tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49515330390588792972024-03-05T08:40:10.128+00:00www.HoffySwims.com.Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-12871826284240360952022-01-14T16:25:00.006+00:002022-01-14T16:34:33.674+00:00Just Keep Swimming Until You Get To France!<div style="text-align: justify;">🌊 Good afternoon and a belated Happy New Year to all swimmers around the world who are preparing to complete their chosen swims this year. The very best of luck to all of you.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am pleased to have finally completed a 3 minute video of my 2007 English Channel Swim, set to the single version of my #1 International bestselling song - <i>"Just Keep Swimming Until You Get To France!"</i> which is released today as a single on all music channels including:-</div><div><br /></div><div>🟢 Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/33jYgfB">https://spoti.fi/33jYgfB</a></div><div><br /></div><div>🍏 Apple Music: <a href="https://apple.co/3zVI5Bf" target="_blank">https://apple.co/3zVI5Bf </a></div><div><br /></div><div>...etc., etc. I hope you like it and it inspires you to fulfil all of your dreams! <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lNS-LwZLDe4" width="320" youtube-src-id="lNS-LwZLDe4"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Signed copies of my book are also available with international shipping via the link here:-</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">📖 Bringing Value Book: <a href="https://bit.ly/3fqLjTH" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3fqLjTH </a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7j0bXo3R2p6bLTkh_N8QQkKTcj_mM5Ape3FtM6Dxa5hKSpxDG42vzrfxF7SP_dmk8YpizLQA4Ls1oSWiV23E44cRChwuiXcaLp_WccTBdTFr-ZiQ3FcH4SLGtYiIrWCIacABwrpARWg7o4z_knQ_3nyjqXrpsFvhyUHpRhZqj3rEeUYAZvMQLHbpr_g=s1350" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7j0bXo3R2p6bLTkh_N8QQkKTcj_mM5Ape3FtM6Dxa5hKSpxDG42vzrfxF7SP_dmk8YpizLQA4Ls1oSWiV23E44cRChwuiXcaLp_WccTBdTFr-ZiQ3FcH4SLGtYiIrWCIacABwrpARWg7o4z_knQ_3nyjqXrpsFvhyUHpRhZqj3rEeUYAZvMQLHbpr_g=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Have a great 2022 and remember - <i>Just Keep Swimming Until You Get To France! </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap;">🌍 </span><strong style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">Paul Hopfensperger</strong><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span><strong style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><em style="word-wrap: break-word;">#BeTheDifference</em></strong><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.850000381469727px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 👊</span></div><div><br /></div><div>#JustKeepSwimming 🏊 🏊♀️</div></div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-28432379659421499552021-05-25T14:55:00.033+01:002021-05-25T15:59:31.406+01:00Being productive during a Global Crisis<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNbgz9FLvMkJjKWdr8FB_msyW24E9lT7rjKnk3CWUrkCfJMVB0ZknYf-HoBu_zyLP5jm7yLUuuT2Ji3xUF-iqt5mYRWisrHlz8E43Bfa0Yym4Lmnhq3MMbxVEiX0MwTlxNRE25ZDbcKMM/s1350/Bringing+Value+-+Cover+4A+bestseller.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNbgz9FLvMkJjKWdr8FB_msyW24E9lT7rjKnk3CWUrkCfJMVB0ZknYf-HoBu_zyLP5jm7yLUuuT2Ji3xUF-iqt5mYRWisrHlz8E43Bfa0Yym4Lmnhq3MMbxVEiX0MwTlxNRE25ZDbcKMM/w426-h640/Bringing+Value+-+Cover+4A+bestseller.jpg" title="Bringing Value, Solving Problems and Leaving a Legacy" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.bringingvaluebook.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bringing Value, Solving Problems and Leaving a Legacy - #1 Amazon Bestseller - April 13, 2021</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;">In March 2020, the world entered into a crisis which can only be described as un-precedented in most living people’s experience. COVID-19 sent the world into a panic, and hundreds of thousands of people around the world lost their lives. As we went into lockdown here in the United Kingdom, I made the conscious decision to use my time productively to help as many people as I could but first I realised that I needed more skills to deal with the problems put in front of me. It wasn’t going to be an easy task, I just needed some coaching, assistance and help to hone my skills developed over 35 years in business and community service to become better than I was. My mentor Jim Rohn said it best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="sqs-block quote-block sqs-block-quote null" data-block-type="31" id="block-yui_3_17_2_1_1618918798743_3095" style="clear: both; font-family: Poppins; font-size: 16px; height: auto; padding: 17px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><div class="sqs-block-content"><figure class="block-animation-site-default animation-loaded" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><blockquote data-animation-role="quote" style="font-family: proxima-nova, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px;">“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills”</blockquote><figcaption class="source" style="font-family: proxima-nova, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.1em; text-align: right;">— Jim Rohn</figcaption></figure></div></div>
<p justify="" style="text-align: justify;" text-align:="">
Another thing that Jim taught me was that my attitude is greatly influenced by association and that I should never mistake the power of influence. Influence can be both powerful and subtle. Anyone can be gently nudged off-track by someone who may be constantly pushing their elbow into your back. A little nudge with the elbow every day can push you off track until you really don’t know how you ended up where you are. All of a sudden you can say “<em style="word-wrap: break-word;">Wow! How did I end up way over here?</em>”.</p>
</div><p justify="" style="text-align: justify;" text-align:="">Having been an Independent (not in a political party) councillor/politician for 17 years, I found myself way off track mentally and emotionally, and so made the conscious decision to remove myself from the negative, divisive, adversarial, confrontational energy of the local town council, and get myself back on track. I got into it to help people, not be constantly attacked due to not being a member of a political party. Wow! What a correct and amazing decision that turned out to be! I resigned as a Town Councillor, and in so doing relinquished my position as Deputy Mayor of my town. It was the best thing I ever did and was so amazing to have those nudging elbows removed from my back!</p><h4 style="font-size: calc(1.2rem); font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.3888; margin: 2rem 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Kyle Wilson’s Inner Circle</strong></h4><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRrF2-RVBVRAiTFU8YEHUdh3PABPOF8kMwNdOtxKdR178jv-hpLIPPULpH0ucIO-fLNFUV-dfm1nAsSg9evnDXUDO5DKq-AKKLwBpZZa5cLrqaaC3Thv4KNkBqfhG4vK-FLK59uHcvQq8/s2048/Brian+Tracy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2048" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRrF2-RVBVRAiTFU8YEHUdh3PABPOF8kMwNdOtxKdR178jv-hpLIPPULpH0ucIO-fLNFUV-dfm1nAsSg9evnDXUDO5DKq-AKKLwBpZZa5cLrqaaC3Thv4KNkBqfhG4vK-FLK59uHcvQq8/w400-h261/Brian+Tracy.png" title="Brian Tracy" width="400" /></a></div><div class="sqs-block image-block sqs-block-image sqs-text-ready" data-block-type="5" id="block-yui_3_17_2_1_1618939881838_5077" style="clear: both; height: auto; padding: 17px; position: relative;"><div class="sqs-block-content" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1621949632824_120"><div class="image-block-outer-wrapper layout-caption-below design-layout-inline combination-animation-site-default individual-animation-site-default individual-text-animation-site-default animation-loaded" data-test="image-block-inline-outer-wrapper" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1621949632824_119" style="text-align: center; transform: translateZ(0px);"><strong>Talking to Brian Tracy - International Speaker, Author & Success Expert at Kyle Wilson’s Inner Circle Meeting - December 04, 2020.</strong></div></div></div></div>
<p justify="" style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;" text-align:="">Having met Jim Rohn’s 18 year business partner, Kyle Wilson, at a Success Symposium in Dallas in January 2008, I became a member of his inner circle. The inner circle was a way to associate with like minded Entrepreneurs, Speakers, Business People, Iconic Thought Leaders, Authors, Professionals, Musicians, etc. It was simply amazing! The difference between association with these people and local party political councillors is just simply indescribable. It gave me inspiration when the rest of the world appeared to be in desperation.</p><h4 style="font-size: calc(1.2rem); font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.3888; margin: 2rem 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">John Maxwell Team</strong></h4>
<p justify="" style="text-align: justify;" text-align:="">At the 2008 Dallas Success Symposium, one of the speakers was John Maxwell. John is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 26 million books, and was identified as the #1 leader in business by the American Management Association. In 2020, during lockdown, I finished my training which I began in 2016 to become an independent<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;"> </strong><a href="https://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/paulhopfensperger/" style="background-image: unset; background-position: unset; background-repeat: unset; background-size: unset; color: black; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip: auto; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-thickness: 1px; text-decoration: none; text-underline-offset: 0.2em; white-space: initial; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Certified Coach, Teacher, Trainer and Speaker with The John Maxwell Team</strong></a>.</p><p justify="" style="text-align: justify;" text-align:="">So I had now changed my associations which affected the way I thought about everything, and had a qualification to officially be able to help people. I was very excited!</p>
<p style="margin: 1rem 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqY_73tBmJQx1FhfXg-fRQQ-4wBnltpemJPh-rAyHVpkmBRRLIyfz5Kdieq8shhGmb3dgcM1e6rysYlMWaDyPsXlhCtmI7Fiigk-9SMnv7-RbIc47S-bl6jeXXZieuSoTfl87gqfTJLlFg/s2048/Website.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqY_73tBmJQx1FhfXg-fRQQ-4wBnltpemJPh-rAyHVpkmBRRLIyfz5Kdieq8shhGmb3dgcM1e6rysYlMWaDyPsXlhCtmI7Fiigk-9SMnv7-RbIc47S-bl6jeXXZieuSoTfl87gqfTJLlFg/w400-h214/Website.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong style="white-space: pre-wrap;">On a training call with John Maxwell - December 03, 2020</strong></div><div class="sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html" data-block-type="2" id="block-yui_3_17_2_1_1618939567410_4168" style="clear: none; height: auto; padding: 17px; position: relative;"><div class="sqs-block-content" style="outline: none;"><h4 style="font-size: calc(1.2rem); font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.3888; margin: 0px 0px 2rem; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Being on Podcasts</strong></h4>
<p style="text-align: justify;">So having joined Kyle’s Inner Circle, and become certified with John Maxwell, I began telling my story to people around the world via Zoom. In particular, <strong>I had adapted my story of swimming The English Channel, into applying the principles I learned into all areas of your life; Business, Personal, Sporting etc.</strong> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">People started inviting me onto their podcasts and loved my story. It has been a truly incredible year talking and giving my presentation to so many people around the world! One of the highlights was being invited onto my first ever mentor, Larry Thompson’s ‘Millionaire Training Book Club’. Larry has recently release his original Millionaire Training Tapes which got me started in this business in 1987, in the form of a book. If you haven’t got it yet - I thoroughly recommend it! I actually could not believe it! Larry is probably the world number 1 living legend in the network marketing industry having been in the business for over 50 years. He is known as the ‘Billion Dollar Man’ because he has generated billions of dollars of sales in the companies he has been involved in - <a href="https://www.herbalnutritionforlife.com/" style="background-image: unset; background-position: unset; background-repeat: unset; background-size: unset; color: black; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip: auto; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-thickness: 1px; text-decoration: none; text-underline-offset: 0.2em; white-space: initial; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Herbalife</strong></a> was where I first met him. I was truly humbled and blessed to be invited onto this show live from Texas in the USA.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfL2hivS7ng4TquOWPXs_Sqrdbh8iWCa7VaqMMbNHqslFGy6fL7RyF2ykg7jap26cz1k4Eytm7TYs36EnwWaM3eQLgILBQx-l4vVbP0PDnjEgE8h-CxX5n1aP_n0WsulskVmNCE6nTc4U/s2048/Larry+and+Taylor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfL2hivS7ng4TquOWPXs_Sqrdbh8iWCa7VaqMMbNHqslFGy6fL7RyF2ykg7jap26cz1k4Eytm7TYs36EnwWaM3eQLgILBQx-l4vVbP0PDnjEgE8h-CxX5n1aP_n0WsulskVmNCE6nTc4U/w400-h225/Larry+and+Taylor.png" title="Larry and Taylor Thompson Interview Paul Hopfensperger" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="sqs-block image-block sqs-block-image sqs-text-ready" data-block-type="5" id="block-yui_3_17_2_1_1618938700432_4052" style="clear: both; height: auto; padding: 17px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><div class="sqs-block-content" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1621949632824_154"><div class="image-block-outer-wrapper layout-caption-below design-layout-inline combination-animation-site-default individual-animation-site-default individual-text-animation-site-default animation-loaded" data-test="image-block-inline-outer-wrapper" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1621949632824_153" style="transform: translateZ(0px);"><figure class="sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1621949632824_152" style="margin: 0px auto; max-width: 2500px;"><figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper"><div class="image-caption"><p style="margin: 1rem 0px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/larryandtaylor/videos/755989295330169" style="background-image: unset; background-position: unset; background-repeat: unset; background-size: unset; color: black; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip: auto; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-thickness: 1px; text-decoration: none; text-underline-offset: 0.2em; white-space: initial;" target="_blank"><strong>With Larry and Taylor Thompson on their “Millionaire Training Book Club” Facebook Live - January 22, 2021</strong></a><strong>. </strong></p></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><div class="sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html" data-block-type="2" id="block-yui_3_17_2_1_1618940652192_7380" style="clear: none; height: auto; padding: 17px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><div class="sqs-block-content" style="outline: none;"><h4 style="font-size: calc(1.2rem); font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.3888; margin: 0px 0px 2rem; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Co-Authoring a #1 Amazon Best Selling Book with Kyle Wilson</strong></h4>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Throughout all of this time, in the background, I was working with the incredible <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Kyle Wilson</strong> in Dallas and <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Takara Sight</strong>s in Los Angeles to co-author a book called “<em style="word-wrap: break-word;">Bringing Value, Solving Problems and Leaving a Legacy</em>”. My co-authors include <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Tom Ziglar</strong> - son of legendary speaker <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Zig Ziglar</strong>, speaker, trainer and CEO of Ziglar.com, <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Dr Denis Waitley</strong> - Iconic Speaker and Author, <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Rachele Brooke-Smith</strong> - Actress, Filmmaker, Speaker & Entrepreneur and <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Mitzi Purdue</strong> - Family Business Expert, Speaker and Humanitarian to name just 3 of the 41 incredible authors. It has truly been the most incredible experience and on the day of it’s launch, Tuesday April 13, 2020, the book reached <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">#1 Best Seller Status on Amazon in 28 CATEGORIES</strong> and INTERNATIONALLY including just some of the following countries: The United States, Canada, Australia, France, Mexico and the United Kingdom! To cap it all, all profits from this book went to an amazing charity ‘<b><i>Win This Fight</i></b>’ - a charity setup by one of my co-authors, Mitzi Purdue. </p><h4 style="font-size: calc(1.2rem); font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.3888; margin: 2rem 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">So Why and I Telling You All of This?</strong></h4>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The global pandemic has and is still causing major health problems around the world, both physical and mental. Many, many millions of people are suffering the effects of the lockdown isolation and it has had serious effects on people’s <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">mental health</strong>. I have made it my challenge, my purpose to help as many people as I can to overcome the challenges we all face over the coming years. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">What I have tried to show you above, is that <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">who you disassociate yourself from</strong> and then <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">who you associate with</strong>, can have <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">a seriously positive effect on your physical health, your mental health and your financial future</strong>. If I can do it - you can do it. I’m no different to you - but we all need a little help. I’m here for you. As Jim Rohn said: </p></div></div><div class="sqs-block quote-block sqs-block-quote null" data-block-type="31" id="block-yui_3_17_2_1_1618941338098_10517" style="clear: both; height: auto; padding: 17px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><div class="sqs-block-content"><figure class="block-animation-site-default animation-loaded" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><blockquote data-animation-role="quote" style="font-family: proxima-nova, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px;">“It takes all of us to help each of us, and each of us to help all of us, and we can’t do it alone. Have you ever seen a rich hermit?”</blockquote><figcaption class="source" style="font-family: proxima-nova, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.1em; text-align: right;">— Jim Rohm</figcaption></figure></div></div>
