“I Swam Around The World Islands”

Kate Willoughby, 32, decided to be the first person to swim around The World Islands and raise funds for and awareness of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

My Challenge Kate set out to be the first woman to swim around The World islands. She gave herself a target of achieving the swim within 12 hours. She would have to swim 30km in total and navigate six inlets, numerous islands and currents of up to 4 knots. Kate set the date of 21 November 2012 as this would be when the tide was least changeable.  She had attempted a sprint triathlon in the UK a few years ago, but she had never spent this length of time in the water.

My Training
Kate started training seriously at the beginning of January 2012. She swam four times a week, then ran and cycled when she wasn’t in the water. Kate signed up with UAE Swimming Team coach, Jay Brenner, and turned to Up & Running for nutritional advice. “I thought it was important to get the best people around me if I wanted to achieve my goal,” says Kate.

My Result
On 21 November, she set out to swim 30km in less than 12 hours. With a support boat and two kayakers paddling by the side of her to feed her snacks, Kate was ready to hit the water. And when exhaustion kicked in at 22km, she didn’t give up. Kate didn’t just finish her challenge, but smashed her target, crossing the line in just 10 hours, 56 minutes. To find out more about charity and to donate, log onto swimaroundtheworld.me