SWIMMER’S STORY: Sixty in the sea
Alistair Murray
Alistair and his friends signed up to #12Croatia as a team that they called ‘No Direction’ to celebrate his 60th birthday. In Alistair’s own poetic words, here is Sixty in the Sea.
Sixty in the Sea
How should i celebrate my sixtieth birthday?
Party? Cruise? Posh hotel or Cabaret?
Everyone had suggestions for my six zero circus
But i was a dreaming of a little more purpose…
Ingredients of good friends, hugh challenge and lots of swimming
That would make me turn sixty grinning!
All our wives were supportive as the occasion held sway
And soon my No Direction gang had entered Croatia 33.3k
Big training plans agreed and promises of sobriety
Soon gave way to injury, illness, equipment fails, work stress and anxiety
February behind us and we called a state of emergency
Guildford Lido team sessions to inject some training urgency
As we got closer a clear rise in tension
Should i not just take my free bus pass and pension??
Soon we landed in Split, relaxed and were all very glad…
..dinner with old and new friends in Places Hotel, Stari Grad
Fitbit alerted me in morning to my 4.5 hour sleep
Oh shit - i thought - I’m going to have to dig deep
Porridge, coffee, honey, bread, electrolytes were all the key nutrients
Then lathered myself with sun screen and petroleum free lubricants
“Wetsuit swimmers please enter water now”, Monica announced repeatedly!!
Hardly raising an eyebrow, as we had all gone deaf seemingly
Then all lined up and that last moment of relaxing
Mark took charge “attention swimmers” and the Klaxon!!
We were off at last after months of anticipation
Nerves, excitement, fear and expectation
Desperate to be one of the lucky 4-day completers
Convinced it would go wrong in first few hundred meters
But soon into groove and could feel the big grin
Thank god i had not forgotten how to swim!
Then gel vodka and porridge in a bay so idyllic
Coffee stop in lovely Uvala Deli Dolac
But we were pros now, straight back in the water
Out of the bay a grind, the swell had turned choppier
I could see the turning point and i could not wait
Lovely tailwind down “Kabal pt straight”
Round the point then flat calm seas
Over the day 1 finish line and we were all pleased
Back to hotel for a beer or a soda
(Embarrassed myself on camera by trying to do yoga)
Then the day 2 saga, Mark’s Plan A, B, C and D presented
Thunder and lightening, but confidence un-dented
Some folk enjoyed race 3 more than others perhaps
But to my gang they were two really fun and eventful laps
Team No Direction, day 2
Meanwhile at Pelegrín point skies were looming gray
And it was obvious we were again not going with Plan A
Kayakers up at 3am to paddle out to Kabal
When we we got there the weather was just bloody foul
( some showed extreme resilience and fitness,
to dive in and swim after a bout of sea sickness)
Mark kept all together and deserves much praise
New course, new start around the 7 bays
More chop swell and wind, but we simply carried-on
4 hours later we has smashed the marathon!
Back seat of the bus and trying to calm down
Taking it up a notch on transfer to Hvar Town
The last day and a half was truly remarkable
Starting with ancient theatre briefing just above the Arsenal
Boat ride to Palmizana and the whole gang was tuning in
Walking on sunshine in lovely flat calm unison
Stunning last swim great islands to keep track
I think its the one swim that will see all of us come back
Alistair crossing the finish line, day 4
And now time to reflect the journey covered so far
Synchronised swimming into town of Hvar
The photos at the finish tell a story of pure happiness
The whole bloody thing was simply fabulous
Thank you all friend swimmers and thank you Ultraswim
Im pretty sure we will all meet and swim again
Now im wondering what would be really fun…
..to celebrate next year’s birthday? I’m sixty one!!
