The Weakest Link

This year I’ve been on the lookout for challenges that put me outside my comfort zone, that stretch me just that little bit further, that make me think ‘why the heck did I sign up for this’ but when I complete them I’m on a high and feeling amazing. Today I am buzzing from my latest feat…I did the Cheshire 12 Mile Challenge. I was amongst some pretty awesome swimmers who took my breath away with their fitness, their focus, their strength, their commitment, their speed…basically their sheer awesomeness! I was definitely the weakest link at the event, but I completed it. I didn’t do it in fast times but I did it. I didn’t have a smooth, efficient swim stroke, but I did it. I’m still telling myself that I only went and bloomin’ DID IT !

I’ve entered swim events before, but I have stuck to my trusty mile swim. I’m comfortable with the distance and I can do it all in breast stroke if I want because I’m not very good at crawl and it is a distance that doesn’t irritate my metal knee. So, a few months ago when I was asked if I fancied joining a swim buddy on her team for the 12 mile challenge I initially thought I’d love to do it but I am just not capable. I thought a little bit more and then decided why not. The past two years of covid chaos has shown us that life is for living, for experiencing and for not putting off things. We only get one chance at life and we need to adorn it with accomplishments both tiny and mighty. I was in!

The 12 Mile Challenge is open to teams of up to three people. Every hour on the hour a swimmer gets in and completes a mile or half mile swim. Our team, Chicks With Kicks, had three members which meant we each swam four miles over the twelve hour period…throughout the night. Swimmer One started our marathon at 8pm.

I was the second swimmer in at 9pm.

Our team captain was in at 10pm.

When I arrived at Boundary Water Park and realised I was surrounded by swimmers who have swum the Channel or were training to swim the Channel, a team of three who are swimming Jersey to France in a weeks time, a swimmer who is swimming 41 miles round Jersey later this year, swimmers who have blasted Coniston end to end and others who have completed similar achievements, I had an inner wobble. My mile swims were small fry compared to their blue whale wins. Thankfully, Jackie reminded me that everybody starts somewhere and I was facing my challenge for me and that challenge was as good as any one else’s…thank you, Jackie. Of course, encouragement didn’t just come from Jackie. Everyone supported and cheered on each other, the camaraderie and feeling of belonging was strong throughout the night.

Our base under the gazebos looked like refuge. As we chilled between swims on camp chairs in layers of clothes, huddled beneath Dryrobes clutching hot drinks and snacking on all types of goodies.

We also gravitated to the brazier to keep warm too.

The challenge began at 8pm. Those in teams had decided on their order. Those swimming solo would have to get in every hour on the hour.

We were swimming in a lake, a lake with weeds. Our first swims were in daylight and it was quite a daunting sight for me to see the weeds beneath me. I had bought new clear goggles this week in preparation for a night swim, they gave me a full on scary view of another world just below the surface. The weeds raised their spidery tendrils that slipped along your body and wrapped themselves around your arms. Sometimes a large clump would splat you in the face and it made me jump. I concentrated on my breathing and in the worst parts of the lake I could only do breast stroke and close my eyes when I slid above those freaky fronds. I swam on regardless and completed mile number one.

My second swim started at midnight and with little light pollution it was quite dark. The mile consisted of two laps marked by buoys with flashing lights on them. We all had lights on our tow floats and swim wear and it was quite beautiful to see the colours moving through the darkness on the inky black water.

On my first lap I had a moment when I was attacked by weeds, I was behind the other swimmers and the safety boat was a distance away. All I could think about was the weeds and I struggled to banish the image in my head of them wrapping themselves around me a pulling me down. The water was pitch black so I couldn’t see them and once I’d given myself a stern talking to I ploughed on. By the second lap I was enjoying it more. Mile number two completed.

I tried to nap but it I couldn’t. I was getting through the night on tea, energy drinks, chicken drumsticks and chocolate….and Adrenalin.

When I started the 3am swim the sun was starting to emerge. It was beautiful in the water, all 21° of it, but it did mean I could see those blasted weeds again. I saw them, I swam over them, I conquered them.

My last mile started at 6am. It was fully light, I was aching and I was tired, but I did it.

The team did it.

Nicola and Tina were awesome. They whizzed round the course. They are inspiring swimmers. Nicola swam the length of Coniston last week, Tina did it fairly recently and they are both looking at the Channel for their ‘Big’ challenge next year. They would be joining three more amazing ladies…Team REDD having been in training for their Jersey to France swim which takes place in the next two weeks. Three amazing ladies who also inspire me to push on with my swimming.

Heather swims down at Salford Quays with us all and she was there doing a mile swim every other hour. Heather is another lovely swimmer, but after last night she will also be known for her crazy footwear.

Not everyone did a relay. Roy was fantastic as he did half a mile on the hour, every hour. He’s no spring chicken and it was a great achievement.

There were swimmers doing Swim the Channel Up North, swimmers doing a mile on the hour every hour and some doing longer distance relays. Gareth was in another league though, he swam the entire twelve hours, he didn’t get out he just swam. His brother in law was there to throw drinks and sustenance to him every four laps. I cannot even begin to know how he achieved that. I feel like I’ve done an endurance challenge but his is off the scale. But….we all rose to the challenge and even I, the weakest link, did what I set out to do. We were all amazing.

What a night. I’m shattered now, but I’m thinking about the next challenge….

So…thank you to Uswim for hosting the event, Dave and Karen are so supportive and encouraging. Thank you to the safety team who kept a careful eye on us all. Thank you to all the swimmers who smiled, cheered and encouraged and especially to Nicola, Tina, Jackie, Cath, Zoe and Heather.