THE DREAM IS OVER FOR ANOTHER YEAR

Having been way down the list for the last tide and about a 20% chance of swimming on a neap tide i decided, having talked to my crew that i will not travel to england today, and so my dream is over for least another year.

Having lost an uncle last week an aunt during may, there have been more negatives than positives to look at this week and mentally I would not have been right either.

I nearly went mad waiting 12 days the last time we were in england waiting for the weather to break. I spoke with Mike Oram the main man in Channel swimming, he has decided to give me another slot next year and so i will not lose my deposit, of
1 K STG

I have spent about 5 and half thousand euro over 14 months in preperation for my swim and this doesn't bother me but the fact every body was helping me to raise money for crumlin Hospital . I know that the big winner in all this is Crumlin Hospital and i cant forget that.

This has been a wonderful experience for me having gone from a pool swimmer to sea swimmer in April when i qualified to swim the channel in Malta. I have had many ups and downs, the 4 hours driving then 7 and 6 hours respectively each weekend swimming in Galway, to coming 4th in the First Irish Champion Of Champions in Kinsale swimming in what can be described as treacherous conditions, it was like that documentary program deadliest catch about fishermen.

My acclimitisation to the cold, the big thing i was afraid of. Swimming In Ireland will get you acclimitised for the channel very quick. I have to lose the weight i put on as i have no excuse now.

I have had great support from many family and friends, my two amigoes mark and gaz travelling every w/end to galway with me pretending to watch me swimming when they were in seapoint casino playing pool.
To my crew BILLA STEVIE AND MICHAEL. iTS HARD TO SWIM 7 AND 6 HOURS but harder to stand on a beach and watch someone for that time.

I have met some great people and made some great friends.

MARK AND KEL; we met in kinsale at the COC and after the first 5 mile we came out and were in a bad place mentally, but we did it. Mark was very brave to swim in August and if he had good weather would finish it. He along with me will live this dream one day.

HOFF; The blog of the year; a great swimmer who kept us entertained, trained so so hard for his 2 way swim, He can call himself a two time channel swimmer and be very proud.

Vasanti; A lady who has great belief and inner spirit, who again is a channel swimmer and was hit by cold this year.

Barrie (shingle stommper) The first, only, and last man, to put vaseline on me,

FREDA; MY soul mate when times got bad, we will meet again.

Ive said enough now. Thanks to one and all.
I am a person who doesnt want to be better than anybody else, but just as good.

Finally to my wife and two boys, who stood by me and will continue to do so to live out my dream of swimming the channel.

I CAN AND I WILL (BUT DIDNT THIS TIME) SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.

Enda Kennedy

4 HOURS GALWAY ----- CALM SEAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a strong possibility that I may become a meteorologist in the near future as i am constantly checking weather forecasts in terms of wind speed, direction high and low pressures, and isobars.

Saturdays Forecast for Galway was bad while today Sunday looked promising. I was looking forward to getting back in to the seas as last week was a miss with my dads 70TH B/day and I had my 2 amigoes with me mark and Gaza. We arrived in Galway, and this was the calmest waters I have swam in and i was thrilled. Air temperature was cool and of course i knew this would play a role as how i would feel.

I had to do at least 3 hours as i haven't done along swim 3 +, for a couple of weeks and i even contemplated a 6hour- my amigoes wanted me to do 7, i told the to foxtrot oscar F##k O#f. They love seeing me in pain.

I got in to the water and it felt cold really cold, i haven't felt this cold since May or early June. It was about 15/16 degrees. How could i be cold. Well I was. Mt teeth were becoming sensitive and my face was a miniature ice cream for a while. After a while it stopped but i never warmed up. Disaster happened in the first 15 minutes. One of my special ear moulded plugs fell out 50 euro down the drain and this was to play a major part during the swim. Just spotted the loose earplug from photo below taken before headin in.

In Malta this year with swim trek i was constantly getting dizzy and i wore no ear plugs then, so i decided to get my ears moulded to prevent dizziness or a vertigo feeling. It turned out that in MALTA it was the electrolyte drink that caused dizziness too. I felt disoriented at times today and i never got WARM. I have dropped a couple of pounds as i believe now the extra weight wont be necessary as the water is warmer in sept during my new window 21/27 sept. I felt sluggish and came in for a feed on the hour. aT 3 HOURS I TOLD THE GUYS IT WAS to be 5 hours but when i came in at 4 i said enough. A combination of shoulders, dizziness, very cold.

