Sorry to hijack this board with a non running subject but I am looking for some some assistance from the CR bretheren [or maybe friends or family!!] in the west. Having moved from the dark side of ultrarunning to the equally dark [and much colder!!!] side of long distance swimming, the "Rotto" swim is firmly on my radar.

The Rottnest Island Swim [20km] next February requires entrants to have a support boat and that is proving to be my achilles heel at the moment as I don't know anyone on the other side of the country. If anyone is amongst the boat owning fraternity or can point me in the right direction I would be tickled pink.

Naturally, costs/payments would be covered.

Kevin Cassidy

Kevin - are you going to be doing the swim this year?? or did last years disappointing cancellation put you off??

Ive just registered to do it solo but am a little (no, make that, really) nervous about it!

Id love to hear how you trained for it. Or if theres anyone else out there who has done long distance swimming Id love any tips.

Im currently swimming 4 days a week in the pool (2-3k per session), but plan to build to 5 sessions (4-5k per session) by the end of December, and then keep it at that load till Feb. Will start doing ocean swims once a week or once a fortnight soon.

Im just doing it as a personal goal, not to clock a fab time, so i was just going to train with a mixture of freestyle and toys. Ive recently done a video analysis of my stroke so i spend a bit of time with fins and PBuoy trying to work on technique.

Is it just important to crunch out the kms???? or should i work on other aspects?

I dont have any marine-creature-phobias, so that isnt a problem with me, I think it will be more of a mind battle with fatigue, as presumably i will take 8-9hrs in decent weather. I havent done a marathon (only a half) or any ultra events of any type so i have no idea how i will go with it, but am really keen to have a go. I did a 7km swim even last year, and will be doing the 10k qualifying swim prior.

Any advice at all, or even an "its ok, you'll be fine" would be very much appreciated!!

It's ok. You'll be fine. And if you're not I'll come over there and scream and shout encouragement from the back of a boat to make sure you are.

Yes, I will be back. Better prepared and more determined than ever in a decision that was made as soon as the 2006 event was cancelled.

Right now I am knocking out about 15km a week with the majority being in Port Phillip Bay. Pool sessions are great for rhythm and technique but getting used to the cooler temps of the ocean is most important…..so hit that open water tomorrow as a matter of urgency. Pools are generally around 26 degrees while the Indian Ocean will be between 19 and 22 in February. It might not seem much of a difference in print but when you are in the water for such a long time, your body temp drops as you get tired and hypothermia becomes a real risk. Once again, hit the ocean tomorrow as a matter of urgency.

Still on the hypothermia theme, if you have a sleek runners body [which I had for many years] then you are going to need to stack on some kilos in a hurry. This will help you with both the cold and as an aid to your buoyancy/floatation. Currently I am 10 kilos over my old running weight. I can recommend Kit Kat chocolates, peanuts, avocado and replacing the toast and cereal at brekkie time with scrambled eggs on toast topped with grated cheese!!

My long swims at the moment are each Saturday morning for two hours in 15 degree water with the plan to make them three hours by Mid December with a couple of four hour swims in mid and late January. Again, all are in the open water.

Practice feeding and drinking. Small diced fruits and maxim sports drink are great. You simply swim back in from your circuit, grab what you need and swim out again.

There is a lot of advice on the Rotto message board which is well worth joining.

Once again, never underestimate what the cold can do to you…even just a few degrees below what you are used to. So now go and hit that ocean…..four or five times a week and I’ll see you out in the Indian Ocean dodging the Great White’s and Bronze Whalers next Feb!!

...careful what you offer there Plodster......you may just find a plane ticket, megaphone and set of nice yellow floaties in your mailbox

Thanks Kevin,

Im glad you will be doing it again, you sound like you're really focussed for a great race this year. We were entered as a team last year and that was disappointing enough, it must have been even harder with all the training and planning you had put into it. I hope numbers arent down this year because of it.

Really appreciate your comments, thanks. I hadnt planned on doing that much ocean swimming, but i see your point and will definitely factor in more......first session tomorrow morning, second session Sat with my paddler. Will take food on that one and practise eating/drinking in the water.

Am a bit concerned about your 'stack on the weight' comments!! Ive been working hard this year to get my skinfolds down for running. As much as those kit kats sound great, I dont want to undo all my hard work if i dont have to. I actually went to a sports dietician to help me with that so i might go see her again and see what she thinks re swimming. Being a girl we have higher body fat than you fellas anyway. Hopefully Im ok as is.

And yes i have joined the message board, so looking forward to the discussions on there.

If theres anything i can help you with from this side of the country just let me know, more than happy to help. I'll be going to the info sessions so if you want me to send over the notes, or collect your race pack from the briefing, or whatever, just give me a hoy.

Cheers,
PC