The time has come ...

... tomorrow I am off ...

Some final packing tonight, and off I fly ...

It has been a long and interesting journey to get to this stage. From an impulse decision to enter, through a gradual build-up of training and eight months of specific training program effort.

It has been fun ... especially the eating and putting on weight ;-)

I have had some real boring training sessions; and lots of great sessions ... especially once I got stronger and faster and I really noticed how my swimming improved. I had a noticeably great period about three months ago when I changed my stroke and had amazing improvements in stroke efficiency and speed.

My body has also changed considerably ... besides the weight gain (all for insulation obviously), the broader shoulders, bigger arms and chest ... mmm ... but it does make the clothing choice a little difficult.

So ... off tomorrow ... via Johannesburg. Two days in London, and then off to Dover.

In one week my "window" opens ... lets just pray the weather and sea plays along ... last week no one managed to swim ... eish!

Final longer swim in my Speedo Kit

What an awesome morning! I went out and swam a (PB) Robben Island to Blouberg swim this morning. The day was an absolute beaut. Chilly water, at around 13 degrees Celsius. Flat, clear water. Sunny, blue skies and no wind ... what more could we ask for ...

Thanks again to Speedo South Africa for sponsoring us some kit. Myles and I each received a great Speedo tog bag, a South African cap and briefs, and a handy Speedo windbreaker jacket ... real fab, I must say.

Eight days to go till departure for the UK. Exciting stuff ... nervous, stressed, excited ... all words that come to mind. There is way too much to do still - both work-wise, as well as swim prep, shopping and admin ... and lots of sleep and R&R ...

Keep smiling and see you soon English Channel :-)

Big up to Speedo SA

A busy week that was ...

A close friend's wedding, snow and way too much travelling ... last week was just too busy. I should be relaxing and chilling a lot more. The question is how much to train, when to taper, how much to taper ... besides shopping, packing and final prep for my trip.

Just under three weeks to go till departure date ... well, now probably closer to 2 weeks than 3 weeks ...

Firstly a million thanks extended to WITS University, in Johannesburg ... for letting me use their 50m swimming pool. My intention had been to use it on Tuesday and Wednesday last week already ... but with it snowing on Tuesday, and still being so cold on Wednesday, I opted to pass on that one. A really great 50m, heated, outdoor pool. I went through on Saturday, with all intentions to do a good 20-odd km swim ... well, the week did catch up with me and I managed a sad 13km. I was just too tired, unfocused, de-motivated, stiff and Gatvol ... and still got lekker sun burnt - actually good I didn't do the full 24km.

The week was, besides very busy, actually very good. I touched base wit Janeen - one of my support group for the swim. Worked relatively hard. Enjoyed my very close friends' wedding and then got to catch up with numerous well travelled, other very close friends.

A decent (but at this stage not enough) 25km for the week was all the more noticeable in that my body felt it all the more at "altitude" ... about 1500m, compared to my normal sea level training.

Well, well, well ... with a little under 3 weeks till departure to the UK I seem to have wrapped up my search for my crew. Janeen, from Pretoria. And then two experienced members from the UK.

So here we go ... shopping lists are completed, to-do lists are ever growing ... and I still seem to be travelling too much.

Time flies when you having fun!! :-)

Time flies ... when you getting stressed ...

Well, I head off in 4 weeks ... window period opens in five weeks ...

OMG ... that sounds scary!!

I just had a great week of training ... 34km in total. 11km COLD water swimming on Saturday and another 12km Sunday in a 25m pool ... just to make sure I practise being totally bored.

Travels are still getting in the way :-( Currently I am in Johannesburg and Pretoria for ten days. Then some more travels next week.

For those of you that have access to Twitter or Facebook ... you can now also follow me on these media ...

Twitter: @Adventure_Pat

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/SwimPatrick