<h4 style="font-size: calc(1.2rem); font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.3888; margin: 0px 0px 2rem; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Summary</strong></h4>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I will finish this post by quoting Mitzi Perdue from her section in the book, because it sums up everything I am saying here. This is what she said:-</p></div></div><div class="sqs-block quote-block sqs-block-quote null" data-block-type="31" id="block-yui_3_17_2_1_1618996400846_9166" style="clear: both; height: auto; padding: 17px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><div class="sqs-block-content"><figure class="block-animation-site-default animation-loaded" style="margin: 1em 0px;"><blockquote data-animation-role="quote" style="font-family: proxima-nova, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px;">“I think most of us would like to look back on our lives and feel that we’ve made a contribution. The formula for getting there that I like is a) Don’t be afraid of failure, b) Do everything you can to grow your talent stack, and c) Act on what Aristotle said 2300 years ago:<br />’The only way to achieve true success in life is to express yourself in service to society.’ ”</blockquote><figcaption class="source" style="font-family: proxima-nova, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem; letter-spacing: 0em; line-height: 1.1em; text-align: right;">— Mitzi Purdue</figcaption></figure></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I am here to help YOU in whatever way I can. Sign up for my e-mail list at <a href="http://www.PaulHopfensperger.com">www.PaulHopfensperger.com</a> and buy the book. My chapter: "<i><b>Just Keep Swimming Until You Get To France!</b>™</i>" may just inspire you and help YOU walk forward into the next few years with optimism!</div><p style="margin: 1rem 0px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">Yours in health, wealth, happiness and optimism.</p><p style="margin: 1rem 0px 0px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;">🌍 <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Paul Hopfensperger</strong> - <strong style="word-wrap: break-word;"><em style="word-wrap: break-word;">#BeTheDifference</em></strong> 👊</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKe3UpKqVKJbylG5Tr-QqLnAtynQChB1HPkRoyCfdkAu3TaT9d2KcyLKg7YVA0uyC3WetKCLGqK_zxawrsS6VYWNGafL7BggX4tUN0XJK8LHAONh97OYfJha3jtGdm96TVMtzoXIaFW5t/s2048/Larry+and+Taylor.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKe3UpKqVKJbylG5Tr-QqLnAtynQChB1HPkRoyCfdkAu3TaT9d2KcyLKg7YVA0uyC3WetKCLGqK_zxawrsS6VYWNGafL7BggX4tUN0XJK8LHAONh97OYfJha3jtGdm96TVMtzoXIaFW5t/s2048/Larry+and+Taylor.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKe3UpKqVKJbylG5Tr-QqLnAtynQChB1HPkRoyCfdkAu3TaT9d2KcyLKg7YVA0uyC3WetKCLGqK_zxawrsS6VYWNGafL7BggX4tUN0XJK8LHAONh97OYfJha3jtGdm96TVMtzoXIaFW5t/s2048/Larry+and+Taylor.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-41163279159115154582020-02-25T10:47:00.000+00:002020-02-25T10:47:07.812+00:00The 'King of The English Channel' Kevin Murphy visits Body and Mind Studio to collect "The Butlin Challenge Trophy - International Swim Across The Wash"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to Right: Beccy Hopfensperger, Paul Hopfensperger, Kevin Murphy, Kathy Batts.</td></tr>
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On Thursday 20/02/2020, Beccy and I were delighted to welcome Kevin Murphy, the '<b>King of The English Channel</b>' to <a href="https://bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/" target="_blank">Body and Mind Studio</a> to collect the "<b>The Butlin Challenge Trophy</b> - <b>International Swim Across The Wash</b>" which has been in our possession as former <a href="https://www.hoffyswims.com/2009/12/butlin-challenge-trophy-international.html" target="_blank">Chairman and Honorary Secretary of the International Open Water Swimming Association</a> (IOWSA) since 2009.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;">The Butlin Challenge Trophy</b><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"> - </span><b style="text-align: justify;">International Swim Across The Wash</b></td></tr>
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Kevin was the first man, and second person ever to swim across The Wash on 26/05/1973 (<a href="https://bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/content/iowsa/iowsa-the-wash-ratified-swims.pdf" target="_blank">full list of successful swims here</a>) and following telephone discussions with him over the past few weeks, this is what we have decided.</div>
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Kevin is going to hand the trophy over to the British Long Distance Swimming Association (<a href="https://bldsa.org.uk/" target="_blank">BLDSA</a>) who he informed me, originally ratified all open water swims in the 1970's, and any swims which may have happened in recent years and in the years to come, will have to be ratified by the BLDSA to have the swimmers name engraved on the trophy.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Successful Relay Swims - <a href="https://www.hoffyswims.com/2009/12/butlin-challenge-trophy-international.html" target="_blank">Further Information Here</a></td></tr>
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For the historical record, it was a very interesting project using my own time, effort and resources to track this trophy down in 2009, and to read up about The Wash and ratify all known successful swims on behalf of IOWSA. I hope this historical trophy has many more names engraved on it in the future.</div>
Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-47871110493545693862019-07-30T12:10:00.001+01:002019-07-31T11:33:12.549+01:00Update on The Butlins Trophy for swimming The Wash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggDZogRs30yD6SC886BOaPjSK3F65JJK-4Ssrk5hSGK1PTgoOJnlo6mF48bcuHxxbj58HGPA0pfh0UstkDCImV0BYn9qRT2AKnxcSDKWq2j8tUWoUMgeYSN4aycX4Of3_9U6MNkDSG_0Z/s1600/The+Butlins+Trophy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1429" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggDZogRs30yD6SC886BOaPjSK3F65JJK-4Ssrk5hSGK1PTgoOJnlo6mF48bcuHxxbj58HGPA0pfh0UstkDCImV0BYn9qRT2AKnxcSDKWq2j8tUWoUMgeYSN4aycX4Of3_9U6MNkDSG_0Z/s400/The+Butlins+Trophy.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong 14.850000381469727px="" arial="" font-family:="" font-size:="" freesans="" helvetica="" justify="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" text-align:="">Above: </strong><span 14.850000381469727px="" arial="" font-family:="" font-size:="" freesans="" helvetica="" justify="" quot="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" text-align:="">Jacqueline Thomas of East Lindsey District Council hands over the trophy to Paul Hopfensperger, the then Chairman of the International Open Water Swimming Association (<a href="http://www.iowsa.com/" target="_blank">IOWSA</a>) in Manby, Licolnshire on Wednesday December 16, 2009.</span></span></div>
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<span arial="" font-family:="" helvetica="" justify="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;" text-align:="">Over the past couple of years, I have been receiving e-mails, texts, phone calls and Facebook messages from various people who are saying they have "<i>Swum The Wash"</i> and can I "<i>Hand over the trophy</i>" to them. Firstly, so that people understand how I came to locate this trophy after being lost for so many years, <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2009/12/butlin-challenge-trophy-international.html" target="_blank">please see the story here</a>. Due to losing my mother, then my father then having an extremely painful <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhesive_capsulitis_of_shoulder" target="_blank">Frozen Shoulder</a> for the past 3 years, I have not now been involved in swimming for 9 years, so I'm sorry, but swimming is just not part of my life at the moment so I just do not have the capacity to deal with all this at the moment.</span></div>
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<span arial="" font-family:="" helvetica="" justify="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;" text-align:="">Secondly, so that everyone understands what is happening, two years ago I asked the then Mayor of Skegness, Cllr. Sid Dennis, if I could hand the trophy over to <a href="https://www.skegness.gov.uk/contact-us.html" target="_blank">Skegness Town Council</a> for safe keeping, as I believe that this should be the natural home for this historic trophy. It's where <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butlins#Skegness" target="_blank">Billy Butlins opened his first Holiday Camp in 1936</a>, and it was him who originally presented this historic trophy to swimmers of The Wash. I left it with Cllr. Dennis, and we provisionally arranged that we would have a "hand over" ceremony in October 2017, and that Skegness Town Council could then keep possession of this trophy for me, and keep track of persons entitled to have their name engraved on the trophy (in line with the <a href="http://www.iowsa.com/" target="_blank">IOWSA</a> rules below). For reasons I am unaware of, this didn't happen.</span></div>
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<span arial="" font-family:="" helvetica="" justify="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;" text-align:="">I have this week, contacted Skegness Town Council again, and they are now looking into it again for me. Cllr. Dennis has contacted me again, and he is the councillor who is looking into it. Knowing how Town Councils work, I would imagine this could be a 1-2 month process at the very least. </span></div>
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<span arial="" font-family:="" helvetica="" justify="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;" text-align:="">While writing, I would like to say that ALL swimmers names who appear on the trophy, have swum The Wash under normal 'Channel Swimming' rules, i.e. in particular, no wetsuits. I have this morning spoken to the <a href="http://cspf.co.uk/" target="_blank">CS&PF</a> Honorary Secretary, Kevin Murphy who has swum The Wash, who has confirmed this, as he did in 2009 when we set <a href="http://www.iowsa.com/" target="_blank">IOWSA</a> up. The swimming rules to be eligible to receive the trophy are similar to item 10 of the <a href="http://www.iowsa.com/" target="_blank">IOWSA</a> Rules and Regulations document below.</span></div>
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<span arial="" font-family:="" helvetica="" justify="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;" text-align:="">Once I have confirmation of what is happening, I will post back here. In the meantime, please be patient and you have my assurances that I am trying to get this trophy back to Skegness where it belongs, but I can't just hand it over to anyone who asks me for it. That would be totally irresponsible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Useful Information for People Interested in Swimming The Wash</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1)</b> <a href="https://bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/content/iowsa/iowsa-rules-and-regulations.pdf" target="_blank">IOWSA - Rules and Regulations</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2)</b> <a href="https://bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/content/iowsa/iowsa-the-wash-ratified-swims.pdf" target="_blank">IOWSA - Ratified Swims of The Wash</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3)</b> <a href="https://bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/content/iowsa/iowsa-swims-of-the-wash-preliminary-investigations.pdf" target="_blank">IOWSA - Preliminary investigation of The Wash Swims (2009)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Paul Hopfensperger</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tuesday July 30, 2019</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Update - Wednesday July 31, 2019</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have received an e-mail from Skegness Town Council stating that the first time that this could be discussed by them would be at their meeting on 04/09/2019.</span></div>
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Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-74161938882396788092016-11-17T15:13:00.011+00:002021-05-25T14:16:00.105+01:00A new direction in life as a Motivational Speaker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.paulhopfensperger.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblrCv4fe05kMqXR3hyzhicRfO4cMY0bHMJJvc7tpk76ECgSdMzXGSPcjnpHSmT4gwIxlf4m3dGBdxTlbUe7aBYhSON6F6vuy6NmZ67RZGD43cDQTewumNQVMYZuxV6lAcDnigJwaJJQj2/s400/PJH+-+Header+3+Close+Up+%2528Hi+Res%2529.jpg" title="Paul Hopfensperger - Motivational Speaker" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.paulhopfensperger.com/" target="_blank">Paul Hopfensperger - Motivational Speaker</a></div>
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On March 8th, 2013 my dear mum Vera passed away <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2012/02/swimming-for-my-mum-212-miles-in-2012.html" target="_blank">following a massive stroke a year earlier</a>. She was the reason for me starting swimming at a very early age and I will always be eternally grateful to her for giving me a lifelong interest which has given me so much enjoyment, enabled me to meet so many wonderful people, travel to so many places and now, to allow me to tell people about my journey as part of a new direction in my life. </div>
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Due to work, family and political commitments over the past few years, I haven't been able to commit any decent time to swimming, so I thought I would concentrate on helping inspire others to start on their journey to successful accomplishment of their goals. I have therefore launched a new website as a joint venture for my work as an Independent local councillor, and as a motivational speaker. It is in the early stages of development, so please check on it regularly for updates.</div>
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If you are starting out on your journey to swim The English Channel, or starting out on the journey to achieving any other goal, this ancient Korean quote helped me succeed. I hope it does the same for you:-</div>
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<i>"No matter how high the mountain is, it can be compared to a small tomb under the heaven. So if a man attempted to climb it, there would be no reason why he can't succeed. But very often one claims the mountain is too high without even attempting to climb it."</i></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.paulhopfensperger.com/">www.PaulHopfensperger.com</a></b></h2>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/paulhopfensperger/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></h2>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/phopfensperger" target="_blank">Twitter</a></h2>
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Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-37524051293461165552014-01-28T16:15:00.002+00:002014-01-28T16:15:52.866+00:00Hoffy's Chilly Dip 2014 - Getting closer...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyHWGMbs5jm4Pa6Yqx68GpLofS_E3X5e5OsQn_DbAhyphenhyphen3ZMnpFdqqYrNXh4Xz7V9tVHKRCHB6ipXXqvxRDVgZJX4ROBd4P7s2aZbOESheNEueDKnvnWJRfb34hAalulOzQN7qD7JpBdt3e/s1600/Chilly+Dip+-+17-01-2014.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyHWGMbs5jm4Pa6Yqx68GpLofS_E3X5e5OsQn_DbAhyphenhyphen3ZMnpFdqqYrNXh4Xz7V9tVHKRCHB6ipXXqvxRDVgZJX4ROBd4P7s2aZbOESheNEueDKnvnWJRfb34hAalulOzQN7qD7JpBdt3e/s1600/Chilly+Dip+-+17-01-2014.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Well, preparations for the 2014 Chilly Dip are well under way, but I have hit a slight snag. I am on a course in London on the day off the actual swim, so I will be doing it on my own on the previous Friday, February 21st, 2014. Just gives me two less days to prepare!</div>
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I would like to thank everyone who has sponsored me so far, having already reached <b>£190 </b>of my £250 target! Thank you again, and if you would like to sponsor me, please do so by clicking on the link below:-</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/HoffySwims2014"><span style="font-size: large;">www.JustGiving.com/HoffySwims2014</span></a></b></div>
<br />Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-55689149177948251922014-01-14T16:12:00.000+00:002014-01-28T16:16:43.306+00:00Hoffy's Chilly Dip 2014!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/HoffySwims2014" target="_blank"><img alt=" Hoffy's JustGiving Page" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxle0AIN45VXMcEe1jAXG4bngO58yc8DxsZjX9072DMoAZNp3oXJvDaMh2CETw3V2DAQwYdacqlD0YOqorOD1q7YM98TphvXgwAPc-9dP_MmViJbea2HOyZ8pxup9zfu-YQoj4pBOgCpOq/s1600/The+Chill+Dip+2014.png" /></a></div>
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Well, it's been a long time since my last cold water swim, but when the lovely Lucy Alfred, Design and Events Officer at St. Nicholas Hospice Care (SNHC) in Bury St Edmunds, e-mailed me and asked if I would be interested in a 10 length swim at 6 degrees Centigrade, how could I possibly refuse? So, here we are, with just over a month until the big day, on a positively beautiful sunny but cold January day, launching the event.</div>
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This morning at 11:00am 5 barmy people, myself included, wearing nothing but speedos, bikinis, swimming costumes, snorkles, goggles, ear muffs, hats and scarves, assembled in an inflatable paddling pool at St Nicholas Hospice before the town's media, well a photographer from the <a href="http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bury Free Press</a> at least, to encourage people to raise money for this fantastic charity - my favourite!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PefHxLCGpaLlK7cBD2_yyQcW0Ks-nFMlRFzSH_UDYcuiJhjfzGlFkZSapGAoQuDqDSV6z3P0JakQKBXYicjbVPUzT4SVEJl2NsD8P_zUjTOkFZm5trP89RfnQ8-O64EHIhAOUnL465sf/s1600/The+Big+Chilli+Dip+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PefHxLCGpaLlK7cBD2_yyQcW0Ks-nFMlRFzSH_UDYcuiJhjfzGlFkZSapGAoQuDqDSV6z3P0JakQKBXYicjbVPUzT4SVEJl2NsD8P_zUjTOkFZm5trP89RfnQ8-O64EHIhAOUnL465sf/s400/The+Big+Chilli+Dip+2.jpg" height="400" width="366" /></a></div>
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<b>Left to right: </b>Simon Bridle & Lucy Alfred (SNHC), Yours Truly, Camille Ives and Aaron Bridgeforth (SNHC) dipping our toes into the pool earlier today to launch the swim.</div>
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St Nicholas Hospice Care in my hometown of Bury St Edmunds, works compassionately in the fields of life-threatening illness, death and bereavement and needs to raise a staggering £11,000 per day to cover their costs. The hospice provides practical, medical and spiritual support to local people and their families living with an illness that is life threatening; such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, heart or lung disease. I am hoping to raise a minimum of £250 toward this cost, and would appreciate your help with sponsorship.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8I3KbfNiRTBqkVIi1nEYMq8Nt6AsBD7BHSCgF-ei_0QcmJFS2RmfBL5xCHgCTEPJwmlEBTQVNT1424GAnnyP0CO6sJL1ikObm_3rAIs_2es7c7uASXnwPv4tMOlXtDWZIDp4vvKSgXCo/s1600/The+Big+Chilli+Dip+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8I3KbfNiRTBqkVIi1nEYMq8Nt6AsBD7BHSCgF-ei_0QcmJFS2RmfBL5xCHgCTEPJwmlEBTQVNT1424GAnnyP0CO6sJL1ikObm_3rAIs_2es7c7uASXnwPv4tMOlXtDWZIDp4vvKSgXCo/s400/The+Big+Chilli+Dip+6.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></div>
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It really is not a challenge for the faint hearted, as the water will be very cold, but it will certainly be invigorating and satisfying one we have completed the challenge. Please feel free to sponsor me on my just giving website which can be found here:-</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/HoffySwims2014"><span style="font-size: large;">www.justgiving.com/HoffySwims2014</span></a></b></div>
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If you would like to join in this swim, then you can do so by filling in the application form online here:-</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.stnicholashospice.org.uk/events/eventContainer/the-big-chilli-dip">www.stnicholashospice.org.uk/events/eventContainer/the-big-chilli-dip</a></b></div>
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<b>Event Details:-</b></div>
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Sunday 23rd February at Moreton Hall Health Club, Mount Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 7BL at 11:00am.</div>
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I would like to thank <a href="http://www.culford.co.uk/sportandtennis/sportsdefault.aspx" target="_blank">Culford School Sports and Tennis Centre</a> for the use of their fantastic swimming facilities to train for this event.</div>
