THE ROCKS ARE GOING TO GET ME!

THE ROCKS ARE GOING TO GET ME!

At some point during a swim anything can mess with your head, be it on your first swim or the hundredth!

For myself it was fish, whilst drinking alcohol with friends one evening I was asked if I could swim I replied to the affirmative, did I like to race...again the affirmative. Great they said hand over your money and we will book it for you. You see alcohol and me don’t mix...I get very relaxed and agreeable and also willingly enter into any challenge! Several days later a dim memory came into my head....hadn’t I entered a race, if so which pool and where and what distance. I had not swam properly for years and would definitely need to get in the pool again! Putting down the phone several minutes later I did not know whether to laugh or cry..you’re doing Windermere and Scotland I had been told, the distance 1 mile, the Great North  and Scottish swims. Open water.......I am scared of fish!!!

With the first race several months away I joined the local triathlon club to get me pool ready...the first session almost killed me, are these people human I kept thinking to myself as they flew up and down eating up the water, I was in the slow lane...and boy was I slow! What they did as their warm up took me the whole session, had my fitness vanished so fast..it must have done. The coach had faith, apparently my technique and style were there, it was just fitness that was letting me down. Would I go again...definitely, that first session made me determined to get into the fast lane. The next day I was in the pool again doing the warm up over and over again, timing myself. It felt good. Under the guidance of the coach I was doing the required distance in no time at all and I had made it into the fast lane. But it was not enough. I had to get in the open water – gulp. I had put it off for so long but the race was coming up and I knew I could not delay any longer.

So in preparation I decided to enter the unknown and see what it was all about. Being a strong-ish front crawl swimmer I would have no problems so I thought. Linking in with the local triathlon club at Ellerton, the trainer there Donna informed me that she would have a wetsuit to fit me, she told me the date and time to attend. And so I duly arrived at Ellerton Lake in the middle of one hell of a storm, rain pelting down (that didn’t matter I was going to get wet anyway), a gale blowing. I was confident that I would not have to get in the water after all I am a tiny framed girl, 5 foot 6 inches and on a good day weigh 8 stone, trouser size 6. Haha, I though....sorted, I can’t get in without a wetsuit and no one will have one small enough. My heart desperately tried to exit my body via my toes when Donna opened up the back of her Volvo estate and there in the back were tons of wetsuits. She had loads of her own, and some she had borrowed off of friends..so I could try them on. Into the changing rooms we went...me still quietly confident that she would not have one to fit....after all she had only brought 3 in with her. The first one too small round the shoulders...the second one, and Orca...fitted like a glove...time to put up or shut up. Do I thank her and say I will come back once I have one of my own or do I take her up on her offer of a swim to see what it’s like in the water. Donna put no pressure on me what so ever...it was my own demons I was battling with. I desperately wanted to get in but..there were fish!

Heart literally pounding I agreed to get in, Donna said she would stay by my side until I was confident. Huddled like penguins in a pack were all the ‘watchers’ those partners, husbands etc that had been dragged down to watch as us neoprene clad people brave the conditions. Everyone else looked so confidence as they strode into the water and set off swimming. Myself, I felt like everyone could see me shaking...thankfully it was cold so I told them it was the wind.

Taking a deep breath I started to get in the water, the waves made it impossible to see the bottom, Donna waited patiently until I got myself in to the thighs..shivering uncontrollably by now. Finally I had to just do it so I go under. Holy cow...how can water be that cold and not turn to ice! Swimming front crawl for a bit I was fine...then the inevitable, I saw something under the water. Something BIG. My mind was telling me it was a large rock...my body had gone into panic mode, I must have looked like a children’s bath toy trying to get away from the rock arms and legs swinging wildly. I desperately wanted to get out but was determined to stay in. How many big rocks were there in such a short space of water I do not know but I spotted them all and each and everyone of them messed with my head. Eventually deeper water beckoned and on we swam eventually reaching the other side. Relief momentarily passed through my head until I realised that I would have to swim back. Donna at this point must have thought I was ok as with a quick see you in the showers she swam off towards the awaiting warmth!

