My journey starts in England and finishes in France.
I will attempt to swim from Dover to Calais (21 miles) and here you will find out how I plan to succeed!
My swim 'window' is July 18-25, 2010, but my countdown started in 2008 when I started training.
For some people I'm crazy. For others I'm nuts. But for most people I know I am just "FAST EDDIE" and swimming the English Channel is a dream coming true.
"The journey is what brings us happiness, not the destination." Peaceful Warrior/Dan Millman
On May 28th 2010 I had a Channel Crossing Day Simulation with two of my pilots; my wife, Kim Howard and my friend pilot and swimmer Gary Bruce, who will be in charge of preparing my food, feeding me, counting my stroke per minute on every hour and, making sure I am doing well during my swim.
The preparation started with Kim and Gary mixing the protein/carb drink bottles, heating the vegetable broth, making the tea, labeling the bottles and organizing it inside a basket in order to feed me the right food at the right time. All of that preparation was guided by a feeding schedulle excell sheet.
After that we went to the South End Rowing Club Dock where we finilized the details for the swim. That day I was attemting a 6 hour swim but due to a pinched nerve on my back I had to stop the swim after 1:30HR.
On the picture above Kim is finishing greasing me up with Vaseline in order to protect me a little bit from the cold waters of the San Francisco Bay. Please disregard the "flotation device" I have hanging above my swim trunks. The "device" besides keeping me afloat is giving me great insulation.
Thumbs up! Here I am moments before the swim with Gary Bruce who will be my pacer during my solo crossing across English Channel. Gary will jump at the 6th, 9th and hopefully the 12th and last hour of my crossing.
July 16, 2007 — Extreme swimmer Lewis Pugh has set a new world record for the most southerly long-distance swim, conquering the icy Antarctic waters at 65 degrees south. The 1 km swim follows just months after a record Arctic swim, making the British solicitor the first person to accomplish such a feat in both the world's coldest seas.
Sporting only a swimsuit, cap and goggles, Pugh took less than 19 minutes to complete the swim near Vernadsky, a scientific base on Antarctica, in water of 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) and heavy snow.
LewisGordonPugh — February 13, 2008 — Lewis Gordon Pugh became the first human to complete a long distance swim at the Geographic North Pole in nothing more than a Speedo, cap and goggles. By swimming in a region that was once completely covered in ice, Lewis showed the world that climate change is happening and we have the power to stop it. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sS8OcEwXNs)
Take a look at his great website: http://www.lewispugh.com/pages/default.aspx
The Channel Swimming Association is the governing body of English Channel swimming and since March of 1927 has been organizing and regulating all swim attempts. All the swims are officially observed by its designated officials and are faithfully recorded in the Association’s Official Handbook. Many Long-Distance Swimmers strive to join the ranks of the famous few, who have conquered “The Channel” in the Strait of Dover and, to have a successful swim officially ratified and recorded by the CSA represents the highest swim pinnacle of success. (Extracted from the CSA book ISBN 978-1-906299-31-6)
Captain Matthew Webb was the first person observed to have successfully swum from Dove, England to Calais, France in 1875. His crossing time was 21 hours and forty five minutes.
On August 6th 1926 Gertrude Ederle, a nineteen year old American lady, was the first woman to swim the Channel, from England to France, in 14:39 hours, setting a new world record.
The CSA also set rules for relay teams, allowing them to be authenticated. Relays of 2,3,4,5,6 swimmers are allowed. On July 6th 2002, I was part of the San Francisco Sunrisers, a six man relay team. We crossed the Channel in 13:03 minutes. I had the chance to start the swim from Shakespeare Beach, swim the 7th hour and I had the honor to swim the 13th hour and the remaining 3 minutes, finishing the crossing with my teammate, Rhys Ludlow.
From left to right: Jim Miller, Dan Needhan, Steven Ray, Edison Peinado, Pedro Ordenez and Rhys Ludlow; celebrating the crossing.
On May 5th 2010 at 5PM The South End Rowing Clubs held its annual Cinco de Mayo Swim aka The Five Coves of Death. In this event swimmers attempt to swim 5 coves; about 1 mile each cove, with water temperatures ranging from 54-56F. This event was created years ago by Bill Horgos, a South End Legend, and it is a qualifier for the famous Bay to Brakers Swim; a 10mile swim from the Bay Bridge to Ocean beach, event to happen at the end of May. Tequila shots are optional after every cove.
