The English Channel crossing, one of the most famous global swimming challenges,     1     (refer) to as the peak of endurance swimming.

A relay team of winter swimming     2     (enthusiasm) from Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, swam the English Channel in less than 12 hours on Friday. They     3     (choose) to swim the shortest route across the channel, the 33.8 kilometers from Dover in the UK to Cap Gris Nez, a cape near Calais in France.

In fact, the team took exactly 11 hours and 54 minutes to make the crossing,     4     (swim) more than 50 km to avoid obstacles and strong currents. During the team’s crossing, each team member swam     5     at least an hour before alternating until they reached France.

Xie Derong, a member of the team, said that although the relay went     6     (smooth) for the most part, the final 6 km proved to be an enormous test of     7     (they) endurance. “We encountered counter currents that caused us     8     (slow) down.”

    9     idea of crossing the English Channel first came to them in 2019. Training started several weeks before Friday’s swim in the Sanqi Reservoir in Wencheng county,     10     the water temperature was similar to the English Channel.

The Hangzhou Asian Games served as not just a platform for Asian athletes    1    (compete) in sports, but also a crucial stage to present the cultural     2    (diverse) of Asian nations.

“The Hangzhou Asian Games provided    3    unique opportunity for people from 45 countries and regions to come together.” Yasuhiro Inomata said.

“This holds significant importance in promoting intercultural exchanges, as well as developing peace regionally and    4     (globe),”Inomata added.

“The massive scale of this year’s Asian Games not only reflects the development         5    (achievement) in sports throughout Asia, but also     6     ( symbolize) the unity of Asian people,” Raja Randhir Sing said, noting that the Hangzhou Asian Games presents a positive image of the mutual love and friendship    7     (share) by Asian people.

“     8    spectators, we felt that the message of unity and love was not just words but a feeling that reminded us that, despite our differences, we are all interconnected and    9    (harmony) like one big family,” Kharaz, a reporter from Palestine, said.

“The Asian Games are an important platform    10    diverse traditions and cultures met,” Samir al-Musawi, head of the Iraqi delegation to Hangzhou, said to Xinhua.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham are fans of the Tracy Anderson Method, which involves dance-based classes using body resistance and very light hand weights. Her online programme includes a new weekly workout, as well as access to existing classes, her digital magazine and meal planning guides. It’s at ￡69 per month, but you get a discount for annual membership.tracyanderson.com

The singer Ellie Goulding and the fashion designer Henry Holland are said to be fans of Roar’s daily live classes, which include the Overdrive—a high energy weights-based workout focusing on upper-body strengthening and cardiovascular fitness. Their founder, the three times Olympian speed skater Sarah Lindsay, has also trained the broadcaster Piers Morgan and the DJ Nick Grimshaw. There’s a 14-day free trial, then membership starts at โ12.50per month with live daily workouts and unlimited access to the library. roar-fitness.com

The Thor actor Chris Hemsworth and his personal trainer Luke Zocchi launched the Centr app in 2019. It features 20 and 40-minute session s of HIIT, Pilates, yoga, boxing and guided meditation, plus recipe ideas, a meal planner and stress and well being support. It’s offering a free seven-day trial, and starts from £7.83permonth. centr.com

The former professional footballer and celebrity trainer Bradley Simmonds launched his platform, Get It Done, in 2020. The app includes daily live streamed and on-demand classes featuring yoga, core fitness and strength. From ￡22 per month. Getitdone. fitness

10 . How to Prepare For a Long Distance Run

A long distance race will leave you sweaty, sore, and deeply satisfied.     1    . However, working your way up to that long run is a challenging process that requires both mental and physical preparation.

Identify your goal

    2     Long distance runs span a range from a 3K (three kilometers) all the way up to a marathon (over 40 kilometers) or an ultra-marathon (over 60 kilometers). Think about your previous athletic experience and how hard you want to push yourself.

Figure out a training plan

You probably don’t want to wait, but it’s important to give your body time to adjust to long-distance running. Depending on your fitness level, it takes a new runner about 3 to 6 months to prepare for a half marathon and about 6 to 12 months to prepare for a marathon. If you’re running a very long race, like a half or full marathon, make use of a professionally developed training plan.     3     , or you can turn to an experienced coach for advice.

    4    

This sounds surprising but is essential. You can’t keep a quick run for ten miles, so don’t try. Pace yourself ——you can always build up speed later in your training. The most important thing right now is learning to cover a lot of ground.

Find a runner’s group

If you want to get feedback, motivation, and potential new friends, locate a runners group near you. They’re all over the place and they exist for all different levels and events.     5    .