With no choice I started to swim back. This was not funny...the rocks were waiting to pounce I was sure of it, things were going to grab me and drag me under I was positive. But I had no choice I could not get out and walk back I had to swim. Technique and style out of the box, I flailed my way to shore. Getting out I rushed over the pebbles, feet oblivious to their sharpness having been numbed by the cold of the water. Diving under the shower....where was the hot water...a voice behind the curtain told me it was there and to stay in. Eventually the warmth of the water seeped through enough for me to use my hands to get my wetsuit off. Now what was wrong...my feet, wrists and hands were a different colour to the rest of my body..what was that all about...the voice behind the curtain duly informed me..relief for a moment I thought they would fall off! Getting dressed shivering as hard as my body would go, I was grinning...I had done it. Strangely enough I had not seen one fish.

Coming out of the changing rooms the swimmers came up to chat, how had I found it (to be honest I don’t think my brain had processed the fear I had felt). I replied that I was glad that I had done it. Then the confession...if I had not turned up they were not going to get in as the conditions were horrendous but Donna bless had asked them to swim with me to encourage me. I had not noticed them around me in the water but they all swore that they had been. None of them had swum in water that bad before and it was a relief to know that they were worried as well. I had been initiated into open water.. I had yet to face the fish but the first hurdle was over and done with and strangely I felt proud that the conditions had not worried me....just those rocks

Interestingly I saw Donna this last weekend (31/07/11) at Ellerton and reminded her of my first session... she told me she had never swam in such rough water as we had that day and has never seen water as rough as that before or after...still makes me a little proud that I had done it.

SWIMMING THEN YOU'RE WINNING - MELISSA HEPBURN

Melissa joined the group to get ready for her impending triathlon. It was not the warmest of days, but new wetsuit in hand she got changed, nerves showing clearly on her face as she came to the waters edge. The shock of the chilly water nearly sent her flying back on to dry land, but she perservered, made to through the weed, viewed the boats under that water, panicked massively on more than one occasion - but came back for more. She practiced her technique alot, learnt to relax and competed in her first race, here is her heartfelt story of getting into the open water which I am sure you will enjoy, please feel free to add your comments

SWIMMING THEN YOU'RE WINNING

When I was little I did the perfunctory lessons at the swimming baths and attained the dizzy heights of my 50 metre badge.  I have been lucky enough to live on the glorious Northumbrian Coast for most of my life.  With little money to go around our summers were spent with egg sandwiches at Druridge Bay hiding behind our wind breakers. We used to spend all day in the sea with my dad John who was a brilliant swimmer towing us around on his back accompanied by the family dog who loved nothing more than being in the water with us. I always remember my dad as being so fit and he loved to swim. 

For some reason I'm not sure why I developed a bit of a fear of water.  I could get up and down a pool kicking my legs with some kind of breast stroke arms, petrified at thought of my face being in the water.  I joined the Army in 1999 and was posted all over the world including Belize.  During an exercise in Belize we were required to a river crossing in our full kit.  I remember feeling absolutely terrified of swimming across that river, (crocodiles, Piranha's etc) to the point my knee's were knocking.  I managed to get across doing my doggie paddle best and feeling relieved I had escaped a certain death at the end.  I kept thinking I would love to be able to swim properly.

In 2005 my dad was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis which has seen my fit and able dad slowly deteriorate into a wheelchair.  I left the army in 2007 and moved home to be closer to my family in light of my dad's health.  However I began to feel something was missing.... a challenge..... I kept reading articles and books by these crazy people doing Triathlon's.  I kept thinking I would love to give it a go....however my doggie paddle wouldn't be enough to get around a swim course especially in a lake.

I carried on with my running and started cycling in 2010 and a glimmer of hope appeared.  Maybe I could do a Triathlon after all.... I was speaking about it one day with my dad and he told me to go for it because you never knew how long your health would last.  I made a firm decision to learn to swim and in January 2011 I turned to You Tube.  I watched some tutorial clips and also with the help of my wonderful boyfriend Matt who is a very capable swimmer started flapping around at the local pool.  This turned to lengths with my face in the water and finally some sort of crawl.

