Its Yuk! - Its Mentally Tough Training

Increased open water swim training is now well underway.

As well as the usual pool training and a Sunday ocean swim at North Cottesloe, two other open water training swims are now on my calendar.

After 4 hours of pool training on Saturday mornings, the group consisting of three adults (training for English Channel goals) and 12 teenage pupils from Churchlands Senior High School who are training for two English Channel teams, travel to the Swan River for extra training. This venue is not very pleasant, the water is a murky brown and we swim through hundreds upon hundreds of man-a-wars (Brown jellies) of all different sizes. I have never been stung by these horrible, slimy marine things but if you happen to swim head-on with a big one, its like banging your head against a piece of floating wood.

Its yuk!! but its mentally tough training!! and tough preparation needed for our English Channel goals - whether its a solo, two way solo swim or team of six swimmers. We will all get tough by swimming in all different kinds of conditions! But man-a-wars!?!

Training area on a calm, cloudy day - the Swan River, Perth

Wednesday morning training sessions are held at Hillary's Boat Harbour where, at the moment, a four hour swim is done to get accustomed to night and cold water swimming conditions. We commence at 5:30am, but its not quite dark as a few harbour jetty lights glitter on the water giving some magical shininess for us to see and swim through. The water here at the moment is reasonably warm, but heading into our winter it will lower to about 16 degrees. Brrrr. This is English Channel temperature - if you're lucky.

In the harbour there are a few stingers (jelly fish) and its just a matter of getting used to being stung (or kissed) every so often, move on and just keep swimming. Besides the occasional 'shag' and seagulls, there are silver fish of different sizes swimming or jumping out of the water. This morning I happened to pass a floating kiddies blue beach bucket!

Swimming these mornings I can view the sun rise, it peeps through and eventually rises over the pine trees that scatter around the eastern side of the harbour. It's always brilliant, and I am always in awe with the beauty that this time of day brings ...

As time ticks by during our training, other casual swimmers and families arrive for a swim or paddle. Nice to have extra company. Then you can smell the aroma of coffee, bacon and eggs being prepared by the many cafes around the harbour. Not fair - when you still have 2-3 hours swimming to complete.

Hillary's Mariner Boat Harbour

If there is time and energy to fit in an extra ocean swim during the week, then swimming from Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club north to Trigg Island SLSC and return is great and is approximately two kilometres each way. This is usually a rough swim with swells, rips and currents to swim through and plenty of board surfers dot the waves as well!! No stingers. What? Where have they gone!?

View from Trigg Beach to Scarborough Beach

One of my favourite venues is Sorrento Beach, just out of and south of Hillary's Mariner. From the Mariner wall to just past the third groyne is approx. 1km. This beach is handy as travel time is only 5-10min. away from home.

Sorrento Beach

Next - You guessed it.....more training of course.

Just Keep Swimming - A Breathtaking Experience

Racing Versus Training

Saturday mornings is usually a grueling four hour training session in the pool. But Saturday, 28th March is also the 2009 Dale Alcock State 2km OWS event, one which I have participated in over many years and love it.

I know the training session would be much more beneficial to me at this stage, but I also love to race and having this competitive nature, decided the 2km event in the ocean would be fun and it could also be used to see how my training is actually going! So, the decision was made upon the fact that this will be my last participating event on the OWS calendar for this season and then - the next four months must be a full commitment to non stop training for the English Channel....Yes, this sounds OK to me...

SO, along with other members of Bold Park Power Masters Swimming Club I entered the 2k event, organised by Masters Swimming WA. (formerly AUSSI).

Some of Bold Park Power Masters who competed. From left - Lucy Stuart, Ralph McManis, Max Wannell, Colin Plant and myself. (Pip Laufmann and Nick Morley not present for photo)

The swim - 2009 Dale Alcock State OWS (2000m) is for MSWA members only, members ranging in age from 20 to 95. Also included within the course is a 1000m swim, for the not so fit and for up-n-coming OWS wanabes. There are 31 Masters clubs throughout Western Australia who enjoy "Fitness, Friendship and Fun" through swimming and social activities. There is a variety of capabilities - from those who can swim a casual lap or two, to world record holders in the pool and OWS events.

Coogee Beach -part of the 2k course
The venue is approximately seven kilometres south of Fremantle.

After registration and having our race number marked on our upper right arm, we listened to the race briefing at 8:30am.