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Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-90342687251302029962013-09-22T11:36:00.000+01:002013-09-22T11:40:24.915+01:00A huge congratulations to Louise Stratford, 2013 English Channel Swimmer, from all at Body and Mind Studio!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAp1Qfmpn62Zt5n7wghyphenhyphenf0t_J0deK40wYa2osZVtii78cgZyYNhtq9G_GlU4ie6vsnZcT-2M-GjlAgJ9j95a9jseOWhRVHcqe1R3bOti8yWUroAzk5cVCS4WKefUM6CjXRW2QvnDU0WiUd/s1600/01+-+Louise+&+Paul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAp1Qfmpn62Zt5n7wghyphenhyphenf0t_J0deK40wYa2osZVtii78cgZyYNhtq9G_GlU4ie6vsnZcT-2M-GjlAgJ9j95a9jseOWhRVHcqe1R3bOti8yWUroAzk5cVCS4WKefUM6CjXRW2QvnDU0WiUd/s640/01+-+Louise+&+Paul.jpg" width="521" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Above:</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> 2013 English Channel Swimmer, Louise Stratford with</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/" style="color: #6db0ce; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Body and Mind Studio's</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/index_files/sportsmassage.htm" target="_blank">Sports</a> and <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/index_files/advancedclinicalmassage.htm" target="_blank">Advanced Clinical Massage Therapist</a>, Paul Hopfensperger, less than 36 hours after her epic 17 Hour 9 minute swim across The English Channel on September 03, 2013.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px;">I first met Louise when she telephoned to book a massage with us on February 20, 2012. We had been recommended to her by multiple channel swimmer and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px;"> </span><a href="http://www.cspf.co.uk/" style="color: #6db0ce; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px;"> President Nick Adams. Louise told me that she had been training for about 1.5 years and had completed many open water events. Over the past 1.75 years, I have had the pleasure and the honour of treating Louise with both</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px;"> </span><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/index_files/advancedclinicalmassage.htm" style="color: #6db0ce; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Advanced Clinical Massage</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px;"> </span><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/index_files/sportsmassage.htm" style="color: #6db0ce; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Sports Massage</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px;">as well as giving her tips, motivation and some advice from</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px;"> </span>my own personal experiences<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4e; line-height: 20px;"> as an open water swimmer.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At 06: 41 Hrs on the morning of September 03, 2013, Louise set off from Shakespeare Beach in Dover (pictured above) on her epic journey to France. During our last pre-swim <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/index_files/swedishmassage.htm"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Swedish Massage treatment</span></a> I had given her one of my most important pieces of mental advice for any Channel Swimmer to succeed. Advice which had been give to me in 2007 and most certainly got me across both of my two English Channel solo swims (want to know what it was - then come and see me!). I followed her all day via the Internet and it was a very emotional and exciting experience to watch her progress throughout the day!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5YqiPrUQV6siv7DneMmxcdpy4nyH100TPTRqWbUnw-WoO7FC-ObklAM_mFzwhvl3YvH-bt69yVDnFZsW97jAgC8iMbidcKMVvPCjVMvubMV9aAihJNcinW0HuT1X21DDDeFu9MDVUDFa/s1600/04+-+Louise+and+Tanker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5YqiPrUQV6siv7DneMmxcdpy4nyH100TPTRqWbUnw-WoO7FC-ObklAM_mFzwhvl3YvH-bt69yVDnFZsW97jAgC8iMbidcKMVvPCjVMvubMV9aAihJNcinW0HuT1X21DDDeFu9MDVUDFa/s640/04+-+Louise+and+Tanker.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPSpOCfbOHtp7FuALkvrqNGnDR1mOs7XJFX0JezZwcKEOCX6KKwQL8Q0esccW5FgnpNZw3MNJ55-yj9ZuG2sYarnkkQCu_Z-MJcsn57vYsy7UtpjDWNx9pa0gVGMSjG4V_B3uxVRqBYct/s1600/05+-+Louise+Stratford+-+12+Hrs+26+Mins.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPSpOCfbOHtp7FuALkvrqNGnDR1mOs7XJFX0JezZwcKEOCX6KKwQL8Q0esccW5FgnpNZw3MNJ55-yj9ZuG2sYarnkkQCu_Z-MJcsn57vYsy7UtpjDWNx9pa0gVGMSjG4V_B3uxVRqBYct/s640/05+-+Louise+Stratford+-+12+Hrs+26+Mins.png" width="537" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">12 hours and 26 minutes into the swim and with night starting to fall, <a href="http://openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=Paul_Hopfensperger"><span style="color: #0433ff;">having been across this stretch of water quite a few times now as both a swimmer and crew member</span></a>, I could see exactly what was happening. I could see that the swim was going to go on for a few hours yet! This is where the advice I gave her would possibly help her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Above: </b>Louise Stratford swimming strongly in the dark of night just off the coast of France near Cap-Gris-Nez.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eventually, at just before midnight, a comment on her </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Louise-Stratford-Channel-Swim/588833677824143?fref=ts" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0433ff;">Facebook page</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> read "</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Has landed! and running up the beach!</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">". I was totally ecstatic for her! An awesome swim by an awesome swimmer in </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">17 hours and 9 minutes</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> to become a member of </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">The English Channel Swimming Club!</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you would like to sponsor her, please do so on her JustGiving webpage:-</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/louise-stratford">www.justgiving.com/louise-stratford</a></span></b></span></div>
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I was delighted to receive a "Thank You" card from Louise. No thanks needed Louise, you are an amazingly strong person both mentally and physically, and I am proud to have been able to help you in a small way. The hard part you did all by yourself. Well done and welcome to the club!</div>
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If I can help anyone else who is thinking of swimming The English Channel, please do not hesitate to contact me. <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/index_files/contact.htm" target="_blank">Contact details can be found by clicking here</a>.</div>
Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-67905361102521344682012-09-30T16:49:00.001+01:002012-09-30T17:06:27.771+01:00Great week's swimming in Lindos, Rhodes, Greece, June 13-23, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9_h6qYijaAJ4YwKYtIX-BgOnC2dBmJ4BO5bWORYwQKqBxySI1x4ifIAvRhV0Q5rjviIiubCHeNFoEk5WLxKA-f3F-lpngMpQsVtvH-GSs5UXAjMRljRpAq2q6QKmp_n-Rt00xp_vCpOR/s1600/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9_h6qYijaAJ4YwKYtIX-BgOnC2dBmJ4BO5bWORYwQKqBxySI1x4ifIAvRhV0Q5rjviIiubCHeNFoEk5WLxKA-f3F-lpngMpQsVtvH-GSs5UXAjMRljRpAq2q6QKmp_n-Rt00xp_vCpOR/s400/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above: </strong>Just completing my 'two-way crossing' of the stunningly beautiful St Paul's Bay, Lindos Rhodes, June 2012.</div>
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Not wanting to harp on too much about things, but you will note that I haven't posted since February 6th. There are numerous reasons, but from a pure swimming perspective there was one big reason. <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2012/02/challenging-morning-in-arctic.html" target="_blank">As stated in my previous post, it was my intention to compete in the 2012 BLDSA Grand Prix</a>. To do this, I had a set plan and goal in mind and was very excited about it. <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/index_files/motivationalspeaking.htm" target="_blank">It is what I tell my clients on a daily basis, have a plan and stick to it</a>. <a href="http://www.jimrohn.com/index.php?main_page=redirect&action=banner&goto=17&refid=c13481" target="_blank">Jim Rohn</a> says, "<em>If you fail to plan, you plan to fail</em>". With that in mind, my plan was simple. Book and pay for the events I wanted to compete in, book and pay for the necessary accommodation around the country, put it all in my diary and train for the events. <strong>Big problem</strong>. The BLDSA website wouldn't allow me to do that, and despite contacting senior members of the BLDSA by e-mail and Facebook, no response! In the end, out of pure frustration I said, "<em>So be it!</em>" (or something similar) and booked a family holiday to Lindos, Rhodes, somewhere Beccy and I went on our first holiday together back in 1996.</div>
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It was a much needed holiday, in fact, due to <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/" target="_blank">starting the new business in Novemer 2008</a>, it was the first time we had been away anywhere since the <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2008/10/fina-world-cup-open-water-grand-prix.html" target="_blank">FINA World Cup race in Mexico in October 2008</a>. Apart from our first full family holiday, I had the intention of completing a couple of open water swims - a 'Two-way St Paul's Bay' and a 'Two-way Lindos Bay'. Nothing major in terms of distance at all, but something I wanted to do to <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/HoffySwims2012" target="_blank">add to my mileage for 2012</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9I_342KSeXUijOBqrvCafGCr2OU5yuGzwNf3QIrlRi5WM6f2GTStSJg9PmjuNeZ0U9YEYWWM2c5RNPVtwcLmWiaCcy6SEL40QAeGqDQuPqW7Gqg-lS6dBqtn_ptp6KFsAM6SqkM0kJw8/s1600/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9I_342KSeXUijOBqrvCafGCr2OU5yuGzwNf3QIrlRi5WM6f2GTStSJg9PmjuNeZ0U9YEYWWM2c5RNPVtwcLmWiaCcy6SEL40QAeGqDQuPqW7Gqg-lS6dBqtn_ptp6KFsAM6SqkM0kJw8/s400/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above: </strong>St Paul's Bay, taken from The Acropolis. Seeing this from such a height, was simply amazing and I couldn't wait to swim it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GsSmIYB2JkX9KmB8ng_TTX9gGTevWZGyOMfpe9Uxt_-oleV9uRsSqk7kSF_rYWLpYw4vSXh9qaZxeuHyNku-6hUmxffwYL-k3H5iia7bBSeyLpNa4TUl1c2x9R7fDEtVDa2HYaDndF02/s1600/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GsSmIYB2JkX9KmB8ng_TTX9gGTevWZGyOMfpe9Uxt_-oleV9uRsSqk7kSF_rYWLpYw4vSXh9qaZxeuHyNku-6hUmxffwYL-k3H5iia7bBSeyLpNa4TUl1c2x9R7fDEtVDa2HYaDndF02/s400/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(3).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15jrRw5kvcuX68ljGPnJSvtAayjuzU4UOMbpGwsTh-MzvIL3PPmCQ9VRS7QUzcXmi4m3IYdZCFFI0X5-RchMO6so6n2uWgJFrjV5fS-116nPPlOndAvi3bcq1XGNv89hyphenhyphencu0QezMF3Fkc/s1600/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15jrRw5kvcuX68ljGPnJSvtAayjuzU4UOMbpGwsTh-MzvIL3PPmCQ9VRS7QUzcXmi4m3IYdZCFFI0X5-RchMO6so6n2uWgJFrjV5fS-116nPPlOndAvi3bcq1XGNv89hyphenhyphencu0QezMF3Fkc/s400/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(4).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above: </strong>Completing my 'two-way' crossing of the stunningly beautiful St. Paul's Bay, Lindos, Rhodes, June 2012. The world famous Acropolis on the mountain in the background.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuSaUd5UzuO473LV0KmUsPnveDOWorBvkck-rf4gjIZGWjyi8xeMc0zx8FoUFmcHz12SUZcKUTXdBDdXle9pe9QMtR-tig6EVNgZfb-_ocd8CV8aYyngw82f4STDsnDtKgqG1pcb2KZWV/s1600/HoffySwims-Lindos1996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuSaUd5UzuO473LV0KmUsPnveDOWorBvkck-rf4gjIZGWjyi8xeMc0zx8FoUFmcHz12SUZcKUTXdBDdXle9pe9QMtR-tig6EVNgZfb-_ocd8CV8aYyngw82f4STDsnDtKgqG1pcb2KZWV/s400/HoffySwims-Lindos1996.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above:</strong> '<em>Blast from the past</em>" shot. This was taken by Beccy when I finished my first 'two-way crossing of St Paul's Bay between July 15 and 30, 1996. I can't believe it was 16 years ago!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7visR8oO-r6MmewSdg7_ix3PgrWqn7jkmBT9_OEVEf0l6oxPpIB5ekwS34rydjq-awrPVxrtECcOjVBitf2FKuM6E7j4h7OuUbNq3nUmA1H9GX6UKnuFhAUtDqUg4-U5-Y4z3Pf2OxYc/s1600/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7visR8oO-r6MmewSdg7_ix3PgrWqn7jkmBT9_OEVEf0l6oxPpIB5ekwS34rydjq-awrPVxrtECcOjVBitf2FKuM6E7j4h7OuUbNq3nUmA1H9GX6UKnuFhAUtDqUg4-U5-Y4z3Pf2OxYc/s400/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(5).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above:</strong> Lindos Bay taken from the other side of The Acropolis. I completed this two way crossing for the first time on the last day of our holiday, June 23, 2012.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmJcQRFmBhwDGXF0CFFJp4B7vXl7qrF_p9ekMzLIU94ZESgRZO6p9ubq-0UuN1fc8F1UDO7AaGh3fsGDzdGdWRMoFQO-BC3gGK_bLpE2xU5XcM_WOIN6zkbJviPA8E0YLNAIZmo_NRymG/s1600/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmJcQRFmBhwDGXF0CFFJp4B7vXl7qrF_p9ekMzLIU94ZESgRZO6p9ubq-0UuN1fc8F1UDO7AaGh3fsGDzdGdWRMoFQO-BC3gGK_bLpE2xU5XcM_WOIN6zkbJviPA8E0YLNAIZmo_NRymG/s400/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(6).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6Sd5l6rgH60KbQctokr-o76yV7M8tGg_vshj4Yx8TIH4P3vl35rLnyoiBksvml5tcuLPr6oaZQW6Zmzx1tCpLn8dzToUewz4EPqwLc_BLpSf6ahx9vFNBjZOksQ-8W-XeEaLxhHxUJsG/s1600/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6Sd5l6rgH60KbQctokr-o76yV7M8tGg_vshj4Yx8TIH4P3vl35rLnyoiBksvml5tcuLPr6oaZQW6Zmzx1tCpLn8dzToUewz4EPqwLc_BLpSf6ahx9vFNBjZOksQ-8W-XeEaLxhHxUJsG/s400/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(7).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above: </strong>Swimming and completing my swim across Lindos Bay and back (<a href="http://www.culford.co.uk/sportandtennis/Facilities/Swimming-Pool.aspx" target="_blank">wearing my Culford swimming hat of course</a>).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUckSeeaf-OWkm6ToNUAhqsdkLMBHHgqxjxSlkB4W4BPNP5fkmrGSB6ELZyGHktw5eDWsfszwdqMpTvjBKkn3IivcAwuKQ3SfVVmzVj_RjOGJrT1DswIOejbudx5TwEMo6Y51A5hUCu7h/s1600/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUckSeeaf-OWkm6ToNUAhqsdkLMBHHgqxjxSlkB4W4BPNP5fkmrGSB6ELZyGHktw5eDWsfszwdqMpTvjBKkn3IivcAwuKQ3SfVVmzVj_RjOGJrT1DswIOejbudx5TwEMo6Y51A5hUCu7h/s400/Lindos-Rhodes-2012(8).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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As well as my sea swims I spent every day in the pool and clocked up about 5,000 Metres total during the week. Still a fair way to go to reach my goal, but it all adds up.</div>
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My mum is still hanging in there, but has been confined to bed since <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2012/02/swimming-for-my-mum-212-miles-in-2012.html" target="_blank">her debilitating stroke in January</a>. She is in a fantastic home, looked after by some fantastic nursing staff. She will however, never get out of bed again, never walk, never eat or drink, just lay in bed, fed by a peg and tube in the stomach. A terrible way to end a life so full of love, happiness, laughter and enjoyment.</div>
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If you would like to sponsor me for my swimming this year, just please click on the link below and donate. Thank you in advance.</div>
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Hoffy.</div>
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<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/HoffySwims2012" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaw8Yn9Id0yvN-QC1DjwGb2gXdUaRPOww8q-Q-G3qMRIPj-RK8123qi5a738cN9ohyphenhyphenAVF8lErHiNEsTY0LEZ3Hgh88Wds47s8rabw3CeDvKalr0WuyjcK5rA0Dn2EJoC7AQLTWiHzJvFP/s1600/JustGiving+-+Sponsor+Me.jpg" /></a></div>
Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-45854600601107615782012-09-12T17:25:00.001+01:002021-05-25T14:13:39.944+01:00Patrick Thomas - English Channel Swim - Saturday September 08, 2012 - 13 Hrs. 56 Mins.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7swsMKa9tBk8cuiyOA7UFkQ40SvyrFcGaScYB2fvM9xLYrAL9R29WXQpJgMH_xSRTr11lsWqO_es4sTFNYOL3MFMKkFfOB0GBQrQZ8QffVU6uYhgBr8Qbp0Le6-U8FUuV5vszAWSCaHI/s1600/Patrick's-Channel-Swim-(01).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7swsMKa9tBk8cuiyOA7UFkQ40SvyrFcGaScYB2fvM9xLYrAL9R29WXQpJgMH_xSRTr11lsWqO_es4sTFNYOL3MFMKkFfOB0GBQrQZ8QffVU6uYhgBr8Qbp0Le6-U8FUuV5vszAWSCaHI/s400/Patrick's-Channel-Swim-(01).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above </strong>(left to right)<strong>: </strong>Me, Patrick Thomas from Cape Town, South Africa and Dave Granger (Channel Swimmer 2011) on board Anastasia in Dover Marina on Saturday September 08, 2012 - about 2:30am.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
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On Thursday July 26th, an e-mail came into the Channel Swimmers 'chat group' asking for crew members to hep a guy from South Africa called <a href="http://patrickthruafrica.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Patrick Thomas</a> to swim The English Channel on the September 07-14 tide. I contacted Patrick and following some e-mail conversations, on Sunday August 12th he e-mailed me and Dave Granger to say that he would like like us to crew for him. He also said that a close family friend called Janeen De Klerk would be coming with him from South Africa. He said that she had "<em>no swimming experience ... but is an ultra marathon runner and a very calm and settled all round person</em>". Ideal to compliment a couple of mad Channel Swimmers then!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
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Patrick and I liaised over the next few weeks until he finally arrived in England. I had been tentatively telling my <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/" target="_blank">massage and nutrition clients</a> about crewing in The English Channel the following week, and explained that I may have to change their appointments at the last minute due to the nature of Channel Swimming. This is why it can be difficult to get crew. You literally have to be prepared to go, food, clothes etc., drop everything, head to Dover and crew at very short notice! Not an easy task for ayone when you have work and family comitments.<br />
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Here's how the conversation went by text:-<br />
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<strong>Mon 3 Sep 2012 - 11:46 - Patrick in London:</strong> "<em>Hi there Paul. This is my UK number. Awesome day here today :) Cheers, Patrick Thomas</em>".<br />
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<strong>Paul:</strong> <em>"Excellent! Spoken to Eddie [the pilot] yet? If so what's the forecast for the weekend?</em>"<br />
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<strong>Patrick</strong>: <em>"Hi there. Just sms-ed briefly. No discussions as yet. Thursday and Friday look great wind picks up Saturday ... Not sure there is space for two pre weather turn. Heading to Varne Ridge tomorrow and will try have a chat to him tomorrow." </em></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" lang="EN-ZA" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><strong>Paul:</strong> <em>"Cool. Stand at Varne Ridge and gaze across The Channel. It's an awesome view. Sends shivers of excitement down my spine just picturing it in my mind!".</em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><em><br /></em></div>
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<strong>Patrick</strong>: <em>"Cool. Can't wait. Will be in touch tomorrow evening :)".</em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><em><br /></em></div>
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<strong>Tue 4 Sep 2012 - 21:27 - Patrick at Varne Ridge:</strong> <em>"Hi there. Spoke to Eddie today. He is confident 1st slot will do real early morning departure Friday. Makes me Saturday morning (EARLY) start ... Too early to read much into weather - aiming for then and updates on weather tomorrow evening. Cheers, Fatty Patty :)".</em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><em><br /></em></div>
