After completing the Busselton Ironman in December 2006 and with my fitness at an all time high it seemed only logical to challenge myself to a 19.2 kilometre solo swim from Cottesloe beach to Rottnest Island in February 2007.  Unfortunately the event was cancelled due to appalling weather conditions.  Bring on 2008!!

My training plan for this event was simple; keep my base fitness level up throughout the year by cross training, then concentrate primarily on swimming from October onwards.  All was going well until I became ill at the start of October.  I was in and out of hospital and was prescribed medication that, to say the least had some weird side effects.  I was unable to function for sometime let alone even think about training.

Late October I received an email from Mark Marshall, my skipper and boat owner from 2007.  He wanted to know if my 2008 campaign was still going ahead as he had been approached by another friend (who shall remain nameless) and told that I wasn’t doing the swim and could Mark be his skipper.  At this point nobody was aware of my medical condition.  I believe this could be classed as “whiteanting” or could it have been just be a misunderstanding?  Either way, I had to make a decision.  Game on!!

I consulted my Specialist and GP in regards to preparing and completing this event.  They both told me I would be affected by my illness for months.  It was discussed that exercise may assist rehabilitation, however I had to be aware that due to the medication I was taking I would have depleted energy levels and that I must monitor my heart rate during exercise.

Training became long and boring as I was unable to do short sharp sessions.  Most pool sessions were 6k’s broken up into 1000m, 400’s and 200 sets.  Bad enough in a 50 metre pool, some had to be done in a 25 metre pool, lots of turns!

Many a time I considered if it was worth it, though training had given me something else to think about.  I also had a “team” to think of, they were keen and ready to go.  A good mate of mine, Tom Canavan had been persuaded to paddle for me. He borrowed my kayak and had been training hard for the event.  Thinking back to the first couple of times Tom and I would do an ocean session, Tom would spend about as much time in the water as I did, it’s hard laughing at someone while you are swimming.  I couldn’t let him down after all the effort he had put in.

Race morning I got to Cottesloe beach in plenty of time for my wave start at 6:45am. As would be expected the weather and ocean conditions in the weeks prior to the swim were perfect.  Come race morning it was grey, overcast and choppy.  A quick phone call to the boat confirmed that all was in order and they were in the holding area waiting for the start.

It was still dark as I entered the water; I was concerned about finding the boat.  If you haven’t seen the start to the swim I would suggest that it is well worth the effort.  Boats everywhere, very spectacular.  I was met by my first paddler, Russel, within 50 metres from shore.  That was one hurdle out of the way.  Now to locate the boat, you have to have boat, paddler and swimmer all together before the 1500 metre mark before you can proceed.  Russel had only seen the boat from the beach that morning, but it was big, how could we miss it?  There were 100 swimmers in my wave, add 100 kayaks and 100 boats looking for each other it was mayhem.  Fortunately, Mark kept out of the way and with the WA Police Sports Federation (WAPSF) banner prominently displayed from the fly deck we were able to pick him out and swim to him.

I started slow and steady, I knew I wasn’t able to push it, I just wanted to finish.  Initially I found it hard to get used to the chop and swell.  I was unable to get any rhythm in my stroke.  I had my nutrition stops planned and the paddlers would stop me every half hour for drinks and every hour for food and drinks.  When you stop, you aren’t allowed to rest on the kayak or touch any object.  I survived on water, carbo drinks, carbo gels, muesli bars and bananas.  Early in the race my fluids were going straight through me, this caused me a little unease as I knew that I would have to keep well hydrated during the day.  A banana at the next stop fixed this, the extra potassium from the banana assisted in keeping the fluid trapped in the body cells for a longer period.

There are cut off times set by the officials at certain distances, the first point was 10 kilometres.  I didn’t wear a watch and I didn’t want to know where I was until the 15k mark.  The team couldn’t help themselves, and all cheered loudly as I passed the 10k buoy.  Richard Hughes (team manager) held up a large cardboard number plate RCS800 (close Richard) for added inspiration.  I had a little smile thinking that wasn’t so bad, however physicologically in distance events; I class 2/3rds as half way.  I still had a way to go.

Just past the 10k buoy I was going through the motions, arm after arm, slow and steady, all was good, even to the point that I was becoming totally relaxed and enjoying myself.  That didn’t last.  Out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of a grey flash.  Sure enough, there was a 3 metre hammerhead shark about a metre below me.  It went under me that quick there was no time to be scared, thinking about it, I think the shark was probably more frightened than any of the swimmers, it wasn’t hanging around.

I passed the 12k distance buoy and I mistook it as the 15k buoy, from then on my day just went downhill.  When I finally got to 15k I was shot, lost, scared, angry and had no idea what was going on.  Everything was hurting, everything was annoying me.  Emotionally I had lost it.  To this day I can’t explain what happened but I learnt that it is very hard to see while you are crying in your goggles.  At no time did I consider stopping or not completing the swim, I had just lost “it”.  It was the worst feeling I have ever experienced in a sporting event.  The paddlers asked me if all was ok and if I needed anything, at one point I asked for a can of toughenup, at least I could still amuse myself.

I continued on for what seemed forever, aware that I was going to make it no matter what.  I reached Phillip rock, which is about 2k from the finish.  I knew that getting through the current around the rock was my final hurdle.  I had swum around the rock several times before in a team and knew how tough it could be.  The rock had been my inspiration at the end of a training session when my body wanted to give up, I would see myself getting past this final stage.  This was the challenge that I needed to mentally pull myself back together, my whole attitude changed, I had to just get on with it and put in a final effort.  That rock is HUGE, but I made it.  From there on it’s all nice flat water.

From Phillip rock on it tends to get very crowded with swimmers, paddlers and boats all merging between the final swim gates, then into the “funnel” of the finish.  Tom and Russel paddled with me to the 400 metre finish channel which gave me protection from boats coming over the top of me.  I started to relax and enjoy the final part of the swim, the water in Thompson bay was crystal clear, the sun had come out and visibility was perfect.

The paddlers left me at the last 400 metres as it is for swimmers only.  I was being overtaken by the duo and team swimmers.  I put in a little extra effort to finish the swim however that lasted about 20 metres due to fatigue, oh well, back to slow and steady.  I stepped onto Rottnest 8 hours and 7 minutes after leaving Cottesloe beach.

Why?  Well, I became the 804^th solo swimmer recognised by the Rottnest Channel Swim Association to have completed the solo swim since the event started in 1956.  And for that I get a set of number plates, RCS804…yeah right!!!

Many thanks to my team and the WAPSF for the support.

Mark Henry

Features, Open Water Swims