I took the plunge and entered into a local sprint Triathlon with a lake swim which was scheduled for June 2011.  I was lucky enough to know Pauline through working with her Fiancee Geoff and I first met her in 2010 at Druridge Bay country park where they were doing an open water swim. They were in their wetsuits and I told them I thought they were crazy, there was noway I could swim in a lake.  Despite this I finally summoned up the courage to join the gang down at Ellerton for a swim in my brand new wetsuit in April 2011.  I freaked out the first swim however with Paulines gentle coaching I came along leaps and bounds and then it happened,  I was addicted.  The feeling of swimming outdoors is absolutely amazing.   I started doing crazy things like taking my wetsuit on holiday and swimming in a freezing cold scottish loch or taking the dogs for a run down to the beach and swimming in the sea whilst everyone looked on in jumpers. In 6 short months I felt like I could (and wanted to) swim everywhere although slowly! 

I completed my first triathlon in June 2011 and It was one of the best things I have ever done.  My dad was at the end waiting for me and I felt so proud.  What I have described isn't anything out of the ordinary for accomplished swimmers however seeing my dad the way he is has given me a new appreciation for my health and I plan to use to the full.  Ok, so being able to swim a couple of miles in a lake isn't that big a deal for some people....however for me I have learned something new, gained new friends and I have a whole new set of goals now (Iron man), I feel like I can achieve anything.  So go on be brave and give it a go, what you waiting for.....

Finally a note from me - Mel won't mind me tell you about the time she had a spot of difficulty seeing the buoys in the water and after going off at a severe tangent one day I dashed after her to put her back....asking her what 'object' she had be using to sight the buoy, she pointed and said that she was sighting the buoy...she then pointed in the direction of a large white object in the distance...the object was a swan...shes not the first nor will she be the last!!!!

NEW TOYS TO PLAY WITH - simplyswim.com

A short while ago, I was approached by Simply Swim (http://www.simplyswim.com) who had seen our blog and like it, they wanted to see if I would like to buy some of their products...not a seconds hesitation and I replied yes please. Emails duly arrived, now given that I am part of a group, I did not want to purchase goodies 'just for me', but products that others could buy and get the same benefits from as me. Now the difficult bit....what to buy. I swim in the open water during the 'warmer' months (April through to Oct) and then return to the pool for winter training. There were certain things that I have never had a play with so here was a clear opportunity.

Fingers flying across the keyboard and like a child in a sweetshop I eagerly set about my task, phoning the customer care team to get advice and further information. The staff's knowledge is impressive and they are polite and courteous through and through. With a final push of the enter button and there I had done it...now to wait for the postman.

Later that night, another email from the Swim people,  other products that  I might be interested in so off i went shopping again....the excitement doubled at the thought of the 'other' things that I wished I could have got were now winging their way to me.

With in 48 hours the parcels arrived, the packaging soon ripped off as with almost childlike enthusiasm I wanted to see the toys. So what did I get...I will tell you. Ear plugs, gloves, fins, drag shorts and drag swimming costume.....Oh which to try first....pool or open water....it was sunny so the open water won hands down. Phoning my friend Janette Mosley,  I virtually demanded that she meet me at the lake so we could play.

Driving down (within speed limits) was exciting, would they make a difference to my speed, performance etc. Being the typical female.....i had got the open water goodies to match my 3.8 Orca wetsuit..black and orange! Do I look like a pro...I hope so, do I swim like a pro....I wish...but every second knocked off a time is a bonus.

Duly changed...the water beckoning so in we went, the gloves are the webbed swim gloves, now these I have used before but not this make, what would they be like for fit and comfort. Pretty good, not too tight or loose, the fingers did not go numb, and the velcro wrist strap is ideally placed so that it would not chafe. In the water they really gave my shoulders and arms a workout, even feeling it in my wrists this time. This type of glove helps  with upper body strength and given the pleasant soreness I felt the next day, I can recommend them, unlike plastic paddles where some pools don't allow them, these you could use in the pool and open water.

