Day 10 - 7th March
Latest Update:I've done it! I've actually managed to travel 1,460 miles under my own power alone in only 10 days. And it's been an incredible experience.
The swim went much better than either David and I anticipated. It even gave me one of the best moments of the challenge so far when four pilot whales swam around us. An absolutely amazing sight. I'm so lucky to get the opportunity to do these things.
I've got to thank the support crew for making sure we safely navigated the shipping lanes. The Strait of Gibraltar is far from quiet and it could have got quite hairy with some of the large ships and tankers that use this stretch of water.
It took us just 4 hours 36 minutes and 45 seconds to swim the 12 miles. Both David and I could feel the support behind us all the way and it's thanks to everyone who's donated money to Sport Relief that we managed to complete the swim in such a good time.
Words can't express how satisfied, pleased, overwhelmed and exhausted I am now that the challenge is over. I'm so happy to have helped raise so much money for such a good cause. And of course, I'm over the moon to have set a brand new World Record. I've managed to burn an incredible 60,000 calories and slept for just 50 hours in the last 10 days. I've also spent more than 108 hours in the saddle. So I'm hoping this is going to be a tough one to beat and I get to hang on to my World Record for a while!
Previous Update:This is it! The last day of the challenge and it's the big swim. I can't tell you how fired up both David and I are. He's almost bubbling over with excitement. Since the doctor gave me the go-ahead yesterday, it's pretty much all we've talked about.
Until I was declared physically fit to undertake this leg of the challenge, I didn't want to set my heart on completing the challenge today. But now I've got medical permission to do the swim, I'm raring to go! I'd put my wetsuit on now and dived in if I could.
Both David and I are under no illusion, the 12-mile swim is going to be tough. It's pretty rough water out there and the water is freezing. But I can't wait. We think its going to take us between four and six hours, which means the end of the challenge is so close now I can almost taste it.
What's kept me going throughout this challenge is the thought of all that much-needed money I'm helping raise for Sports Relief. I've been so focused on this, I'd almost forgotten I may set a new World Record if I successfully complete the challenge. Check back here to see if I do it!