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<strong>Paul:</strong> <em>"Ok. Let's check again tomorrow. Cheers. Paul."</em> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
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<strong>Wed 5 Sep 2012 - 19:23 - Patrick at Varne Ridge:</strong> <em>"Hi there again. Just spoke to Eddie again. Still looking OK for Saturday real early (Around 02h30) ... No definite time as yet ... But that is our goal for now :D".</em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><em><br /></em></div>
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<strong>Paul:</strong> <em>"Ok cool. Will plan for that at present. Exciting!".</em></div>
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<strong>Thu 6 Sep 2012 - 19:26 - Patrick at Varne Ridge:</strong> <em>"Hi there ... again. Just spoke to Eddie. We are still on for Saturday very early. To meet at Harbour at 2h3. To be confirmed again at 19h00 tomorrow. He is 90% confident of that decision :)".</em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><em><br /></em></div>
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I then realised that we were very likely to be on for the swim early Saturday morning, but not certain. I had a bit of a difficult decision. I had purposely not booked any appointments in for Friday (pm) and would have to chance getting to Dover for about 7pm not actually knowing if we were going to swim or not. A 145 mile drive - maybe for nothing. I packed and ensured I had my swim kit because at least I could swim in the harbour on Saturday morning if we didn't go. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbm2OtAfhbmQ3-kTtMLeYZF5VKS6fM_TsoLm_cqqbeNwY6kqjmIM5jwsfzy15nanqd3yRxT6GNSFz_TQm0iXA15O-Kclx1TIAMeQjZLX4S4zDRWqr3nGAUbVoYHP2oRhtCZUQUZXu6vJ5/s1600/Patrick's-Channel-Swim-(02).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><em><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbm2OtAfhbmQ3-kTtMLeYZF5VKS6fM_TsoLm_cqqbeNwY6kqjmIM5jwsfzy15nanqd3yRxT6GNSFz_TQm0iXA15O-Kclx1TIAMeQjZLX4S4zDRWqr3nGAUbVoYHP2oRhtCZUQUZXu6vJ5/s400/Patrick's-Channel-Swim-(02).JPG" width="400" /></em></a></div>
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To be completed...Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-69885963536673853602012-02-06T15:44:00.001+00:002012-02-06T15:46:58.824+00:00A Challenging Morning in Arctic Conditions!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOW22ui8RmWcUqvXVqNIwiHlXnTwEMkzNXDAoIZvIEKrpjILn_Ord8DRK-nS2f1ZfyBuWJ0MUF6RPxkD5OEwJnQlK6RvhROFdJajyF292_zTQHG_Vle_g3xJb-NdugPx9Lnpzt0reL0saH/s1600/bldsabluelogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOW22ui8RmWcUqvXVqNIwiHlXnTwEMkzNXDAoIZvIEKrpjILn_Ord8DRK-nS2f1ZfyBuWJ0MUF6RPxkD5OEwJnQlK6RvhROFdJajyF292_zTQHG_Vle_g3xJb-NdugPx9Lnpzt0reL0saH/s200/bldsabluelogo.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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On Saturday I renewed my <a href="http://www.bldsa.org.uk/" target="_blank">British Long Distance Swimming Association</a> membership with the intention of competing in the 2012 Grand Prix as part of my efforts to complete <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/HoffySwims2012" target="_blank">212 miles to raise £2,012 for The Stroke Association</a>. The final events for 2012 haven't yet been finalised, but Vince Classen, the BLDSA membership secretary e-mailed me last year's championship races which were as follows:-</div>
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Wykeham - 5KM</div>
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Champion of Champions (Dover Harbour) - 9 Miles</div>
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Torbay - 8 Miles</div>
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Llyn Tegid - 6 Miles</div>
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Coniston - 5.25 Miles</div>
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Ullswater - 7 Miles</div>
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Derwentwater - 5 Miles</div>
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Lake Winermere - 10.5 Miles</div>
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Lynn Regis - 3 Miles</div>
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So at present, that is my preliminary plan. To complete all of these races in the championship. I will post when I know the 2012 final plan.</div>
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So today I had planned to get back in the pool at <a href="http://www.culford.co.uk/sportandtennis/sportsdefault.aspx" target="_blank">Culford Sports and Tennis Centre</a> at 7am. It didn't go exactly to plan, but I managed to get 70 lengths (1,750 Metres) in - eventually. Due to the heavy snow yesterday, I hadn't been out in the car, so I hadn't allowed enough time to dig it out of the snow! Having eventually completed the dig, I then had to clear the driveway to get the gate open! I finally arrived at the pool at 7.00am only to find the car slipping backwards down a very snowy slope near the pool. I therefore parked it in front of the main school building and ran up to the pool, finally getting in at just before 7:15am.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbzNGpGFPm-kLy9ozja0Bi81UvEj3iWw_ef16ACrJA7CQcCiN2qt35KWIbz20Fnnu4ywfMTiqnkcw4AkuRzFMaiBWsJ4qUj7_nz86YS_9Qua68JPOvvONcGuqhg5uMkBjvkHxcRMtsclz/s1600/Snowy+Pool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbzNGpGFPm-kLy9ozja0Bi81UvEj3iWw_ef16ACrJA7CQcCiN2qt35KWIbz20Fnnu4ywfMTiqnkcw4AkuRzFMaiBWsJ4qUj7_nz86YS_9Qua68JPOvvONcGuqhg5uMkBjvkHxcRMtsclz/s400/Snowy+Pool.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above: </strong>The driveway leading up to the <a href="http://www.culford.co.uk/sportandtennis/sportsdefault.aspx" target="_blank">Culford Sports and Tennis Centre</a> swimming pool this morning at about 07:10am.</div>
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I was focused on building up my training to raise the money for The Stroke Association and of course for my dear mum, who after one week in hospital is not any better at all. Below is a picture of her with her feed which is going through a tube in her nose. To date she has had no food or drink properly due to not being able to swallow. I am doing these swims for her.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgAlCwinXQ5b7yC5LmoKosicmD1XPFk8JVFYDIZzxINT-aIdaDq9S_0pwg4QjGJvuvKVvzkcrVT03ntn_URH9Y1306xfNw4TWbFvu1A1RGjHEEOqBi2aZvH5Mzyw8MXRBr2t9tWMqjrZO/s1600/Mum+and+Dad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgAlCwinXQ5b7yC5LmoKosicmD1XPFk8JVFYDIZzxINT-aIdaDq9S_0pwg4QjGJvuvKVvzkcrVT03ntn_URH9Y1306xfNw4TWbFvu1A1RGjHEEOqBi2aZvH5Mzyw8MXRBr2t9tWMqjrZO/s400/Mum+and+Dad.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above: </strong>My dad caring for my mum in hospital. He is still in shock at the entire experience, especially how sudden and out of the blue it all was.</div>
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In the time available I completed my swim, and for the last 15 minutes, I had the entire pool to myself. Just the lifeguard watching from her platform.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DcFaBQlGy1fgZLc86Ds3oEYJGe8EF0ZyKfH2m_xyH0a1bTpypOZLYKQcfgZOjjP0y1BxC8dADyW8h0KKSUgkIwD6hk4tgkNRivCd-9rNxMmbANNLVZvJ6A-0yvKiG25c56iCji1DtxMO/s1600/Calm+Pool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DcFaBQlGy1fgZLc86Ds3oEYJGe8EF0ZyKfH2m_xyH0a1bTpypOZLYKQcfgZOjjP0y1BxC8dADyW8h0KKSUgkIwD6hk4tgkNRivCd-9rNxMmbANNLVZvJ6A-0yvKiG25c56iCji1DtxMO/s400/Calm+Pool.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above: </strong>My training ground this morning. 8 lanes wide, 25 Metres long and no one in it but me!</div>
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I returned to the changing rooms looking forward to a nice warm shower, only it wasn't warm. It was absolutely freezing! I may as well have gone outside and rolled naked in the snow, only I may have been arrested for doing so. So I had a cold shower. Great cold water acclimatisation session.</div>
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So I now have a provisional plan, and have completed a total of 10,650 Metres (6.6 Miles). Only 205.4 Miles to go!</div>
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Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far. Please continue to do so so that I can raise as much money as possible for The Stroke Association:-</div>
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<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/HoffySwims2012" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25ajEBX3_OzlMXiejigse1kbZ0mme1fE0MGG4eWiT9mGOQGFclYL8if_MoWn5zlbpiY2a8E82w7xBjpjqwXSnXnIrjqjW1-zOLafz2YCf9YbMDEK_yCiO-QRzOxruoMriCdXQKxEjY3RR/s1600/JustGiving+-+Sponsor+Me.jpg" /></a></div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-49498439586055310632012-02-02T17:59:00.001+00:002012-02-02T17:59:43.743+00:00Swimming for my mum - 212 Miles in 2012 to raise £2,012 for The Stroke Association<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvFeue7RQI0fg9bqd5wyBLIpXIYa7L52v74g8FA8JCkuZPgSZpIVXzrJItGJuEfkbb-ulgiKH65nhlBYeMum89M2feRaTwyC01RuNQ87T24EuEcWznqJaGCdhddZn02Bm6JY2KUIKcl5k/s1600/Saturday+21-01-2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvFeue7RQI0fg9bqd5wyBLIpXIYa7L52v74g8FA8JCkuZPgSZpIVXzrJItGJuEfkbb-ulgiKH65nhlBYeMum89M2feRaTwyC01RuNQ87T24EuEcWznqJaGCdhddZn02Bm6JY2KUIKcl5k/s400/Saturday+21-01-2012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above: </strong>Mum and Dad at the Bury St Edmunds Constitutional Club on Saturday January 21, 2012.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIx5LjCWX0wsjFO2EsrIMSTpcx_ygU_4flF7VeNs-EbTPojo1ac1esEZFI4kQffBpz6IhGDYIktqcKP3-6G3upfH4Lfso4vRFLhel1unJRZ46pphyuWl_SYfL0idpnpw2w3wEkLeUEFbgY/s1600/Monday+January+30,+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIx5LjCWX0wsjFO2EsrIMSTpcx_ygU_4flF7VeNs-EbTPojo1ac1esEZFI4kQffBpz6IhGDYIktqcKP3-6G3upfH4Lfso4vRFLhel1unJRZ46pphyuWl_SYfL0idpnpw2w3wEkLeUEFbgY/s400/Monday+January+30,+2012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above</strong>: Dad with Mum in the stroke ward of West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds on Monday January 30, 2012.</div>
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In the early hours of Monday January 31, 2012, my 88 year old dad telephoned me to say that my 90 year old mum had fallen over and he couldn't pick her up. I got out of bed, quickly dressed and drove round to find a doctor and ambulance crew putting her on a stretcher. They informed me that she had probably had a stroke. I was dumbstruck. Not my mum I thought. She's invincible. Never had a day's illness or complained. As the night progressed, our worse fears were confirmed, the whole of her left side had been affected. She is currently in the stroke ward in hospital. It is awful to see. It has totally changed our entire lives in one instant.</div>
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Mum is a carer for my dad who has also suffered two strokes. She also regularly looks after our two young boys when we attend meetings and work etc. It was a life changing moment, not just for her, but for my dad and for us also. I have to do something to help her.</div>
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As an Open Water Swimmer, I have therefore decided to swim at least 212 miles both in the pool and Open Water Races/Training in 2012, to raise a minimum of £2,012 for <strong>The Stroke Association</strong>. I really don't know what else to do as I feel so hopeless. She has always been there for me, and this is the only way I know how to help her.</div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/HoffySwims2012" target="_blank">Please sponsor me here on my JustGiving page, and help me to reach my target. It would be very much appreciated</a>. </strong></div>
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Thank you in advance.</div>
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Hoffy. </div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-42785345241379079382012-01-13T15:50:00.000+00:002019-02-08T09:35:54.560+00:00Back in training! Back to where the journey began...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-f4ahTZX07ARq6HI6jQOohhNmYMcULnPn9WEpMLY56jmYQD126DOlp7MRtrQeOfOgr8Gs3F7WoeZQXFzVy7doHGeH2LlXMyhQSo1_571081ub9OvtYndVZVKTLWhTueV6irxK_6kMVvjX/s1600/PICT0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-f4ahTZX07ARq6HI6jQOohhNmYMcULnPn9WEpMLY56jmYQD126DOlp7MRtrQeOfOgr8Gs3F7WoeZQXFzVy7doHGeH2LlXMyhQSo1_571081ub9OvtYndVZVKTLWhTueV6irxK_6kMVvjX/s400/PICT0311.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above:</strong> Training @ <a href="http://www.culford.co.uk/sportandtennis/Facilities/Swimming-Pool.aspx" target="_blank">Culford School swimming Pool</a>, on August 19, 2006. The start of my <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2007/07/on-tuesday-july-06-2007-i-swam-to.html" target="_blank">first English Channel swim</a> journey.</div>
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This week I took the plunge (sorry about the pun!) and decided to get back in the pool and see how I felt after 18 months out of the pool. So at 06:50am on Wednesday, I arrived back at my old school where it all started back in 2006, <a href="http://www.culford.co.uk/sportandtennis/Facilities/Swimming-Pool.aspx" target="_blank">Culford School swimming pool</a>. In the men's changing rooms, the same old face were all there. It was like I hadn't been away. Glynn who was one of the members of my <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2007/06/virtual-channel-swim-culford-school.html" target="_blank">2007 Virtual Channel Swim team</a> was the first person I saw and it was great to be back.</div>
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As always when I haven't swum for a while, I swim to see how far I can go in the one hour session from 7am to 8am. Whatever that may be is my starting point. My starting point turned out to be 50 lengths, or 1,250 Metres. Not bad, not good, but it was my starting point.</div>
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This morning I was really eager to get in again. Arriving early I was the second in the pool and my goal was to achieve 54 lengths, 4 more than Wednesday. I was therefore surprised when after 30 lengths I looked at the clock and only 22 minutes had passed. At 30 minutes I was already on 50, and so I carried on. At 07:55 I was delighted to have clocked up 100 lengths or 2,500 Metres. I was chuffed to bits to double my distance on only my second session back. Just goes to show how with good nutrition, massage and the right mental philosophy you can achieve anything, and that's how I feel right now. Focused.</div>
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As soon as I arrived home, I ensured that I practice what I preached and consumed a good quantity of protein about 1 hour and 10 minutes after my swim.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Building and protecting your muscles with protein</span></strong></div>
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Swimming and indeed any exercise causes changes in the muscles, including breakdown as well as depletion of energy stores and some tissue damage. The proteins in muscle tissue are broken down into amino acids, and these are used by the body for energy during exercise. Any good sports regime will include a variety of nutrients to offset these effects and will not only rebuild muscle but build up the body's reserves of energy again as soon as possible. I have recently started using <strong><a href="http://bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/diet-and-nutrition/natures-sunshine-products/" target="_blank">Nature's Sunshine Products</a></strong> (NSP) as my daily source of essential nutrients.</div>
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A complete protein source taken soon after finishing exercise is needed - ideally within 2 hours (20 minutes being optimal). If the body doesn't have this immediately available, it can take anything up to 2 weeks for the muscles to fully recover. Also, some tissue damage can occur during exercise, and protein is required to repair this efficiently.</div>
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In addition, every muscle movement involves both contraction and relaxation and a depletion of vital nutrients can lead to cramps and lactic acid build up.</div>
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I use <strong><a href="http://bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/natures-sunshine-synerprotein-chocolate-448g/" target="_blank">SynerProTein</a></strong> on a daily basis after exercise and after my work as a sports massage therapist and diet and nutrition consultant. <strong><a href="http://bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/natures-sunshine-synerprotein-chocolate-448g/" target="_blank">SynerProTein</a></strong> is a powerful protein supplement designed by Dr James Scala, nutritionist to NASA and the US Olympic team so I know it is good for me!</div>
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Having had two good sessions in the pool, I feel great and now can't wait for Monday when I will now have to better 100 lengths!</div>
Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-47934908905858247722011-12-31T15:18:00.001+00:002011-12-31T15:56:33.622+00:00Mike Read receives an MBE in the Queens New Years Honour's Lits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m4TLQ6WjDCI/Tv8bGt-DyZI/AAAAAAAADiM/3iRsThvEiMc/s1600/MikeReid1980-1%2528Web%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m4TLQ6WjDCI/Tv8bGt-DyZI/AAAAAAAADiM/3iRsThvEiMc/s400/MikeReid1980-1%2528Web%2529.JPG" width="347" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above and below: </strong>Mike Read MBE (centre) back in 1980 presenting the trophies to winners of the Bury St Edmunds Swimming Club (The Bury Beavers) annual club championships. Also in the picture starting at the back, left to right: Michael Ransom, me, Cheryl Cole, Andrew (Andy) Taylor, Lorraine Smith, Stephen Alan, Angela Stevenson. Middle row: Anna Gittus, Mike Read, Melanie Berry. Front, kneeling, Nigel Stemp.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQCezOGVAK8/Tv8c6HAs7EI/AAAAAAAADiY/LFYZUAk0UC4/s1600/MikeReid1980%2528Download%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQCezOGVAK8/Tv8c6HAs7EI/AAAAAAAADiY/LFYZUAk0UC4/s320/MikeReid1980%2528Download%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I received an e-mail this morning stating that Mike Read had received an MBE for services to swimming in <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/30_12_11newyears2012.pdf" target="_blank">The Queens New Year's Honour's list</a> (page 44 of document). Way back in 1980, I first met Mike when he presented the trophies to us at our annual club championships presentation evening. It was there that I first heard the title "King of The Channel". He explained how he had swum The English Channel 19 times then (now 33). My best friend, Nigel Stemp and I were simply amazed at this, and it was on that day, back in 1980 that the seed was planted for me wanting to swim the channel.</div>
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In 2006 when I decided I wanted to swim the channel, I hadn't seen or heard anything of Mike in all of those intervening 26 years. However, he was the obvious and first choice for me to "Google" and try to get in touch with, and he was extremely helpful and friendly when I did get in touch. I hadn't got involved in all of Channel Swimming politics then, and didn't even realise there could be such a thing. I didn't know there were two organisations. When I found out about it all, it reminded me of the 'Monty Python' film 'The Life of Brian'. On one side you had 'The People's Front of Judea' (The Channel Swimming Association Limited) and on the other side you had 'The Judean People's Front' (The Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation). Both doing the same thing, getting people across The English Channel, but both with different sets of viewpoints, and means of doing it. I had stepped out of the cauldron of the Bury St Edmunds Town Council versus the St Edmundsbury Borough Council, straight into another quite different political arena!</div>