Next the fins, I will admit the first time I used them my legs did not obey what I wanted them to do, being in a wetsuit meant my legs were higher in the water, so my attempts to power along were pretty futile. I think I must have looked like one of those wind up toys in the bath!!!! The second attempt I got it right, kicking slightly from the knee allowed me to get my ankles further under the water and all of a sudden the speed was there. What an adrenalin rush, 'bombing' along with so much ease was fantastic, Janette had brought her fins too so the pair of us from a distance must have looked like a pair of dolphins gliding through the water. If only I could swim that fast without them. Janette did admit to laughing at me under the water as all she could see where orange and black (Head) fins going like the clappers in front of her! But what a hoot, the legs did not feel tired at all while we were in the water...back on land though it was a different story. There was me thinking 'how much of a workout am I getting', trying to walk down the stairs the next morning I found out, the ache basically stretched from ankle to thigh. Wonder if the race organisers would notice if I raced in them!!!! Love them to bits and have already encouraged the group to buy them which I know some have already done so.

For anyone who has suffered with their ears you will know the value of good earplugs and over the years I have tried them all, foam ones, silicone, rubber you name it I have tried it. As most swimmers will know, at some point you will end up having 'issues' with your ears if you submerge them in the water for years on end...and I am no different. The left ear being worse than the right...to the point of being painful and with hearing loss as well..Getting the perfect fit is vital so that you don't get any water in. So with that in mind I selected several different makes and gave them a go over the course of several swims. One of the main things with ear plugs is getting the fit right and making sure that they are comfortable. With this in mine I got two different types, Speedo ergo and Maru, tried them both in the open water and the pool, and must find them impressive, the Speedo's seem to 'fit' my ears perfectly and not a drop of water got though, the Maru's are marginally externally and didn't seem to fit me as well, my partner tried them...instant success for him with these so my advice is to try several different types. The rubber ones now are much softer, more comfortable to wear to the point that you can forget that you are wearing them. Don't think I will swim again without them, and a word to the wise if you are new to swimming or even been swimming for years, for most it the ears that are affected to the point of stopping you from getting in the water, so invest!!! One of the team also bought them after I told her how comfortable they were, she wanted to see if if would help with the occasional dizziness she gets....again success!!!
The drag suit and drag shorts were for pool use..so off I went to brave the chlorine again. First time I wore the suit,  it felt strange at first but I soon got the feel of it in the water and it did 'drag' me as I was swimming along, you can notice the difference in the amount of effort required to swim along as you would normally so. The fit is fab and just as you would find with any other suit. The shorts came next, worn over a normal costume, initially I felt a little awkward  entering the pool area but then I thought, well in for a penny in for a pound. The shorts came off in the first few strokes......I had forgotten to tie the drawstring!!!! School boy error!!! Cord duly tied I set off again. An hour later and it was time to get out. My upper body using both these training aids really did feel like they had been worked (normal distance for an hour's swim would be 1 mile, drills then another mile). I really had to work hard to get the distance in in the allotted time span so both suited the purpose and will be used long and hard in the winter months!
So my experiences of Simply Swim - I am highly grateful to them for allowing me to try goods that I have always wanted to experience but never got round to doing so. The items I have tried have suited the purposes which I intended...to the tee! The company were superb in helping me choose, and delivering them in such a short period of time. The team are now able to buy on recommendation, goods that they have seen in action, played with themselves and know that they will benefit from. The website is easy to use and the range of products has me salivating!!! Thanks so much for allowing me to use your products, I highly recommend this company...oh and if you forgot the address http://www.simplyswim.com/ - truly grateful for them giving me the opportunity to try goodies out and definitely plan to buy from them in the future :) 

A STAR RETURNS TO THE WATER - DOROTHY MILLS

Every swimmer has a tale to tell, Dorothy, however came to the group in her quiet manner stating that she had done 'some' swimming before. Having completed numberous swims with us and raced several times this year Dorothy finally came out and wrote a short piece for the blog, which left me breathless. Dorothy, you see, had not told us of her acheivements, and they are considerable. And I am proud to let Dorothy tell her story complete with pictures, so sit back, read and enjoy the story of the start that swims amongst us!