I started the swim by myself at 2:30PM and at 5PM 40 swimmers joined me for their five coves attempt. It felt great having company around me every cove I swam.
As part of my training schedule I used this event to attempt a 6 hour swim. The Channel Swimming Association requires at least one 6 hour swim in water temperature below 60F, one swim cap and one swim suit, in order for a swimmer to qualify for a solo crossing attempt at the English Channel.
Kim Howard, Captain of The Penaat, piloting the swim.
The South End dock became one big feeding station for the swimmers.
By 7:30PM most of the swimmers had completed their many coves and I was still soldiering on, committed to my 6 hour attempt.
My wife Kim Howard had been rowing/piloting the event since 5PM and after 7:30PM she became my personal pilot, making sure I was doing alright and committed to the 6 hour challenge.
In this picture I am on my last hour, doing laps to and from the Flag. Every round trip I did would "buy" me 15 minutes in the water.
After 6:05 minutes in the water and without daylight, it was time to finish the swim. As I approached the South End and the Dolphin dock to swim my last yards I looked up at the South End dock and saw all my beloved friends screaming and cheering me, it brought tears to my eyes!
Even tough I had already qualified for the Channel on September of 2009, this 6 hour swim was key to my training schedule since I was able to stay in the water for 6:05 hours in temperatures below 55F, boosting my confidence towards my solo crossing.
Celebrating the qualify with Kim and looking for a pen to get that "piece of paper"(6 hour certificate) signed!
In 2001 when I rang the bell of the South End Club this Latino guy opened the door for me with a huge smile on his face welcoming to the South End Rowing Club. His name was Pedro Ordenes and right away I felt a great friendship was about to happen.
Pedro is a long distance swimmer, triathlete and certified U.S.Swimming Coach (ASCA) holder of two world record swim crossings. The First one conquering The Straits of Magellan in December 30 of 1999; swimming 3 miles in waters temperature 39F. The second one, crossing the Beagle Channel round trip between Chile and Argentina, on January 28, 2004 in water temperature between 41F and 38F. Pedro has completed over 500 swims across Alcatraz.
Pedro has participated and completed 3 Ironman Championships Triathlons in Utah, Hawaii in 2002 and, Canada Ironman in 2003. He has trained many local and international triathlon clubs, swimmers and triathletes throughout the last 15 years. Mr. Ordenes directed the South End Rowing Club Alcatraz Invitational for 6 years and in 2002 founded the Alcatraz Swim with the Centurions challenge, event that raises funds to 2 different Cancer organizations.
Pedro is the CEO of Water World Swim. A company that has been offering open water swimming events and training programs for over 15 years. Some of its programs include the "Swim with Pedro" weekly workouts and training sessions, regular Alcatraz crossings and instructional clinics, the New Waves program for young swimmers with an interest in open water swimming, and our numerous open water races and events. http://www.waterworldswim.com
On May 2nd 2010, Pedro will be in charge of crossing 1800 swimmers from Alcatraz to Yatch Harbour, as part of the Escape of Alcatraz Triathlon. I will be in the water guiding swimmers from The Rock to shore.
Since I have joined the SERC Pedro has been a big influence in my life, to the point where people around the SERC and the Aquatic Park think he is my father and I am his son. Indeed it does feel we have that type of relationship. When together we are always speaking in Spanish and joking about life. His great personality and charisma attracts athletes from all over the world seeking introduction to the cold waters of San Francisco bay.
The South End Rowing Club was founded on San Francisco Bay in 1873 by a group of rowing enthusiasts who gathered at Jimmy Farrell’s Saloon at the southern end of the city near 3rd and Berry Streets.
The club became a dominant power in the Pacific Coast rowing regattas and attracted many great West Coast athletes. The original clubhouse was a rough redwood structure, built near the Belt Line Railroad that serviced all the shipping piers of the old San Francisco waterfront.
