Dover Solo (Mass Market Paperback)

by Marcia Cleveland (Author), Marcia E. Cleveland (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Not only is this a masterpiece for those seeking to swim the English Channel but a must-read for anyone who wants a roadmap towards reaching their goals." -- Randy Nutt; Director, Swim Around Key West; Open Water Chairman, Florida Gold Coast, USA Swimming and United States Masters Swimming.

Product Description
Since 1875, when Captain Matthew Webb became the first person successfully to swim the English Channel, more people have been in outer space than have duplicated his feat. On July 29, 1994, Marcia Cleveland became the 445th person to swim the English Channel. This is the story behind the swim: the process, the preparation, and the training. Discover what motivated Marcia to swim the 23-mile Strait of Dover where the summer water temperature averages only 60(F.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: MMJ Press; 1st edition (May 20, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967209102
• ISBN-13: 978-0967209104
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,120,050 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must reading for the prospective Channel swimmer, November 29, 1999

By	Nick Olmos-Lau (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Marcia Cleveland1s Dover Solo-Swimming the English Channel. This book is enlightening and it fills a void. It is a reliable and thoughtful work, published with the idea of helping the prospective English Channel swimmer. This book provides specific advice and practical information for planning this swim. Marcia1s book is concise and objective; it is fluent and well written. I found it instructing and easy to read. There are maps, pictures and illustrations of excellent quality. There is an appendix with inspirational thoughts, temperature and distance conversion charts, important addresses and swimming contacts. Some interesting mind tricks games and thoughts that allowed her to endure this lengthy and demanding process are clearly explained. Marcia delivers what she promises by writing this book, invaluable help for future and novice channel swimmers with their attempts. She does this by recounting her experience that ended with her successful Channel Crossing in l994. Marcia prudently warns the reader, that following the recipe that led to her own success may not fulfill nor suffice every English Channel hopeful. The book describes her transformation from a pool to an open water swimmer and the steps that lead to her decision to attempt to swim the English Channel. She reviews important practical steps that she thought necessary to feel that she was ready to do it. The relevance of swimming partners; cold acclimation and endurance building are emphasized. She also discusses her experience during her qualifying swim and issues regarding weight gain. This along with details of her training system and her Maine mini-camp experience round the first part of the book. Her trip to England and the details of swimming the Channel start to finish comprise the second part of the book. Her Channel crossing is discussed in great detail on hour by hour blow, as well as the effects of currents and swimming patterns on her progress. Her final approach system might prove useful for those finding big boulders instead of sandy beaches at the end of their swim. In my opinion her main contribution is sharing this experience with us to allow the reader a rare insight into the life events that take place while undertaking a goal of this type. There are some principles that apply to all successful finishers. Marcia reviews them in detail, while noting that training should be individualized. This work is an inspiration for those trying to emulate Marcia. I recommend this book most highly.Nick Olmos-Lau M.D.

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspirational read and a great reference, May 2, 2009

By	Gordon Gridley - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I ended up reading the entire thing from cover to cover (just over 200 pages) in about 5 hours. I was impressed with how well written the book was. It included feelings she had involving relationships that grew during her journey as well as critical tips and lessons she learned. Because of this approach it made the book read more like a novel. I would highly recommend it for anyone who is considering starting to train for the fantastic achievement of swimming the English Channel. Definitely a must read! I'm sure I'll be re-reading and referencing this book several times over the next few years.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiration for anyone with a goal, June 29, 2001

By A Customer

I found Dover Solo to be a good read with an appeal that should cross over different reader interests. At the risk of cries of nepotism, I would say up front that I live in Ms Cleveland's home town and that I have met and found her to be very personable and interesting. I am also a triathlete and I swim in the same waters off Greenwich Point, in Greenwich Ct, as she did in her training. Hence the interest in reading the book in the first place. Beyond that, however, I found the book to be both fascinating and inspirational on several levels. Her writing style presents her as an ordinary mortal - no super athlete - who took it on herself to perform a relatively rare feat of physical endurance that required great discipline and commitment over a long two years. While the goal was fixed and she was determined enough, she is always happy to share her fears and doubts in a way that defies the modern self-aggrandizing, "chest-beating", athletic stereotype. Ms Cleveland comes off as a sweet but very driven personality who is easy to relate to. Her acknowledgement of those around her in helping her to achieve her goal is also noteworthy in making her seem like the rest of us. Meanwhile, the playing out of the goal to swim the English Channel is written in a gripping fashion, even though we know the outcome. In words and photos we really get a sense of what it may have been like. Finally,I am a school teacher of young adolescents, and because we know they can be torn by insecurities and lack of purpose, I think that, because of the style of the writing, Dover Solo would be inspirational to young people who are in search of what it takes to set goals and to realize them. More particularly of course, while this read crosses over the sexes - boys should read this as well as girls - I would think that young women would particularly find inspiration in the story. But I reckon it's a great yarn for anyone of any age.