Swimmers waiting for commencement of race

The start and finish of event

The start commenced in deep water between two big red buoys and with a field of approx. 145 participants, all headed south at the sound of the hooter. It was reasonably good conditions, a little choppy and the way down to the first turning buoy I could see loads of arms and green caps bobbing in all directions.

There was a swimmer in a BlueSeventy suit swimming just a little too close to me. Hmmm ... I bet it's one of the Parson's sisters. It can't be 'speedy Eleanor' who is swimming brilliantly these days, so as Gail is more my speed, it must be Gail, yes, its Gail! She is also swimming very well and giving me a hard time as we go neck to neck around the turning buoy! Both sisters are training for the AUSSI Masters National Swim in Brisbane 30th April to 4th May '09. They are swimming fast and strong and will do well....Best of luck to you both and all participating swimmers.

SO, around the last buoy, heading towards the finishing line and in a calm space of my own, when ... 'whack' a darn stinger on the neck and right over my face....Ouch! We all thought these marine creatures had disappeared at this time of the season. I'm not complaining, as it was the only one to 'kiss' me over the 2km distance.

Feeling strong at the finish was a good indicator of my fitness, coming in 50th position and was timed at 30min 01sec. If I did not have that laugh with Gail at the first turning buoy, my time would have been under 30mins! Ha! Ha! now that's open water swimming and I would not have missed out on that laugh for just one second. Such fun.

For a reason, a season or a lifetime

Competing in any event you always catch up with fellow swimmers from metro and country areas and some people enter your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

Over many years during the swimming seasons, I have been crossing paths with a very talented and successful open water swimmer who resides in the country. Barbara Pellick is high on my list as an elite swimmer and great motivational person. This amazing lady has swum the English Channel, placed in the Manhattan Island Swim twice and in the lead up to this years Rottnest Channel swim - her 22nd solo, she joined a multi-national team to cross New Zealand's Lake Taupo three times and covered 126km.

Queen of the 'Rotto Channel' - Barbara Pellick receiving her 2009 Rottnest Channel race pack - her 22nd solo crossing

After an event it is very often we are seen treading water in the 'middle of the ocean' talking about all forms of swimming techniques, ideas, good advice and plenty of encouragement about swimming the English Channel. What a mountain of valuable information she has to offer and I appreciate that she is always willing to share her time and knowledge with me over coffee, on the beach or in the middle of the sea.

Colin Plant and Carrol Wannell- Bold Park Power Masters receiving age group trophies from President of MSWA Ivan Marinovich

Now for my goal - to commit to training, training for the big picture in four months.

If you are given a dream, you are given the ability to fulfil this dream.

~~ Dream it and do it ~~

Just keep swimming - a breathing experience

Done the training to start the training

Now For the Training

After finishing the Rottnest Channel Swim I was exhausted after struggling through the strong currents near Rottnest Island. However, there was no sign of any body aches or pains, just fatigue.

Two weeks after the Rottnest Channel swim, I feel fresh, rested and ready to commence the training needed for the coming English Channel swim in five months time. Where are the days/weeks going?

During the coming weeks, I plan to do quality interval workouts in the pool at:

• Churchlands High School 25m pool. Most training will be done here under coach, Pauline Pratt.


• Bold Park 50m pool. Will try to touch base with my AUSSI club - Bold Park Power Masters, on Tuesday evening club night.


• Challenge Stadium 50m pool. The Rottnest Channel Swim Group - Wednesday mornings.

My longer swims to be over the weekends:

• Saturday morning - Churchlands High School pool under coach, Pauline Pratt
• Saturday afternoons - open water swim at either Hillary's boat harbour or the Swan River
• Sunday morning - long ocean swim at either North Cottesloe, Sorrento or Mullaloo Beach

Gym session at Churchlands High School - Wednesday evenings. Plus follow through light gym session/s at home. Love to fit in a beach walk with family.

One day off a week to have a physical and mental break!

Sounds good to me ..... I am lucky to have support from a great training group, making my journey so much easier and fun ... hmmm, well most of the time.

Just keep swimming - A breathtaking experience

Rottnest Channel Swim

WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim

21st February '09

Registered entrants - 2298 swimmers consisting of:

Solos - 171 (145 successfully completed the event)

Duos - 140 (133 successful)

Teams - 1,987 (433 successfull teams)

14 Official boats from the Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue and approx. 70 volunteers made this event the most successful yet.