In 1884, club members raised funds for a new clubhouse, a handball court was added to the boathouse, and the club soon dominated the sport on the West Coast. In 1908, the clubhouse was ferried by barge from its original location to Black Point at the foot of Van Ness Avenue, between the Belt Line Railroad Tunnel and the old Alcatraz Island service pier located just across from the City emergency fire pumping station.
In 1927, the clubhouse was moved again, this time to the foot of Larkin Street near the current location of the Maritime Museum in Aquatic Park. The clubhouse was moved one last time in 1938 to its current location at the foot of Hyde Street to make room for construction of Aquatic Park. The original main clubhouse has survived every move, and lives on as testimony to the devotion of members of the South End Rowing Club.
South End athletes have competed in many Olympic and International sporting events, including swimming the English Channel, but the club welcomes everyone with an interest in rowing, open water swimming, handball and running. Club members also regularly swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco (typically clad only in swimsuits and bathing caps), row in regattas around the world, compete in marathons and long-distance running events and are renowned in the international handball community for championship play and world-class tournaments.
Over the its history, Club members have accomplished extraordinary athletic feats – never losing sight of the fact that to be a South Ender is to love life, enjoy good food and drink, revel the company of fellow members, throw great parties and be very glad to live in the San Francisco Bay Area. (Text copied from the club's front wall plaque).
On April 24Th I attempted a 6 hour swim at the Aquatic Park. The course was a 0.8 mile, aka cove. I was able to swim 10 coves; 8 miles and stopped the attempt at 4:10 minutes due to the uncomfortable water temperature of 52-55 degree water. I had great pilot support from my wife, Kimberly Howard, Jen Valosek, Elizabeth Glass, Andrea Kellogg, Bill Wygant and many other South End Rowing Club members. The swim was dedicated to Kim's grandmother, Helen Stewart, who is not doing well health wise.
The following is a quick summary of the training event:
GOOD FACTS
1- I slept well the night before 2- I ate well the week before 3- I swam 2 hours in the bay the day before the swim 4- I took a nap the day before the swim 5- I prepared early for the swim 6- Lots of people involved with the swim, great support 7- I ate a good breakfast the morning of the swim 8- I woke up in a great mood, feeling ready for the challenge 9- I had a fantastic kitty support (my kitty Chandelle made sure I was well prepared)
BAD FACTS
1- I did not prepare a good communication line with my pilots regarding feeding 2- I decreased my swim mileage the month before due to work, fatigue, jet lag 3- I did a marathon 10 days before the swim 4- I did not stretch or warm up before the swim 5- Started too strong and continued too strong for the first 3 hours 4- I didn't feed properly 5- The warm liquids were too hot, making it hard to drink 6- The water was cold: 52-55F 7- All of the above led to making a poor judgement call (got out too early) 8- Tunnel vision regarding quitting: I am done! No more swimming! Coming out of the water now! Instead of changing the course and swimming in shallow warmer waters or pushing harder
THE START
JEN VALOSEK, ON THE YELLOW KAYAK ESCORTED ME AROUND THE COVE
TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH MICHELLE DEASY
SWIMMING WITH JP, TOM KELLER, JOHNNY WALKER, SUZIE DODS AND KAREN ROGERS
SWIMMING WITH MELISSA BRAISTED
KIM HOWARD WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE PENAAT TAKING GREAT VIDEOS
WARM AND HAPPY AFTERWARDS
For all of you who have been supporting me during this English Channel Swim journey, thank you so much for the love and support. I could not do it without you all! Thank you for standing by me. Enjoy the video below:
Your generous contribution of any amount will help me with training, pilot-boat and Channel Association expenses, and to raise money for BAYKEEPER (see below).
Things I love: All living beings, especially dogs and cats, air, fire, water, earth, airplanes, true friendships, my family, my job and the South End Rowing Club.
I truly believe we should live our lives going after our childhood dreams.
On the picture above Kim is finishing greasing me up with Vaseline in order to protect me a little bit from the cold waters of the San Francisco Bay. Please disregard the "flotation device" I have hanging above my swim trunks. The "device" besides keeping me afloat is giving me great insulation.
Thumbs up! Here I am moments before the swim with Gary Bruce who will be my pacer during my solo crossing across English Channel. Gary will jump at the 6th, 9th and hopefully the 12th and last hour of my crossing.