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Mike Read was the Chairman of The Channel Swimming Association Limited, and it was with them that I successfully completed my first English Channel swim. Mike helped me along the way, turning up at Felixstowe on December 26, 2006 wearing his 'Bury Beavers' sweatshirt which he had been given on that night way back in 1980 (pictured below). He inspired me to complete my longest cold water swim at that time - 1 mile @ six degrees Centigrade<strong>. </strong>I was so, so cold, that if he hadn't been there I think I would have got out after 5 minutes! I will never forget his words when I finished the 35 minute swim. He came running down the beach and said "<em>If you can do that, you can swim The Channel</em>". Those words really inspired me to achieve my goal.</div>
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<strong>Above</strong>: Mike Read and I in the icy waters of The North Sea at Felixstowe, Suffolk on Boxing Day, December 26, 2006.</div>
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When I organised a 'Virtual Channel Swim' on May 28, 2007, again, he was there to be part of my virtual channel swim team which raised over £1,800 for CLIC Sargent Children's Cancer charity<strong>.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGcYbeInPtAi157gU59uVtqq_hlci0_FyG4llGULRTA0gj3QkCiM732hbsWqdPPpI62_abUIZ7kfPgPOwuLIf0X2cXXWw8CKLBNgXLBSKrTOPk8EUwtdcTHkdSvfmp6Iz2nuz3BY9fcK_/s1600/0703-207-4+hoffys+swim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGcYbeInPtAi157gU59uVtqq_hlci0_FyG4llGULRTA0gj3QkCiM732hbsWqdPPpI62_abUIZ7kfPgPOwuLIf0X2cXXWw8CKLBNgXLBSKrTOPk8EUwtdcTHkdSvfmp6Iz2nuz3BY9fcK_/s320/0703-207-4+hoffys+swim.jpg" width="320" /></strong></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g5jco34pdKU/Tv8iP6-7BYI/AAAAAAAADjA/WJUGidxjgU8/s1600/DSCN1030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g5jco34pdKU/Tv8iP6-7BYI/AAAAAAAADjA/WJUGidxjgU8/s320/DSCN1030.JPG" width="320" /></strong></a></div>
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<strong>Above</strong>: Top left to right: Don Neate, President of West Suffolk Swimming Club in 2007, me and Mike Read outside the CLIC Sargent offices in Bury St Edmunds. Bottom, left to right: Me, English Channel aspirant Tom Gunning and Mike Read after completing our Virtual Channel Swim.</div>
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Whatever the politics that has gone in in Channel Swimming circles since then, and there has been a lot, all I know is this. If it hadn't of been for Mike Read's inspiring talk at 'The Centa' in Bury St Edmunds, way back in 1980, I would not be sitting here writing this post now. I would never have swum The Channel or represented my country at open water swimming. So when Mike's son asked me to write about how he inspired me, some 2-3 years ago now so that they could secretly get him an award, I was only too pleased to do so. His swimming experiences speak for themselves and so I would just like to say congratulations to Mike on receiving this award - Mike Read - Member of The British Empire. </div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-82436742318977959902011-12-29T17:35:00.001+00:002011-12-29T17:35:32.316+00:002011 - a sparse year for swimming, but exciting prospects ahead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vBlbYKQC5d8/Tvyd8ZZBbRI/AAAAAAAADhU/lxEFR5CGg5g/s1600/2011+Review1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vBlbYKQC5d8/Tvyd8ZZBbRI/AAAAAAAADhU/lxEFR5CGg5g/s320/2011+Review1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well, it's been a pretty sparse year for swimming, but with two young children, a new business to continue building and alot of time spent training in <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/index_files/advancedclinicalmassage.htm" target="_blank">Advanced Clinical Massage</a> in Brighton, it most certainly hasn't been boring! Apart from another swim around Brighton pier (pictured above) in September, my only swims for 2011 have been documented on this site. The problem is that I have been massaging from 10 am in the morning, sometimes until 9pm at night with virtually no breaks except for 20 minutes or so for <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/index_files/nutrition.htm" target="_blank">nutrition</a>. At 13.5 stones, I am some 2 stone (24 pounds) lighter than I was when I swum in the <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2010/08/team-iryna-international-english.html" target="_blank">English Channel Relay in 2010</a>, and this year has been somewhat of a blurr!</div>
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In the summer, I thought of a quite unique swim which I believe to be possibly a world first. I measured it on Google Earth as about 26 miles in a straight line. I found a pilot who said they would help me, and their boat is shown above. It would be really tough and would probably involve 2 changes of tide. However, I cannot see at the moment how I would be able to train for such an event. I am still thinking about this one though.</div>
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<a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2010/08/team-iryna-international-english.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiqHejtiS3WzHEHQRHIgb8Zw96JjWBuMLz-IJ0pJ30lsdTH2wwj9U4LsseJ1-QyVGX91LsrraYQEty1hnIpqW_Ho2Ae7Dh-nh29CP9e74tl-zEMbFcCXxYJ3P7qDKp-MCwcUZ5izgkMDa/s400/2011+Review+4.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
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I did however, manage to complete my blog post for our 2010 Team Iryna International English Channel Relay. I started it just after the swim in 2010, but due to the delay in getting all of the team member's photos collated together, it never got finished. However, it is now finished and as it is in chronological order, you may not have realised it was there. If you click on the certificate above, or <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2010/08/team-iryna-international-english.html" target="_blank">on these highlighted pieces of text, you will jump to the post</a>. It brought back great memories finishing the post.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoB1LYxx-Eb36OsRoBdoctRRrCc6WQlEdoHVC1JxfiCXR93ZCKy2RP-sPLmzCHS8pMIV4OgjB-BJAUxhzBEIFWkJan4tmXPzVPoNMooKbN7StjV6h_pZUMm3bQqMTiem4TiwabSXFfjXy0/s1600/2011+Review+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoB1LYxx-Eb36OsRoBdoctRRrCc6WQlEdoHVC1JxfiCXR93ZCKy2RP-sPLmzCHS8pMIV4OgjB-BJAUxhzBEIFWkJan4tmXPzVPoNMooKbN7StjV6h_pZUMm3bQqMTiem4TiwabSXFfjXy0/s400/2011+Review+5.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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As I haven't got much else to do (HaHa), I have started writing a book based on my swimming an other experiences since I was five years old and joined the Bury St Edmunds Swimming Club. I have no idea how long it will take, but based on my word rate so far, it should be finished around 2020! I have provisionally called it "Journey to France...The Hard Way!". I will update the site with my progress over the next 8 years!</div>
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<a href="http://www.openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=Paul_Hopfensperger" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LKvN-ZNoYKo/Tvyiss3zJgI/AAAAAAAADiA/BN9YibBamoY/s200/OpenWaterPedia.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Lastly, I was delighted and humbled to have been include in the OpnWaterPedia website which I stumbled across by accident. <a href="http://www.openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=Paul_Hopfensperger" target="_blank">Click here or on the logo above to access it</a>.</div>
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I hope everyone has a very happy new year, and thank you to everyone who reads this site. I am still amazed that it gets around 60 unique hits per day from all over the world.</div>
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Cheers. Hoffy. x</div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-45803334202893379342011-08-08T06:06:00.017+01:002011-08-08T06:55:42.360+01:00A swim around Felixstowe Pier - I feel a trend coming on!<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrVdeIhE181Tg36oFPaIGn5Y055bB8EBpeeeuGecZ0V0sD_SX8-jxyQ4nTk-Dh6Hlq463yfhkUyRxPOOg_uA1SwDiq9XDcyYCYe8wTHtrDXncE5E_-eIZmZdYgDZEx0fkB9ca4Mn2atoc/s1600/photo01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 329px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 345px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638351979407274514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrVdeIhE181Tg36oFPaIGn5Y055bB8EBpeeeuGecZ0V0sD_SX8-jxyQ4nTk-Dh6Hlq463yfhkUyRxPOOg_uA1SwDiq9XDcyYCYe8wTHtrDXncE5E_-eIZmZdYgDZEx0fkB9ca4Mn2atoc/s400/photo01.JPG" /></a> <strong>Above:</strong> with Luca 2 days after his second birthday on Felixstowe beach. Sunday July 31, 2011.<br /><br />To try and get back into swimming in the cold water (although it really isn't "cold" this time of year) we set off in two cars to Felixstowe, which is only a 40 minute drive for us, last Sunday. It was 9 month old Nico's first proper trip to the beach, with Luca being an old hand at it after last year's Suffolk Open Water Swimming trips every Sunday. With my two proposed swims for next year still in the planning stages, I need to start training, and Brighton and now Felixstowe were setting a trend of swimming around piers. This was my small step for today - to swim around Felixstowe Pier.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMA6gKLyCDo81ng_RTHHDhh94EHrEpYu0971LhXoJ4Tme1qCaxKCRTTqwcscHwLtbOAGVvPssqvS3ZaU8Hk0AhMdgsRoEcMeDV6Pg7YLo6aAU6WyfMjM0C59W1_lZw6Ag7xe8brGL3Fb8Q/s1600/photo02.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 309px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638351929699863266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMA6gKLyCDo81ng_RTHHDhh94EHrEpYu0971LhXoJ4Tme1qCaxKCRTTqwcscHwLtbOAGVvPssqvS3ZaU8Hk0AhMdgsRoEcMeDV6Pg7YLo6aAU6WyfMjM0C59W1_lZw6Ag7xe8brGL3Fb8Q/s400/photo02.JPG" /></a> Although it was a beautiful sunny day, it was quite windy with many "white horses" visible on the sea. Getting into the sea felt really cold and I am really out of touch with getting into the cold water malarkey! I headed off to the pier while mum, dad, Beccy, Luca and Nico all sat on the beach in the sun wondering why this nutter keeps getting the sea and swimming around piers!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLk41QxLnt-yQPXCFs5jFFmaRF2ArdGzGAw9N0mhZymkmPuSVQEQ_XHLT3TDGc6b9p3R2MtSpMTbmvUlsnNCVXupYp2GLsExmVtXKMnEMxdd5H_cRYyhu-54zaTRHg6cZ9gj-BRvJT-PT/s1600/photo03.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638351873125171954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLk41QxLnt-yQPXCFs5jFFmaRF2ArdGzGAw9N0mhZymkmPuSVQEQ_XHLT3TDGc6b9p3R2MtSpMTbmvUlsnNCVXupYp2GLsExmVtXKMnEMxdd5H_cRYyhu-54zaTRHg6cZ9gj-BRvJT-PT/s400/photo03.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j5CeUJMvknafVICA_NOWqwZ4pYIeDKtgov0478HmNHrlMLsFnUMciEGn18P3AoS5ZuWLy0881NCrSxD5dUxRyzZgHBbKtjGKiQ6IWqMaMOvQ8hFl9saAGixTVNhHbcjUabMwx_4IDiAQ/s1600/photo04.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 358px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638351802282635074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j5CeUJMvknafVICA_NOWqwZ4pYIeDKtgov0478HmNHrlMLsFnUMciEGn18P3AoS5ZuWLy0881NCrSxD5dUxRyzZgHBbKtjGKiQ6IWqMaMOvQ8hFl9saAGixTVNhHbcjUabMwx_4IDiAQ/s400/photo04.JPG" /></a> It wasn't a long swim, but it was good to be in the sea again, although it was very choppy and the tide was strong again like Brighton. On the far side of the pier, I did as I did in Brighton which was to swim at an angle of about 60 degrees into the tide, which then sent me in a straight line along the side of the pier. The worst bit was the cold water going in my ear. It really hurt for some reason. Really hurt. Never experienced that before. Anyway, suffice to say, I completed the swim and returned to shore satisfied. It's all the start of a years worth of training again to achieve my goal of swimming one river swim in Germany, and another swim in Suffolk involving two rivers and the sea.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNfNCPjQdOPR4hQTKCyr3lAy3HSSNt3RklBTwAdcIEiRPkVwgb5N_0azjrfwW5cMjXvGwlFTs5bitSP0QfH_Ugkrmt_6NneA-KdeUO8hwXbeH5Fy_TyAkBZIrJHo1ZXQJM5n09PX0o81L/s1600/photo05.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638351711491841442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNfNCPjQdOPR4hQTKCyr3lAy3HSSNt3RklBTwAdcIEiRPkVwgb5N_0azjrfwW5cMjXvGwlFTs5bitSP0QfH_Ugkrmt_6NneA-KdeUO8hwXbeH5Fy_TyAkBZIrJHo1ZXQJM5n09PX0o81L/s400/photo05.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gFfuHpnE23PJRBGG30DnldxwtpeYNVL0n2OzXlVItt99xn9YFa1ACBIvfckJK9UIEZbCAZSbHdshszxONiiSug6__viAmZT2Q3ZE-dM72gle6TVAgHUr-csDBZdqxcqLS0-v7VL6ceez/s1600/photo06.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 325px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638351646140073330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gFfuHpnE23PJRBGG30DnldxwtpeYNVL0n2OzXlVItt99xn9YFa1ACBIvfckJK9UIEZbCAZSbHdshszxONiiSug6__viAmZT2Q3ZE-dM72gle6TVAgHUr-csDBZdqxcqLS0-v7VL6ceez/s400/photo06.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivahPFJ-z68KaezQHDc8nyfDCrw_cPNEzcMEkWyt-bFm_Kla3MTWkAg5dw9ZXUxOgx_W4EPp4VY6iwoR20k3NrrSob1hJIv1tgro2iuUyIQiLBvW8OfmCs95xgPMbDSDHonbmXQbqboZEL/s1600/photo07.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 322px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638350971078895746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivahPFJ-z68KaezQHDc8nyfDCrw_cPNEzcMEkWyt-bFm_Kla3MTWkAg5dw9ZXUxOgx_W4EPp4VY6iwoR20k3NrrSob1hJIv1tgro2iuUyIQiLBvW8OfmCs95xgPMbDSDHonbmXQbqboZEL/s400/photo07.JPG" /></a>After the swim, we headed of to 'Old Felixstowe' in search of a pilot boat. I got some good contacts at Felixstowe Sailing Club. Hopefully I can update things shortly, but first, I must go to hospital today for a hernia operation. It's been there for about 8 years but in the past couple of months it has been starting to hurt. Hopefully I can then get in the pool in about 2 weeks time to start the training properly. Both swims will be to raise more much needed funds for St Nicholas' Hospice in Bury St Edmunds.</div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-22723849024049209442011-07-16T14:30:00.013+01:002011-07-16T15:34:44.870+01:002 Swims in The English Channel in Brighton in 2 days - Loved it!<div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-aDeymJuAJGxw7-_rAuuMulB_TZhyc273BzIoPC1ZSCaJhza9HKbIHxBRCfAQWmCiws3ryEVgtmh0emDscIIEnAmVLPrW9OzhyphenhyphenXVj-EoQkhsEO1ricVRzDyuALH8sWntBUr0ZopMWKnX/s1600/Brighton+Pier+-+June+2011%2528Web%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 221px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629942945011674818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-aDeymJuAJGxw7-_rAuuMulB_TZhyc273BzIoPC1ZSCaJhza9HKbIHxBRCfAQWmCiws3ryEVgtmh0emDscIIEnAmVLPrW9OzhyphenhyphenXVj-EoQkhsEO1ricVRzDyuALH8sWntBUr0ZopMWKnX/s400/Brighton+Pier+-+June+2011%2528Web%2529.jpg" /></a>This week I have been in Brighton again for 3 days as part of my ongoing Advanced Clinical Massage training. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Wrist and Arm Pain was the topic. During the first day, I made up my mind that I was going to swim round <a href="http://www.westpier.co.uk/">The West Pier</a>, Brighton's most photographed building which was destroyed by fire in 2003 but soon to be replaced by the incredible <a href="http://www.westpier.co.uk/i360/i360/">i360</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Swim 1 - Wednesday July 13, 2011</strong><br /><br />So nearly 11 months after getting in any sort of water other than the bath or shower, I left the course at 5:30pm, headed back to my hotel, changed into trunks, T-Shirt and flip flops, and headed for the beach, towel, goggles, hat and earplugs in hand. I was on a mission. It felt strangely exciting, like something I had never done before. I walked down the beach and got ready, heart thumping 13 to the dozen at the thought of swimming right round this mighty structure in front of me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLawEiTygzdQhaPRvRH62zWKfXroJLGaAi-gokDIN-cjG6fJO-R05s0FoUoGL9GDhx5-v5f_oSv8DfJP5IGsFPDpYeMzWouJ0ndkgPKhCngSL2b0Y54e-e95aoFDwft0m_wlRwQ8gzE9Wv/s1600/The+West+Pier.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 245px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629944898430568802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLawEiTygzdQhaPRvRH62zWKfXroJLGaAi-gokDIN-cjG6fJO-R05s0FoUoGL9GDhx5-v5f_oSv8DfJP5IGsFPDpYeMzWouJ0ndkgPKhCngSL2b0Y54e-e95aoFDwft0m_wlRwQ8gzE9Wv/s400/The+West+Pier.jpg" /></a><strong>Above:</strong> The West Pier, Brighton, by photographer <a href="http://www.westpier.co.uk/gallery/featured-photographer-nicole-carman/">Nicole Carman</a>.<br /><br />I went through my usual (when getting in cold water) routine of stepping in, bending over and splashing the cold water over me. It felt frigging freezing! Yet, it was probably about 16 Degrees C. About the same temperature as I had spend nearly 14 hours in exactly 4 years and 3 days ago on my <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2007/07/on-tuesday-july-06-2007-i-swam-to.html">first English Channel Swim</a>. I kept on walking in, then took the plunge. Literally. I dived in and started swimming slowly. The stroke was fine, water felt quite warm actually, and so I headed off for my trek around the pier.<br /><br />I stuck to the outside of the buoys. I assumed they were there as there was steel on the seabed after the fire. I was a bit worried as I had no idea how deep it was or how far below the surface any steel may have been. But the sea was as flat as a mill pond, and I felt OK. Not very fit, but OK. I pulled up level with the end of the pier, then turned left and swum around the back. The vast rusty steel columns were very intimidating and really quite eerie. As I swum around the back, I had a feeling of being along way out, alone and not really very sea swim fit for being out here on my own. I kept going, then turned left and headed back towards shore. It felt good. As I passed the end of the pier, I cut in and headed back to my starting point where my towel would hopefully still be laying. I made it to shore feeling very pleased, but as I stood up, I felt extremely dizzy. I kept wanting to fall over to the left. It was all I could do to stand up. Like a type of vertigo. My head was spinning. I steadied myself and just stood there until it disappeared. Weird indeed! Never experienced that before. But I had done it! I walked back to the hotel in my trunks and settled in for the night, determined to do the same the next day.<br /><br /><strong>Swim 2 - Thursday July 14, 2011</strong><br /><br />At the end of day 2 of the 3 day course, we were all invited out to dinner by the course instructors, Rachel and Sue. This was to be at 7pm. So I rushed back to the hotel and went through the same routine as the day before, heading off to the beach determined to swim around again. When I saw the sea, I couldn't believe the difference to the day before! The tide was coming in at about 45 degrees to the pier, and the waves were huge. I know we swimmers do tend to exaggerate about huge waves, but these were big buggers, especially when you are not sea swimming fit. I didn't care, I was going in. I went through the same routine and eventually got in, literally being battered and beaten back by the force of the incoming tide.<br /><br />I started to swim forward and got hit again and again by the waves. This was tough, but the worst thing was I was getting swept towards the large steel girders of the pier at incredible force. I am never sacred of the sea, but I do respect it. I decided that if I swum behind the pier, I would be swept into the steel, so I decided to swim along to the end of the pier then come back again. On the way out, I swum away from the pier at 45 degrees, which compensated for the sea coming in at 45 degrees. This meant that I swum in a relatively straight line. Clever I thought!