DOROTHY MILLS - MY SWIMMING LIFE

My first visit to a swimming pool was when I was  9 years old.  School swimming lessons. I had never seen the inside of a pool until then. Doncaster Corporation Baths were for people to go and have a bath not for swimming in ??  Not many houses in the early 1950’s had baths in them, a tin bath in front of the fire was the norm.

To my mother’s astonishment I thoroughly enjoyed it, couldn’t get enough.  We went twice a week with school.  I quickly learned to swim breast stroke and back stroke.  It was only for pleasure, no swimming clubs for us.

In later years I took my kids to swimming lessons in Alnwick pool and then they joined Dolphins Swimming Club.  It was while I was sat watching that Rosie the coach asked if any parents would be interested in doing  Bronze Medallion, and helping out with the coaching.  She  then  persuaded 3 of us to train to do an outside swim at Kielder Reservoir Masters Open Water Championships..  Little did we know what we were letting ourselves in for.

Great North and Kielder medals



BLDSA rules, no wetsuits.  All training was done in the pool then the sea off Alnmouth, which was freezing cold.  Didn’t swim very far more an aclimatation exercise.

Got to Kielder and were attacked by a cloud of the famous Kielder midgies, just as bad as Scottish ones.  It was the middle of July 1986.

Winners trophy 1988

4 of us brave ladies, Rosie, Marcelle, Eileen and myself (masters age group over 30) jumped into the water from Leapleash jetty and started swimming for Tower Knowe jetty, which was 2 and a half miles away.  The water was very dark brown with the peat but we didn’t feel the cold. 1 hour and 51 minutes later I arrived at the Tower jetty.  I came in third that first time. It felt fantastic and I was hooked on open water swimming.

Went back again the next year and came in second and the third  year won the cup in a time of  1 hour 26 mins.  Unfortunately after retaining the cup in 1989 the h&s decided it was too dangerous to hold the event in its form and it never happened again.

Finishing the Kielder Marathon

                           

Kielder 1989



Kiedler 1988

me winning the Great North 1989

I also took part in the original Great North Swim which used to be done every year in the City Pool in Newcastle.  It was part of the Great North Run, Walk and Cycle ride series of events.  The swim was eventually dropped after a number of years but the others are still going strong.

When 3 years ago I heard they were starting a new event Great North Swim outdoors in Windermere I decided to try again, but the years have slowed me up a lot and I found swimming in a wetsuit very difficult so I joined Paulines group at Ellerton to train for this years event, now I’m hooked all over again with Epic and Capenwray swims.

I now look forward to dipping in to as many lakes and tarns in the Lakes and north of England as I can find.

THE END - or is it...a note from Pauline, Dorothy, has swam in several races this year, travels all over to find water to swim in and has made a ton of friends along the way, she now goes au nautral as we say, minus the wetsuit, when ever she can, it just goes to show that once a swimmer -ALWAYS A SWIMMER, and its a true pleasure for all of us to swim with you Dorothy. xx



STARTING THEM YOUNG - KATIE MULRYNE

I am pleased to introduce Katie, our youngest member of the group, both mum (Tracey) and dad (Paul) swim with us. And on a red hot sunday, a group of us got together to enjoy the heat of the day and the heat of the water. Claire Woodhead had travelled up especially to see Tracey Mulryne as the last time they saw each other there was some serious studying going on, so an ideal time to catch up on the uni days.

With mum and dad in and out of the water Katie started getting desperate to join them, eager to introduce this little swimmer to the open water Dad got in....quickly followed by Katie... the video tells its own story. Not only did Katie enjoy it....she did  not want to get out.. even when turning blue. Showing no fear she galantly kicked away before hitching a ride on dad's back.

This series of pics taken on the day say it all...you can even see the grin on Katies face when she is in the water. Can't wait to see her and her brother Connor in together...a special sight!!!

Do we have a potential star in our midst....oh yes. Mum has now sourced warmer swimwear for her two little ones with the view of family swims in the future. Its such a warming sight to see one so little getting in and loving it. More families should do this, not only does it give you a common hobby, but it also teaches the children at an early age to respect the water and importantly to love it. I can see that pretty soon this little one will be flying past us in the water, giggling as she does, and I hope she does so!!! You can see by the photos that this is a little dolphin in the making...I can't wait to swim with her....at this rate she could become the groups mascot!! We have many of the group bringing their children to swim with us, Amanda Bell, brought hers and they are now swimming with the local triathlon club, Marie Lovell's, sons, Tristen put in some serious training with us and successfully completed the 800m swim at the Great North Swim and my own daughter Gemma has been known to dip her toes in....the new generation enter the water and I for one am thrilled. Katie you are a welcome addition!!!!

