Today we'd like you to meet Rowena Kendall, a physiotherapist at Lifecare in Cottesloe. When a friend of hers passed away last year from cystic fibrosis, Rowena decided to do the Rottnest Channel Swin solo to fundraise for CFWA. She made it to Rotto in 6 hours and 16 minutes and raised just over $32,000.
Rowena found some busy time in her schedule to chat to Sports Fever about her job, her preparation for the race and her experience. We hope you are inspired by her story as much as we were.
What do you love most about being a physio?
The interaction with so many different people every day. I physio for the WA womens hockey team (the diamonds), and its great to be able to travel with them and work with the girls and the coaching staff to get every player in the best shape possible for each game.
How did you feel in the lead up to the swim?
Very nervous! I actually went to Japan snowboarding for two weeks and only got back the week before the race, so I was pretty worried that all my training had gone down the drain. I was swimming pretty strongly before that, so I didn't want to get home and feel like I'd lost it all.
I was also really worried about the weather, as there had been a cylcone up north that was looking a bit threatening the week leading up to the race... I knew that as long as the race wasn't called off due to bad weather, I'd get to Rotto, but I was concerned that the race would be cancelled and I wouldn't get a chance to swim. Given that I had about $30,000 in donations resting on it at that stage (fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis WA), I was a bit worried I'd have to give it all back and try again next year!
How did you get ready for the event?
I was training with Kirby Swim at Christchurch, as well as Peter Tanham's squad at Challenge Stadium (Peter has done over 20 solo crossings!). I was trying to swim between 25 to 35km per week. My biggest week was about 40km. Unfortunately the 10km 'Rotto Rehearsal' swim was cancelled, so I didn't get to practice a 10km open water swim prior to the race, which was a shame. And lots of eating!
Have you ever done an event like this before?
I did the Rotto swim solo in 2009 for the first time, and vowed never to do it again after that... The fundraising for CFWA was the motivating factor this time, but I can't see myself doing it again in a hurry! I've done the swim 8 times now, 3 duos, 3 teams of 4 and 2 solos.
How did you feel when you finished?
Relief. There were a few tears at the finish line when I saw my family and Sal's family (Sal was a friend who passed away from cystic fibrosis, and was the motivation behind the swim).
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