This blog is a dedicated blog for Rob Starr's journey from sign up to eventual Channel Swim. Rob's dedication to the Trust is second to none and this commitment to not only the gruelling hardwork, training and preparation for the swim, with his own personal challenges, but also the steadfast commitment to raising £100,000 and creating smiles. Please do follow
Boot camp with Big Bob; or more precisely Speedo camp with Big Bob.
7am in the outside pool at Falmer, Big Bob in second lane, moi in first lane and of we go.20 lengths warm up followed by 10 lengths non stop, with the final two lengths of each set being at full pelt.Then 15 second pause and of we go again, 10 lengths with last t2 mentally quick and so on.Final set of the morning, after an hour, ups it to the last 4 lengths at full pelt.Boy oh boy that was a wake up call!My arms and shoulders already ached from an hour in the gym the day before and I was already tired from a lack of sleep at home, so this really was a challenging start.Saying that, there was no sub temperature start to the day, no dripping ceiling from the arch and no long painful walk out to a depth; so really I should stop the complaining right now!In truth it’s great to be pushed like this each week as it not only helps the general swimming, but also helps me to develop the speed and stamina I need later this year.
Tomorrow will be back to the beach and then Friday back to the pool.
Before I started my sea swimming Valentines used to bring a nice warm start to the day. Now of course it brings a shocking cold wake up call. This morning, whilst the day seemed a little brighter than yesterday and the air temperature had risen to a massive +3, the sea remained at a shocking 4 degrees. The conditions in the sea were much the same as yesterday and as such Big Bob and I did much the same swim and suffered much the same pain! For me at the moment the most painful part is actually when I’m back in the arch in the shower and the blood returns to my hands; it really is painful.
The arch this morning seemed surprisingly busy; Big & Little Bob, Damien, Paul F, James, Flick, Martina. Not massive numbers but clearly big personalities as it seemed full of life. No Mike today as he was kayaking from Brighton to Peacehaven last night and then camping out on the beach in Peacehaven and then kayaking back today. Considering he is into his later years (me being kind here) it’s amazing really. You find that the people at the arch really do have big whatsits and aren’t afraid of extremes. Perhaps it’s eccentricities, perhaps it’s ballsy, perhaps it’s madness; but it certainly is living life to the extremes.
This afternoon after work I’m back to the gym once again and then back in the pool and then tomorrow morning Big Bob and I will be in the pool for an hours hard graft. With the marathon coming up in April and then the Channel in August I really need to keep the pressure up and weekly increase my training. Luckily I have nothing else in my life to focus on!! For instance can you imagine how crazy it would be if apart from the channel and the marathon if I was already in my 40's, had 3 businesses to run, 3 children to bring up, a household to keep going, a children’s charity to run, a theatre project on the go and a new book being written; wouldn’t life be a bit extreme then!!
A cold and gloomy winters start to the week. No rain or wind, which was a blessing, but just 1 degree and dampness in the air with a slight haze. The sea however was very flat and calm, which if this had been the summer would have been a perfect sea to swim to the west pier and back, or twice around pier or even the marina and back. As it was, being the winter still, it meant about 10 minutes only.
I was at the arch by 7.00am and Dr Mark was already coming out from his swim. Pretty soon (but not pretty) I was joined by Little Bob, Big Bob, Mike and Lindy (she’s pretty of course!). We headed straight in (mid tide so not too shallow) and Big Bob and I headed over to the donut groin and then turned back to the pier; making it only back to mid beach before we had enough. It was the lowest temperature so far for over a year; just 4 degrees – once it goes under 4 degrees then it is officially freezing and certificate worthy!! It was so cold that as soon as we started swimming I felt physically sick from the cold on my neck; it didn’t last long, but long enough to be unpleasant. Apparently at the weekend one of the members brought their daughter with them (grown up, not a kid) and she was only in a a minute or two, but coming out had to be helped up the beach as she couldn’t walk. It shows that you have to be so careful in these temperatures and that even though we can do 10-15 minutes most people can’t. Saying that, James & Shoichi (two of my relay team) swam around the pier on Saturday, taking 20 minutes. I don’t know if they are brave or just plain daft!