Swimmer David Cox (25yr) won the grueling 19.2km swim in a time of 4hrs 40mins. and Jaime Bowler (27yrs) was 1st female over the line with a time of 4hrs 56mins. For all race results refer to: http://bluechip.racetectiming.com/rottnest.html

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL SWIMMERS

My 8th Solo Swim

All preparations were complete the night before - clothes, food, drinks etc. Somehow I managed to have a good nights sleep. The alarm went off at 4:15am. Breakfast of porridge, banana plus added protein was forced down at this time of the morning.

Max, my husband/support, left home to meet up with the skipper, Graham Clarke, paddler Ian Clarke and continued onto Hillary's Boat Harbour. My daughter Lorelle, grand-daughter Kristen-Jade, her friend Katie and myself headed to Cottesloe for the start of the 19th Rottnest Channel Swim and my eighth solo attempt.

My eldest brother Ian was already there to greet us, I simply love the family support. After registration and grease-up, it was time to head to the start line, where WA Premier Colin Barnett sounded the horn to start the race at 6:45am for the 1st wave of solo swimmers.

Big brother Ian, grand-daughter Kristen-Jade, myself all greased up and daughter Lorelle

In the starting area at dawn - an eerie feeling

Ian Clarke, my paddler was wearing a miner's light and I had a small green flashing light attached to my goggle strap which made our connection at the 500 metre mark so easy and soon after, our boat was by our side. So far, so good. What a great crew, you cannot do this swim without them.

Graham Clarke (Clarky) my Skipper on front of his boat - has lead me over to "Rotto" several times

Breathing on my left side I could see the sun coming up behind me. That was spectacular, what a wonderful feeling, sort of warm and fuzzy on the back. Then something else in the water made me feel warm and fuzzy in another sense. OUCH! a darn stinger stung me right on the lips. OUCH! again on the face and arms .... repeat this four times, OUCH! OUCH! etc. not funny. These stingers have long tentacles that have to be peeled off your skin. Yuk!!! OK, so persevere and just keep swimming.

The water was crystal clear and the bottom of the ocean could be seen all the way over, sand and seaweed, sand and seeweed. I saw no sign of marine life - big or small, and that's OK!

Just finishing a feed

Around the 15km mark I found the swim getting tougher. Come on Carrol just keep swimming, remember all the mental mantras ... well, put them all in place - now. Come on! Draw on that strength, that power and calmness of the mind, time to find that meditative state, and just relax...Relax. I played mind games, focused on my technique, did long, strong strokes and thought about family and friends.

Just keep swimming - is that Rottnest Island ?

I convinced myself that it is good to have your weaknesses surface so you know what to focus on, but is that a load of *!@#* ? I was tired, simply tired.

I imagined I was actually swimming in the English Channel. What! I can't do this EC thing if my energy levels are not the best and my sinuses and throat are burning and so sore.

Hey! Be positive now and 'stuff and flush' this negative thought away. Thank you Shelley Taylor-Smith. Come on! Each stroke is getting you closer to the island and I am determined to just keep swimming.

Where is that Phillip Rock? Where's it gone. Hey! Ian, where is that darn rock?

Hey! Where is that Phillip Rock?

Ian, my valued and very patient paddler, gave me encouragement and positive feedback every feed stop. Break the swim down into bite sized pieces. I mentally swam from feed to feed and each hour had a special 'power' word game to concentrate on. 'The rock is just coming up on the left', says Ian with a grin. Yeah, Yeah....I muttered to myself.

I feel that I turned a corner as far as mental toughness goes.!?! Nothing on my body hurts except my sinuses and throat, I am just tired and hey! I am loving every minute of it .... Isn't this my chosen sport for fitness, health and fun?? Hmmm.

I was timed 1 1/2 hours slower than in previous years. My swim was strong and fast to the 10km mark and I thought great, another 3+ hours swim coming up and I'm finished. But this was not to be as we drifted too far south, like so many other swimmers and the under current was very strong this year .... this is my longest crossing ever - 8 hrs.19min. It was tough going. But, but .... I DID IT!!

The face says it all

I have discovered that long distance swimming is not about being fast, but rather having fun and accomplishing goals in a supportive environment. I can't believe it took me all these years to realise this.

It was wonderful and a very emotional time to walk across the finish line to see and hear my family and friends yelling and waving, their presence and smiles were worth it all. Thanks especially to Judy, Lorelle, Kristen-Jade, Katie, Dee and - Max who managed to rush from the crew boat to the finish line in time to see me finish. A BIG thank you to my support crew!!

