Last year I started open water swimming and I had the crazy idea to enter the Great North Swim.
In the Great North Swim you can select the 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 2 miles or 5 km. Despite doing well last year after a summer of weekly sessions in Windermere, I decided to be cautious and only enter for the 1 mile. But then immediately I thought perhaps I hand’t set myself a big enough challenge. However after no training over the winter I was glad of my caution. After a few training sessions in the last couple of weeks I was feeling a bit slow.
The day of the event was fast approaching and I kept a watchful eye on the weather. If the conditions were going to be as bad as last year I knew I would struggle. But the forecast was looking good.
Vicky came up on Friday night – she was even more nervous as she hadn’t managed a dip in the lake this year yet. Sadly we had also heard that someone had died during the event on the Friday, so we contemplated the risks.
On Saturday morning we made our way to Low Wood Bay where the event was set up. It was all very well organised. Changing room, toilets, secure baggage drop, the usual array of stalls, an acclimatisation zone and a warm up area, and plenty of room for spectators. We had chosen the 10.30am yellow time slot (wave). Each wave is identified by the colour of the hat. As we arrived the red 1/2 mile wave was just finishing and the green 1 mile wave was in the warm up area and the pink 1 mile wave were milling around. We had about an hour before our wave so we wondered round trying not to get too nervous. Pete spotted Rebecca Adlington.
With 30 minutes to go we got changed, got ourselves checked-in where our timing chips were checked, and walked through to the acclimatisation zone. There wasn’t really a chance to swim, we all just had a dip, let the water get into our wetsuits and then walked out.
There was a sea of yellow hats in the warm up area. Vicky and I tried to work out where was the best place to stand – not at the front where the really competitive swimmers would want to be and not at the back where it might take an age to get into the water. We positioned ourselves somewhere in the middle of the first half. While we positioned ourselves we were entertained by a great MC.
With 10 minutes to go the warm up started – jumps, running on the spot, stretches, lunges…
… and then we were off.
We had chosen a good position and we had reasonably clear water at the beginning. I was most worried about this part of the swim – it’s really difficult swimming so close to so many people – but with the clear-ish water I was able to relax and get into my stride.
During the course the swimmers spread out quite a bit, but there were occasions when bunching caused some problems. At one point I was squeezed between two swimmers and got kicked and elbowed from both sides. Nothing malicious, just the way it went. As I approached the halfway buoy I was at risk of being squeezed again, so I decided to stand (swim) my ground and be the one who did the shoving if need be. It worked.
The mile seemed to go quite quickly. I kept a steady pace with relaxed breathing. The conditions were perfect with no wind and the sun was hot. There were loads of safety kayaks along the course giving moral support to the few that wanted to stop for a breather. As I approached the last 250m I thought I’d put on a final sprint to try and get a good time, but after about 100m I realised I couldn’t keep that up so I had to slow down again. Once I’d gone through the final buoys I kicked a bit harder again to get to the exit slipway.
Everyone was very wobbly getting out of the water, but there were plenty of people to help us through to the check-out desk. The safety aspect is taken very seriously. The timing chip is checked and you have to give your name so they can make sure everyone is in safely. After that I picked up my finishing pack, including my medal.
It was such a great event. The conditions couldn’t have been better.
I managed 00:36:02. A little bit slower than my only other timed mile from last summer (00:35:39), but not bad for so little training. I reckon I can improve on that.
Vicky managed 00:41:14. Excellent for the first dip in the Lake this year.
We have already decided we’re going to do it again next year.
So glad you enjoyed it, I don’t think I’d be comfortable in such a crowd! Failed to spot you from the road on the way to kentmere but I think you must have actually been in the water as we drove past. Well done! Xx
Well done to you both, great job. Looks cold!
Very impressive – I’d have been in a kayak!