Swim Hat's Here

Swim hat for Salford arrived today - Lilac! lovely!

Getting quite excited now... can't believe it's just a few days away. Also found out that BBC2 are televising the GSS, from 2pm to 3.30 - so will include my group's entry into the water.

you can look out for me - I'll be the one at the back, in the wetsuit with red sleeves.

Happy swimming

And We're Off

Having been swimming in a cold, cold pool on my holidays last week, I thought it was time to start thinking about whether to do a Great Swim again this year. I looked at the Great Swim website, and then just couldn't help myself! So, Salford it is, but much earlier in the year - mid May in fact, which gives me about 12 weeks to get back up to fitness and acclaimatised!

It may be obvious to many of you why I've chosen to do this for Dr Kershaw's this year. Dad died in this hostpice last year not long before I did my swim, and so I wanted to do something in his memory, and for a cause now so close to my heart.

So this is where I'll be logging my thoughts for this year. If you want to see what happened last year (where were you?) then you can read last year's blog.

Swimming in the rain

I know I've now done my mile swim, but I've developed an addiction to outdoor swimming! So when someone suggested a dip in Pickmere on Sunday morning, of course I said "yes". It'd been nearly a week since my last fix, and frankly, I was aching for an outdoor swim.
I hadn't bargained on the weather though - when I got up on Sunday morning the rain was relentless. I checked my phone to see if the swim had been called off - but I should have guessed! Calling off a swim because of rain just doesn't enter the heads of the diehards who swim in October!
I met a friend and car shared to Pickmere - she was already in her wetsuit, and had even filled up at the petrol station, much to the astonishment of other customers!
Then it was into the (cold) lake and off for a swim. The others did a mile swim, while I did a smaller circuit, trying to avoid ducks landing on my head.
The rain continued, but we were already wet, so it didn't matter. I trod water for a bit watching the raindrops splash onto the surface of the lake - very hypnotic!
After a while, I was looking across the lake and couldn't see the others - the rain was making a misty layer on the water. And then they came - black triangular arms rising out of the water like shark fins! Quite eerie!
The others were Acky, Nez and Michelle (who took the photo, and very bravely swam without a wetsuit). Thanks to them all for the company!
I really enjoyed getting home and into a hot shower - and then cursing that the sun came out all afternoon!

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.

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.

Birthday Suit

I decided to splash out (literally) on my own wetsuit, since I'm enjoying the outdoor swimming so much. Bill and Freddie (my in-laws) have kindly bought the suit for my birthday present - and here I am modelling it at Gaddings Dam on a lovely sunny bank holiday Monday.

Calm waters

There is nothing like an after work swim on a calm, sunny evening. This is Hatchmere, on a still night in August - the peace and quiet are hard to beat.
There were a few of us swimming that evening - about 5 or 6, which is nice company while still being peaceful.
After the swim, David and I stayed for a picnic, and watched hundreds of geese fly over to their resting place for the night - pretty well the only noise we'd heard all night was their honking!
Take care,

Suit You Sir

I've been lent a wetsuit to do my swim (Thanks Mick!).
Mick did the Great North Swim last year, and really enjoyed it. He's filled me in on what's it's like, and fired up my enthusiasm. So today, I tried on the wetsuit, which fits like a glove! I'll post a picture soon (when I'm braver).
On Thursday I'll be trying it out at Salford Quays, doing my first open water swim. I'll keep you posted!
Take care

Here we go

So, I've set myself a challenge, set up a "JustGiving" page and now I'm ready to blog. So this is for all the kind people who've sponsored me so far, all the people who will and all the people who just like to read about other people's lives. You are all welcome!

I've entered the Great North Swim, and I'll be swimming on Sept 5th, at 3pm, in a cold and murky Windermere. I've never done anything like this before, and it's quite daunting. Although I love swimming, I'd never swum this far until a month after I'd signed up for the event.

If you're reading this and haven't sponsored me but would like to, then visit www.justgiving.com/dawn-holmes - it's really easy!

Thanks
Dawn