Thoughts on my swim

• Sometimes it is the little things, like watching the sun rising that are the most rewarding
• Chaffing and jellyfish stings happen
• If uncomfortable, just stay with it because something will eventually change
• If something hurts, focusing on good form helps
• The least of my worries was being eaten by a shark - look out for that boat!
• Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming - even if you need to throw in some breaststroke. I did this for the very first time!
• My crew was excellent, understanding, patient and appreciated.
• Having family and friends to greet you at the finish line is just awesome

This was another great physical and mentally tough swim. There is still a long way to go to be ready to swim the English Channel this coming August.

You just have to love and be dedicated to this sport!

My family supporters - relaxing at the 'Quokka Arms' Hotel

Group photo of successful solo swimmers

The Annual Race - Western Australia

The Rottnest Channel Swim event has come a long way since my first individual swim. On 23 February 1991, sixteen individuals left Cottesloe Beach at 5:30am and seven teams of four started 1/2 hour later. Twelve solo swimmers and all seven teams completed the crossing. Max and myself became the first husband and wife to make individual crossings.

Since 1991, Max has completed three solos, one duo with myself and several team events. He has been my valued support person and sometimes paddler on my eight successful solo crossings and two unsuccessful crossings - illness and bad weather conditions.

2009 - The 19.2km ocean swim from Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island has turned into an annual race. With 64 marker buoys plus float lines placed in the water, it is one of the largest open water swims in the world with a gathering of over 10,000 spectators, supporters and competitors on Rottnest Island. More than 750 support craft are involved and over 100 volunteers and staff assist on the beaches and the water to ensure everyone is accounted for at the end of the day. Oh, did I mention that according to the RCSA, over 180 kegs of beer are consumed on the island!!

We have and always will be proudly involved as a swimmer or a volunteer.

What's next

> Five months of long hard training (March to July) continuing the preparation towards my English Channel crossing scheduled for mid August.

> Maybe enter a swim thru and an AUSSI Masters carnival for fun and variation.

Just keep swimming - a breathtaking experience

Rottnest Channel Swim 2009

Rottnest Channel Swim Briefing

A mandatory briefing for the Rottnest Channel Swim event was held on Tuesday 3rd February 2009 at the Challenge Stadium. A representative for each solo/duo/team swimmer must attend the briefing or be disqualified from the event. There are many volunteers working on the briefing night, giving out correct race packs to swimmers, event t-shirt sales and the busy 'help desk' was kept very busy.

Challenge Stadium hall filling up quickly - oh! there's Mary-Anne Paton, solo swimmer, with 'Stewy' her boat skipper sitting in the front row. and, oh! theres Wendy and ..... hey, stop!

The Queen of the Rottnest Channel Swim - Barbara Pellick (21 solos) collecting her solo race pack


Some Barracudas Club members are all smiles after collecting their solo race packs

The 2009 WAtoday Rottnest Channel Swim - 19.2km

Saturday 21st February 2009. The race departs from Cottesloe Beach and finishes at Thomson Bay, Rottnest Island.

The event categories for competitors are - Solo, Duo, Team of 4 and Lavan Legal Charity Challenge - team of 4. Minimum age is 14 years in accordance with the FINA rules for open water swimming.

This is the largest open water event of its kind and attracts swimmers from all over the world. For full details and information - http://www.rottnestchannelswim.com.au/

Fit-looking Rottnest Channel swimmers who train hard at Challenge Stadium, are ready to swim their last open water training session at North Cottesloe SLSC before the 'Rotto' event

GOOD LUCK for a great swim - see you on the beach !!

Just keep swimming - a breathtaking experience

Another Fun Weekend of Swimming

Cottesloe to Swanbourne Beach 2200 metres

We are so lucky to have the choice of many swim events - published in the Open Water Swims Calender, collated by Masters Swimming WA.

Saturday 7th Feb. we participated in the 24th Annual Cottesloe to Swanbourne Ocean Classic, organised by the Swanbourne Nedlands Surf Life Saving Club.

One of my favourite swims - it was calm, a little cloudy and the water crystal clear. Max and I left our car at the event finish and walked the scenic ocean path to Cottesloe where approximately 300 swimmers gathered for registrations.

A mass water start commenced at the Cottesloe groyne and a straight swim was enjoyed over some scattered reef and weed for 2.2km to the finish line at Swanbourne Nedlands SLSC.

A simply magical swim!

