Crazy Craig Swims The English Channel: The Swim
Coach Craig swims the english channel with Crew Chief Richie watching on!
I am picking up where I left off in part II of this 3 part series. If you missed the build up to this moment then I highly recommend going back and reading Parts I and II. You can find Part I here in which I talk about training for the English Channel and then Part II here in which I discuss getting to England and surviving the self-isolation. To get you up to speed, it is now the night before the big swim and I just got confirmation from the Viking Princess II crew that we are a go for Thursday morning!
Let us continue:
Surprisingly I slept great the night before but only because I was loaded up on Bonine to combat my severe sea-sickness. I went to sleep at 9pm and was up around 4:30am. I checked the weather and we got a PERFECT day. I showered and did my business. I had some coffee, lots of water, a Clif Bar and a banana and then I sat on the toilet some more. After making sure I was empty (this is the most important part of the process!), my dad and I were off to the boat. Once we arrived, we met up with the CSA observer and we headed to the Viking Princess II. We had our temperatures taken, filled out the new COVID waivers and we were off. On the way to the start at Samphire Hoe, it was time to pay Reg and then get greased up…No turning back now!
Craig in the dingy to start the English Channel
As soon as I paid, the crew told me I had about 10 minutes until the start. I got into my custom suit (Thanks HardcoreSport!), cap and goggles and then my dad started to grease me up so I didn’t get chaffed or sunburnt. The Viking Princess II crew and CSA observer did not mess around with the start. We got yelled at for moving too slow and that I had to get in the dingy and start this thing! This was probably good because it afforded me no time to think and cast doubt. I gave my dad a hug and a kiss and then I jumped in the dingy to take me to the beach.
About 10 yards from shore, I jumped out of the dingy and swam to the beach. I felt the chill instantly and was definitely concerned. I exited the water, grabbed my pebble and then once the horn of the Viking Princess II went off I was in the water swimming. Only eleven and a half hours to go! I was definitely cold and feeling a bit tight but I had to remind myself that I am going to be miserably cold for 2 to 3 hours before my body figures it out. I just had to suck it up and ride it out until I felt warm again. The theme of the day would quickly become just ride it out and it will be over soon!
As I predicted the first 2 hours were horrible. At least I was mentally prepared for it. The first 30 minutes felt like an eternity. I was shivering and my shoulders and wrists weren’t feeling great. I wanted to get to the first feed so I could chug the boiling water and pour it in my cap. I finally made it 30 minutes and got my warm water and other feeds done in about 30 seconds and then I was off again. I didn’t want to get cold so I tired to keep the feed quick so I could start swimming again.
The water was about 62F which isn’t really that cold at all. I think nerves were getting the best of me. The next 90 minutes were a struggle. I couldn’t get comfortable, I was having goggle issues and I was cold. I kept telling myself keep grinding you will be warm soon. Sure enough around the two and a half hour mark I was no longer cold. The first obstacle was tackled!
I wasn’t feeling awesome and had some funky aches and pains but this is normal for me. From hour 2.5 to hour 3 my mind went from thinking about being cold to thinking about how much time I had left. It is never a great thought when you are 3 hours in and thinking “oh man I have about 10 more hours of this!”
After another hour instead of thinking of having between 8 and 10 hours left, I started to chunk the time up differently. I told myself just get to 7 hours and we will go from there. I knew I wasn’t swimming fast mainly because my training this year was not normal and I got in zero speed work. Realistically I was anticipating a 12 to 14 hour swim but to get through this mental block, I told myself I was going to do this swim in 10 hours. I did this to help me compartmentalize the time left a little easier. By telling myself the swim would be 10 hours my thought process at 3 hours in was just thinking about getting to 7 hours in. Once I was 7 hours in then I would only have 3 hours left. I knew I wasn’t going to swim this in 10 hours but then once I got to 10 hours, it is much easier to stomach hearing only 2 to 3 hours left. Once I started thinking this way, I got into a rhythm and the feeds were coming up faster and faster because time was just flying by.
Craig eats in the middle of the english channel.
The next 5 hours flew by! I was really in the zone. My turn over was consistent and my shoulders felt great. My wrists and forearms were giving me some problems but I knew I could deal with that pain over shoulder pain. Once we got to the separation zone, it became jellyfish city. Everywhere I looked there were jellyfish. I got stung a handful of times which was actually great. It helped to keep me in the moment and take my attention away from the time I had left.
I remember on one of the feeds I saw a boat in the distance and it looked like another escort boat. My goal then became just try to catch the other swimmer. This helped keep me motivated and grinding. After another hour or so I caught the other boat and it was nice. I had no support swimmers for this swim but it was nice to know that in this vast ocean I wasn’t alone. There were a handful of other swimmers out there so I knew I wasn’t alone but this is the only swimmer that I could see. I hope that they also found it helpful to see me and know we were both suffering together!