UNITED BY THE WATER

UNITED BY THE WATER!

Word seems to be spreading of our little group and the wonderful waters of Ellerton Lake. Sarah Tunnicliffe became a firm friend after meeting her at various other swims. With her infectious smile and huge hugs she is a joy to be around and great fun to swim with.

I had been encouraging Sarah to come to Ellerton to swim with us for a while so I was immensely pleased when up on the internet popped ‘an event’. The Open Water Swim Society were coming up to join us. Yippee...this would be a huge boost to the group to see others swim and bestow their experiences and joys of open water swimming. Word soon spread of Sarah’s imminent arrival and before we knew it there were a ‘canny’ (northern term) number of people going to be joining us.

We also had some new people joining the group to train with us, and word seems to have spread out of the area as Jeni Orme from the Henley area had trekked up for a dip! Wow, I was so impressed that so many were making such an effort to join us.

Not the warmest of days to swim, but the brightness of everyone’s smiles and the chatter soon warmed us through.

Several keen people as you can see already had their wetsuits on (Pat Maycroft in the Orca suit by her husband in the blue and black top). Now let me tell you these OSS swimmers are hard core....no wetsuits unless it is vital to survival and no messing when it comes to getting in the water...they just jump straight in.

In the next picture you can tell from the pre- jump in body language that we were not feeling toasty warm!

The gasps when they surfaced told a tale in its self...but they were soon off and round the lake!

This left the rest of us shivering and eager (?) to get in. This time the plan was to assess the swimmers individually, give them drills and get them off doing distances.

Going ‘off track’ is not uncommon in open water swimming; after all you can’t see lines at the bottom of the pool. For some it’s sighting for others they have one are stronger in the water then the other and it does not necessarily correlate to the hand that you write with! After all I am left handed but my right arm is the strongest! So why don’t I go off line...well I do sometimes when I lose concentration but mostly because I have practiced drills time and time again! To prove the point to the swimmers and also get them to see that drills do work (even if they seem like hard work sometimes!!!) I got them individually to swim to the first buoy then on the return journey to close their eyes and swim back. Most moved to the right, with the exception of one...Kate Upshall Davis. Although I know I should not laugh, I couldn’t help it...the outward bound journey was fab, nice straight (ish) line, the return....she started well and then.....well let’s just say she started to go a complete circle..! She said she felt that she was swimming in a straight line and thankfully she saw the funny side of it. But what it proved was that they were not listening to their bodies so that they knew what they (the body) were doing in the water. Drills were duly given to help them strength the weaker arm and also to help them ‘uncross’ their arms as some were doing. Instruction was given as to the differences between open water and pool techniques. Off they went to try out the drills. Drills are hard to do, its abit like trying to undo the bad habits learnt in driving. Some of them go against your natural instincts whilst in the water. But they are the best way to condition your body into adapting to a different method of swimming and making sure that it responds when you need it to. The drills can be taken into the pool which is where most of us practice them but today was about identifying person specific drills, although most were practicing the same ones.

New people had joined us Tracey Mulryne and her husband Paul, with their children. Only a small amount of time in the water for them, as they were taking it in turns to children watch. Good to see them enjoying themselves...in later times the children get in with them and Tracey has an amazing video of them swimming with dad! With her permission I will attempt to load to onto the blog for you to see, its really is amazing!