Cottesloe SLSC - Start of swim

View from Cottesloe SLSC - around the bend is finishing line at Swanbourne Nedlands SLSC

Myself and a number of other "Rotto" solo/team swimmers decided to swim back to Cottesloe for extra training ... a nice and gentle pace on a beautiful day, its great to be alive. My time for 2.2km was timed at 30:52 sec.

After presentations, we travel south to Busselton for the:

ILUKA Busselton Jetty Swim - Sunday 8th Feb '09.

It was a pleasure to have the company of Shelley Hatton for the 200km drive to Busselton where we settled in our accommodation, a very comfortable self-contained chalet situated near the ocean and walking distance to the start of the Jetty swim.

This swim aims to celebrate the local icon and heritage, the Busselton Jetty - for people to participate in an ocean swim and encourage personal fitness. The event attracts novice, experienced and elite swimmers of all ages and ability.

Starting point of swim

A record field of approximately 1400 swimmers registered for the swim from the region and metropolitan area. Around 5000 spectators were there to cheer on the swimmers from either the beach start or viewed the entire course from the Busselton Jetty.

Spectators watch on as a wave of swimmers commence their swim

Swimmers started in six groups, 2 minutes apart - 4 waves for individual swimmers followed by first swimmer for duo teams and first swimmer for three person team.

As an individual swimmer I started in wave A. It was a little cramped at the beginning but swimmers soon thinned out and found their 'space' leading up to the end of the Jetty. Turning around to swim back I found myself alone. Hey! where have all the swimmers gone? It would have been great to have at least one swimmer to pace with, no such luck, so it was just me and my breathing - and schools of small fish on the ocean bed to amuse me. Not for long though, swimming up to the red buoys, swimmers came from every direction. hmmm, maybe I was too far south, but the huge silver marker buoys were always just in front of me!?! Well, finishing with a mob of other swimmers made me sprint, just a little. The finishing clock showed 58:45. I was delighted to have gone under the hour.

Spectators and swimmers at finishing line

Completing the 3.6km swim

Receiving a trophy for age group winner - the trophy is made out of wood, Busselton Jetty wood.

Max and I have participated in 12 of the 14 Busselton Jetty swims and once again our sincere thanks to the many volunteers who gave freely of their time and who did a magnificent job making the event run safely and smoothly!

Just keep swimming - a breathtaking experience

Australia Day Long Weekend of Swimming

Two swimming events suddenly became three!

At first I was looking forward to the 10km "Rotto Rehearsal" swim on Sunday, but when the coach says we also do the 5km swim event the day before, I gulped and thought this was a little too much as the Australia Day 2km swim was scheduled on the Monday holiday and I would like to swim for a good time! Holiday?!

OK - ok..... lets give them all a good go. Well, I surprised myself by completing the three events. Does this mean that mental things are happening at last, "sort of" falling into place? Hmmm.....Please!

The 5km swim on Saturday morning was in choppy but warm conditions and I finished in good spirits with a time of 1 hour 26 mins. The Blue Seventy swim suit I wore felt great at the beginning but by the finish I had a nasty, red abrasion on the neck. Ouch!

One event down, two to go .... without the Blue Seventy suit and a rather sore neck.

5km female over 50yr winners - Myself (G) Judy Grieves (S) Kathy Phillips (B) with Shelley Taylor-Smith - presenter of medals for Swimming WA

Next day the 10km event for myself and most swimmers was a qualifying, rehearsal swim for the 19.2km Rottnest Channel crossing coming up in approximately three weeks time. This is an opportunity to swim along side your paddler and make sure you have your feeding and drinks right. My first stop - 1 hour when Ian Clarke (my paddler) handed a mouthful of banana and a carbohydrate drink. Next stop - 1/2 hour when I tried a carbo shot previously mixed with the correct amount of water. Yummy, nice and sweet in a somewhat salty mouth... It was choppy from the commencement of this swim and when the sea breeze came in, the choppier the ocean became making it more of a challenge and greater training - wearing ordinary Speedo bathers.

My other feeds were 1/2 hour intervals and at the last feed break, I heard my name being called .... it was Karen, Tony Parbery's wife/paddler yelling out 'go Carrol go' ... Yikes! its Tony who trains with me and member of the Barracudas Club, he's right behind me.... I nearly choked on my feed, 'get a move on Carrol' !*! I muttered to myself. Whew, with a bit more swimming effort I just finished "the rehearsal" in front.... Hey! it's not a race you guys.....or, more like ... its not a race Carrol!