I am always like this on my first long swim and i know if i went tomor it would be that bit easier. I hope to put in a good week and swim next sunday in Galway again.

I know one of the principles of training are that you use it (fitness) or lose it. I hope that i havent lost too much with my tapering. The weather for the week is v/poor and my thoughts are with Mark Robson Hoffy who were waiting to swim the channel this week. People who dont understand swimming must know that this is extreme and if ,mother nature says you aint swimming then you aint swimmimg.

I CAN AND I WILL
Enda K

HAPPY 70TH DAD

This week end regardless of the weather i would not be swimming in the sea in Galway. Arthur Guinness (the man who invented the drink) was to be the order of choice from friday til sat til sunday and in my dads case monday. My dad was 70th and no channel swim was going to come before him and people that know me, know that i am very much a family man, and when they are all happy, i am happy. He jets off with my mam courtesy of the all the family to egypt on the 21st of sept which ironically is the start of my tide.

Friday was very much a sensible meal and then off to Cowens pub the Taoiseach's brothers pub ( Irish Prime minister) for afters. Jasus its hard to drink after a meal but come 3 in the morning we done ok. Anyway "eating is cheating"

My dad was sick as 2 small hospitals on saturday, and went for the cure. We organised a party in my house on Sat night where we had a ball and it was great to have the family up. My 2 amigoes were asking me was i going to Galway the next day, but I knew I would have a headache that would kill a civvy so i said no. I done a good few pool sessions in the Military pool during the week and done a bit of speed work.

"SPEED WORK MY ASS" at times i was going so slow i could have got a parking ticket. Anyway i know i have the heart, drive, courage, and willpower to see this through, and all i need is good weather and alot of luck. My 2 good friends Mark robson and The Hoffmeister himself go shortly hoffy on a 2 way (what a man) and mark what a brave courageous (SOB). He will do it this time I have no doubt and my last words to him will be

"DOUBT WHO YOU MAY BUT NEVER YOURSELF"
I am going to have to start applying my Sports Pshchology to myself as my time draws near. Weather permitting i hope to be in Galway bay Sat and Sun.

I CAN AND I WILL

Enda k

FORCE 5/6 SOUTH WESTERLY 30MPH; GALWAY BAY

I left Galway ON THE 27TH of July wondering would I return a channel swimmer. Well I have returned but not as a channel swimmer. My new date is definite and my pilot will be Lance or Mike Oram, on the 21-27th tide.

I took a break, a small break after returning from Dover, spent all the time with my family, bringing my 2 boys Luke and Ben aged 5 and 3 swimming of course playing football the usual on my return. Talking to my wife on my return explaining I would have to return to Dover in Sept or do it all again next year, we both thought best Sept as we both could not go through another year of this. I never thought I would say it but I cant wait to put my runners back on and get back on the road. Anyway !!!! went off on a tangent there.

I drove to Galway Saturday ready for 4 more weekends of long swims and decided I would do 3 and 4 hours respectively. The weather had different ideas, and a force 5 on sat and force 6 on Sunday changed all that. I arrived on Saturday looked out at the bay and just for F!!!@ sake.

I am sick to death of this bad weather and it is impossible to swim in. I thought long and hard, will i get in after driving 2 hours and get battered for the sake of it, as swimming is impossible.

The premier inn(eastern dock Dover always choppy) end of Dover harbour is like a mill pond compared to this I thought. I decided against it today and was frustrated, after getting the grandparents to mind the boys as my wife was working. She is a nurse.

I looked at the weather forecast for Sunday and it was going to be no different. I didnt care sunday i was getting in hurricane or not. I arrived in Galway on Sunday "Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the little f@#!!n donkey, force 5/6 south westerly 30mph winds. The weather men got the forecast correct.


I got in as you can see below it was very bad. How was I going to swim for 3/4 hours in this. I breathed to my right a mouthful of water to my left a mouthful of water.