Anyway I digress, with the group now aiming for two laps...it was time to get them to do it, for some it can have a massive mental impact to turn that final corner...and have to do the same thing again. Wetsuits although having the benefits of adding buoyancy and warmth can make you feel encumbered when swimming in them until you get used to them; Jackie Candlish in particular seemed to be struggling with her suit. So I made sure that for the second lap her and Dorothy were not on their own and swam between the pair. Both seemed wheezy in breath, this could be exertion or as it later it would be discovered exercise induced asthma. At the top of our second last Sarah and her group came to join us, worried...i asked her what do you think of the lake..after all I had been extolling its virtues to her for over a year. Yippee she loved it, Jeni could not believe the clarity and had managed to find all the boats...I informed her of the mini and like a seal she was off to find it. Success, the OSS liked the venue...that’s a big plus for me, introducing seasoned veterans to a new swim place...I hoped they would rejoin us another time...definitely Sarah informed me.

The second lap completed.. they were eager to do another, my sensible head kicked in, we had been in the water over the hour and the cold would have been seeping in...so no off to the showers we go. Pleased with the days progress, all quickly showered and changed...it was interesting to see how relaxed we were as a group...Kathryn Ayre frantically texting with just a towel round her waist....oh if only I had a camera...her blushes were spared as I didn’t and she gracefully took the ribbing we gave her before hastily dressing! I wondered if the men’s changing room was a fun as ours!

Wrapped up warm we joined the OSS team for cake and coffee, talk turned to Sarah’s impending Channel attempt. She regaled us of her training regime, there is nothing stopping this woman, awesome in the water and in love with it as much as it loves her...I can tell you she and her team were highly successful in their attempt... watched online by all of us had many in tears when she and the rest of the relay team touched the shores of France. Maybe the next challenge for her will be a two way swim!!!!  I felt it was inspiring to have this happy successful group swim with us, it really boosted the work they had put in and renewed the determination to succeed at the Great North.

Myself, I had plans buzzing round my head. There was an opportunity to race prior to the Great North, plus...starts and finishes needed to be practiced....would we have time to do a mock GNS, I had to try to factor it all in....would we do it – of course we would!

SIGHTING AND THE LONGER SWIM

SIGHTING AND THE LONGER SWIM!

After a week of glorious sunshine the thought of getting ‘back in’ was weighing on my mind. What to do with the group this time...they are of different abilities, styles and levels of confidence. Time to plan!

By pairing up those of similar abilities I could set up a sort of buddy system. Many had not swam a full lap of the buoys so that was the aim today, set off as a mass group but each in a pair so no one would feel isolated. Once the normal pre-swim chats had taken place, we flip flopped over to the jetty area.

Rather than repeating the usual ‘getting in’ information I stood and observed our little group to see how many were actually putting things in to practice. Jackie Candlish was quick to shout “wet the back of your necks”. They had been listening. The water was still cool enough to take your breath but temperatures were starting to rise nicely. Time for a longer swim for them.

Once everyone had their breathing under control...and had peed, we set off for the second buoy. Google adjusted, more peeing, chattering...both vocal and of teeth..I made the announcement...”can you see the furthest buoy?” I could almost hear the hesitation from the group. If they said no would I still make them do it...oh yes I would. Dorothy Mills straight away said that if we were swimming that far then she would need to stop to get her breath. It’s good to state fears and potential issues, especially if there are a number of you, not only do we then look after each other more, we know for the future if you are swimming just in pairs.

Right, I said, we will only go as fast as the slowest person, no shooting off on your own...much laughter at this...speed they said...not a hope! Who can sight I asked....you can imagine the responses! I explained the value of sighting and how to do it – rather than focusing on a buoy which maybe virtually invisible when you are in the water, try to find a larger object...such as a house, tree, telegraph pole...anything BIG essentially that is in line with the buoy that you can use to ‘sight’ with. Sighting can be tricky. Rather than confusing them by adding sighting in with taking a breath I thought it would be easier just to let them ‘try it’. Kate Upshall Davis informed me...I can’t see a thing...! This in mind I told the group that yes we would and yes they could make it to the furthest buoy! That we would take it at the slowest persons speed is difficult for me, having no body fat, I cool down fast and feel the cold quickly, a fact pointed out to me numerous times in previous swims by my partner. But a name that would stick came from Suzanne Charnock...your lips are blue she told me and to this day she calls me ‘Blue lips’! Although I could not feel it, my body was reacting to the cold, but a part of acclimatisation is knowing how your body reacts to the cold and when you need to get out of the water. I talked through the stages of hypothermia with the group, and had them check their hands and feet... were the hands clawing, did the feet still have blood in them and if there was blood and you pressed how quickly did it return. Dorothy almost gave me a moment when she raised her feet and all I saw was black...a quick double check showed that she was wearing swim socks!!!

