The Cork Distance Week Scheduled For July
Courtesy of Ned Denison, Sandycove Island, Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland.
With the global coronavirus pandemic beginning or surging in some areas and settling down or being reduced in other areas, there have been beaches and shorelines around the world that have closed in limited locations. Numerous open water swimming events have been cancelled in April, May and June – or postponed including the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Lockdowns, quarantines, self-isolation, and shelter-in-place policies have sweeped from China to California, from Tokyo to Italy, and many places between.
But the Cork Distance Week, organized by Ned Denison, is still scheduled to go on as planned on July 4th – 11th. Denison answers some questions related to the extremely popular marathon swimming and channel swimming training event centered around Sandycove Island in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland.
Daily News of Open Water Swimming: Judging from the current situation, does the Cork Distance Week event in July 2020 plan to proceed as planned?
Ned Denison: The Western World panic was driven by the previous daily increases in deaths in Italy. These numbers have now flattened for the last 5 days and are expected to start reducing – following the pattern of China and South Korea.
Ireland and the home countries of all the swimmers put in place containment strategies and we expect their curves to flatten as well in April to mid-May. Then all will slowly lift travel, pool and beach restrictions.
Daily News of Open Water Swimming: If swimmers have already paid their fees and escort boats, what do you recommend they do?
Ned Denison: Sit tight and train physically as much as possible. Practice the mental aspects of the next big swim – visualize. We expect a first YES before June 1st.
Daily News of Open Water Swimming: How late in the year can athletes cancel for any reason (e.g., they are quarantined in their own country or the UK remains on strict limitations)?
Ned Denison: They can cancel up to the starting day in July.
Daily News of Open Water Swimming: What do you recommend the open water swimmers – especially channel and marathon swimmers – do at this time given what we know and do not know?
Ned Denison: Sit tight and train physically as much as possible. Practice the mental aspects of the next big swim – visualize.
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