First day back in the sea today and it was not easy!
Over the last 10 days I have gone from -1 in the UK, to -38 in Sweden, to 0 in the UK, to +18 in Gibraltar and then back to -2 and snow in the UK and a cracking 5.1 in the sea this morning.My body must be wondering what the hell is going on!
After my Arctic experience I came back to a cold Brighton for a couple of days and then headed to Gibraltar for 2 days for work.It was a bright and warm 18 degrees and it meant that after my meetings I managed to stick on my running things and head up the Rock.Last year when I did that I ran all the way to the top in about 25 minutes and then the same back down.This year, probably because I was so tired by the time I got there, I found the run really hard and in truth only ran about half way up and then had to power walk the rest (frustrating to be honest) Still it only took me 30 minutes still and then I sprinted down in about 20 minutes, so a decent exercise.Getting back to the UK last night and only getting about 4 hours sleep, it was not overly easy to leave the house at 6.45am to head to the beach; not made easier by another fall of snow last night.
The Arch was as welcoming as ever with Little Bob, Mike, Big Bob, Flick, Lindy and Paul.The sea, once again terrified of coming to close to the shore, was so low it took ages to wade out to swimming distance and each step was more painful than the one before.Certainly being away from the sea for 10 days made it harder than usual for me, but everyone felt the pain today for sure.My watch showed 5.1 degrees, but I’m not convinced it wasn’t lower even under 5; that is the lowest it’s been since this time last year.I would seriously say that it was debilitatingly cold and each step I ad was slower than the last.Eventually, having got to chest deep Bob and I plunged in and swam for a few minutes; at this point the cold in my head was severe and I couldn’t do much more.Total time in the sea 9 minutes and total pain was well over an hour.Craziness!!
Back in the arch afterwards the jokes were coming thick and fast, especially the one about Little Bob in the shower with Flick; mmmmm, pictures are not necessary!!
This afternoon after work it’s back to the gym with Ross for an hour and then an hour in the pool.Afterwards I doubt I’ll be awake long enough to experience a Friday night.
No swimming on Friday or today, but plenty of coldness.
Friday morning I headed off, with Sharon and two good friends to the Arctic Circle for 2 nights, 3 days. We stayed at the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden. Temperature was Minus 37 degrees Celsius. I can not even tell you how that feels! Despite layer upon layer upon layer of clothing, covered on top with the heaviest winder suit as provided by the Hotel, the cold still got through and it hurt! The first night, after dressing in so many clothes it took over an hour to get dressed, we climbed onto snow bikes and followed a tour guide out across the frozen lakes, through a dark and wondrous forest and to an eventual stop near some wilderness huts. Inside the hut we sat around an open fire drinking hot berry juice and eating reindeer stew. Then it was back onto the bikes and the hours ride back at midnight. Total time 4 hours, temperature -37, layers of clothing on body 5, gloves numbered 3, face mask, and two hats - the pain in our feet, hands and face was so bad we could not have gone on much longer. A bottle of water in my rucksack was completely frozen into a solid block after 20 minutes. On returning back we had to get into less clothes and trek across to the Ice Hotel to try to sleep on a block of ice in a ice room which was -5 degrees. The rest of the week involved riding reindeers, husky rides, more snow bikes and temperature ranging from the hottest being -27 to the coldest being -38 degrees. Probably the most nuts thing I have ever done. I would recommend it to anyone who is adventurous and daring and not recommend it to anyone of any other disposition. As for going back there; not in this lifetime!!
