IT LOOKS LIKE CHANNEL AGAIN!

Believe it or not, my plans for 2014 have changed yet again! This is because I cannot get a definitive answer from the Sardinia pilots about a date so I need to crack on.

This week I have had an offer to swim the Channel again, this time as part of a relay for Diabetes UK. This is exciting for me as it will give me a good Channel swim as part of a team. I am also first reserve for a round Jersey for 2014.

Last weekend Lizzie and I went to Jersey for the JLDSC dinner. It was a fantastic time and I was delighted to receive a commemorative polo shirt and plaque for my Jersey to France swim. I also caught up with Simon , Bill and mum.

I also managed to catch up with Mark Faure Walker, a Maidwell old boy who broke the record for the Jersey it France swim this year. Amazing that 2 of the 3 swimmers that completed this difficult swim this year have Maidwell Hall connections.

Off to America soon. Yippee!

2014 STILL IN THE AIR!

My plans for 2014 are not yet finalised as I am waiting to hear on possible dates for a Corsica to Sardinia swim. I am still looking to do the Alcatraz swim so hopefully will do both. I will keep buying the lottery tickets!

Lizzie came home today from the USA. She had a wonderful 3 weeks with Kate, Doug, Tabby and newly arrived Phoebe Joy. 7 lbs born on the 9th of November.  Just wonderful!

Swimming going well, speed work is getting easier but I am still amazed how hard it actually is. I might treat myself to a nice 3 hour swim this week.

How does Mark survive? He doesn't really rock.

SPEED KING, NOT!

Over the last few weeks I have discovered something that my dear friends have kept from me.

I am not built for speed! OK, this is not a surprise to most of you, but it is a shock to find that 40 minutes of hard, hard swimming is so much more difficult for me than swimming in the Channel for 14 hours. Cream crackered is a polite way of describing it!

I am still planning an Alcatraz swim and have now progressed the idea of swimming from Corsica to Sardinia. Warm water has an appeal. Stay posted and I will keep you in touch.

Lizzie is still away in the US so don't forget that I am available for parties, food fights and cat sitting.

Keep on rocking me baby.

DUBLIN SURVIVED!

Well dear reader, I have survived my last school rugby tour to Dublin. As usual we all had a great time, boys, parents, NDO and myself. As usual, I found Guinness to be vastly over rated and over hyped.

Tomorrow I am off to The British Red Cross HQ for the launch of  the Fire and Emergency Support Vehicle followed by a presentation that I am giving on my Channel swims. Hopefully most people will stay awake.

I am right into my training now for my Alcatraz swim. This will require more speed rather than straight out endurance so my pool sessions are quite different as they are shorter and harder.

All good fun!

Great news. Planet Rock in the car! 105.2 FM. The signal around here is not great, but hey, better than Radio 2.

ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ

I have had to adapt my swimming plans for 2014 as I can't get on a suitable tide for a round Jersey swim as the only ones that I can do in the school holidays have 2 swimmers already.
 Having had to watch the weather blow that swim out twice before, I don't want to risk having to spend another week watching the wind wreck my plans, however lovely Jersey is!

So therefore dear reader, I am looking to swim from the famous Alcatraz prison across San Francisco Bay. Hopefully with a better result than team New Zealand had recently!

This will present me with a whole new set of factors. Instead of training for a 14 hour swim. I will need to train to enable me to swim very fast (for me) across fast currents and very cold water. I am quite excited by the prospect as I have always had this swim on my wish list.

Speed training started this very morning. Cream crackered. Very hard 500 metres followed by 10  hard 100 metres and then another hard 500 metres.

My last school rugby trip to Dublin takes place this week. I may not communicate with you for a few days.

Who'd thought that rock and roll would save us all?

THANKS FOR RED CROSS SUPPORT

Many thanks to all of you who supported my 2 Channel swims this year.

The Virgin Money page has now closed and I am delighted to announce that coupled with the Beach Party at the Hare in Loddington, I raised £4000 for the British Red Cross to go towards a new Fire and Emergency Support Vehicle.

I am now getting back into training. I am trying to swim in the river at least once a week but with school commitments, I will need to use swimming pools. I swam in Harborough last week and today. Having not swum in a pool for 4 months, I had forgotten how hot, crowded and smelly they are. Harborough is a nice pool. I just hate swimming inside.

Listening to Cold Chisel Swingshift as I write this. Star Hotel, just legendary.

ROUND JERSEY ON AGAIN!

Now that I am almost over my Channel swims, I am starting to look forward to 2014.

This week I booked a round Jersey swim for the last week in July. The weather prevented me starting this 44 mile swim this year, so like the Jersey/France swim, I am hoping for 3rd time lucky!

My Red Cross page disappears in a few days. Combined with the fund raising party at the Hare in Loddington you have generously contributed over £3000. Great effort, many thanks.

There is still time!

www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8

It's a long way to the top if you want to Rock and Roll. But well worth it!