Training to ramp up

A call-out for a training buddy has marked the start of a brutal training regime for one Mission Beach resident. Anne Pleash is set to tackle one of the world’s most difficult swims across the English Channel in September next year. Kennedy MP Bob Katter’s chief of staff (right) signed up for the swim in February 2015. “I signed up to do the English Channel in February 2015. There is a 2½ to three-year waitlist to secure a slot,” Ms Pleash said.

A CALL-OUT for a training buddy has marked the start of a brutal training regime for one Mission Beach resident.

Anne Pleash is set to tackle one of the world’s most difficult swims across the English Channel in September next year.

Kennedy MP Bob Katter’s chief of staff signed up for the swim in February 2015.

“I signed up to do the English Channel in February 2015. There is a 2½ to threeyear waitlist to secure a slot,” Ms Pleash said.

“I have done the Rottnest Channel Swim (19.7km) four times. I’ve done the Magnetic Island to Townsville (8km) swim three times, so I needed a new challenge – something that scared me. The English Channel was a natural progression.

“It is good to do things that challenge you and scare you. Also, I work in politics so you have to be a bit crazy.”

Ms Pleash’s coach Trent Grimsey is the current English Channel world record holder and, according to his trainee, “probably one of Australia’s greatest swimmers”.

Training for the endurance swim will involve 25-40km of swimming a week at Tully and Innisfail’s pools and on the open water for 12 months as well as cold water training.

“This will involve swimming in a friend’s spring-fed dam at Millaa Millaa and Malanda Falls in winter and sitting in ice baths in a toddler’s plunge pool over summer to acclimatise myself to the cold,” Ms Pleash said.

“I expect the English Channel to be between 14-18 degrees and I could be in the water for up to 16 hours. I hate the cold – so this will be the biggest challenge.”

This weekend Ms Pleash will swim from South Mission Beach to Dunk Island as part of training with friends.

ENDURANCE TEST: Anne Pleash with Bob Katter after she completed the 9km National Capital Swim which involved swimming the length of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra.