  That's about as good as my medical advice gets in situations like this.


 

As always, the Great Swims are fabulously organised with a great turn-out and atmosphere.  Mark was feeling a bit better so off we went for the traditional aerobic warm up.

Our heat was one of the biggest of the day, so I insisted he keep right next to me and on the outside.  He didn't need to sight.  I would do the pacing and be his eyes for him.  Yes, I know, an over-protective mum - a tad!

I still can't believe what happened next.  He was going fast and I was panicking.  Hold back, I'm telling myself, hold back.  Nope, he kept going, kept going, and he kept going. 

And what was even more amazing was that in the final stretch when he could see the finishing post, he turned on a sprint and left me!!!!    I must say, I have
never been so proud of him as I was today.  This whole challenge started after he watched my video of the 24 hour challenge back in 2012.  Back then he was smoking, overweight and drinking far too much.  He said he was proud of his mum and I had inspired him to turn his health regime around.

Today he came in with an amazing time of 29mins 40secs and in his age group gender of 25-29, he came 32nd out of 75 and 159th out of 696, all categories/genders.   Not bad for a swimmer that doesn't swim!   Well done Mark, you did absolutely fantastic and I think if you put your mind to it, and of course, did some training, you would be amazed at the results.  You are a natural and I love you. x.  And I promise not to be the over-bearing, over-protective mum next time round.

I repeated the mile about an hour later on my own and swum it in 24.29.  I was first lady home in the +55 age group and came 28th out of 696, all categories/genders.

Eton 10k - 14th June 2014

First race of the season for me and I must say I definitely was not looking forward to it.  I don't know where the time has gone, but for some reason, although I have been training 3 or 4 times a week, I have certainly not been putting the distance in.  Thank god I only entered the 5k, and not the 10k event.  No matter how much you train in a pool, if you haven't been doing long continuous swims, you know it's going to be tough when you do.

About an hour before the event, the heavens opened.  It came down in bucket loads and we all ran for cover under the nearest tent.  The water became even less appealing now.

So, hence I started the long exhausting task of squeezing into my wetsuit thinking that it was going to be a long cold swim.  How wrong was I.

Good old British weather, just twenty minutes before the off, and not a cloud in the sky.  I was tugging at the neck of my wetsuit for air.  I was melting in all that rubber.  Well too late now, I was going to be stuck in it for the duration.

I had no pre-conceived expectations of how I would do, but when the gun went off, I never realised how much of an uncomfortable race this was going to be.  I struggled in my suit, was drinking loads of yukky water and melting fast.   So when the race was finally over, I was glad and exited the water rather weary to say the least.

I won the ladies over 50 event as was 6th fastest female over the line in a time of 1hr 21mins. 6secs.   So, everything considered, I was glad to finish in a reasonable time.



Always makes it a good day when lots of Redcaps are racing too.

Not much more to say on this one.

Lakeside National Relays - September 2013

At last, a chance to swim with my son Mark. 

Disappointingly, The Great East Swim at Alton Waters had been cancelled this year. I had been training my eldest son, Mark up for his very first outdoor swim and he was doing so well, so when we heard the news it was cancelled, having done all that training, we decided to enter the Lakeside 750m event instead.  Mark used to compete in his childhood but then the typical teenage phase of booze and fags got in the way and he became quite unfit.

It was whilst watching my video of the 24 hour swim challenge back in 2011, that he decided enough was enough.  If his ole mum can swim 24miles in 24 hours, then he's inspired to do something.

He sent me a beautiful text saying how proud he was of me and that he was going to cut the fags and booze, get fit and do something energetic! 

Here's a reminder of that epic (and sometimes sad) video of my challenge. 24 Hour Challenge You might need to put the kettle on before watching but if you want to see a grown woman break down, then just skip right to about minute 13.

Gary, my youngest son, was my swim buddy on this challenge and helped me through the night along with Chris.  Unfortunately, would you believe it but the tape ran out on the very last length so the grand finale was not caught on camera.

Anyway, that's old news.  Back to Mark.  The end of 2012 saw me without a job so I was able to devote 3 months to being Mark's swim coach.    Jeez, was he unfit on the first few trips to the pool.  All he could manage was 2 lengths max. before dying with exhaustion.  He trained his butt off for 5 months, we entered The Great East Swim and then just a couple of days before, we received the news that due to bad weather, the event had to be called off.

