I care. And so I swim.

I'm a big believer in that if you're doing something extra-ordinary for yourself, use the opportunity to give something extra-ordinary back! 

And that's exactly what I'm doing here.  In my efforts to cross the Rottnest Channel, I'm asking friends, family and colleagues to support me by making a donation to World Vision Australia.

Funds raised will go towards providing life-saving food aid and relief essentials in countries where people are in desperate need of assistance.

Did you know that EVERY DAY 925 million people wake up without enough food to eat?  It's hard to comprehend what that actually looks like.  Think about the people in your office, the people in your neighbourhood, in your city, in your State.  Think about the entire population of Australia and multiply that by a whopping 42!  I still find this hard to grasp.

My target is to reach $2000 for World Vision which will help them distribute up to $20,000 worth of food aid.  That's enough to feed 400 families for one whole month.

Do something extra-ordinary here:

http://www.teamworldvision.com.au/rose_levien_7

"I can't do everything for everyone, but I can do something for someone" - Bob Pierce, Word Vision Founder

More information on World Vision and how the above appeal works click here.

An epic swim..for more reasons than one!

I'm a bit slow in writing this up but couldn't pass without reporting on the epic 5 hour swim last weekend!  This was and will probably remain the longest swim we'll do in the lead up to the Rotto swim.  I'll start with my preparation the night before.  I have to be honest and admit I do get quite nervous before these swims even though I've done many - especially leading up to my English Channel swim.  The anticipation mainly about what the conditions are going to be like makes me quite anxious.  My routine essentially involves drinking lots of water the day before so I'm fully hydrated.  Eating a good carb dinner like spag bol and most importantly getting an early night!  I lay out all my kit and 'feeds' the night before so I don't have to think in the morning.


For this particular swim I was picking up Marty, a fellow Rotto aspiree and we made our way together to Balmoral Beach.  We got there just in time to organise our feeds with Charm - ensuring that our bottles and gels were labelled with our names and the number corresponding to the hour we wanted feeding!  I can't help but make it sound like feeding time in a zoo...which is basically is!


Our course for the 5 hours covered a 3.5km lap.  There were about 15 of us that started together at 7am.  We tend to form ourselves into smaller groups based on our speeds.  I'm generally quite slow so don't always complete the 3.5km lap before the faster swimmers come back.  On this occasion we had a few paddlers with us which was great!  It's reassuring to have a paddler next to you and means you can 'get in the zone' without having to worry too much about boats or those 'guys in grey suits'!


We practiced our 'feeds' in the deep water which meant that every hour Charm came out on her paddle board with a floating 'bar' full off gels, bananas, drinks and sometimes chocolates!  We hustled around the floating bar like seals knocking backs our feeds so we could be on our way again.  It's good to practice quick feeds as when you're in the Channel, it's easy to drift off course if you're not head down swimming.

Feeding time!

Yes, that's me...!

A question I get asked all the time with swims of this distance is 'What do you think about?'.  It's actually hard to recall what exactly I think about on these swims, mainly because the thoughts last only a minute or maybe less until I'm thinking about something else.  They vary from things like...'Is that a boat engine I can hear?'...to...'I wonder what I should call my next blog post?'.  I learnt very early on in my English Channel training that I can't expect to really think something through while I'm swimming.  I remember trying this on a four hour swim in Dover once.  I was trying to solve a work issue, but it drained me and meant I couldn't find that comfortable zone.  I ended up getting out after an hour and sitting on the beach watching everyone else complete the swim.  I was devastated and from then on, I decided that on longer swims I would 'switch off' and not commit to thinking about anything.  Just swim.  


I felt great on this 5 hour swim.  I found my rhythm and after about 2 hours I felt myself getting stronger which is exactly where I want to be.  The first couple of hours are always a bit tough.  the body is warming up, everything feels sore and the body feels like it's fighting the water a little.  I enjoy longer swims, as you hit that moment when you feel at one with the water.  I love this quote which sums it up...

"The water is your friend...you don't have to fight with water, just share the same spirit as the water and it will help you move." - Alexandr Popov

So, a wonderful swim but it wasn't without it's challenges!  The biggest one for me was dealing with all the sea lice.  These aren't exactly 'lice' - they are immature larval forms of parasitic flatworms - they become trapped underneath your bathing suit and proceed to penetrate your skin and sting you!  They were everywhere!  And I felt them stinging for the entire 5 hours.  I then proceeded to do all the wrong things when I left the water and spent the following two days wanting to rip my skin off!  Needless to say, I now know what not to do when I get stung.  If you haven't heard about sea lice..check it out especially if you're prone to allergic reactions!


Oh..it's all a learning experience and I'm embracing it all!  4 weeks to go!

Introducing my (a-may-zing) Support Crew!

My support crew are vital to a successful swim.  It's just as much a tough day for them as it is for me in the water.  On a boat for 7 hours, traveling at the pace of a snail (no reflection on my speed of course!), in the blazing heat, focusing non-stop on someone flinging their arms over and over..maintaining visual on ships and other *stuff* is exhausting!   I've got a winner of a team by my side!!