Sadly not able to swim today as I needed to take Asher to school and then be at the office straight after. Tomorrow I have to be in London for a meeting at 8.30am, so again no swim. Then Wednesday & Thursday I have meetings in Gibraltar, so again no swims as I'll be over there! I will manage to get 3 gym sessions in and also a 2 hour pool swim but sadly no beach. By Friday, when I'm back and at the beach, it will be a massive shock as I would have been out of the sea for 10 days in a row by then!! Today it was apparently 5 degrees as it snowed here yesterday; really a pity I missed it as after my -38 degrees I would expect 5 degrees to be a Jacuzzi!!
Not much point in blogging now until Friday as not much to tell; so see you Friday my friends.
The key to life is certainly not as sticky as the key to the arch!!
After getting home at 6.30pm last night, then having restless children until about 10pm and then having to sleep in the spare room because my bed was too busy I was desperately ready for the sea; even the -2 degrees in the air and no doubt 5 degree sea I was still raring to go. Sometimes being in the sea in the morning, despite the pain of the cold, is the most alive you feel all day; hard to explain unless you join me!!
By 7.15am, Big Bob, Little Bob, Mike, Paul, Flick and I had all tried our keys in the door, but narder!! The lock just wouldn’t budge. It felt like the latch had fallen inside, but whatever it was meant we couldn’t get in. The only swimming option left was a change on the beach, but being the wimp I am I said that in this temperature I would want to warm up afterwards so ’d have to go home and shower after which I simply didn’t have time for as my first meeting was 8.15am in the office. Wimp maybe, but sadly true. It seemed my influence over my fellow swimmers is greater than I thought and they all too quickly agreed and headed of to the Roaster to down their sorrows! Come on guys you could have talked me out of walking away if you’d tried a bit harder!!
So sadly (and truly mean that) I headed to work, where I currently am, and my day has to start without the shivers. My next sea swim with be Monday (which will mean 9 days out of the sea as I’ve been in the pool all week). Tomorrow morning at 4am I shall be flying off with Sharon and two friends to Stockholm and then a short flight to the Ice Hotel. Just to nights, but one of them sleeping in an ice room on a block of ice. The fact that we have no kids with us I recon it will end up still being the best night sleep we’ve had all year. Very exciting to see the Northern Lights (hopefully) and to have a Reindeer ride. Who knows I might even be able to get an ice swim; I’ll sneak my trunks into the case just in cases.
New note just in - Had a call from Big Bob; Martina and He went back and changed on the beach and had a swim. Afterwards, sitting on the beach trying to get dressed he realised the madness. He said he was struggling to get dressed and was so cold it made him feel sick and shivery and that even walking to the Roaster afterwards was a challenge. Madness that they did that for sure, however what mental ability they had to do it. Big up the pair of you!!
Yesterday after work I hit the gym with Ross for an hour, working on every arm, back and shoulder muscle I posses; and boy did I know it.Afterwards I had about 90 minutes before having to meet Sharon and Asher at the Nuffield (poor Asher having ear problems), so rather than hand around and wait for the time to go, I jumped back into the outside pool and finished off what I didn’t bother to do in the morning.Another hour of lengths meant two swims and one gym yesterday, a good day of exercise.At the Nuffield we met a wonderful consultant who made Asher so comfortable; these guys have a tremendous skill with kids.Sadly Asher is going to need an operation to help his breathing and hearing; fairly routine for the surgeons of course, but not something a parent takes so lightly.If only a parent could take the illness and pain from the child and suffer it themselves, it’s really horrible not being able to do anything for them.We’re not sure when, but probably at the next school holiday break, at least meanwhile the banana medicine takes away any pain.
Now to today; whilst I had planned to be back in the sea, Big Bob suggested we pool swim together.So at 7am on the dot we were in the outside pool (-1 in the air, but warm in the pool) and Sergeant Major Bob se3t up the drills!He really did push us, like boot camp in the water.Ninety minutes, rather exhausted but exhilarated, I was in the car heading for Middlesex for a 10am meeting and then onto North London for a 2 pm meeting, probably getting back to Brighton by 6pm ish.A long hard busy morning following by a long hard busy day no doubt followed by a long hard restless night.Living the dream baby, living the dream!!
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