5,000 MILES OF SWIMMING WITH SWIMFIT
17 Sep 2009
David Kerry is celebrating swimming 5,000 miles and receiving the biggest Swimfit distance certificate available.
David, 58, Senior Road Safety Officer for Cumbria, achieved the distance in March this year after 17 years working towards this target. He meticulously recorded his distances over the years, sending off for many Swimfit milestone awards along the way.
David said: “When I first started, one of the older swimmers at Carlisle said that he was pleased to see me trying to keep fit, but doubted I would keep it up without an incentive. He told me all about the Swimfit Awards and I contacted the ASA to get log cards and all the details.”
Swimfit, powered by British Gas, is now available online at www.swimfit.com. The online logging system allows users to record all the swimming they do and work towards distance goals. The site is completely free to use and is separated into different categories depending on the users motivations for swimming; Health, Shape Up and Tone, Fitness and Competitive.
David is a self-taught swimmer who was unable to learn to swim at school and only overcame his fear of water when he got into his late twenties. In spite of this David now is certain that swimming has helped him through bouts of ill health, kept him fit and been a fantastic distraction when needed.
“Stress-related ill health in the middle of the challenge meant that for a few years my swimming really slowed down. Fortunately as I got better the distances per swim really went up. Last year I swam over 750 miles with an average distance of 3.5 miles per swim” said David.
Swimming has given David a number of opportunities across the world including swimming across the line of the Arctic Circle in Sweden, swimming in Norway, Finland, New York, Spain, Portugal and Canada. It has also enabled him to have a go at a few water sports too including white water rafting, windsurfing and canoeing.
So what’s next for David and his swimming? “Friends have suggested that I could just start the whole thing all over again! In the meantime, after a well-earned summer break I will be returning to the pool to take up the Aspire Channel Swim and get fit in time for next year’s Swimathon” he said.
Anyone interested in using Swimfit to structure their swimming time and provide goals to work towards can sign up free at www.swimfit.com. Awards and certificates can also be purchased from www.swimming.org.
-ENDS-
For more information contact the ASA Marketing Officer Esther Hope on 01509 632247, 07917 876459 or email esther.hope@swimming.org.
The ASA is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.
About British Gas
British Gas, the biggest energy supplier in the country, has the lowest carbon intensity of any of the major UK energy suppliers in terms of tonnes of CO2 emitted per megawatt hour of electricity supplied to customers. The company is one of the biggest investors in renewable power generation, principally offshore wind. Its recently completed Lynn and Inner Dowsing development, off the Lincolnshire coast, is the UK's largest offshore wind development. British Gas is committed to energy efficiency. Our Energy Savers Report provides free expert advice on how you can cut energy use in the home and, in turn, save money. So far, the report has shown over 2 million people how they could make an average saving of £175 a year. To complete a report go to www.britishgas.co.uk/energy-efficiency/energy-savers-report
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The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Special K snacks. Kellogg’s has been a partner of the ASA and British Swimming for 13 years, sponsoring the Kellogg’s ASA Awards and enabling over 50,000 people to take up swimming as part of an active lifestyle.
About Speedo®
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.
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