After swimming the 5km swim the day before, I completed this 10km swim feeling comfortable in 3 hours 12 mins. My main weakness is mental toughness and I am always learning how to make it happen without draining my mind. To focus on the 'here and now' and not on the entire swim all at once. I practised allowing positive mantras into my thinking and not to let myself think about all the other things I need to do today. Remember .... "Here and Now". Swim from feed to feed.....okay, now swim to the next buoy....okay, and so on.

The good things about my swim:

• Carbohydrate drink works
• Carbo Shotz with correct water measurement works
• Mantras works
• Thinking of the 'here and now' works
• Having a positive state of mind works
• Just swim from feed to feed works
• Use of long, strong strokes works
• A great paddler to direct and feed me during swim definitely works

I continue to find things that need work on:

• Feed stops to be more efficient
• Swallow less salt water when swimming
• Have a song in my head
• Strengthen my rotator cuffs
• Don't worry about how much further I have to swim
• To believe in myself more & more
• Use imaginary tools
• Be Calm, Confident and Comfortable in the water
• Break swim into mentally, manageable segments and confront one piece at a time - a must!
• Continue a well balanced nutritional eating plan
• Relax and enjoy the beauty of open water

and ... to make the effort to improve on them all with fun and passion.

I am extremely lucky to have a great paddler. Ian Clarke has many years of experience paddling/ski-ing with Surf Life Saving Clubs in West Australia and is also a great competitor in the States August weekend Avon Decent event. His father, Graham Clarke (Clarky) has previously been my paddler and has been my 'boatie' for many years during the Rottnest Channel Swim. What a team ... the best.

Oh. dear - is that me with paddler Ian Clarke

Water Corporation OWS Series #5

Organised by Swimming WA
Venue: Sorrento Beach

24th January '09 - Saturday

1.25km/5km events (includes SWA State Champs.)

Start & finish of 1.2km & 5km event

25th January '09 - Sunday

2.5km/10km events (includes SWA State Champs.)
Combined with: Rottnest Channel Swim Association - "Rotto Rehearsal"

Hey! that's our coach, Pauline Pratt. Is she hiding behind the finish flag to make sure we complete all swims?

26th January '09 -

Happy Australia Day!

The 19th Annual Australia Day Open Water Swim - 2km

Venue: Scarborough Beach

Presented by Carine AUSSI Masters Swimming Club (Inc)

What an excellent way to begin Australia Day. In fact, Max and I have been involved in this special day swimming the Australia day Open Water Swim Thru for the past 18 years. Max has been the event's organiser for as many years.

Brief Event Background

In 1990 Australia Day Council met with Carine AUSSI Masters Swimming club to arrange a swim-thru at Matilda Bay on the Swan River to help celebrate Australia Day. The first swim was held over 1500 metres with 10 starters.

1997 saw the swim outgrow Matilda Bay and the club switched the event venue to Scarborough Beach.

The event now attracts between 300-400 swimmers each year, age categories under 15 years to over 70 years. The race is open to people of all abilities, providing they are able to swim 2 kilometres in open water.

Swimmers proceeding to starting line in the water

Mass water start - the 19th annual Australia Day Swim

The mass start commences in the water and proceeds one kilometre south of Scarboro SLSC, around two red buoys and return to finish through the banners and flags on the beach.

I finished the 2km swim with a slower time than usual - being slightly weary after the previous two days events - 5km & 10km OWS

Organiser Max Wannell - completing the prize presentations

The National Anthem is played and sung by all and other popular Australian tunes can be heard during the morning. Coffee and a sausage sizzle is available for all these great Aussie people.

~~ We are Australians ~~ We are Australians ~~

Myself, Shelley Hatton, Robyn Wilson and Tim Mather

Me (again!) with Eleanor Parsons and Lesley Croft looking on

The Australia Day Swim is presented by Carine AUSSI Masters Swimming Club (inc). Today after 18 years as Organiser, Max Wannell's retirement was announced. I am so proud of his dedication and 100% commitment to this event. Well done Max !!

A wonderful three days of swimming. It wasn't as physical or mentally stressful as first thought and I found it interesting to watch and feel how powerful the mind is on influencing the body.

Coming up

I have chosen to swim two more events before the Rottnest Channel Swim. http://www.rottnestchannelswim.com.au/

• 24th Annual Cottesloe to Swanborne 2.2km http://www.swannysurfclub.org.au/
• Busselton Jetty Swim 3.6km http://www.busseltonjettyswim.org.au/

Just keep Swimming - A Breath taking Experience