<br /><br />On the way back, I did the opposite. I swum toward the beach at 45 degrees into the tide which meant again I swum in a relatively straight line. But on the way back, the waves picked me up and hurtled me downwards, one of them pinning me to the seabed for a few seconds. I didn't panic, let it pass, then carried on my way. I arrived back on dry land, experienced the dizziness again, but not so badly, then walked back to the hotel, showered and met up with the rest of the people on the course for a great dinner.<br /><br />I am really pleased to have completed these two very contrasting swims, back in the pool now until I visit Brighton again in September for the advanced sports stretching part of the course.</div></div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-43758617697539508842011-07-12T13:41:00.013+01:002011-07-12T14:54:10.100+01:00Feeling the urge to swim again after 11 months out!<div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHlPnqj07gSP1y8lYZcANvtswei6nuL9u1OTVN7MFj40Ugo0fFLrE5kC41VcDrAEI5jkwAEhAWK_yuZuzHut5AL0g6erBRUbSlL-1mcfE6Fd0xYnPcP3awnMAJJR9P8TlLxmeN3cS-1Pl/s1600/Brighton+Pier+-+June+2011.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></strong><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 313px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628446489041983762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHlPnqj07gSP1y8lYZcANvtswei6nuL9u1OTVN7MFj40Ugo0fFLrE5kC41VcDrAEI5jkwAEhAWK_yuZuzHut5AL0g6erBRUbSlL-1mcfE6Fd0xYnPcP3awnMAJJR9P8TlLxmeN3cS-1Pl/s400/Brighton+Pier+-+June+2011.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fiCKvclWAxDlj02dCWrkymt_4sZzKH8jfBHkPLVApUZ1GLzYDGnJRBeJdu-Epbf5jw2XQdYhdh1qHefRW_qb99qmfp9S9ZSG_159W6JAu_8GBi4jo2u_PzZdDkIiERBm0dipL8kb8dJF/s1600/Brighton+Pier+-+June+2011%2528Web%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><strong>Above:</strong> Standing in front of the old Brighton Pier, June 2011, pondering my next swim.<br /><br /><div align="justify">Since March 2009, our life has been in a constant state of flux. We have had two beautiful sons, Luca and Nico, both Beccy and I have been elected to <a href="http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/live/councillorsearch/councillor.cfm?CouncillorID=130">St Edmundsbury Borough Council</a> and having changed career direction from 20 years in IT to Sports Injury/Clinical massage, I have been constantly on training courses to qualify in my chosen new career. This has taken me from Bury St Edmunds, to Grantham, to Birmingham, to London, to Dublin, and currently includes many trips to Brighton until January 2012. It was while on a trip to Brighton last month, that I decided that I needed to swim again. As I gazed across the English Channel, seeing France looming even larger than it appears from Dover, I decided on a swim I want to do, but will take some organising.<br /><br />On my return to Bury St Edmunds, the first thing I did was to contact the excellent team at <a href="http://www.culford.co.uk/default.asp?page=357">Culford School Sports and Tennis Centre</a>, who once again agreed to sponsor me for my next challenge. My training base will be in the <a href="http://www.blogstoday.co.uk/bloghome.aspx?username=HoffysChannelSwim">superb 25 Metre pool at Culford where it all started in 2006</a> when I announced to my wife that I was going to swim the English Channel. I can't believe that it was in fact <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2007/07/on-tuesday-july-06-2007-i-swam-to.html">4 years ago on Sunday July 10th that I completed the first swim</a>. Incredible how time flies!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9JItzhyAD9MOjTcXSQZUl4WJ4QF0srsDjWZz9wL-MCClIORaPqEgs3TTN51oJEDPpqW1_2PE8P0QaCJhTCUt1Ni0WsTGZvyRCSQ2KggxcT23FU6DNUYO2-AOzjFN8qnmjH_sPc8LXdzp/s1600/Culford+STC+Logo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 236px; height: 120px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628446121858565202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9JItzhyAD9MOjTcXSQZUl4WJ4QF0srsDjWZz9wL-MCClIORaPqEgs3TTN51oJEDPpqW1_2PE8P0QaCJhTCUt1Ni0WsTGZvyRCSQ2KggxcT23FU6DNUYO2-AOzjFN8qnmjH_sPc8LXdzp/s400/Culford+STC+Logo.jpg" /></a><br />I just have one small issue to sort out before I can start training in earnest - a hernia! I have had a small hernia in my groin for about 6 plus years. It hasn't hindered me in any way, shape or form. In fact, I swum the channel with it twice! However, due to the vigor's of my job, I have now torn it slightly and will be operated on on August 8th, followed by 10 days rest. Then it will be all systems go! For now though, I will need to start organising things to see if the swim is viable. It will be a river swim, and in Germany. That's all I want to say at present.<br /><br />Off to Brighton again now. Hopefully will pluck up the courage to get in the sea. It will be tough as I haven't been in a pool or sea for all these months.<br /><br />Cheers.<br /><br />Hoffy.</div></div></div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-89296383893712511832011-02-21T12:04:00.024+00:002011-02-21T13:13:17.474+00:002 Firewalks Completed - It's all about the Body and Mind...<div align="justify"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 295px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: hand;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576114530465399426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhrGEBScjckZ386-IH6VjsPYJ9hlRC7a3ob_NB-aHzI8pJ4ScTBYVMIFFMf2SKXigx75W-nkmPtQAffABbQ9xF6Kbq4N7GZPenGZJwJsNKwz7rNH9UrbSghMnjXOQBKdQwSj2j09wv90T/s400/01-PJH-Firewalk-Feb-20-2011+-+Cropped.jpg" /><strong>Above: </strong>The moment I completed my first of two firewalks on Sunday February 20, 2011 for <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/hoffysfirewalk">The Stroke Association</a>.<br /><br />Yesterday I completed another of my long term goals by completing not one, but two firewalks. I handed just over £293 (inc. gift aid) to <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/hoffysfirewalk">The Stroke Association</a> yesterday, but hopefully I can add to this over the next week or so.<br /><br />Arriving at The Haberden, home of The Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, at about 3:45, I queued up with about 80 other potential firwalkers to hand over our sponsorship money, and sign our disclaimer. As I walked in, the fire was built and lit ready for us to commence at about 5:15pm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U2WR6MnxJs0d3f4VYlKsjvm8loQSN-t9l4jJX6sjb3pZSDUzLC31ed7__hSfrpC26OJgHQ_CTJu9VTrBzCqfe4c9yxnVQ5DEkN1bt6MaJQUFmhsrO-kf2QRpryYo6AeVNIFI0NiSRero/s1600/02-Building+The+Fire.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 314px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: hand;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576114430464519282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U2WR6MnxJs0d3f4VYlKsjvm8loQSN-t9l4jJX6sjb3pZSDUzLC31ed7__hSfrpC26OJgHQ_CTJu9VTrBzCqfe4c9yxnVQ5DEkN1bt6MaJQUFmhsrO-kf2QRpryYo6AeVNIFI0NiSRero/s400/02-Building+The+Fire.JPG" /></a><strong>Above: </strong>The team from UK Firewalk build and light the fire ready for about 80 firewalkers to do battle with both <strong>body and mind</strong>.<br /><br />After a very interesting and informative training session with two time Guinness World Record Holder for the greatest distance walked on fire - Scott Bell, we all walked out onto the Bury St Edmunds 1st XV Rugby pitch to the cheer of the quite large crowd, took our shoes off and queued to await our turns. The ground was absolutely freezing. I think taking our shoes off was designed to make our feet numb to the pain of the fire. It really did make them numb.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mddoBZEZhrG0Yi6wDWYpbaoVqyJ-yqEuXmZlIiNlyf0KjraSwPCpQ30gqXu3W6VQlmYuCkvU6DfwIoi5vYhzQ2lpEyZjuVSNhK3ykrDnK8L7kvkdN_O83giXOajqeN7DCD6sJs8ZQvuR/s1600/03-TheCrowdAwaitTheFirewalk.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 299px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: hand;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576114339984099058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mddoBZEZhrG0Yi6wDWYpbaoVqyJ-yqEuXmZlIiNlyf0KjraSwPCpQ30gqXu3W6VQlmYuCkvU6DfwIoi5vYhzQ2lpEyZjuVSNhK3ykrDnK8L7kvkdN_O83giXOajqeN7DCD6sJs8ZQvuR/s400/03-TheCrowdAwaitTheFirewalk.JPG" /></a><strong>Above: </strong>The fire is well alight, the crowd was cheering and it was time to commence the firewalk!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV-E4Q7jxELbGW0kuF51vc7vqV3Tk6c8TAHvDv_CJnkXEhNgtEcgPUPSEdKFI5lRuCZ6okXAm14UwFq3pzabE-QoMQAyW49jbrBuAJvUuiTeyVYI3vdi1tjPvsadch-Bv3nbqM4AgiVoR/s1600/04-PJH-RightFoot.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 174px; height: 320px; float: right; cursor: hand;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576114220559957362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV-E4Q7jxELbGW0kuF51vc7vqV3Tk6c8TAHvDv_CJnkXEhNgtEcgPUPSEdKFI5lRuCZ6okXAm14UwFq3pzabE-QoMQAyW49jbrBuAJvUuiTeyVYI3vdi1tjPvsadch-Bv3nbqM4AgiVoR/s320/04-PJH-RightFoot.JPG" /></a><br />Scott Bell started us off by showing how it was done; stand at the start of the fire, mental focus - picturing yourself completing the firewalk before you have even started it (much as I did many times on my channel swims), a big breath - in through the nose and out through the mouth, then...just walk across totally focussed on the job in hand (or should I say under foot?!).<br /><br />It looked easy, he walked across and everyone followed, one by one to large cheers of the crowd for every successful firewalk.<br /><br />Eventually it was my turn, and I went through the mental routine as described above, and as I had in fact been doing many times in my head in the days leading up to the firewalk using <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/index_files/nlp.htm">NLP visualisation techniques</a>.<br /><br />Deep breath in...focus...and...walk!<br /><br />It went very quickly. Scott had measured the temperature at 533 Degrees Centigrade. That's <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><strong>HOT</strong></span> where I come from! But having mentally prepared for it, apart from a small bit of charcoal catching in between my left foot toes, I didn't feel a thing. The <strong>body</strong> can cope with whatever you throw at it, as long as your <strong>mind</strong> is in the right place. I enjoyed it so much, I went back and did it again!<br /><br />My feet were as black as black can be afterwards. Even today after washing them last night, and bathing them this morning, they are still quite black. But no pain, blisters or after affects. Just pleasure at having completed the firewalk and having exceeded my £250 target for <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/hoffysfirewalk">The Stroke Association</a>.<br /><br />Thank you to my family and friends who turned up to watch (Beccy, Luca, Nico, Mum, Dad, Terry, Viv, Mike, Monica, Julie & Dave) and for those who sponsored me. But it's not too late to sponsor me. Just click on the link below and donate securely online on my <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/hoffysfirewalk">JustGiving web page</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-YU-06ORUHRuWLHqdqJ0YAuIBIyJRkOsCVZIMMbJn_iLHgBplb3SpEfOqTdQ-I1V_X-adAZD82JlbzG_0Wv8CPj3R4ERjLot6-duEV9WcQril4ETYB5ivzwbVehrR8xgmeCEsiQiyxOJ/s1600/05-PJH-FireWalk-Certificate-Named.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 283px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: hand;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576113189594275378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-YU-06ORUHRuWLHqdqJ0YAuIBIyJRkOsCVZIMMbJn_iLHgBplb3SpEfOqTdQ-I1V_X-adAZD82JlbzG_0Wv8CPj3R4ERjLot6-duEV9WcQril4ETYB5ivzwbVehrR8xgmeCEsiQiyxOJ/s400/05-PJH-FireWalk-Certificate-Named.jpg" /></a><div align="center"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/HoffysFirewalk"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">www.JustGiving.com/HoffysFirewalk</span></strong></a></div><br /></div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-38526649788538623982011-01-24T12:25:00.011+00:002011-02-21T13:15:24.477+00:00No swimming at present, so I am doing a Firewalk to raise funds for 'The Stroke Association'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhaN2yUY7KNU06pwe4xRPGZJSVkeHfdTUjtxb0R60dUOiBcBiJSmjg9hubtW_eYFSXaWck1RKhoT582UCuJpnJd5zYip4K_uTZdJcQcMr1bqexFg9QKjj_SouB-GnyeMlElsTFfdSehyphenhyphenl/s1600/Hoffys-Firewalk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhaN2yUY7KNU06pwe4xRPGZJSVkeHfdTUjtxb0R60dUOiBcBiJSmjg9hubtW_eYFSXaWck1RKhoT582UCuJpnJd5zYip4K_uTZdJcQcMr1bqexFg9QKjj_SouB-GnyeMlElsTFfdSehyphenhyphenl/s400/Hoffys-Firewalk.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565729670902680802" /></a><div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b>Above: </b>On February 20, 2011, I will be walking across 1300 Degrees F Coals for '<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/hoffysfirewalk">The Stroke Association</a>'.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />2010 was a strange year for swimming for me. It is important, that when you set yourself a goal, you are totally focused on achieving that goal. For both of my English Channel swims, this was the case, but for my 2010 swim of The Wash, it simply wasn't. We had a multitude of personal issues which were more important than swimming. The biggest of these were the fact that Beccy and I were waiting for our second child to be born (Nico - October 27, 2010) and that I was going on a multitude of courses to help us build up our <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/" style="font-weight: normal; ">Personal Wellness business</a>. Looking after my family and my business had to be my no. 1 concern and so although I completed The Great East Swim, The Great London Swim and a successful English Channel Relay, it ended there. I haven't been in a pool or the sea since September and am not sure what lies in store from a swimming perspective at present. I am happy with this, and I am sure I will be back, but not at the moment.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify; "><b>Valentines Firewalk for 'The Stroke Association'</b><div style="text-align: justify; "><br />That said, having been a charity fund raiser for as long as I can remember, I couldn't resist being able to tick another little goal off my list, as well as raising funds for a cause close to home. On Sunday February 20, 2011, I am going to complete a firewalk for 'The Stroke Association'.<br /><br /><b>What is a stroke?</b><br /><br />A stroke is a brain attack. It happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel.<br /><br /><b>My Dad.</b><br /><br />In 1990, 6 months after retiring, my dad had what is called a TIA (transient ischaemic attack) sometimes called a mini-stroke. For many hours he did not know where he was, where he had been that day or anything you told him literally 10 seconds previous. Just over 10 years later in 2001, he had a full stroke which affected his speech, and right arm and leg. He has never fully recovered and requires a zimmer frame to walk. But he was one of the lucky ones as you will see below.<br /><br /><b>Facts about stroke</b><br /><br />Every 5 minutes someone in the UK has a stroke. Each year an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the UK. A quarter of a million people in England and Wales are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke.<br /><br /><b>What is The Stroke Association?</b><br /><br />It is the only charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. They want a world where there are fewer strokes and all those touched by stroke get the help they need. Their mission is to prevent strokes and reduce their affect through providing services, campaigning, education and research. The Stroke Association helped my dad, and so now I will be helping raise funds for them.<br /><br />I will be doing a firewalk for The Stroke Association on Sunday February 20, 2011. The firewalk will involve walking barefoot over a 5 - 6 metre strip of burning hot embers reaching temperatures of 1300 Degrees F. A fire-team builds the fire, and when it has burned to red-hot embers it is raked level and prepared for the walk. I will remove my footwear and walk across the coals!<br /><br /><b>Please sponsor me...</b><br /><br />Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.<br /><br /><b>So please dig deep and sponsor me now @:</b></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/hoffysfirewalk"><b>www.justgiving.com/hoffysfirewalk</b></a></div><br />Thank You.<br /><br /><b>Paul Hopfensperger (Hoffy)</b></div></div></span></div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-227371855902828342010-09-29T20:45:00.018+01:002010-09-29T21:53:04.861+01:00Body and Mind Studio Sponsors the 2010 St Edmundsbury Sports Awards<div align="justify"><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522433903484211138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEdLYcfLZNzdsYSiPEw8RRckg_N5Bq8cAfJiX_aDCC1eQWqRy8yVmAHMS0oBpzdZDXSjLnp-7Rxmzqtr1lw3DkkBKNbRYcVU4LWg-JEhZ4eEhyqkryFpZGQGw8ydxfcKs8YA2wtf0-LlP/s400/AbbeycroftLeisure+2010SportsAwards(Web).jpg" /></a>Paul and Beccy Hopfensperger of <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/"><strong>Body and Mind Studio</strong></a> presented the 'Unsung Hero Award' at a glittering ceremony to celebrate Abbeycroft Leisure’s St Edmundsbury Sports Awards on Sunday September 26, 2010.<br /><br />The award, sponsored by <strong><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/">Body and Mind Studio</a></strong> was presented to Terry Wright, a volunteer coach at West Suffolk Swimming Club, at Bury St Edmunds Corn Exchange in front of 320 guests from the St Edmundsbury sports world.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 341px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522433828055559778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr9SKGwKLHg4bnULjS5YgnzK65JZ7iRIIFsM8D6H275iZam4jcFbnV0M6KujSI7cq4lK4pAR31Z-9MIhTc-uHM7iRUff6SMpDIcrzNXhe0PtoER8im6wRERNyCFVu0fkiGy6c22IzXFvE/s400/St+Edmundsbury+Sports+Awards+2010+(01).JPG" /></a> <strong>Above: </strong>The <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/"><strong>Body and Mind Studio</strong></a> 2010 'Unsung Hero Award' trophy.<br /><br />Now in its fourth year the awards celebrate the outstanding sporting achievements and performances of individuals and teams from St Edmundsbury at local, regional, national and international level.<br /><br />The 2010 winner Terry Wright was nominated with the following information “<em>When Terry’s eldest daughter joined the West Suffolk Swimming Club he was quick to offer help. Now all four of Terry’s daughters and his wife swim with the club and Terry has become an irreplaceable volunteer. When a broken lane holder reel prevented the club using anti wave ropes Terry dismantled it, took it to his workshop, and repaired it and the club was back in action within five days. Despite having dyslexia, Terry self funded a UKCC level 2 coaching award and is now part way through his level 3 swimming coach qualification. He is a volunteer coach on poolside for up to 10 hours. Terry is also a keen fund raiser and just 18 months ago Terry and his family raised £1,000 for the club in a sponsored swim. For Terry nothing is too much trouble</em>”.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 279px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522433602572919762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxcOjrJ4f7Oxp9bFprg1Rnv9dUeUaZlNusCUUqrgWWz3nzq0-lAHOdmTAr1rAnbU-7ZhgjF1NTgdwlohLFLU9oiktSyMLkKTtBchrbY4MHc02Jw96Qw4AHxU89nnOYd94QHt097gJIiWU/s400/St+Edmundsbury+Sports+Awards+2010+(02).JPG" /></a> <strong>Above and below: <a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/">Body and Mind Studio</a></strong> Managing Director, Paul Hopfensperger, presents Terry Wright with his trophy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 398px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522433524739676402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGKmkwwD7pKXAfaP_EaAdFW3zfcdXwdYpuAXDDXHJKIwhWWMJuWjCSs9yQzxuDDYWY8XdHlXXjigN1K-PizTQJ9bzI-BF1C_TKK8aM-pxu4TcJGpy52Aq5a2ODwCZbuzQbQWkfTRmRMdj/s400/St+Edmundsbury+Sports+Awards+2010+(03).jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522433426281047794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH9_imATs0M8sidw_fOCMJ92wrEL1VQtp9XOyAyvbyzI3Zt3-7oP5Eae9y1U4r4J2J78xIh5EQm-lsXztAF3FkaZPV5P_GIMRkbYt9iKY4BqeZaBcNJEbleEB6LeOa3oPi-daOZa8r-tV/s400/St+Edmundsbury+Sports+Awards+2010+(04).JPG" /></a>Paul Hopfensperger of <strong><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/">Body and Mind Studio</a></strong>, said: “<em>As a personal wellness and sports injury company, we are delighted to support the St Edmundsbury Sports Awards this year. The dedication that these men, women and children have to their chosen sport and their achievements in the sporting world representing St Edmundsbury are inspiring, and to present it to someone from my specialist sport, swimming, is simply fantastic!