Before I knew it, I was 8 hours in but I had no idea where I was. I didn’t want to look up try to see France or look behind me to see if the White Cliffs had disappeared. It is also of no value to ask because the tides are so strong. Even if I did ask, if they said 10 miles to go that could be anywhere from 4-8 hours depending on the tides and how I was swimming. Around hour 8 I started to really struggle with my wrists but mentally my time chunking of the swim was working. In my head I was thinking, “ok only about 4 hours left. That is a moderate training day at best. You got this let’s finish it up.” The feeds weren’t coming as fast and I was trying to stretch my forearms and wrists as much as possible. At this point the salt was getting to me as well so I was using the mouthwash hourly to try to keep the salt tongue at bay.
For the past 8 or so hours, the only things I saw were the blackness of the abyss I was swimming in, the side of the Viking Princess II, my Dad and the CSA observer. My dad was amazing. He never sat down once. Everything was perfect with the feeds and if I needed something he had it in my hands within seconds. He is not a coach but he has been my crew chief for every swim I have ever done. He may not know a ton about swimming but he knows everything about me, how I think and how I swim. He knows when I’m doing well both physically and mentally and when I’m falling apart. I saw him on his feet walking up and down the side of the boat taking pictures and videos and making sure my wife and mom at home knew I was safe.
Craig and Richie before the swim.
Every once in a while, he would give me a thumbs up out of nowhere and always gave me a little cheer after every feed. I am lucky to have such an amazing Dad who supports these endeavors. Having him on board, working hard for me, really helps to keep me motivated. As much as he wants me to achieve my goals for me, I want to also achieve them for him! As long as he is by my side, I feel safe. I know nothing bad will happen to me and this love and support really helps me to push through whatever I am dealing with. I want him to be proud of me. I know that I don’t have to do any huge swims for him to be proud but it certainly doesn’t hurt!
Anyway…
It was around 8 to 9 hours that I lost track of the time. All I knew is that I did more than 8 hours and probably had another 4 to 5 hours to go. I just had to keep grinding it out. One of the Viking Princess II crew also started to yell at me to pick up the speed of my feeds because they were getting longer and longer. I was taking close to 45 to 60 seconds per feed when they should be under 20 seconds. The problem with long feeds is that in a minute of treading to feed, the current can push you backwards about 5-10 minutes worth of swimming. That is like 2 steps forward 50 steps back! From that point on I was warm enough that I could drop the hot water but I was starting to feel depleted. My stroke rate was around 70 strokes per minute for the last 8+ hours and a higher turn over requires more calories in. I added a GU gel to the next couple of feeds which slowed the feeds but I was still getting the feeds down to about 15 seconds.
The next few hours really started to go by slow. I wasn’t tired but I definitely wanted to be done! The water temperature had started to warm up as we entered French waters. The waters around us were filling up with sail boats and other recreational boats. I knew we were getting close but it didn’t feel like it. I was feeling happy because I knew I was going to finish but I was just sick of swimming and wanted to be done. My mouth and wrists were in constant pain for the last few hours of the swim. I could see Cap Gris-Nez in the distance but I knew it looked much closer than it was. I put my head down and plugged away.
After another hour or so I was pushing as hard as I could but it felt like I was making zero progress. I was starting to get nervous because it seemed like I was going to get swept around the Cap which would added on hours of swimming. I thought I was looking at a 14 hour swim at this point and I was fighting like hell to avoid getting swept around the Cap. I popped up for a feed and my Dad, the CSA observer and Ray one of the pilots yelled “last feed you are in the last half mile!” This was the best thing I have ever heard! I knew I wasn’t in the clear but this lights a fire under your butt!
After swimming for what I think has been about 13 or 14 hours, this got me going! If you think after that many hours of swimming you have no more gears, you are wrong. I found another speed. I ignored the pain in my forearms and wrists, increased the kick and picked up the stroke rate. I was going to sprint for the next 800 yards until I was done. I knew at this point that all of the obstacles, sacrifices and stress were almost over and would be worth it. After about 5 or 6 more minutes of swimming, the dingy was launched and on the way to guide me into the shore.
This is the inner dialogue that I was having with myself during the last quarter mile of my swim:
“This was it! This was not just the end of my English Channel swim, this was the end of a journey that I started 3 years ago. I have thought about this moment for 3 years and I couldn’t wait to feel the relief and pride of fulfilling this goal. 400 more yards! There was no pain any more. There was nothing but me kicking and pulling as hard as I could..300 more yards! The rocks were getting closer as was the end of my journey…Just keep pushing! 200 more yards and I find another gear. I said to myself ‘Come on man you got this! 4 more minutes and you are done!’ 150 yards….100 yards, I am in an all out sprint for the rocks…75 yards keep going…50 yards you got this…25 yards so close it is all over in 30 seconds…10 yards and I see Ray in the dingy yelling at me to stop…What?!?! I am almost there I don’t want to but I do. I pop up and he tells me to go slow because it is all rocks, sharp massive rocks that I have to climb on and to be careful. Got it Thanks Ray and I give him a thumbs up. I put my head down and within a few more strokes the tide is bringing me in. I start to look for a safe place to stand and start climbing the rocks.
