Yes I Can!

My next and last attempt approximately September 7 to 9.

But first – “burnout” and the “common cold” ...

My post saying I would try again surprised few in anyone at all. However there was another problem, and that was burnout, which is dreaded by all athletes. Less of a problem to the triathlete whose cross-training regime adds variety, but high with swimmers who are very sports specific and cannot change their route, enjoy different scenery and good company as in a run or cycle ride.

The classic signs, which I did not have include: drop-off in performance, disrupted sleep pattern, loss of appetite, muscular soreness, and poor healing of cuts and bruises, poor concentration and thirst. However the classic signs which I did have were a loss of weight (12 lbs), elevated heart rate (resting pulse went from 52 to 62), loss of motivation and finally some depression.

A cut on my finger had healed rapidly but I knew something was wrong when I went for a 2-hour swim and got out at an hour and 50 minutes: As my own trainer I set my schedule in advance and stick to it unless there is a very good reason not to – such as cramps, dangerous boat traffic, etc. I had come by the beach on which my gear bag was waiting at 1:50 of swimming and got out instead of swimming for 5 more minutes and then back again to complete the 2 hours.

The next day it was worse. I scheduled a 3-hour swim and got out at 1 hour! There was no reason to get out except that I could not stand it any longer. My left shoulder was sore and the hand somewhat numb, but that was to be expected and was business as usual and thus did not constitute a reason to quit. I knew I would be extremely upset at myself and have a tough debriefing. But before I quit I had diagnosed the problem and come up with the solution. The problem was Dover, boredom, lack of family and, yes, extreme staleness/burnout.

The solution: I was on the plane the next day to meet my wife Catherine in Boston and celebrate my 71st birthday (August 13). We then drove with our dogs to our vacation home in Maine. Friends and family also arrived. Two days later I completed a 3-hour swim and felt strong. Reconnecting with my values and surrounds was very therapeutic. Several good swims in an Olympic pool followed, allowing me to focus on stroke which had deteriorated a little from all the rough water swimming.

However the chlorine in the pool played havoc with my sinuses and with my throat. I caught a cold. This I treated seriously and laid off for five days. I didn’t do this in January and it had led to pneumonia. Endurance athletes are prone to illness as it’s well recognized that their immune system is low on completion of an extended training session or the actual event. Place them in a chlorinated pool shared by babes with and without diapers and you know that the chlorine level has to be high. Inhaling that air and becoming exhausted with a 5-hour swim session and you can imagine the vulnerability to getting throat and other problems. It’s just not a healthy environment for a fatigued athlete. After the five days I then got back into the pool for 2 hours but the cold and sinus problems were severely aggravated once again.

I did try the local sea waters. In a sheltered bay I found a late day high-tide water (water coming in over sun heated mud flats) at 65 F and ventured forth. As my hand reached down on each stroke I realized that 18 inches down it was close to 60 degrees and soon the water a half-mile out was low 60s and upper 50s. I turned around and headed back completing an hour’s swim. Cold water is difficult but more difficult is water with a variable temperature. It is difficult physiologically and even more so to concentrate on stroke and rhythm. So most of my training has been kayaking and working out on my Total Gym for up to 3 hours a day.

I have found the foods that I need to take during the swim and will take them with me to England as I was unable to find in England the “lactose free 350 calorie, potassium added meal replacement” that I can buy in a CVS pharmacy. By taking bananas before and the meal replacement each hour during the swim I have not had a return of the cramps.

I am the second swimmer with my Pilot in the neap (period of lower tides and hence currents) beginning September 6. Once that swimmer gets a good day and does his swim then it’s my turn. It’s now late in the season and for my Pilot I am his last swimmer. Unfortunately the English summer has not been all that good and my Pilot emailed me that the water temperature in the Channel is now at 17C or 62.6 F. I was hoping for 65 F, which I had 22 years ago – so much for global warming! However it’s better than the 58 F of my last attempt.

I have received many best wishes and much inspiration from family and friends and others whom I have never met. I know this is my last chance. There will not be another year or another swim. It’s now or never. I can do it and you can be sure I will do my very best. However, should I fail there will be no excuses – reasons maybe, but no excuses.

In failure there is no shame. The shame is when you don’t learn from failure and try again.

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I am attempting to become the oldest person to swim across the English Channel in order to raise money for physical therapy research. Learn more in the links below.

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