Swimming the Bosphorus...

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jack
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#1 Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by jack »

So, on July the 22nd I and a few of my colleagues will be swimming from Asia to Europe, across the Bosphorus strait - 5.7km of open water. My 60th birthday present to myself.

Why am I doing this? I'm not a good swimmer, don't like swimming in salt water or open water, i.e. the sea, and can't really do decent freestyle...

Why is freestyle important? Because we only have 2 hours max to do this, so breast stroke is not an option - the shipping is stopped for just that window, after which there's some big stuff coming down at you.

I've been training for months - swimming a mile most mornings, 2 miles on the weekends. Up at 04:30 for coaching sessions before work. Basically, trying to make sure I don't drown. If you're running and get cramp, need a drink or just a breather, you can simply stop. Not an option here...

However, it's all in an excellent cause - raising money to fight modern day slavery via The Freedom Fund - in the last few years we've impacted the lives of 390,000 people. Please take a few minutes to read up a bit about what this wonderful organisation achieves.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/legatumswimsquad - every bit of support helps. Every single bit...

Thanks!
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Ray P
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#2 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by Ray P »

Awesome, I'll sort something out shortly Nick.

BTW, are you aware that JustGiving takes a cut of the donations? That's why I use BT MyDonate.

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#3 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by jack »

Ray P wrote: Sun Jun 10, 2018 10:03 am Awesome, I'll sort something out shortly Nick.

BTW, are you aware that JustGiving takes a cut of the donations? That's why I use BT MyDonate.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/famil ... sing-sites
Top man, Ray!

I'm not doing the site - the whole website & stuff is done by our Comms team (and the charity itself), but I will point that out to them. (Virgin are 2%, Just Giving is 5% and BT MyDonate don't charge, i.e. 0%).
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#4 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by Michael L »

I think this is an extremely worthy cause. Good luck with the swim.
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#5 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by jack »

Thanks guys - it's appreciated...
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#6 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by jack »

3 weeks away now.

Swam 4km this morning - that's 2.5 miles or 165 lengths of a standard pool, except I swam 100 lengths of a 40 mtr pool.

50/50 freestyle and breaststroke. 2 freestyle, two breaststroke, no breaks.

Two hours solid swimming. Wasn't even breathing heavily at end, though a bit tired (and bored!).

Takes me about 1km to get into "the zone". The key things (so I'm told) for distance swimming are the "Three Rs" - Rhythm, Reach & Relax" - all are important, especially the relaxation bit. You have to have good technique, but if you are tense you burn energy at a silly rate. Once in the zone, I barely notice breathing.

Still too slow - need to speed up.
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#7 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by jack »

Swam 3.2km this morning at 25min/km - nice and steady, not the slightest out of breath, HR max was 132. Had plenty left in the tank (another few Km at least). My last pool swim before the big day (next Sunday).

Swimmer numbers for this madness are allocated by age.

#1 is the oldest swimmer; #2473 is the youngest.

My number is #151

This means the 94% of the swimmers are younger than me. 19 out of every 20 people there are my juniors... Uh huh...

There's a lesson there - one that I obviously missed :(
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#8 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by shane »

It also means that there’s 150 people there older than you. You’re just a kid, son.
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#9 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by Ray P »

Good luck for Sunday Nick, though it sounds as though you'll manage without it.

There are 25 of us on the charity bike ride I'm doing in August and the numbers say I'm the oldest but...
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#10 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by jack »

SWMBO and I got to Istanbul on Thursday...

During registration yesterday I was standing in the queue next to an old chap from Manchester, about 5' 6" tall, skinny as a rake with two hearing aids.

He's #29. 69 years old. I asked him about his race preparation...

"I takes my hearing aids out as they spark a bit when swimming, then have a couple of pints..."

Top man!

5 AM here. Just going off to have breakfast...
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#11 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by jack »

Completely and utterly knackering.

Conditions were very tough indeed. By far the hardest thing I've ever done. Very choppy sea, nasty nasty stuff.

Finished in 1:47.

Never again...
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#12 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by IslandPink »

Fantastic - great effort - congratulations !
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#13 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by pre65 »

Brave man Nick.

Respect. :)
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#14 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by Ray P »

Well done mate.
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#15 Re: Swimming the Bosphorus...

Post by Dave the bass »

Well done NdS, top swimming.
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