13/03/2009 - Arthur Puckrin's 12 hour swim in Zurich.
RETURN TO SWITZERLANDThe 12 Hour International Swimming Championships
1st March, 2009, Zurich
After my 3rd place in 2008, I was please to receive an invitation to compete in the 12 hour International Swimming Championships in Zurich. This would be the 11th such championships.
I normally swim 6 nights a week plus Saturday mornings with the swimming club. Every Friday, I tried to swim for 6 hours and on at least 2 other occasions during the week I would swim for 6 kilometres – say 3 hours and then run for 30 minutes. I was slower than last year but I think I was swimming easier. If I could exceed the distance I had managed in 2008 then I would be satisfied. I looked at the starting list and saw that it was unlikely that I would repeat my 3rd place of 2008, but I would do what I could.
I arrived in Zurich 3 days before the event in order to give myself time to rest and recover from the travel and also to see some of the sights. On the spur of the moment we had a trip round the lake. We were not sure about where we were going but it was a long trip and filled the afternoon. When we returned to Zurich, it was dark. Still a pleasant day. The following day we climbed to the top of the Cathedral. 187 steps up a very narrow tunnel. Very claustrophobic. You had to pass others on the stairs – up and down - it was so narrow that by the time you had negotiated the passage you had formed an intimate relationship.
The effort was worth the while because at the top you could see the whole of the City, the surrounding countryside and the lake. In the crypt there was a statue of Charlemagne holding his sword. I tested it. With both my hands I could just about hold it round the hilt. He must have been immensely strong to lift it, let alone wack his enemies with it.
Race day soon arrived and I slept badly. Still I had time for a good breakfast before the 8am start.
The race was held inside a large glass palace, Hallenbad City. 10 lanes with 10 swimmers to a lane. We would have an exciting time. The start was very choppy due to everyone thrashing about, and I set off at a steady pace at the rear of the field. I was being lapped quite regularly. I told myself to settle down and just go nice and easy, no strain, just a steady training pace, and not to worry about anyone else.
I had decided to stop every hour – about 20 lengths for a mouthful of energy drink and a bit of banana, at least for the first 6 hours. I could not seem to get going. “Do I really need to do this?” I asked myself. Just get out and go back to bed. I persuaded myself to continue, just do my normal Sunday swim. After 3 hours everything seemed to calm down and I got into the swim, as it were. I was doing more than 20 lengths to the hour, I tried to make it 22. We were lucky that the sun was not too strong as it blinded you shining through the glass. I got to 6 hours. I was feeling better now. Well ahead of schedule. Even better the competition thinned out as others tired and got out to eat and drink.
I seemed to be on my own for long periods of time. The water was calm – even better. I might even finish. Could I keep going for the full 12 hours? After half way – no problem. The sun was sinking now. My speed seemed to be holding up, although obviously, I was suffering with my arms and shoulders. Mary was feeding me every hour and later every half hour. I tried to get some indication of my position. There was a score board, but it only showed the first 4 places, so if you were not in the first 4 you had no idea where you were. I was counting my laps and I knew I was well ahead of last year if I could only keep it up. It became dark outside and although there were lights under the water it was now very difficult to see. I continued automatically (I hoped my body knew its own way up and down the pool, as I could not see clearly with lights either in my eyes, or my body in shadow). One of the German women, tiring and swimming breaststroke refused to let me past, so I tickled her feet for about half a length until she got the message and let me go.
The final hour. I had done the same distance as I had done in 12 hours in 2008, so I was 1 hour in front of schedule. Should I slow down. I tried, but my arms were set in motion and it was easier to swim at the same speed. I also knew that I would be annoyed with myself if I lost a place in the last hour by a length if I had not swam as far as I could. I tried to find out my position, but Mary could not obtain any information. So on and on I went, another 20 lengths. Not many swimmers left now, only the hard core. Eventually, the end came. I could stop, we all congratulated each other.
There were 4 other Britons in the competition and all did well with 2 of the ladies winning the senior and junior events. I was the oldest by about 20 years.
1) Michel Robert – Germany - 32k
2) Arnold Wiegand – Germany - 31.5k
3) Alberto Salvi – Italy - 29k
4) Arthur Puckrin – GB - 25.1k
Barry Adams – Great Britain swam a good distance but due to injury had to use a float and could not be included in the results.
Results:
Junior Woman 1) Tasha Morey – GB - 41.1k
Senior Woman 1) Andrea Gellan – GB - 34.6k
During the event, I drank 1 1/2 bottles of energy drink and a few cups of coffee and ate 2 bananas. Afterwards, I was unable to sleep, aching all over and my heart was pounding away, but I could sleep on the way home.
My thanks to Mary who kept me fed and watered throughout the 12 hours and without whose help I could not have finished and to Rene Kaul and the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team of Zurich who organise this superb event. See you next year.