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.

Just Relax

One of the great things about outdoor swimming is the view - especially a sunny sky. So when I'm not trying to go as fast or as far as I can, I like to lie back and relax...
It's important to wear a hat so your ears don't get cold, but it's a lovely feeling!
take care

Gadding About

Gaddings Dam was on the agenda this bank holiday. It's the first time I've been, but I'd heard a lot about it. The climb up to the dam is about 250m, and I have to admit, I had to stop half way up as I thought I was going to be sick - it was really tough going for someone as unfit as me (and a little worrying, given the swim is now only days away!).

With the huge support and help of David, and the encouragement of a group of fellow outdoor swimmers, I finally made it to the top, into my wetsuit, and into the mercifully flat water.

But boy was it cold! about 13 degrees, which is enough to make your feet go numb after about 10 mins.

It stayed lovely and sunny, and I stayed in probably longer than I should have (I think because I was dreading the decent down the big hill).
The walk back was tough going too - with some quite big steps - not good for arthritic knees! But at least the walk ended in a pub - with lunch!
What a great day out!
Take care,

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,

Howling at the Moon

Last night I joined the Outdoor Swimming Society for a Full Moon swim at Hatchmere. It wasn't a promising evening, with lots of cloud cover and only the occasional glimpse of sky. We arrived at the lake just before 9 - to find one swimmer already in the water. Others arrived just as we did, so by the time I'd got into my wetsuit, there were 3 or 4 of us getting in.
David, who came with me but remained fully dressed and shorebound, waved us off, taking photos of the big moment (Splash!).
I was swimming pretty slowly - much slower than everyone else, as I'm still feeling pretty tired. I was determined to do 4 trips accross the lake and back though, as this would be almost a mile and great training.
Trip 1 - can't get into my rhythm at all and I'm finding it hard to breathe properly. I have to talk myself into not panicking.
Trip 2 - getting the hang of it, feeling much better and getting a rhythm going - lovely to have company on the back leg of the trip (thanks to Vic and Nez for swimming so slowly and chatting!)
Trip 3 - begining to get dark - finding it harder to see the sign on the opposite bank that we're swimming towards, but keep going anyway. David's put lights on the beach so we can swim our way back to shore easily.
Trip 4 - it's raining! Oh well! I'm wet anyway.
David's managed to gather up the bags and put them under a tree, so our things aren't too wet when we get out. It's almost 10.30 - but it's really warm after the rain has stopped. The pub's closed and so we can't have a celebratory drink - I managed the 4 trips I set out to do - although I swam the shortest distance I'm perhaps the proudest of my swim!
It's almost midnight when I get home - and by the time I've rinsed my wetsuit and had a shower, I fall into bed very tired!