And finally...

So yesterday I finally completed my measured mile.
As I set off up the quay, I really didn't think I'd be able to do it, but by the time I got to the swing bridge, the self doubt had made way for hope, and at the end of the first quay, determination had blocked out everything else.
It took me 1 hour 16 mins and 2 seconds - but than's not important. Neither is the fact that I finished 1356 out of 1366. The important thing is that I finished!
With much help from family and friends who walked the whole course with me, giving me encouragement all the way, and from other swimmers - who are the most generous and supportive group of people you could wish to meet.
So here I am, with wetsuit rash, an aching back, a medal and a huge sense of acheivement! And £3,000 in the bank for Alzheimers! Thanks to everyone - you've really all been great - I really couldn't have done it without you.
Take care,

Swimming in tears

I did a mile swim in the pool on Sunday, just to check I still could. I'm doing the Salford Swim, and to be honest, I haven't done any training for ages, possibly months.
If you've been reading this blog, you'll know I had a bit of a "medical incident" at the end of May, which was initially diagnosed as a stroke, but turned out to be nerve damage in my brain. 6 weeks off work, no driving, and rest. So that was most of June and July gone by.
Then my dad became ill - he'd also had a couple of suspected mini stokes, but his too had been mis-diagnosed. Then on August 6th, after he'd got suddenly very bad, he was diagnosed with brain cancer. The cancer had spread from his lung, and was causing these stroke like symptoms.
He was really looking forward to coming to the lakes for the Great North Swim, but in the end was too ill to make the journey. He was really proud of me, of doing the swim and of the money I was raising.
I was thinking about this as I swam my mile in the pool. At about length 50, I was imagining what it will be like when I finish the mile, now being swum in Salford. How lovely it will be to climb out of the water and be greeted by my family and friends. And how sad it will be that dad won't be there. That's the point I started to well up, and then I really started to cry.
He lost his brief but intense battle with cancer on September 15th, just 5 weeks after being diagnosed and just 6 weeks before his 71st birthday. By the time I get in the water on Sunday, I will have been to his funeral, and will have shed many more tears.
I'm hoping I can get round most of the mile without breaking down - I discovered on Sunday that crying makes you sniffle, and then water goes up your nose, and the tears fill up your goggles.
So, I will be getting round that mile, and whilst I will be raising money for Alzheimer's, I'll be swimming for my dad.
Take care - life is short.

The New Mile

I've just found out that the Great North Swim is officially cancelled for this year. This leaves me with the options of deferring to next year or cancelling altogether!
I can't bear the thought of either of these, and decided to see if there were still places free for the Great Salford Swim.

Unbeliveable! There are still places! I've signed up for 2pm - better get some more training in quickly!

Third Time Lucky

After my two previous failed attempts to swim an alternative mile (and earn some of the donations I've already had from people) I was even more determined to get in the water today. It had been a lovely sunny day, and the evening was still and bright - perfect swimming conditions!

Out came the O/S map, and the search for a suitable spot began - we needed somewhere not too far away, close the road and safe to swim in (so rivers were out - they need a good recce first). Then we saw it - Yew Tree Tarn, just by the road to Coniston.

Bag packed, we were out of the door and in the car - wending our way south west and upwards.

The tarn was lovely - with a big layby for easy access, and still water, just the right depth.

In I got - heaven!

I'm not sure how far I swam, the tarn isn't very big so I was basically swimming up and down the middle of it. It was so peaceful - pure therapy!

I got out as the sun was going behind the fells, a big grin on my face and a sense of achievement in my heart.

Second attempt

Yesterday evening, after the failed attempt at swimming Buttermere, David and I went for an evening stroll up one of the tributaries leading into Lake Windermere. I found a great spot for a swim, and couldn't wait to get back into my wetsuit.

Judging from the OS map, it looked like I could swim about 1/2 mile in the river, meaning that if I doubled back (current allowing) I could get a mile in. Part of me is determined to do my promised mile in cold murky water - I've got hundreds of supporters who've all donated good money to make me do this, and I really don't want to let them down.

So, tonight I got into my wetsuit and added a big fleece, and David and I followed the footpath to the river. The first section we walk along is shallow and slow flowing - no good for swimming, but great for wildlife. A flash of blue streaked low above the water - kingfisher! Brilliant!

A bit lower down, another river joins the one we walk along, and it gets deep enough to swim in. Just a little further and there's a "beach". Perfect. I discard my big fleece and enter the water - a bit cold, but not too bad. Towards the centre is plenty deep enough, and the water is so clear I can see the bed easily.

I spot a swan and give it a wide berth - David is on the bank watching over me, but I don't fancy tangling with swam just in case.

Around a bend in the river and I'm now heading into the wind. It's not as bad as Buttermere, but makes it hard going. I'm quite far fron the bank now, any closer in and my feet hit the ground. And then I get thwarted - again! The river gets wide and much too shallow to swim in. Lying on my belly I can just about do commando crawl, but certainly not front crawl! I turn round and swim back upstream. I'm not going to be able to swim far, but I've enjoyed being in the water all the same. I swim about for a bit, up and down the same section, before deciding to clamber out and head for home.

Try again another day!

Making Amends

With today's swim cancelled, Jess (one of the OSS people I know) and I decided to attempt our own alternative mile by swimming the length of Buttermere (approx 1 mile).

We set off, full of enthusiasm and determination. The water wasn't too cold, and quite clear. All was going well, and then the wind picked up. The water began to get quite choppy, with white crests on the waves, and the cross wind made it hard to breathe. I decided to swim on my back for a bit (one advantage of being the only two swimmers in the whole lake - I wasn't about to bump into anyone!). I'd not done many stokes when I heard Jess shouting me. The wind was blowing me off course, and I was heading straight for some trees on the bank!

Back on my front, I corrected my position and got back to where Jess was, but by now the going was really getting tough, and I was getting tired. I knew that at this rate I wouldn't be able to get far, and it looked as though conditions were worse around the headland.

We heard shouts from the shore, and I looked up to see a group of my friends and neighbours who'd come up to the lakes to support me on my swim. I waved, but couldn't shout to them, the wind was sucking the breath out of me.

I swam a bit more, concious that I was holding Jess back (I'm not a quick swimmer, especially after the big break in training) and realised that I wasn't going to be able to swim the length of the lake. I decided that discretion was definitely the better part of valour, and suggested to Jess that we called it a day, before we got into trouble (with only a shore buddy and no boat, this was possible if we got round the headland and into really rough water). Jess didn't seem to mind, so we swam to shore, letting the swell carry us to the beach.

Jess said that it was like swimming in the sea, with the strong swell, and that it was the hardest outdoor swim she'd done. So I didn't feel quite so bad about stopping. We trudged back to the car in our wet wetsuits, and went in search of a nice hot cuppa.

Gutted!

I've just received a text to say that the Great North Swim has been postponed. Currently, it's not certain if it will be rescheduled for this year or cancelled until 2011. After all the build up, I'm gutted. I'm also concerned about letting down all my sponsors and supporters - so far I've raised about £2,700 - so I'll have to think of something.