EXPERT ADVICE BE A CHANNEL HERO…
Shelley Taylor-Smith is a seven-time open water swimming world champion, an English Channel swimmer and a mental training coach. For our special Channel swimming issue, she suggests six ways to change your thinking to help you conquer the Channel (or achieve other goals in your life)
A Channel swimmer is a unique character with one focused goal – to achieve what less than 2,000 people have ever
achieved. This requires a peculiar combination of mind and body strength. You’ll enjoy long periods of solitude, you'll need to stay calm and in-control when weathering a rollercoaster ride of emotions and be confi dent in knowing that carrying a few extra kilos means you’re in the best shape for success. You’ll embrace your wobbly bits, as you know your body will help you pursue your love aff air with cold water.
BUILD YOUR TEAM Step one: who do you trust? It is vital to have the right support team, starting with a coach who will create a specifi c training programme, check on your progress and analyse your stroke technique. You’ll need a support crew to assist and look aſt er you on long swims. They need to know you, how you swim and how to feed you. The person responsible for feeding you should have the experience to recognise key indicators of when things are going great and when not going as well as expected. I would advise against any family members joining your support crew, although you will need their agreement before embarking on months of training. The most important person to trust is your boat captain or pilot. They have the experience and knowledge of the Channel tides and currents, and will want to see you succeed as much as you do.
TUNE OUT THE NOISE Once you’ve chosen your team of trusted advisers, avoid listening to other people’s opinions. Whether on feeding, nutritional supplements, cold water adaptation or training, people all have diff erent and sometimes equally successful approaches but overloading yourself with confl icting information will cause confusion and upset your planning.
PLAN AHEAD If you need accommodation in Dover, book it 12 months in advance. International swimmers should aim to arrive fi ve to seven days before their tide (pilots sometimes ask swimmers to bring their swims forward if the forecast for the planned dates is poor). Set up a meeting with your pilot to discuss your needs and swim speed. Go through your English Channel plan and confi rm the following: your support crew’s arrival, hydration and feeding plan, food shopping and swimming training programme in the Dover Harbour, Folkestone Beach and/or Dover Leisure Centre (indoor 25m swimming pool). Set le in and acclimatise to both the weather and the open sea.
PREPARE FOR DELAYS
The weather delays many swims. If it happens, you need to remain calm and discuss your options with the boat skipper. mother nature has a way of playing tricks on you and your mind. Prepare for every scenario that may challenge you. Ensure you have a back-up plan for all contingencies, including the weather, change of support crew and a non-start. Accept what is within your control and what isn't.
Be prepared to play the waiting game. The English Channel journey is the rollercoaster ride of your life. If your tide is blown out completely check availability with your skipper for an opening in the next set of tides, later in the year or another year. Alternatively, put your swimming fitness to use on another challenge somewhere else.
SECURE FUNDING
A Channel at empt is an expensive undertaking. Ensure you have suffi cient funds to cover extending your accommodation and other costs while you wait for good weather. Prepare your boss, business partners and family for an unpredictable return date and for the possibility that you have invested all this time and money for a non-start.
JUST SWIM IT
The pilot says, “Let’s go!” Now what? Don’t panic. This isyour day in the Channel. Gather everyone together. Go through every part of your plan (that was prepared before you came to Dover with your support crew and coach) and get everything ready. Rest your body and put yourself in the mindset for your role as an English Channel swimmer. Turn everything else over to your support crew and focus totally on what you came to do.○
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