February the 25th doesn't *just* stand out as the day I attempt the Rottnest Channel.  It's a special time as my folks who live in the UK fly out to Perth (only their 2nd time in Australia) to be part of the boat crew. I know I'm a little bias...but can I just say that my parents are the best!  Let me introduce them to you here...

Mum - aka Judy 

I'm really excited for Mum to be on the boat.  She's quite the explorer herself and has achieved many a feat over the years.  Mum ventures off on herself or sometimes with a companion to cycle various points around the country.  She's completed a cycle from the East-West coast of UK and also from South-North...on her own! She's joined me at the World Ice Swimming Championships in Finland and ranked 28th *in the world*!!

She's my inspiration for so many things and my love for life, my enquisitive nature and my constant hunger to find the next challenge..comes from her!  Thanks Mum, can't wait to have you by my side.

Cycling the lanes around Norfolk

Mum always willing to join me for a dip!

Dad - aka Charles

As I grow older, I see more and more of my Dad in myself.  I used to rebel it with quite a determination but I now love it when I do something that reminds me of him!  He's my hero and his approach to life has provided me with the strength for all the challenges I take on.  Not only is he tremendously wise about *everything* (and trust me, that used to really irritate me!), he also has a wonderfully cheeky humour that's guaranteed to make you feel warm inside.

Dad also has an adventurous streak and doesn't shy away from a challenge.  In the last couple of years he's taken up Archery and now competes..and often makes his own arrows! He's also regularly spotted whizzing around in one of his Austin Seven's that he so dearly restores and cherishes.  I know Dad will have a few cheeky remarks to make about sharks and so forth but he'll end his sentence by saying 'don't listen to the hype Rose..you'll never do it if you take on on that rubbish'!  Good on'ya Dad..just what I need!

The 'Paxton' - built by Dad!

 My fancy dress leaving party - Dad came as the 

skipper from my English Channel crossing!

Steve - aka 'the boyfriend'

Steve has embraced every element of this challenge as much as I have and has faced a few challenges of his own along the way!  To this day I still get a chuckle from the episode on the kayak with the shark guard!

I've never felt alone and scared of what I'm embarking on, as Steve is always there..reminding me that we're a team and we're doing this together.  He's joined me for every major swim and even sat for 3 hours timing every 100m split..whilst keeping my feeds topped up and offering a smile of encouragement every time I glanced up.  

Anyone that knows Steve also knows I'm an incredibly lucky girl!  From my heart..a huge thank you for making this dream such a fun and memorable reality :)

The name is 'Hopkins'...Steve Hopkins...

 

Cows..the most dangerous animal in England! (supposedly!)

Having the right team around you is a major key to success.  I have an absolute corker of a team, in fact, I already estimate I'll have the most awesome team in the Channel.  Create an environment that exudes positivity and surround yourself by inspiration and you're onto a winner.

Go team!

Introducing my Boat, Skipper and Paddler!

Now we're in 2012, I can almost smell the Rottnest Channel!  It's no longer 'next year'...it's now only 54 days away.  

With any swim of this distance, there's always a fair bit to organise.  I've pulled some useful tips from the Rottnest Channel website, but there's nothing like speaking to people who have actually done this swim to get the insider info!

In the last few months I've been able to lock down the following which are big elements to this swim.  As well as the training, which I'll share more about in the next few weeks, these are the hardest elements to organise.

Boat

This is an absolute must for all swimmers - teams and solos.  For solo swimmers, the boat must be at least 5m long.  It's important to have a skipper who is knowledgeable of the area and ideally has experience in guiding a swimmer across the channel.  I started looking into finding my boat back in March just by asking around.  

I then happened to meet a gorgeous couple on an Inspired Adventures trek to Peru that I accompanied as Tour Leader.  Peter and Alison live in Perth and offered to put the word out that I needed a boat for this swim.  Within a month or so, they put me in touch with Dave Rowland who offered his boat and to be my skipper!  Dave and I have kept in regular contact and I'm very excited to meet him in February.  I can't fail to add here that the boat is called "Gone"!  Just hoping this is a positive sign and not something else! 

Paddler

Having a paddler beside you is a great support.  Firstly, they're more on your level as a swimmer so you don't feel so lonely.  Secondly, they can get closer to you for the feeds and to offer encouragement. Thirdly, they help create a protected area if they paddle on one side of you and the boat is on the other and finally, they are able to get closer to the shore so escort you at the start and finish of the swim.  They are not compulsory but to me they are an essential!

Joining me as the paddler is Grant Siedle from Melbourne.  I met Grant through the Brighton Icebergers.  He's an extraordinary swimmer..not only fast but throughout the entire winter season, is never seen wearing a hat!  Now that is hardcore!

Grant is training for the English Channel swim later this year and is also the Director of the Giants of the Bay race - which is a 42km race with 6 teams, across two days.  Grant also runs Spirited Away a kayaking and swimming company based in Melbourne. I am truly privileged to have Grant as my paddler and couldn't think of anyone more perfect to take on the role!