My responsibility on The Day is clear. I must
simply SWIM . Just keep my arms going round and round and my legs doing the
scissor-movement thingy from the moment I leave the shore at
To get to that point, however, is not a solo effort. I have a support team, and an amazing one at that. Let me briefly introduce you to them.
First up there’s Paul Greenhalgh. Paul was born weighing in at 13 lbs and has remained a solid soul ever since. Everyone likes Paul – Jeremy Clarkson could learn from him for sure. He also missed his calling in life, which would have been following Bear Grylls into the SAS. Paul’s official role is that of my manager, but the reality he’s so much more than that, having
been my good friend for over 15 years and business partner for the last 10. He's my wingman in this venture, the Goose to my Maverick (although women tell me he’s a lot better looking). He's also ever so slightly sadist. He truly believes it will be good for me to break a hole in the ice on some public pond and go swimming to toughen me up.
Then there’s Jon Fryer. He’s my rah-rah man. My motivator. My Stephen R Covey or Deepak Chopra (without the woo). He also trains with me. If you see us together in the water, he’s the one with the eight-pack and the posse of drooling admirers following his every stroke. Even when I was so exhausted I couldn’t lift my ears out of the water in the middle of theEnglish Channel , I just KNEW he
was there, leaning over the edge of the boat, willing me on with every cell in
his body and ounce of air in his lungs.
mid morning to when I stagger ashore and collapse on a rock at hopefully 7 or 8
hours later. No fear, no questions, no allowance for pain. Just SWIM ! Wayne
To get to that point, however, is not a solo effort. I have a support team, and an amazing one at that. Let me briefly introduce you to them.
First up there’s Paul Greenhalgh. Paul was born weighing in at 13 lbs and has remained a solid soul ever since. Everyone likes Paul – Jeremy Clarkson could learn from him for sure. He also missed his calling in life, which would have been following Bear Grylls into the SAS. Paul’s official role is that of my manager, but the reality he’s so much more than that, having
been my good friend for over 15 years and business partner for the last 10. He's my wingman in this venture, the Goose to my Maverick (although women tell me he’s a lot better looking). He's also ever so slightly sadist. He truly believes it will be good for me to break a hole in the ice on some public pond and go swimming to toughen me up.
Then there’s Jon Fryer. He’s my rah-rah man. My motivator. My Stephen R Covey or Deepak Chopra (without the woo). He also trains with me. If you see us together in the water, he’s the one with the eight-pack and the posse of drooling admirers following his every stroke. Even when I was so exhausted I couldn’t lift my ears out of the water in the middle of the
In the run up to The Swim, I’m also lucky to have Janice
Wright on my side.
And then of course, the support I get from my long
suffering and stunning wife, Bernice. My guess is that she had no idea what lay
in store that day we met on the intranet 18 years
ago (in the days before internet). She, and my two beautiful children, sacrifice tons of daddy-time as I spend hours away from home training. Thanks Bernie, for sort-of understanding.
ago (in the days before internet). She, and my two beautiful children, sacrifice tons of daddy-time as I spend hours away from home training. Thanks Bernie, for sort-of understanding.
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