What a strange time we find ourselves in, indoor pools closed, essential journeys only. When you have an English Channel Solo slot booked in the diary too, there was only one thing to do. Buy a metal frame pool and begin tethered training. So that is exactly what Jo did.

Following months of indoor training plans, sprint sets, endurance sets and drill work, Jo donned a wetsuit again to be able to get some decent training sets in the garden pool as its temperature was around 10 degrees initially. This did not matter and her tolerance grew as temperatures rose and soon enough the wetsuit was gone and skins swimming re commenced.

Training continued and as restrictions eased we could finally get back into the open water, the news we had all been waiting for. Jo was like a coiled spring being let off the tether with her first swim being back at Boundary Water Park. A Lake that was to become a bit of a drag as her back to back weekends of training came into play.

The training plan was altered in line with what we were allowed to do. With restricted numbers at Venues and social distancing it meant that planned Events could not take place and alternatives were needed. This never put Jo off as she remained totally focused on her Channel Solo Attempt. Supported by her husband Jason throughout.

As the weeks went by , we were able to support Jo on some vital training swims such as an 8 hour Lake swim and 6 hour overnight, in order to iron out any feeding issues and also adapt to swimming in the dark. We were thankfully able to arrange a few sea swims with husband Jason stepping in to support , to ensure Jo had well and truly experienced jellyfish and ruled out any feeding issues whilst being in the sea. All boxes had been ticked.

Throughout the training weeks and as far back as early 2019 Jo has completed everything she has been asked to do. Applying herself and doing it with strength and determination. The next stop is the English Channel.