Swim The Planet – How to Eat an Elephant.

I arrived in Cape Town this morning which leaves me three days until Saturday’s Freedom Swim.

My preparations over the past months have involved moderate amounts of swimming but, most importantly, much time ‘training’ my brain into how I will deal with some of the conditions during the crossing. Theo Yach’s mantra ‘the mind controls everything’ has become self-reinforcing.

A good friend also gave me some very useful advice about the task ahead “How do you eat an elephant? he asked me. Answer: “One mouthful at a time”. It was my Eureka Moment.

I decided to approach the swim as a series of small, manageable portions rather than a swim of ‘two and a half hours in open water’. Instead, my crossing will be five short swims of half an hour with a water and food break at the end of each. Convinced?
We receive our pre-race briefing this evening at the Vista Nova School in Rondebosch.

The school provides education for children requiring additional needs. The Freedom Swim supports the school under their program called ‘Making a Difference’.
These students are an integral part of the Freedom Swim handing out medals as the swimmers reach the finish at Big Bay. The prospect of receiving a medal from an excited student waiting for me at the finish line will make a difference to both our lives.