Post-Race Postscript

I have been incredibly overwhelmed by the support, encouragement, generosity and love that I have been showered with on this Can Too journey that culminated in the Cole Classic.  And it was all this plus the fantastic training I received from the Can Too coaches and mentors that got me through to the finish line on Manly Beach.

To my surprise, I wasn't the very last person from my group coming in, and I did the course in a slow but respectable 36 minutes and 33 seconds (I was aiming to do it in 45 minutes).  It was no doubt the hardest physical challenge I've had to undertake in my life.  Despite the best conditions we could wish for (no choppy waves, sunny but not too hot, good water temp), I have to say I still found it incredibly difficult and scary.  But what I had to go through is nothing compared to what others go through with cancer treatment. 

All I can say is thank you: thank you for being with me on my Can Too journey; thank you for all your wonderful words of comfort and support; and thank you for simply being there as loving family and friends. 

And thanks to your very generous donations, I have pretty much reached - and exceeded! - my $5,000 target that will fund 5.55% of a researcher who will be working hard to find a cure for cancer.

I had such fast and furious bidding for the dinner, I have decided to not have my two top bidders miss out so I am cooking TWO dinners of $950 each (for the Hungry Hordes and the TC's significant birthday), and this whole amount of $1,900 goes to Can Too. 

My mates Jen and Kath and I raised a significant amount of money from the premiere of Black Swan in Sydney too - thanks to everyone who came and hope you enjoyed the movie, even though the word "enjoyed" might be a bit relative considering the rather dark and oddness of the movie!

Finally, in answer to the question: so am I swimming the 2 km ocean race next year?  As much as I hate to disappoint, I have to say that is it for ocean swimming for me, at least in the competitive sense.  I will continue swimming in the pool (I can now do 1.5 km in the pool with ease and I'm determined to better my technique and be a wee bit faster) and I will go back into my role as "energy champion" and volunteer for the Can Too runners now training for the SMH Half Marathon in May.

I've ticked the box, I've done what I set out to do, and frankly, I don't really want to go through what I went through again.  But apparently I've been told ocean swimming is a bit like childbirth - you forget the pain and decide that it's worth doing all over again!  :)

Thank you again so much, and all I can say is GO CAN TOO!!!!!!!!!!!