</em>”<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522433333152334290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17ee8ZVaxwfM5-1O6biqEKkeSijdcejFFY1qVcptN6DQw4RP26U46YU56ZJdWftOse4HCOL_RZUaVZzxBXwYyhzI5pNTb1hAKfeLiJFoHZmRSb_1St5a9Tqb5quvK_8inl0JkwJOvr9xb/s400/St+Edmundsbury+Sports+Awards+2010+(05).JPG" /></a> <strong>Above: </strong>Paul and Beccy Hopfensperger with Terry Wright and his trophy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522433217504685282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBqYzfhGp5iCAVKSJSuAm8I1Z58MBESMUWaQ-I3mMVAn5_AvnzM21-mmGbt9QmCd-Zy1zWLmW1GPwtnRNU_j-ONBNcscpDbwrGFR8cp6A5uSx7KiDaJ6N3fjXNOXLDakFNB1K-WrZ4weo/s400/StEds-BMSL-ACLeisure-Advert(Web).jpg" /></a>Michelle Banfield-Curran, Abbeycroft Leisure’s Sports Development Officer and organiser of the St Edmundsbury Sports Awards, said: “<em>We are grateful to <strong><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/">Body and Mind Studio</a></strong> for their support of our 2010 awards. Without our sponsors this event could not take place and the hard work and dedication of these sports men, women and children would not be recognised publicly.</em>”<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.bodyandmindstudio.co.uk/"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">www.BodyandMindStudio.co.uk</span></strong></a></div></div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-7854125285572538312010-09-23T16:21:00.005+01:002010-09-23T16:34:07.230+01:00'Channel Buoys and Gulls' on BBC 'Eggheads' Friday September 24, 2010<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZhhDHxBlW6si6EMCADYAJ5ZKW3G5Df4ti905_1e86cGBBZB0oTho9ihBstW9VLFmrW4-DmWKUY5EZ7nkS_TS4g9YTsHNmHeNtjf5tOY-YaU7_0vosfG2Vu6Cdi-3y7HNiELkFbqUIdK4/s1600/Eggheads01.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 351px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520130334532817714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZhhDHxBlW6si6EMCADYAJ5ZKW3G5Df4ti905_1e86cGBBZB0oTho9ihBstW9VLFmrW4-DmWKUY5EZ7nkS_TS4g9YTsHNmHeNtjf5tOY-YaU7_0vosfG2Vu6Cdi-3y7HNiELkFbqUIdK4/s400/Eggheads01.JPG" /></a> After over a year's wait, the big day is here tomorrow, Friday September 24th, 2010 - "The Channel Buoys & Gulls" take on the mighty <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006z736">'BBC Eggheads</a>'! <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2009/08/channel-buoys-and-gulls-channel-swim.html"><strong>Click here for original story</strong></a>.<br /><br /><strong>When?:</strong> 18:00 on BBC Two (except Northern Ireland (Analogue), Wales (Analogue))...</div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-10273291168003230262010-08-25T07:53:00.007+01:002011-12-22T15:28:47.042+00:00'Team Iryna International' - English Channel Relay - July 04, 2010 - England to France, 12 Hrs. 44 Minutes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ATqSyw9mOtoIS7Q11a5CMqpXToAPnEUBrTh5vrt6AmPAD2ecwroAV371eav9wU1WcVy0f_-dYyiqMUAxQMYbONahSSntgyfjnPu9hQPZaBMImO8tfKZP-Uu60owZT_rvEvQ1K0AP5hnN/s1600/TII-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ATqSyw9mOtoIS7Q11a5CMqpXToAPnEUBrTh5vrt6AmPAD2ecwroAV371eav9wU1WcVy0f_-dYyiqMUAxQMYbONahSSntgyfjnPu9hQPZaBMImO8tfKZP-Uu60owZT_rvEvQ1K0AP5hnN/s320/TII-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Above: </strong>The route of the '<strong>Team Iryna International</strong>' English Channel 6 person relay team, consisting of the following simmers in swim order: <strong>Pawel Nowak</strong> (Poland), <strong>Paul Hopfensperger</strong> (England), <strong>Carl Willis</strong> (England), <strong>Iryna Kennedy</strong> (Ukraine), <strong>Katja Waldorf</strong> (Germany) and <strong>Julian Bennet </strong>(England).<br />
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Leaving London following my inaugural (and possibly final if we have to wear wet suits again!) <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2010/07/british-gas-great-london-swim-royal.html" target="_blank">British Gas Great London Swim</a>, I headed down to Dover while Beccy and Luca headed back to Bury. Tomorrow morning I was going back into The English Channel for the first time since my <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2008/09/long-night-in-english-channel-england.html" target="_blank">2008 solo</a>. I was really looking forward to it.<br />
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Arriving at 'Swimmers Beach', King of The English Channel, Kevin Murphy and one of the relay team members, Pawel Nowak, were just getting out of the water after a 6 hour training swim. Pawel is training for his solo attempt later in the summer. Kevin invited me round to his flat in Dover for dinner with his wife Jane, and after a trip to Tesco with Kevin, Pawel and his girlfriend, we were cooked a wonderful Polish style meal. It went down a treat. I then headed off to Varne Ridge to find Iryna and her family who were going to give me a bed to put my head down for about 2.5 hours. I went out like a light only to be woken up by the alarm clock at 1am. This was it, we were off!<br />
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<strong>Above:</strong> (Left to Right) Carl Willis, Iryna Kennedy, Pawel Nowak and Julian Bennet waiting to board the support vessel, Sea Satin, piloted by Lance Oram.<br />
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<strong>Above:</strong> (Middle) Katja Waldorf board Sea Satin with Julian and Carl.<br />
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<strong>Above: </strong>Just some of the large quantity of water and food required to support 6 swimmers across The English Channel.<br />
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After being explained the rules of a Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation English Channel Relay, I helped Pawel get ready. He was going to swim first, so that he knew what it was like to start a channel swim, and swim in the dark. This was in preparation for his solo swim later in the summer.<br />
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He dived off the boat, swum to shore and at 02:47 Hrs. British Summer Time on Sunday July 04, 2010 he set off from Shakespeare Beach heading for France.<br />
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Each swimmer has to swim for an hour in a pre-determined order which cannot be changed during the swim. The next swimmer enters the water on a signal from the official observer. During the takeover, the new swimmer must enter the water from behind the swimmer in the water and swim past the preceding swimmer. The previous swimmer should exit the water as quickly as possible with the entire takeover taking no longer that 5 minutes. I got ready to enter the water...<br />
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Feeling slightly nervous, slightly excited, I waited for the signal from the observer....then at 03:47am, I dived in behind Pawel, looked up for him and swum past him to start my first hour in the channel as he got out.<br />
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As it was only an hour, I decided to just sprint. It was fairly chilly initially, but once I had got going it was fine. I found a good pace and just set about doing my job.<br />
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<strong>Above: </strong>Pawel gets out after his first of 3 swims. The electronic guidance system plots our course.<br />
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As I swum, I could see that the sun was slowly rising on the horizon. It was beautiful, if not rather red. "Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning" I thought. As we found out later, I was right!</div>
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The next swimmer in was to be Carl Willis. He prepared himself, and went through the same routine as I did.</div>
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<strong>Above:</strong> Carl Willis prepares to enter the channel as the red sky looked stunningly beautiful.<br />
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...my last few strokes at full pace, as Carl approcahes me from behind...<br />
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I then had a total of 5 minutes from the initial siren to grab on the back of Sea Satin, and haul myself out of the channel.<br />
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Back on board it was a surreal experience as I was not used to getting out after just an hour and watching others swim. It had been a great swim. Really enjoyed it, and couldn't wait to get back in again. Poor Katja however, had been really sick while I was swimming. She was really suffering.<br />
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After Carl's swim, Iryna entered the water at 05:47 Hrs. to do her first hour. This was her relay team and it was a big moment for her as she dived in The English Channel for the first time. As can be seen from the photos, we were now in the shipping lanes.<br />
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She did her first leg admirably, until at 06:47 Hrs. Katja entered the water for the first time. I was a bit worried about her as she had been so sick, and was worried about the cold. However, she did a great job! A really good, strong swimmer.<br />
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Next one in after Katja, was to be Julian Bennet. He couldn't wait to get in! He entered the water and swum up behind Katja at 07:47 Hrs. and started his first leg...</div>
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Katja hauled herself up onto Sea Satin and wrapped herself in her towel. She was really cold. Shivering profusely.<br />
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I encouraged her to get dressed as soon as possible so that she could warm up. She got dressed and laid at the bow of Sea Satin feeling cold and very sick again. Meanwhile, Julian ploughed on, on the journey to France...</div>
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Katja with Carl's sister on board Sea Satin after her first swim. Our pilot, Lance Oram and his assistant (I didn't actually get to ask his name - apologies) did a great job and played excellent music all the way across the channel. </div>
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We went through the entire cycle for the second time with the swimmers in at the following times: Pawel: 08:47 Hrs., Me: 09:47 Hrs., Carl, 10:47 Hrs., Iryna: 11:47 Hrs., Katcha, 12:47 Hrs. Katcha had taken along time to warm up and had been really sick. I feared for her diving in again, but below is a photo just before she got in at 12:47 Hrs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFp57VpY30wYaF_OlfOq6ujlWRMfrBzMNRuqtHkP7RJMzcMlPXI_F3SAaNNz1NqvTW1RpFsz_7PGnEvKS3P4yhCDDTOn4JzQC87cIGy9GxEbSS7RsmMzA-Brf3bKDxtNiJxzlBR_3DKVDa/s1600/TII-122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFp57VpY30wYaF_OlfOq6ujlWRMfrBzMNRuqtHkP7RJMzcMlPXI_F3SAaNNz1NqvTW1RpFsz_7PGnEvKS3P4yhCDDTOn4JzQC87cIGy9GxEbSS7RsmMzA-Brf3bKDxtNiJxzlBR_3DKVDa/s320/TII-122.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Above: </strong>Cap Gris Nez, our destination and every channel swimmers hopeful destination. The closest point to England.<br />
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<strong>Above:</strong> Katja during her second stint in the channel between 12:47 and 13:47 Hrs.</div>
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At 14:47 Hrs., Pawel got back in the water for the third time for what was to be the final leg of the swim. He walked ashore just to the east of Cap Gris Nez finishing in a time of 12 Hrs. and 44 minutes. We all dived in and swum to shore to meet him.</div>
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Having had a few photos taken, we all swum back to the boat ready for the trip back to England. It had been a really enjoyable and successful relay swim which I think we would all always remember. As you can see, the weather on the beach was absolutely beautiful, things were about to change though!</div>
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You can never tell whet will happen in The Channel, but the sudden change in conditions on the way back really shocked me. To us inexperienced sailors it was what you would call damn rough! To Lance Oram, it was just Gale Force 6 and "a little cheeky". I sat on deck opposite Pawel and had to cling to the railings for dear life all the way back. I had never experienced this before. Unreal!</div>
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When we finally landed back in Dover, we all said our goodbyes, and I drove the 145 miles back home to Bury St Edmunds. Katja put our names and route on the ceiling of the white horse which is a Channel Swim tradition. Next time I am in Dover, I will sign it.</div>
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It had been a really busy and successful weekend. The British Gas Great London Swim on Saturday, and an English Channel Relay on Sunday. Quite a nice little weekend really!</div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0The English Channel between England and France50.92900693240739 1.499633789062550.769142932407391 1.1837767890625 51.088870932407389 1.8154907890625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-47406114229550278382010-07-06T21:47:00.049+01:002019-02-08T09:44:01.586+00:00British Gas Great London Swim, Royal Albert Dock, London, Saturday July 03, 2010. 74th position out of 3,143 finishers.<div align="justify">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPjnJPL0p3ji8MfDArRO2M0xB1YFR4ZUH7JShfmyD4Wno-EoyynMshMh4vkn7p-vvmd5jGG8gXc6WGQvJfBgJ3nlpnRlZmKnoyOa3Ko1bvCvQxjqtZkyosPmh5xEVVnQtXCGWIuZJ9dyn/s1600/FinishCertificate(Web).jpeg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490905616275867538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPjnJPL0p3ji8MfDArRO2M0xB1YFR4ZUH7JShfmyD4Wno-EoyynMshMh4vkn7p-vvmd5jGG8gXc6WGQvJfBgJ3nlpnRlZmKnoyOa3Ko1bvCvQxjqtZkyosPmh5xEVVnQtXCGWIuZJ9dyn/s400/FinishCertificate(Web).jpeg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 283px;" /></a><strong>Above: </strong>Official finish certificate for my 1 Mile (1,600+ Metres) Great London Swim. A much better time than <a href="http://www.hoffyswims.com/2010/06/british-gas-great-east-swim-alton-water.html">two weeks ago at The Great East Swim, and over 100 Metres more</a>.<br />
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The logistics of getting to the Great London swim were quite complex due to me having to leave London after the race to go directly to Dover to be part of the 'Team Iryna International' English Channel relay team which was due to swim at about 03:30am the next morning (July 04, 2010). So Beccy and Luca left in Beccy's car, and they followed me to London as I drove in my car. It was a scorching hot sunny day, so much better than the conditions for the Great East Swim two weeks before. I had a swim bag ready for a 1 mile swim, and about 3 others packed with clothes, food and swim kit enough for about 20 hours in The English Channel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yjT571F2KLFYz9Cy35MaxoG8cTygebpQoqJ0RbicRouWP1ikkvWp1bqyJb3TFkG7wAgJU4uio9nbf35vDc13C-uBG26DRYvBMAoV4c9iDVTk-EjTg5xjylcXM6mgtMl1mFH14PAvi90o/s1600/Course+Map.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490907971216726530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yjT571F2KLFYz9Cy35MaxoG8cTygebpQoqJ0RbicRouWP1ikkvWp1bqyJb3TFkG7wAgJU4uio9nbf35vDc13C-uBG26DRYvBMAoV4c9iDVTk-EjTg5xjylcXM6mgtMl1mFH14PAvi90o/s400/Course+Map.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 151px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> <br />
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When we arrived I studied and memorised the course (pictured above) as we walked the entire length of The <a href="http://www.excel-london.co.uk/">ExCel Centre</a>, which was simply huge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8JzuxG6v2l8bluchYnhjSaDi4UpFqSIs4h1k22JXBDKUSHTe3rWBvMIbB5HTjJ5bL-5tKbGMNtwgjOdYvY5hHey5lMov2K3RzMnNrc2w3EkaN-XE1tqdSkm8slrMLcZ8y3_rizgwHqiR/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(04).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490904082773024818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8JzuxG6v2l8bluchYnhjSaDi4UpFqSIs4h1k22JXBDKUSHTe3rWBvMIbB5HTjJ5bL-5tKbGMNtwgjOdYvY5hHey5lMov2K3RzMnNrc2w3EkaN-XE1tqdSkm8slrMLcZ8y3_rizgwHqiR/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(04).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 286px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifba-nzGyfU0CLvbDIj27dzzsRAo-ONEPEEOkai5hch_ZMFzgCky68hdmQOYxin1mJAOsijStQjcTD3JEc4mPYpi_FdeaZkVDH1kc_o5uPPav8LrMHu1cjJH1lGhO8wmJmovUrWHIrNuA2/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(06).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490903950835872050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifba-nzGyfU0CLvbDIj27dzzsRAo-ONEPEEOkai5hch_ZMFzgCky68hdmQOYxin1mJAOsijStQjcTD3JEc4mPYpi_FdeaZkVDH1kc_o5uPPav8LrMHu1cjJH1lGhO8wmJmovUrWHIrNuA2/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(06).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 270px;" /></a> <strong>Above: </strong>Beccy and I with Luca on first arrival at the event. The Royal Albert Dock venue was most impressive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-pQCeHelU4XGEN6LHSG3TvAZnA4Zul1g2b9Izuf-G4EO7QN1rUkG4rAoFmMEGHMC7-8zshkTj1m-FcvYzUlzTzgB7YxzK-rr8PXmaZjWfSPmHrZix4TUYGMduW6yf6it65iKyEyAGomZ/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(07).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490903827137289970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-pQCeHelU4XGEN6LHSG3TvAZnA4Zul1g2b9Izuf-G4EO7QN1rUkG4rAoFmMEGHMC7-8zshkTj1m-FcvYzUlzTzgB7YxzK-rr8PXmaZjWfSPmHrZix4TUYGMduW6yf6it65iKyEyAGomZ/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(07).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 275px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> Having sussed everything out, I went to the changing tent and put the god damn awful wetsuit on and decided that I probably wouldn't do this race again, as no matter what the water temperature is (it was 21C today) wetsuits are mandatory, not due to the race, but due to the rules and regulations laid down by The Royal Albert Dock. I simply detest wearing them. This was the third time ever and it felt awful.<br />
