BOOK REVIEW – The Channel Swimming Manual by Geoff Cox
The world is
full of resources for us as swimmers to peruse, worry over and glean
information from: an endless supply of sometimes conflicting data which can
send the head spinning and have you saving link after link on your computer
with the promise to yourself that one day you will print it off and read it end
to end.
For those
starting out on their open water swimming journey it can be daunting to say the
least. For those whose journey has begun or even for those looking to take on
new adventures where do we turn to for information that we can take with us
wherever we go, for information that we can digest easily and share with other.
Practical knowledge comes from the doing, theoretical comes from the
educational path of absorbing information and then from that information taking
the parts that suit our requirements for the purpose in hand.
For those
contemplating the English Channel it can be a minefield of information to
process for such a monumental event. For some it’s the fulfilment of a lifetime’s
ambition, for others a spur of the moment decision after years of open water
swimming. Both socially and solo it’s an achievement to behold with dreams
fulfilled and nightmares conquered.
Any number of
social media pages are full to the brim with groups offering support and
guidance but who do you turn to once your computer is switched off, when you
are sat at home in awe of the task you have set yourself.
Geoff Cox, a
former Major in the Parachute regiment, used to delivering specialized
training, has compiled a comprehensive journal style book to aid and support
those completing the channel. His task of writing was expertly aided by his
wife and lifelong swimmer and successful channel swimmer Loretta Cox, who
knowledge of training and completing epic swims is legendary and second to
none. Written in plain English it is easy to follow and flows from one aspect
of the channel to the other seamlessly over seventeen chapters, with pages left
blank for you to make your own notes (and or ideas). At the rear of the book a
‘Lists and logs’ section takes you effortlessly through the logs you will need
to complete to ensure that you have prepared the best you can for your epic
journey (you know the saying ‘Poor planning leads to poor performance …well
there are to other versions as I am sure you know!!!)
If you want a
book that takes you by the hand, from start to finish of your channel journey
then this is the book for you, but do not be expecting the hand you are holding
not to be firm or gloved. This practical and detailed book is forthright,
combining the technical data as well as practical experience that some will not
have even thought of. Its approach is no nonsense, the chapter no-one wants to
contemplate ‘If you do not succeed’ is frank and realistic in its attitude,
after all not everyone that wants to do the channel goes on to complete it
successfully. Reality is a hard pill to take but as the book states ‘Not succeeding, is not failing’. The
book is honest in its approach to the task ahead and for those that don’t make
it the writing goes on to tell you what could have occurred to make the
crossing unsuccessful so lessons can be learned and fresh attempts made.
People are quick
to detail their successes but for those brave enough to detail the failures
these details can mean the difference to touching French soil to another and to
those that do I credit them with being forthright enough to know what went
wrong, how it went wrong and how to prevent it from recurring again. ‘Again’ I
hear you exclaim…yes why not, after all the saying ‘If at first you don’t
succeed…try, try again’ wasn’t invented to put us off.
The books’
comprehensive guide to the channel swim encompasses everything the swimmer will
require to embark and complete their journey, from acclimatization, training
and nutrition to the day of the swim and to make sure that you get it all right
the rules and regulations (correct at time of writing) have been included to
make sure that the swimmer does not fail on a minor technicality. From tracking
your boat (for those of us supporters enthusiastic enough to stay up all night
watching and sending messages of support) to the scary bits that none of us
really want to think about, the hazards and hypothermia, it’s all in there.
The nutrition
chapter is an eye opener, for those that think that swimming is all about
eating cake, think again, the average calorie intake per swimmer for a 16 hour
crossing is around 12800 calories….now that’s a lot of cake! You don’t need to
be a nutritionist to comprehend the facts given in this section as its written
in a language that can be digested (no pun intended!) by all and is a great
guide and is in-depth enough to make you not only think about your intake but
also the effect it can and will have on your body. Nobody wants to fail a swim
due to getting their diet wrong on the day or even in the training months
leading up to the swim.
Is the book just
for channel swimmers – no, for any swimmer contemplating the channel it is a
useful guide for those you have chosen to crew for you as well. The book states
that more often or not we would like to have those trusted family and friends
with us but once on the boat the pilot will ensure that you all know your roles
and that you do not deviate from them. After all you are all there to enhance
the success of the swim and to make it as seamless a transition as possible for
the swimmer. How to behave on the boat so that one and all can get the best out
of the trip is in there, space is limited at the best of times and the kit list
is essential to minimizing clutter whilst maximizing the boats capacity. Get it
right and you will find the trip across the waters easy, get it wrong and you
will be left with a distressed, cold, wet swimmer in dire need of your
attention while you scrabble around for the bits and pieces that should have
been easily at hand to aid their rehabilitation to full control of their body
and surrounding as well as their recovery back to full health.
The book is a
work in progress…what do you mean I hear you say, well like any book that is
filled with information and advice it is flexible in its approach and its
author is receptive to new or updated information being given so that over time
the guide remains as up-to-date as it can so feel free to contact them to give
updates, personal experiences that you feel have not been included so that the
book can progress just in the same way that swimming does.
Now you are
intrigued enough to want to know more, where can you get the book from? -
Postage free in uk £29.99 payable to PayPal through majoromega9@hotmail.com then we need a delivery address once paid or Tel 07412005430 you can even facebook Loretta direct via facebook messenger !!!!