They had delayed enough...we needed to get moving. In the back of my head I knew that if I could get them to the furthest buoy then they would do the first of what would become many laps of the buoys. After all if they are at the furthest they will need to get back to the jetty. After a laboured start they soon got into the swing of getting a rhythm, Kate doing her bobbing breaststroke, Kathryn Ayre, Alison O’Brien and the rest doing various formats of front crawl....another aspect I would need to tackle!

As Dorothy had predicted she stopped as and when she needed to, the rest of the group staying close enough for me to call to them or bring them back to us if they headed off in a different direction. It also gave me a chance to assess their individual style of swimming...more for me to think of....drills.

In no time at all we are all at the furthest buoy and for me what is the prettiest boat. A large yacht which in the clarity of the water could be viewed by those that wished to. It really is a stunning sight, one which would be lost to us as the water warmed up. Tied to it is another buoy, sunk far below the water and covered in some sort of yellow stuff. Interestingly they all lifted their legs as if the buoy would touch them. Later in the year I was informed by the divers that use the site that they had tied a headless manikin to this yacht....I wondered what their reactions would have been if they had seen that on this swim!

 I told them to look back at where they had swum from...to gauge the distance. They were amazed....that they had done it, huge grins all round. The sun blessed us at that moment and it was time to starfish and lie on our backs and enjoy it. I shared stories with them of the previous swims I had done with Geoff, where on a sunny warm day (and in much warmer water, 20 degrees) we had swam beyond the furthest buoy, laid on our backs, held hands and sunbathed. And another time when we had arrived at the lake on another warm day, got in the water and whilst Geoff bombed around doing his thing, I took a more relaxed swim...luckily I did or I would have missed the spectacle of the thousands of dragonflies that had hatched and were swarming around me. If I lifted my hands out of the water they landed on me. Stares of disbelieve from the group, but I truly hoped that they would witness this wonderful sight.

Chat over with...now to get back...right people I said you have a choice you can swim back the way you came OR you can finish the lap. Newly confident swimmers all determined straight away and a chorus of ‘the lap’ went up. I asked them if they could see the buoy...again a little squeak from Kate ‘ no’...I told them to look for the sails on the blue boats nested on the land beyond the buoy...ah they said right and off they set.

At this next buoy another boat should have been highly visible, the water is shallower there but for some reason you could only see the outline. Did you see the mini, I asked..NO they had all swam straight over it but missed it! The pike normally use this mini car as a favourite resting spot..it maybe the warmth offered by the metal of the car heated by the sun, I am not sure but to date I have yet to see one there, the divers tell me they are huge! I declined to inform the group of this snippet of information. Kate has a fear of fish, I successfully tackle this at a later date!

Back by the jetty a rightfully pleased group headed for the showers. A massive psychological boost had occurred today. No longer were they ‘playing’ by the jetty, they had actually swam properly in open water. In the changing room talk turned to doing two laps next time!!! Result! Shoving my way into the shower whist they chatted of their achievement and how good it felt, I was mentally planning the next session or two, assessments, drills and distance...I was now confident that they would return. They were hooked (no pun intended) on the brilliance that is outdoor swimming, delighting in the scenery, the fresh air and the friendliness of group swimming. Individual personalities coming out, Alison O’Brien’s gentle manner now displaying a chirpy and slightly naughty sense of humour to be enjoyed by all!

Outside the flasks and cake come out and the post swim chat started. They were all still grinning, stating disbelief that they had ‘done’ it, congratulations all round and determination to do two laps next time!!! Brilliant, the endorphins were kicking in!! For them an achievement, for me a deep sense of satisfaction that I was genuinely helping people enjoy a hobby that I myself had enjoyed for some time! So off we go shivering in our fleeces...same time next week...the yeses and grins tell me all I need to know, right I say I will post it on the net!