Bryan Boggs is training to swim the English Channel with fellow training partner Jim Barber in the summer of 2006.

Brian recently reported (on October 17, 05)

1.  Finished first round of base swimming yardage this summer.  Peaked at just over 50,000 yds per week during the last 2 weeks in August, and currently maintaining about 35-40,000 yds per week.
2.  completed the 24-hr relay swim with Jim Barber on September 4th (1hr on and 1hr off for 24hrs) at Azionaqua.  I swam 46,600 meters during that 12-hr swim.
3.  I have been swimming almost daily (1 to 3 hrs) for the last 10 days in Morse.  Water Temperatures are now at 65 degrees.  some of these swims have been in the dark (5:30am) with light bobbers (from Dicks) attached to goggle strap and bull bouy.
4.  Acclimation going well.  65 degrees is not so bad.  As you know, wetsuits are not allowed in the Channel
5.  Plan on doing the required 6-hr, 60 degree water swim sometime this week  (lenght of Morse and back) if it cools down enough.
6.  Plan to take a break over the holidays, then pick it back up in the spring.

I have gained only 12 lbs. since last January dispite concerted efforts to gain.  at 192lbs, I still dont qualify as a clydesdale.

UPDATE on April 24, 2006:
Training is on target.  I have been out in Morse for the last 2 weeks and with this weather, the temps are now too warm (66 degrees yesterday).    I am to where 62 degrees is comfortable,  60 is very chilly, 58 is cold, and below that would make a the crossing difficult.  My first splash this spring was at 52 degrees (April 6th).  This caused some hyperventilation and a discomforting "brain freeze" within the first minute.  As I was alone in Morse at the time, so I quickly swam back to the dock and called it a day.  At 195 lbs, I have lost a few over the winter months, but plan to register as a clydesdale (over 200) by the summer.
Distance wise, I am around 30k per week, though will build up to 50k or so in June and July.
I have not run, nor biked seriously in over a year (need to keep the weight on), but I'll be back.

June 2006 Update:

• 7 weeks until I'll be attempting the Channel crossing (August 1st my projected date), provided the weather holds out.
• Current water temperature in the Channel is 54.9 degrees.  I am told that this is colder than normal for this time of the year.  Not what I wanted to hear.
• Jim Barber and I completed our 6hr qualifying swim late last October.  Water temp was 60 at the south end of Morse Resevoir and dipped to 58 in Cicero (we swam from southern end to Cicero docks and back).  We did not have a support crew for this day (46 degrees outside and misting), but there were very few boats on the water anyway, so we just placed gatorade and Reeses peanut butter cups on the Cicero dock (hoping it would still be there at our turn-around). Though shivering the entire way, we still completed it.  I had failed a qualifying attempt 2 days earlier, pulling myself out after 3 hrs in 58 degree water.  
• Completed my last set of cold water acclimation swims this spring, beginning on April 1st.   While 60-62 degrees will be cold, it will be doable.  Below this will be a challenge.  58 degrees still feels cold, but it does not hurt like it used to.
• My weeks now leading up to going over there consist of 50-60K yards/week with a 5-6 hr Morse swim every weekend (just completed my 3rd).  Current Morse water temperatrue is a balmy 69 degrees.
• I am pushing 200 lbs again, hopefully I'll peak up at 205 in late July.  My diet consists of a lot of Ritter's, Krispy Kremes and Foster's Lager...and not necessarily at separate times either.
• P.S., Just had my Roark aero frame re-tooled to attain a lower profile...for next year.