Swimmer Chad Gifford (47) of Umzumbe had only one moment of real panic during an epic Midmar Mile weekend, where he completed the 16 Mile, something only 14 swimmers took on this year.
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“They handed me my number BEFORE the race and I thought wow, these guys have a lot of faith in me,” he said.
Most swimmers are happy to swim one event, while others are part of the 8 Mile Club, for those who choose to swim all the events at Midmar, at the same time raising funds for charity.
Chad, who coaches locally, already has his permanent number for that, so this year decided to take on the 16 Mile, all the events – there and back – four on Saturday and four on Sunday.
In the process, he raised over R26 000 for the Duzi Umngeni Conservancy Trust and was extremely grateful to those who had supported him.
He got through it all without too much trouble. “Muscles are burning, neck’s a bit sore and the backs of my arms are aching,” he said.
In all, he swam 26,56km and was in the water for roughly 11 hours in total. Not bad for a guy without legs.
As a young man he was involved in a horrific accident from which he really had no business surviving.
Not being able to do many regular things, he turned his not insignificant adventurous, dare-devil spirit to endurance swimming.
At Midmar, most of the events went smoothly for him, but he did have two incidents of note.
“In event seven I hit some choppy water and I was faced with a wall of water. There was a gap where I could get some air, but it felt like I was going through a wave.”
On another occasion, he had to deal with a swimmer who was zigzagging in front of him. “I just kept seeing feet,” he laughed (later).
He admitted to slowing down a touch during the last three events.
“Time wasn’t the issue, my goal was just to finish. Towards the end my muscles were getting stiffer and it was an effort to get the arms out of the water,” he said.
What kept him going? “I kept my mind strong and thoughts positive, counted my strokes and had a few laughs on the way, but I’ll admit I did have a few swearwords in my head at times!”
Chad thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie and banter, much of which he dishes out.
One of his concerned fellow 16 Mile swimmers chastised him for not eating enough on day one.
“I’d been drinking plenty fluids and didn’t feel hungry, plus I felt the food would slow me down, which I’m sure it did the next day. I told her if I lose too much weight I’m never going to look sexy for the girls!”
Chad was awarded the Courage Trophy, for the third time, and has probably created history on a number of fronts, but he’s really not interested in all that.
“For me it’s not about the accolades, I do it for the sense of accomplishment.”
Will he do it again? Short answer, no.
But he’ll always be involved in Midmar in some shape or form and is extremely thankful to the organisers for how well he has been looked after.
“I think I’ll get my skipper’s licence and take people across on the boat,” he said.
The 16 Mile is a bucket list item ticked off, now to find another challenge.
The one that keeps coming to mind is Robben Island … and the English Channel.
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