A few more strokes and I have found my rock. After what I think is 14 or 15 hours I am back on land and I am flopping up on some barnacle covered rock like a seal beaching it self. It isn’t graceful but it was beautiful! I come to a stop and go vertical. I get one foot on the rock and then the other. I stand up and take a few steps above the water line. I wave to the boat with a huge smile….The horn of the Viking Princess II goes off multiple times and my swim is done! 3 years of work is over just like that! Training through a pandemic and all of the stress and uncertainty while never giving up hope or motivation is over. I can finally relax.”
Once I have taken a moment to enjoy the feeling, I had to get back in the water and get back in the dingy….I’m glad that wasn’t on video because it was embarrassing! Ray hauled my bloated greased butt in the dingy and we were on our way back to the Viking Princess II. I got on board and my dad gave me a huge hug and kiss and said he was so proud. Then I called Alex to tell her I was done and we had a good cry.
Coach Craig and his dad after the swim.
We took some pictures and the observer told me my time…11 hours 24 minutes and 29 seconds. That was a shock to say the least because I was sure it was going to be closer to 14 hours. For the crew it was business as usual but for myself and my dad it was a huge moment. A moment neither one of us will ever forget. I thanked my dad countless times. If he didn’t come to crew for me, there is no way I would have finished. His support and pride helped me. Even when I got irritable or grumpy mid swim, he keep doing his job and got me through.
I was a little sad when I finished because COVID did take something away from this. In my head I was going to finish and have my wife, my mom and my support swimmer there all to celebrate with. We were going to go out that night and celebrate and then go to London for a celebratory dinner. Obviously that wasn’t how it went down and it made me sad. In the ends I had to remember that I was so lucky that I got to do this and when I saw my phone after much of that feeling that was missing was experienced.
After getting all of our stuff in order, we were on the way back. The channel that took me 11 hours and 24 minutes to swim was only a 90 minute boat ride home. We spent that time reading and responding to all the supportive text messages and Facebook posts that were sent during the swim. When it was over I didn’t feel like what I had done was a big deal or special in any way. Many people have done it before and many have done so much more. I felt like I shouldn’t feel special but that might be my Imposter Syndrome kicking in.
As I got more and more messages, people were incredibly supportive. Many explained that what made it special was that I found a way to do it when all the odds were against it because of COVID. That is why this swim was important to so many. It wasn’t because it was the English Channel or the Triple Crown. It was because I never gave up hope and always found a way to get past every obstacle thrown at me. It was because a pandemic didn’t stop me and it inspired others and gave them hope that their dreams and goals don’t have to stop because of COVID. They can still achieve great things and that is why this swim was important and special.
As the days went by after the swim, I flew home and I was met by so many special little surprises. My mom and wife got balloons and made signs to welcome my dad and I home! My wife got me a congratulation cake. Our neighbor brought over champagne for us to celebrate with. People went out of their way to do little things to really make this special even though it isn’t the way I had envisioned it. Maybe this was better because it was finally some half decent news in a world that seems to be crumbling. Maybe it brought people some hope that things will get better and we will get through it. Or maybe it wasn’t but I like to believe that my journey helped to motive people to keep them working toward their goals. I hope it inspired them to never give up hope when all odds are against them.
Craig’s WCVB 5 News debut!
Apparently this feat was news worthy because WCVB 5 came and interviewed me. I thought that was pretty cool. I guess any piece that isn’t COVID related is exciting these days! A few of my athletes also told me that they heard Dave & Chuck The Freak talking about my swim on the radio too. This was really cool because I wasn’t expecting any of it. I did the swim for me and to challenge myself. No one gets into marathon swimming for fame, fortune or even regional notoriety…if they do then they are not very well informed about the audience interested in marathon swimming.
I say this after every swim and this one is no different but I couldn’t have done this alone and there are so many people to thank. I am extremely lucky and privileged to have been able to do this and that isn’t lost on me. As the pieces fell into place this become more and more clear. I am lucky that this was my biggest stress during this crazy time in human history. My wife has been over the top supportive and I am so lucky to have her and so lucky she didn’t divorce me like 10 times over the past 4 months. My parents did everything in their power to help me get the training done and have always been supportive of this goal. My Aunt Judy and Uncle Philip helped out so much. My Grandma, mother-in-law, grandma-in-law, sister and brother-in-law were huge support throughout the months of training. My coach Dan has lead me to success in all 3 swims and really helped to keep me sane during this last one. My former support swimmers and friends Joe and Rob helped keep my energy up and got me stoked for this swim. My assistant coach Will covered workouts to ensure that while I was achieving my goals that our swimmers were still working toward theirs. Finally to all my friends and supporters, your messages really made this special for me.
I suppose now I will take some time off to figure out what is next…