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We headed over to the starting area at 11.00am and Beccy zipped me up. I was absolutely cooked! I felt restricted in movement and totally claustrophobic in it. How can people feel comfortable in these things??? I registered my timing chip and walked into the area where all the swimmers had gathered for the 11.30am start. We must have looked like a bunch of seals all lined up on a beach!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc19G3Xroh417VqcZleUZmr71F24DQDUwihXLzuXOckCYP2MUpHEqClSGm6rs_TapjTrAGScIOo-lVUxGeszLYMzJ45BOFGFbgJb0orWBu-CmyFsSC7lQ1n6TuKdl1zhfGkg9SdsII7-f/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(09).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490903643067389090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc19G3Xroh417VqcZleUZmr71F24DQDUwihXLzuXOckCYP2MUpHEqClSGm6rs_TapjTrAGScIOo-lVUxGeszLYMzJ45BOFGFbgJb0orWBu-CmyFsSC7lQ1n6TuKdl1zhfGkg9SdsII7-f/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(09).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KYLvdRmeq-fuHEMGqKAQeaGIeDi1FtG7CfdpnxG0isDepRat1Em9kdxrUQBwvSKEAVruKN5VQj3Oo44gkotc6ddEJ_ZgYVk91dWzc7cCwKcLNvTCdwF5GJA2yw2EPwK8t3fvlN6fznJ-/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(11).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490903508158675330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KYLvdRmeq-fuHEMGqKAQeaGIeDi1FtG7CfdpnxG0isDepRat1Em9kdxrUQBwvSKEAVruKN5VQj3Oo44gkotc6ddEJ_ZgYVk91dWzc7cCwKcLNvTCdwF5GJA2yw2EPwK8t3fvlN6fznJ-/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(11).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> Everyone was getting into the roped off training area so I thought I would acclimatise myself to the conditions. I got into the water and just floated on top as if I had a rubber ring on. These suits are definitely cheating in my opinion. There's no achievement getting in cold water and swimming with a wetsuit on. It's just not cricket!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yvU_10Nt7eevmcQSMwBmETtTYPSLUfLfHDqLZfW5-wmbtAfrz9uXGl42_nqjnRa76djhLkQ0-yPOh67CBnS-XfoDokNwBB7ypW_NO3pLuoTq_NiAgWv9QNnk8PR4v59JTDcE0wiODUf2/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(15).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490903379283414850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yvU_10Nt7eevmcQSMwBmETtTYPSLUfLfHDqLZfW5-wmbtAfrz9uXGl42_nqjnRa76djhLkQ0-yPOh67CBnS-XfoDokNwBB7ypW_NO3pLuoTq_NiAgWv9QNnk8PR4v59JTDcE0wiODUf2/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(15).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTrpqTYuq5As5OuBNXCGNtYb3sarOFOimYBsuZOPEtTgCRIYz2yz1RD-RwuhIwMyOulGVdTmTUVFj5vZTVBT_olwrYOXY0u1ByQChb6nDZ2DgANsPII2MBzmC0fe5nQR_4yNJ2sKF7-sH/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(17).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490903221702842818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTrpqTYuq5As5OuBNXCGNtYb3sarOFOimYBsuZOPEtTgCRIYz2yz1RD-RwuhIwMyOulGVdTmTUVFj5vZTVBT_olwrYOXY0u1ByQChb6nDZ2DgANsPII2MBzmC0fe5nQR_4yNJ2sKF7-sH/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(17).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> Luca and Beccy were on the dockside and Beccy was trying to show Luca where I was "<em>Look, he's the one with the black wetsuit and purple swimming hat and goggles on!</em>". He merely had to look at 300 people all similarly dressed to find out which one was dad! lol.<br />
<br />
At 11.26, we moved forwards towards the start line where <a href="https://herbalnutritionforlife.com/sport-energy-and-fitness/" target="_blank">I downed 750ML of Herbalife H30 Pro Isotonic drink</a>, but today, unlike The Great East Swim where I got bogged down in bodies, on top, beside and beneath me, I had a different tactic. These swims are not about who crosses the finish line first, they are about who gets the fastest time. To get the fastest time, you need to be able to swim in the water, not be bounced around on top of other swimmers unable to swim. Your time starts when you cross the start line, and finishes when you cross the finish line, irrespective of who finishes in front of you. Therefore,I was going to start right at the back, and get some clear water to swim in. Make sense? It did to me.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPydJE__1I4FqPZna3hIaN2nk4Ed7wo54wugISZXqfteT0t-Kgz5ViFE4GbvmeYmNFaY8wCwxE7tk6fN6KP3RWzt8nFe-E1gNhEfe3Dd8pW6Wa6e59aSOqmfTONo6Q7hyphenhyphenq0RtkBGvpeOuM/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(22).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490903074277000066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPydJE__1I4FqPZna3hIaN2nk4Ed7wo54wugISZXqfteT0t-Kgz5ViFE4GbvmeYmNFaY8wCwxE7tk6fN6KP3RWzt8nFe-E1gNhEfe3Dd8pW6Wa6e59aSOqmfTONo6Q7hyphenhyphenq0RtkBGvpeOuM/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(22).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> After the warm up, there was a 10...1 count down, and off everybody charged. Except me. I just stood there and when nearly everyone was in the water (about 300 of them male and female) other than about 8 people, I crouched down, and ran across the start line diving into some open water and started swimming. It was great. I was actually swimming!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2uKUZErEEQc_bTbDn8bNHe5BcZgVNfDEpYJu2dJy8K2y1IBy8zmsJLnju9AJf-v3YOoWdMrqXgYQAWI3adplPgOpp7tDzmh0LIWfV74DVIebEi1AA8jQ8KjcmeI8KOStwPH5xInWnP5g/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(25).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490902908244998194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2uKUZErEEQc_bTbDn8bNHe5BcZgVNfDEpYJu2dJy8K2y1IBy8zmsJLnju9AJf-v3YOoWdMrqXgYQAWI3adplPgOpp7tDzmh0LIWfV74DVIebEi1AA8jQ8KjcmeI8KOStwPH5xInWnP5g/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(25).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 182px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> Within a minute or so, I caught up some of the trailing swimmers who were sparsely populated in the water, and looking up, I swum round them with no problems, and just a few clashes of elbows etc. The usual stuff. Already, I was pleased with my new tactics.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1dmk0uEf8jVOJUgkKCxCgDIJ-gEz2vqRmaHtx54LYjc7el_4T3hKPQKKZiyc8u9HbRjVcT2kWYWqtugfBxzr7be2V8YLAiIRiDpai-2yovR54NWD-xD_hUgL3IgIs_Lo6aDNVOnoxPzV/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(26).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490902754170401122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1dmk0uEf8jVOJUgkKCxCgDIJ-gEz2vqRmaHtx54LYjc7el_4T3hKPQKKZiyc8u9HbRjVcT2kWYWqtugfBxzr7be2V8YLAiIRiDpai-2yovR54NWD-xD_hUgL3IgIs_Lo6aDNVOnoxPzV/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(26).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfiXcS5op8fS8AFGAV9awO0ksY7uFEoLNhnq3dm0TAoeZf_2XRkeJqHoaBeDtbd2y2bgmhy5dDG3pxJqckjUureff0ZQdOWJhouae7C5xER8THIwkS7FDroBN-4aCXJDeB0xlpa3PZDTy/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(27).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490902606675501794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfiXcS5op8fS8AFGAV9awO0ksY7uFEoLNhnq3dm0TAoeZf_2XRkeJqHoaBeDtbd2y2bgmhy5dDG3pxJqckjUureff0ZQdOWJhouae7C5xER8THIwkS7FDroBN-4aCXJDeB0xlpa3PZDTy/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(27).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5NkXYkzYqTwAYHXw0xUGo7AaMvwcRglcD5ic0ug9GibuXlCLQ-KSCUCRTZ-PM8wbfAFLXM9rWjdHBzwjCUU8LEw3iuURjorna5ahjm60DXOflfJX0H45M6knMnhopchf4yXicgA_cbfR/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(28).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490901737930042994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5NkXYkzYqTwAYHXw0xUGo7AaMvwcRglcD5ic0ug9GibuXlCLQ-KSCUCRTZ-PM8wbfAFLXM9rWjdHBzwjCUU8LEw3iuURjorna5ahjm60DXOflfJX0H45M6knMnhopchf4yXicgA_cbfR/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(28).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVAOTOY_tUafSG2q7k8Hyk2z5nUcMSv43XmOkWP48NvqttaIzRr7OR-BrJrIJ2I69z2QBcL7XjD9tyansQ4x5BxuxeSfjx2b584WVU_4kNRQEc8jKue4_VwToTN-4Ky6fIS-rbWz45QaT/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(29).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490901595151325874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVAOTOY_tUafSG2q7k8Hyk2z5nUcMSv43XmOkWP48NvqttaIzRr7OR-BrJrIJ2I69z2QBcL7XjD9tyansQ4x5BxuxeSfjx2b584WVU_4kNRQEc8jKue4_VwToTN-4Ky6fIS-rbWz45QaT/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(29).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 234px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> I was at about 85% effort for the entire race, and felt good. My only errors were to go too wide over towards the right of the buoys, which meant I had to cut back in to go round the buoys losing me valuable seconds. On the last buoy before I turned to start heading back, I was a good 20 Metres wide of the buoy. So I must practise swimming in a straighter line for any future Open Water races I might enter.<br />
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<div align="justify">
As I turned for home, with about 600 Metres to go, I upped the pace more, and started to pant and gasp for breath taking in at least 3 mouthfuls of the black water of The Royal Albert Dock. Again I ran wide and as I saw the finish, I had to come in from the right to enter the finishing funnel. I slapped my hand on the electronic timing board of the elite race, but we had about another 20 Metres to go to our finish line, and we had to climb out and run over the finish line.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcujg8qEn7B5-J3631P8448_9TIz7tHvHeBsrFHPg6J1TLJf5YO3PqmvGQNUn7GplsGiuq1kuDPsLZUQbkTZv1hz-BQnhjdh9rsy0Ix3hwtpXedt48fgswwW4Bt7OdM4ti9bXrFEw-foa/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(30).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490901438776273122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcujg8qEn7B5-J3631P8448_9TIz7tHvHeBsrFHPg6J1TLJf5YO3PqmvGQNUn7GplsGiuq1kuDPsLZUQbkTZv1hz-BQnhjdh9rsy0Ix3hwtpXedt48fgswwW4Bt7OdM4ti9bXrFEw-foa/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(30).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdoz1FAYBwC_KZOVfZJmDlxQ4cep_M7v7YSe3uNuhkLtoTou6VpxH0QZ3HQG-9h_-0uPmqxY0L4eDkgzjgM1EvtzTBvikODlSyoZNStDSEyA4-Ul50UnsgJzLP5fzqTvuzTN9xJXOgeOm/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(31).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490901286326490226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdoz1FAYBwC_KZOVfZJmDlxQ4cep_M7v7YSe3uNuhkLtoTou6VpxH0QZ3HQG-9h_-0uPmqxY0L4eDkgzjgM1EvtzTBvikODlSyoZNStDSEyA4-Ul50UnsgJzLP5fzqTvuzTN9xJXOgeOm/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(31).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> We were helped out by people standing on the pontoon, and then sprinted across the finish line where the time stopped. I was pleased to find out later that despite keep swimming too wide, I had completed the 1 mile course in 24 Minutes, 27 seconds, finishing 74th overall out of 3,143 finishers. If I learn to swim in a straighter line, I think I can improve on that time considerably though.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGd-lXr9l3N3COyE7fOcXoIzhoYtHNBW5NP31WrhW0KZkyeczVU1ljD01iFW4w4xOJ-U2ObGA47seKZ8lwCEbMoDlZl7dm6LABjTVbgReJncNmri-5PyK4fjFGfuN6Qe4MEJpvk6eaSTWg/s1600/MyResult.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490908045363502578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGd-lXr9l3N3COyE7fOcXoIzhoYtHNBW5NP31WrhW0KZkyeczVU1ljD01iFW4w4xOJ-U2ObGA47seKZ8lwCEbMoDlZl7dm6LABjTVbgReJncNmri-5PyK4fjFGfuN6Qe4MEJpvk6eaSTWg/s400/MyResult.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 73px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbbE8PdGGLrhB-_xuIXeHPN268YFx4sDrE0-gJBZEPziZlIHzdplZ2rqcrx-WVY5l6yJrn0Qj6zaqXeUUu6k5H5ynAanZSWPhru0j3f0SBzi5zrzDpJwYOD4Veh2jL03gJLvUbCn3H6d-/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(41).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490900629707976306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbbE8PdGGLrhB-_xuIXeHPN268YFx4sDrE0-gJBZEPziZlIHzdplZ2rqcrx-WVY5l6yJrn0Qj6zaqXeUUu6k5H5ynAanZSWPhru0j3f0SBzi5zrzDpJwYOD4Veh2jL03gJLvUbCn3H6d-/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(41).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 352px;" /></a> <strong>Above: </strong>Overall race time and position, and with Luca and my finishers medal after the race.<br />
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<div align="justify">
<strong>Women's Elite Race</strong><br />
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Below are some photos taken just after the end of my race, for the finish of the women's elite race.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XjfxFjKfyDRvWbjw5EId2ehyphenhyphenlakPLJgZpY8PElP9Cjq1Ykyhso21ailxKDqIwXudWL9jlYk0X8B5_QpiacG-zt-vGh4bVKCbpQBXIIQkvTjhlObDsje-_g92fywg1Baj-hGUiz55BxVU/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(34).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490901082187803826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XjfxFjKfyDRvWbjw5EId2ehyphenhyphenlakPLJgZpY8PElP9Cjq1Ykyhso21ailxKDqIwXudWL9jlYk0X8B5_QpiacG-zt-vGh4bVKCbpQBXIIQkvTjhlObDsje-_g92fywg1Baj-hGUiz55BxVU/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(34).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 189px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DgP2ilvevzpA828BjuL50CYlr2D3ePmpvwLFciDazejOK0mP7T8KiwcIeuViQ_Med3wsLfJMMeZnFtVUYQXLpcoeun-De7Qp5ZBQbjz81WpcetMzxb5ypp8hm3jMefu_JOl-e2m_hBkw/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(37).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490900939488347970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DgP2ilvevzpA828BjuL50CYlr2D3ePmpvwLFciDazejOK0mP7T8KiwcIeuViQ_Med3wsLfJMMeZnFtVUYQXLpcoeun-De7Qp5ZBQbjz81WpcetMzxb5ypp8hm3jMefu_JOl-e2m_hBkw/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(37).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 273px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGUYRaw23Stu7iwNfUAXDp4CEtjCFo8P3zJgcPrFnj-QzGvGXz0uvUk4DzJohFCV7BRSqMapljNNuRa3_dyvOvkq1nTALi7yW2bB9J3DoIlFU2eg4pcnG-V5eqTEf5sAGHfb0zDixrdHh/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(39).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490900791089935202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGUYRaw23Stu7iwNfUAXDp4CEtjCFo8P3zJgcPrFnj-QzGvGXz0uvUk4DzJohFCV7BRSqMapljNNuRa3_dyvOvkq1nTALi7yW2bB9J3DoIlFU2eg4pcnG-V5eqTEf5sAGHfb0zDixrdHh/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(39).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 255px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> The race was won by Great Britain's Cassie Patten, followed by GB's Keri-Anne Payne and Jana Pechanova of Czech Republic in third position. The full results can be found by <a href="http://www.greatswim.org/Events/British-Gas-Great-London-Swim/EliteAthletes.aspx">clicking here</a>.<br />
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<strong>Men's Elite Race</strong><br />
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<div align="justify">
Below are pictures of the start and end of the men's elite race.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpkAZo1nD9Pm8f9aqv_bhYzJN0wpIiIUx38jse9Iis9YT8tvO2U01fzKrzmVqIYaLtMV5K2uZx13a1PQI86YbJrED0sQiFdZdYyfsALrT2nWc7MhFhfFSmwH_yofYBJoclv4t2SBgvapn/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(45).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490900492844536466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpkAZo1nD9Pm8f9aqv_bhYzJN0wpIiIUx38jse9Iis9YT8tvO2U01fzKrzmVqIYaLtMV5K2uZx13a1PQI86YbJrED0sQiFdZdYyfsALrT2nWc7MhFhfFSmwH_yofYBJoclv4t2SBgvapn/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(45).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 257px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6D6DfaT0EXEFRiPyH9HePG2_AWzOTwdfSngQGFVLu2gu-3_GGUQkfEsgx00Meff3VpHaHHtXAgegjkxHj6YA1Sk5-UBQKTD7hR2syUsJl2pp-83E3HQaPafuWTSS2FmU3jOz8i8-9x5g/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(46).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490900335235934130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6D6DfaT0EXEFRiPyH9HePG2_AWzOTwdfSngQGFVLu2gu-3_GGUQkfEsgx00Meff3VpHaHHtXAgegjkxHj6YA1Sk5-UBQKTD7hR2syUsJl2pp-83E3HQaPafuWTSS2FmU3jOz8i8-9x5g/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(46).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 264px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3SMC398aMaloxnneQTiVpJ3kWc24pG8cIdFRe74bPwNoTguGp5B60g4GREiFGJYZSl5DHjI98i3k2EMWl-iwMquaL4L83EHljbiyXvqfzbKj6Xvnb9npxEOIiSgRfSYHvy2tsmj_f5GG/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(47).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490900191632601314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3SMC398aMaloxnneQTiVpJ3kWc24pG8cIdFRe74bPwNoTguGp5B60g4GREiFGJYZSl5DHjI98i3k2EMWl-iwMquaL4L83EHljbiyXvqfzbKj6Xvnb9npxEOIiSgRfSYHvy2tsmj_f5GG/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(47).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 130px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1_RuXaYn399-j5oS4vRCdBV3qE7-PEGd-MO8YWMHtzu11-BYHnVNTwp5wNsW7Bm294QPkyO41pX8p8H_t2sWiwP38hyragzXkbWBBSny6E7Bwnt5gY2qvgLrMmrfJuZjPip7arTzGcF2/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(53).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490900027169470994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1_RuXaYn399-j5oS4vRCdBV3qE7-PEGd-MO8YWMHtzu11-BYHnVNTwp5wNsW7Bm294QPkyO41pX8p8H_t2sWiwP38hyragzXkbWBBSny6E7Bwnt5gY2qvgLrMmrfJuZjPip7arTzGcF2/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(53).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 342px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0xlH0b3EjuiR2_idI__utLMGUEYQIdfodqhA_WXa95mKWva2zxw7MDnqLuKghw400jqS6twJb0MtB6ExoN2eDszeshzsNjK7U87TD3WIiM9gMKqGmkEk5gBa1gcqp4dc_SagdFllTyc4/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(54).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490899917659376466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0xlH0b3EjuiR2_idI__utLMGUEYQIdfodqhA_WXa95mKWva2zxw7MDnqLuKghw400jqS6twJb0MtB6ExoN2eDszeshzsNjK7U87TD3WIiM9gMKqGmkEk5gBa1gcqp4dc_SagdFllTyc4/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(54).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 392px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e3c9kTmfplNhxHRyUm702urWDpdKNLBeYQqi9QzfZXUZwmYuRiwQziJfDFSMdrcqQZU9R4ISKBXHhsqJbp5GbgiNfylJq-qnSNTqRZxjLoHSPQKC3OumP9ZPVU46k5WzQTQNqVja0J7k/s1600/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(55).JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490899762725837234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e3c9kTmfplNhxHRyUm702urWDpdKNLBeYQqi9QzfZXUZwmYuRiwQziJfDFSMdrcqQZU9R4ISKBXHhsqJbp5GbgiNfylJq-qnSNTqRZxjLoHSPQKC3OumP9ZPVU46k5WzQTQNqVja0J7k/s400/GreatLondonSwim-03-07-2010(55).JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 290px;" /></a> <br />
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<strong>Above: </strong>Great Britains Olympic Silver Medallist, David Davies finished in 10th position. English Channel World Record Holder, Petar Stoychev (3 photos up with towel over shoulder) finished in 3rd position.<br />
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After guiding Beccy and Luca out of London, throwing my Great London Swim bag into Beccy's car, and ensuring I had everything ready for The English Channel, we said goodbye and I headed off to Dover for an extremely long 30 hours ahead to swim in the 'Team Iryna International' English Channel relay team. A full update will follow shortly.</div>
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Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4951533039058879297.post-60442390130983985082010-07-05T14:07:00.009+01:002010-07-05T14:32:40.302+01:00Interim Update: Great London Swim - Complete: 24 Mins 27 Secs. 'Team Iryna International' English Channel Relay - Complete:12 Hrs. 44 Mins<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKnj8EjZYE-QpGusyBXxKcUWKAU9fZ675U_o7d6VajZFDs7kBK2_KYWHBAnOEaYQNEfzhkZAWj1OpLZVea8vgMvIA_3BN9CpzTFDkWuE-iQv3qybnqexQX1bLO2EKNhYYVLS7RUznoFA0/s1600/DSC03543.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 330px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490409762959906738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKnj8EjZYE-QpGusyBXxKcUWKAU9fZ675U_o7d6VajZFDs7kBK2_KYWHBAnOEaYQNEfzhkZAWj1OpLZVea8vgMvIA_3BN9CpzTFDkWuE-iQv3qybnqexQX1bLO2EKNhYYVLS7RUznoFA0/s400/DSC03543.JPG" /></a> <strong>Above: </strong>With Luca and my medal of completion after posting a pleasing time of 24 Minutes and 27 seconds @ The Great London Swim on Saturday July 3rd, 2010.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmrCdmGZkUQZwvdcZFsrp5MjDkb8Ni4mdI6mC5lFX7v_5Cs_gpdw-dtSYBfVePdwFavYqOiDXwNOYo4NXpRRl1wxCEcbwSans2R0zxKgzbKRdV4RxErjvAYHl7hfT9kuDBgapweVizLyq/s1600/RelayRoute(Web).jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490409495053732098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmrCdmGZkUQZwvdcZFsrp5MjDkb8Ni4mdI6mC5lFX7v_5Cs_gpdw-dtSYBfVePdwFavYqOiDXwNOYo4NXpRRl1wxCEcbwSans2R0zxKgzbKRdV4RxErjvAYHl7hfT9kuDBgapweVizLyq/s400/RelayRoute(Web).jpg" /></a> <div align="justify"><strong>Above: '</strong>Team Iryna International" English Channel Relay route, Sunday July 4th, 2010 - England to France, 12 Hrs. 44 Mins.<br /><br /><div align="justify">Just a quick update to say that both swims were completed after a very tiring weekend, and a full update on both will follow shortly. If you would like to sponsor me for these swims to raise money for St. Nicholas Hospice in Bury St Edmunds, then you can do so by clicking on the link below. Thank you in anticipation:-<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/hoffyswims2010">Donate to St. Nicholas' Hospice here...</a> </span></strong></div></div></div></div>Hoffy Swimshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06896963878541578649noreply@blogger.com2