I was ending up on the rocks to the right above as the waves were so strong. My field of vision was zero i could not see over the waves, so i was hitting rocks constantly.

My 2 amigos brother mark and gaz were keeping a close eye as i was tossed around like a rag doll. These conditions were the worst i have swam in. I don't mind choppy water, but this was ridiculous.

I seen the 2 amigoes and pointed to them that i was returning to shore, as it was two dangerous, and my shoulders could also be damaged from the strong current and waves. I THINK I SWAM about a mile in total.

If i don't do 4 long swims, 2 six hours and 2 seven hours, I will not return to Dover as my training plan has changed dramatically, from doing 7/6 hours to tapering off then waiting 12 days to swim, little training in Dover while waiting, and now this. I hope the weather changes as then i can put in the hours. Roll on next week.

I CAN AND I WILL
IF THE WEATHER LETS ME

Enda K

NEW DATE 21/27 SEPT

I arrived home today from Varne ridge after 12 nights, and am glad to be home. There was a slim chance of me swimming on this tide so my crew and i made the call to go home. For the first time I lost focus, and heart. Although i really want to complete this channel swim "its only a bloody swim" and succeed or not i will go home to my two healthy boys, and my wife.

I have to sit back and ask why am i really doing it.
well number 1. Because its there. and i dreamt of it for 30 years.
2. To raise money for www.cmrf.org.. I have been fundraising for the hospital which is Our National Hospital For Sick Children for ten years now, on a voluntary basis and in that time have raised 300,000 euro yes 300,000. I host and organise a black tie charity ball each year, and will be joined my Mark Robson and his partner Kelly this year, in the 4*Radisson Hotel, black tie champagne reception entertainment, Auction on the night in athlone in Ireland. I have ran 8 New York Marathons 1 San Diego 1 London and 2 Dublin for the hospital, put on 12/13 pounds for this swim, so I am going to bloody swim it.

I stood up in front of 250 people last year as the host of the Ball, knowing last year i raised 40,000, and if i done something that very few have done then i could raise 60,000 by the end of the year, so i have to at least try and honour my commitment, and i will.

When Mike O put out that the tide was possibly blown out, it was over for me. My birthday was in between and Guinness and Dover Harbour can seriously damage your health. I Talked with Mike o and he is trying to put me on this tide. I will have 3/4 more seven hours and a couple of 4/5's maybe. I dont think this channel is that hard or will be that hard physically, but mentally it will and my head wasnt there when the weather went against me. There was about 20 to swim in the last 2 days if the weather picked up and i was down then pecking order. This will give me a reprieve
and a chance to re/focus.
I will blog a few more of the 12 days and wait for one of my crew finding 4,500 stg while out walking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I CAN AND I WILL
Enda k

14 months TRAINING------POSSIBLE NO SWIM

Just got news from mike oram today that the rest of the week may be blown out and that finishes my tide and my possible chances of swimming the English Channel. I am now starting to lose focus, heart, but will not swim on a spring tide, and will not swim if my pilot is not 100 percent about the weather or at least what he believes to be 100 percent.

I am going down to the harbour now for a 2/3 hour swim, as it could be next sunday before i swim. My chances are slim as i am number 3 swimmer, which means 2 people must swim before me. i will make the call next saturday and probably leave dover next sunday.

i can and i will

Enda Kennedy

MARK ROBSON

Today my good friend Mark Robson was beaten only by the weather, and was one of the bravest men to go out in the conditions that were seen today. He is a much better swimmer than what he did today.

I wasnt brave enough, or maybe i made the correct call as i was lucky and fortunate enough to be in Dover and see the weather was really like. Alot of back log is happening because of the weather, and swimmers are going out when they can.

I will go when the pilot is 100 percent not 80 percent and when i am 100 percent and not 80 percent. I spoke to mark and he is gutted. Kelly and mark can return to their children, and life will go on, and i will look forward to seeing them dressed up in their best bib and tucker on sat october 25th at the Black tie ball i organise and host in aid of our ladies childrens hospital Crumlin.

I know it is the weather that will decide whether i get over or not.

I CAN AND I WILL

Enda kennedy