September - Not all storms come to disrupt your life. Some come to clear your path.
How was September for you? For me it was pretty busy. I continued to support aspiring channel swimmers through Dover Channel Training, whilst trying to get back into shape myself. I also completed another channel relay, another fabulous day out.
This is how September was for me
Hobbies, health and stress relievers
✅ Last year I was due to complete a 4 person channel relay in June. We got blown out and never did get a shot at the swim. This year I was the only one of the four that was able to swim so we put a new team together. ‘Seas the day’ took to the water on 14th September, swimming through the night to finish on 15th September in a time of 14 hours 17 minutes. Read all about it here.
✅ Cycling is still my first choice of transport. Just about wherever I go, I first consider whether I could cycle there. I used to fill up my car with petrol once or twice a week. It’s probably about once a month now, if that!
✅ My back seemed to miraculously self resolve. I have no idea why, though I’m definitely not complaining!
❌ I’m still not sleeping though, hot flushes seem to wake me up frequently.
❌ Lack of sleep, being too busy, high levels of stress, you name it - my body is showing signs of not being happy. I’m only making some of my club training sessions. I need to listen to my body, it’s telling me that it needs some rest. The month ended with the worst gout episode that I’ve had to date. At its worst I couldn’t put a shoe on, and I definitely couldn’t sleep.
✅ More swimmers made their way across the channel successfully, it is such a privilege to be a small part of their journeys. September does represent the end of the training season though. Next month it will be time to rest, reset and plan ahead.
I remember watching Evan Almighty several years ago and there was a scene that has stuck with me ever since. It was Evan asking God for a sign. There were literal signs everywhere which he seemed to not see including one that said ‘This is the sign that you’ve been looking for’.
I came to the conclusion recently that if there were to be signs to say that I had ‘stuff’ that I needed to deal with that I was seeing multiple signs like Evan. There were signs through my multiple body grumbles. There were signs of failing resilience under stress. Lack of sleep. Difficulties in handling conflict. You name it, I was starting to struggle. I decided to heed the signs and booked myself in for a ‘Breakthrough Session’. I had this session in September. I can feel the difference already. I have more follow up sessions booked in October / November but already I feel more on top of life. Now to give my body a chance to recover from the stress that it’s been through in the last 6 months or so.
Work, clients and business
Like last month, I worked with people wanting to swim the channel on a 1:1 basis, helping them navigate their training in these unusual times. There were yet more successful outcomes. Each time someone is successful, it is just wonderful. It’s amazing to track them across the channel and to cheer for their success.
This is what one client had to say…..
“Emma has been such a tremendous support on my journey and a calm, reasoning voice as I got myself stressed as I rode the Jersey & Dovercoasters. Always available to provide advice and reassurance. My weekly 1:1 calls with Emma were invaluable. She was there to confirm her belief in me and to reassure me that my limited training this season would get me across and that I was a strong enough swimmer to go on a Spring Tide if it came to it (which it did). I can’t thank you enough Emma and look forward to continuing with DCT training in the years to come and hopefully pay back some of the tremendous support I have received from you and the DCT Crew.”
Dover training
September saw more successful solo and relay swims who had trained with us make it across the channel. With a couple yet to swim I do hope that October gives one more hurrah before we are thrown into the depths of winter.
The end of September marks the end of the DCT training season. Ordinarily, we’d ramp down towards the end of the season. Ordinarily, we’d celebrate the season with a big end of season BBQ. This is no ordinary season! Our final weekend included a swimmer completing a 6 hour swim. The weather also decided to remind us who was in charge, but the wind and rain couldn’t dampen our spirits.
I would like to say a massive thank you to the class of 2020. Thank you for the unexpected and lovely gifts. I genuinely wasn’t expecting anything and your words of thanks were so lovely. Thank you also for putting your faith in us. We all had to make it up as we went along this year and you put your trust in our ability to adapt correctly for your training. Thank you. That is quite some honour.
This season is clearly not what we set out for and not what we would have chosen but the need to innovate has allowed some changes that have really worked and ones that we will keep hold of in future years.
Not all storms come to disrupt your life. Some come to clear your path.
How true is this quote. I have learned to appreciate the newly cleared path. I’m looking forward to sharing details of the new re-imagined DCT very soon.
My Training
Just for the record, here is what I managed to do in September. Various issues around my back or gout or lack of sleep have curtailed what I have done. I’m learning to listen to my body and push on when it makes sense and rest when that is the right thing to do.
Dover training finished at the end of September and I hope to be able to rebuild my energy levels and training patterns from then.
Approaching the end of our channel relay
Open water swimming - 3 hours, 9.665km (as part of the channel relay)
Pool swimming - 8.7 hours, 21,200m as part of masters training
Endless pool - 1 hour
Yoga - zero hours
Strength & conditioning - zero hours
E-bike - 8.4 hours of cycling covering 154,738 metres
Rest days - 15
What does October have in store?
A chance to recharge my batteries. I’m generally pretty weary at this time of the year as Dover training is pretty full on and it’s a good chance to pause, rebalance and catch my breath. I’m hoping with recharged energy that I can restart my training and improve my overall health & wellbeing.
I’m also in the midsts of planning a new re-imagined DCT which we hope to unveil in October. It’s exciting times for that and I’m really looking forward to it.
What about you? What does October have in store for you? How will you start the final quarter of 2020?