Jun 12, 2009 Swimming Teacher Trains To Swim The Channel
The following article is taken from the Portsmouth Evening News:
A swimmer is hoping to break the record by becoming the oldest woman to conquer the English channel.
'Over the last couple of months I have started to swim in the sea to get accustomed,' she said.
'As a child at 13 I remember someone swimming the Channel and thinking I would love to do that one day.
'It's a very big challenge, the hardest I have ever set myself. But it's so exhilarating, it's so lovely.
'My mother is a little bit hesitant and a bit worried, but she knows me and she knows if I have set my mind on something I will do it. I can be very determined.
'My husband doesn't understand why I want to swim the Channel when there's a very good ferry service.
'I'm a bit blase about it at the moment because it seems a long way away. But if it was this time in 2012 I'm sure I would be apprehensive.
'Having done all the training I plan to do I would think failure would not be an option. I will be very determined to do it.'
Chris intended to do the swim in 2011, but after finding out a 60-year-old woman is set to complete the challenge in that year, she decided to push it back in the hope of breaking the record herself. At the moment, she's swimming in the sea twice a week, travelling from Eastney to Clarence Pier and back again in preparation for the challenge. Chris will raise money for charity, but only once she's found sponsorship to pay the fees, her insurance and for the boat to go with her.
TRAINING SCHEDULE
Chris learnt to swim as a child at the age of four and has swum regularly ever since. In the Royal Air Force she represented the women's air force swimming team. She then decided to start teach swimming. Chris will complete the swim sometime between July and September, 2012, as this is when the sea will be at its warmest. During the winter Chris will continue her training in a swimming pool as the sea will be cold. She'll venture out to the beach again in the spring.