Keep Calm and Swim to France: Tales of an English Channel Swimmer

by Mark Ransom

Swimming across the English Channel is regarded as one of the world’s toughest endurance challenges. During a night out with friends, Mark Ransom made a drunken pact with one of them, that they would swim the English Channel the following year. At the time he had no idea just what this was going to entail and it proved to be the toughest year of his life. This is a blow by blow account of Mark’s journey throughout that year, where he had to organise and train for this monumental event. He soon realised that this was not just about the challenge of swimming the English Channel, but was also about overcoming many personal challenges and confronting his inner demons, along the way. Mark talks openly about his low moments when he wanted to give up altogether, and also his high points and the comical situations, he found himself in. From the intimate details of a child's beginnings, to a man’s fears and troubles, Mark’s story is so captivating and honest. Mark discloses his innermost thoughts and feelings, including those he experienced during the swim itself. Following on from his successful solo swim, Mark returned to the Channel a few years later to organise two relay teams to race to France. The final part of the book details the organisation of this challenge and finishes with an account of the race itself. Mark Ransom’s book aims to entertain, inform and inspire. This is as close as you can get to experiencing an English Channel Swim, without actually doing it!

Genres: Nonfiction

225 pages, Paperback

Published July 23, 2018

Reviews

[Zoe Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love loved it! Inspiring truly wonderful read. What a incredible individual mark is, who fancies swimming the channel with me?

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean this in the best way - I am really enjoying reading these tales of English Channel swims, and the fact that they do not come from experienced authors almost enhances, rather than detracts from, the experience.

Mark Ransom's tale is well-told. And while I would have thought that the occasional awkward wording would bother me, instead it kind of adds to the charm.

It doesn't hurt that the subject is near and dear to my heart, as I approach my own English Channel attempt... but I have been reading swimmers' sagas lo these many years, and I find them fascinating.

Sometimes authenticity trumps literary polish. A good lesson learned.

[Graham Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wanting to do my own channel swim my girlfriend bought me this book to hear about someone else's experiences with training and all the challenges that you face when attempting a crossings.
This memoir of his experiences is just fantastic. Mark keeps you engaged even though all he is doing is telling you everything he went through. Everything he went through leading up to the swim is both inspiring and scary.

Glad I've read this before my own swim, and I'll be sure to read it again at some point closer to my swim in 2024.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as more of an instructional guide as I plan to take on the English Channel. I thought the author did a good job of describing the actual event, both solo swim and relay swim, and made it seem possible to come back after an injury. It was interesting to hear the difference as a "local" swimmer who had multiple opportunities if a failed week happen.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written and a quick read. I first thought, I’ll never swim the English Channel, but I’m a Masters Swimmer and our MS team was reading this for book club, so I’ll give it a go. It starts a bit slow, but loved reading about the workouts. Then, the actual swim was an exciting read too!

[Ashley Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book in very inspirational! It really showed that you can accomplish a lot when you put your mind and will to it!

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book, such determination! A real inspiration..