I don't think I have ever been so gutted before that a race had been cancelled.  Poor Mark was all hyped up and ready to go, it was so disappointing.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to get the time off work to switch to The Great London swim, so I entered him in the 750metres at Lakeside instead.  By now though, he had lost his mo-jo.  I don't actually think he went anywhere near a swimming pool between June and September so when the day came to race at Lakeside, he was out of shape, but determined to do it.

I was in an 800m relay event and I had also entered the 750metres too so that I could keep Mark company (well he is my baby).

Chris was also entered into the 750 metres and when the gun went off, me and Mark were soon left far, far behind.  3mths out of the water, more booze and fags and he was rolling on to his back just kicking to get his breath and compose himself.

I told him not to worry about anyone else.  It was not a race, it was a challenge and we were going to complete it no matter what.  but I could tell by his face, that he didn't like being left behind.

However, funny how things take a turn for the better.  I noticed that we had been making some ground on another swimmer so said to Mark (as we had plenty of time to chat whilst we doggy-paddled round), hey look, I think you are catching a swimmer up.

To my surprise, of all people to catch up, it was Chris.  He was struck down with severe cramp and could not swim at all.  LOL, -- Come on Mark, we ain't gonna come last after all - HILARIOUS. 

We caught him up and I had a pang of guilt - do I stay with my husband who is in agony, or do I stay with my baby.  No brainer - See you laters Chris - we ain't coming last.  Apologies Chris, but Mark is only 28 years old after all and still needs his Mum :)

Mark was so pleased he finished, albeit it was not the swim he had imagined  He learnt his lesson, that you need to train for these things, so we have now entered the The Great East Swim again for f 2014, he has joint a Swimming Club and we are keeping fingers crossed that come June, he will get round the mile course without any hitches. 

Little bit disappointed that the first thing he grabbed when he climbed out of the lake was - A FAG!

Well done Mark.  Now it was your mums turn to have a tear in her eye and be so proud of you because you didn't give up - you did it and I am so so proud of you. x

BUDE Channel Challenge - September 2013

Tracy Russell - Pod Mate, settling in.

The busiest weekend of my life, I think.  Below - From left, Dave Southgate, Steve Knights, Jon Yorston, Tracy Kemp, Clive Hatch, Tom Durhsen and Tracy Russell.

So, including me, that makes eight of us, seven squeezed into one Galaxy (Dave went on ahead) with heap loads of wetsuits, towels and nutrition, and we headed off to Cornwall, ready to take on the Bude Challenge which was to swim the equivalent distance of the English Channel in the sea pool at Bude.  The purpose of the swim was to raise money to save the crumbling sea wall. 

We split into two teams and I was especially looking forward to this event as it was a chance to swim with some of my old buddies from Blackwater Triathlon Club.

Back in 2004'ish I used to be the swimming coach and Treasurer of BTC.  And although no longer a member, I was humbled that they contacted me to make up their second team for this epic challenge.

Tracey Kemp - Pod Mate, settling in

Spirits were high as we set off for the eight hour journey with Tracy R in the driver's seat. 

I have to say that having only ever stayed in little less than 5*, not that I'm a snob or anything (but I do like my little luxuries), when we arrived at our little Glamping POD, I chuckled to myself that thank god Chris was not with me on this occasion!



 

Tom D, first off for my team going non-wetsuit
 

Well here they are (above right).  Looking like lots of little beehives all around a BBQ stove.  Each was equipped with blow up beds, ice box, electricity and warmth and more importantly, friends.

I shared with the two Tracy's and to say it slept 3 was a bit of an over-statement.  The three blow up beds were crammed in corner to corner and I think we were all grateful that there was no snoring over this weekend.  Well not from our POD anyway.  If only Chris could see me now.  This would have been his worst nightmare.

A warm welcome was well received as Dave was already there with the BBQ on when we arrived and we cracked open the beer and wine!  Yes, beer and wine.  Well, after all, it was only a channel crossing we were doing at 6am.  Easy Peezy. 

A little sparring match between Tom and Cassie Patten,
Olympic Medalist.

Olympic medalist, Cassie Patten was there to cheer the challengers on and even managed a mile herself.  Our very own Tom D got in and managed to stay on her toes for a whole lap, albeit he did look a little knackered and soon tailed off. 

Not sure which Tracy this is - hard to tell

Here's a few more photo's of our fab weekend together.  Both teams completed the challenge and the heavens opened at the end on our way to the Curry House. 

Great weekend.
Great challenge.
Great friends.
Great time. x.

Holding Cassies Bronze Olympic Medal

A nice birthday treat for Steve K.