Tag: swimming

Great North Swim

Here are the Super Seven. We all joined a new WI group (Roe Green WI) last year and since then we have become good friends and share a passion for wild swimming. Ladies put forward suggestions for groups they would be interested in and I said I would take anyone who fancied an introduction to wild swimming up to Redbrook Reservoir. That was the beginning! It didn’t stop at a taster session, it became a regular Sunday swim, with other days thrown in for good measure. On our first visit Jenny, very creatively, made herself a dry robe with a dressing gown sewn into a coat, by the next visit she had bought the real thing. Each week someone would confess to a new purchase and our love of swimming outside where we were at the mercy of the elements grew and grew.

Redbrook Reservoir is up on the Moors. It can be pretty wild up there and we have faced rain, snow and powerful winds. We have got into water that was 2º, we have clung onto towels and clothing to stop it blowing away in mighty gusts that churned the water up like a washing machine and we have managed to get dressed with frozen fingers. Our first few visits were quick dips, but week by week we ventured further and stayed in for longer. All through the Winter we swam wearing our costumes. Neoprene gloves and socks and woolly hats were our only concession to the cold. Our friendship grew over helping each other to get dressed, yelping as we got into cold water, encouraging each other to swim that little bit more, laughing hysterically as the wind blew the water into our faces and going for a well earned breakfast after a swim. The breakfast has become part of our routine on a Sunday, so much so that our table in Crumbles Cafe in Delph is always ready and reserved for us and Andrea knows our order.

It is good to add a bit of a challenge into the mix, as if the cold swims up in Saddleworth weren’t challenging enough. We decided to enter the Greater Manchester Swim in Salford Quays. It isn’t as wild as the moors, but it can be just as daunting. The Super Seven rose to the challenge and went to regular swims with Uswim in Dock 9. Here we upped our distance swimming under the supervision of the fabulous Uswim Team. The Greater Manchester Swim was on a gloriously hot, sunny day in May and we loved it.

We loved it so much that we decided to book the Great North Swim in Windermere….maybe with a little persuasion from me! We swam regularly in Redbrook and the Quays in readiness and before we knew it the adventure was upon us.

We booked into the YHA in Windermere for the Friday night. Jenny and Suzanne drew the short straws for the top bunks in the rooms. It was clean, comfortable and ninety percent of those staying there were doing the swim on the Friday, Saturday or Sunday so we had a good time chatting with swim loving people. As we tried to sleep a storm raged above us. The Lakes are renowned for rain, but this was on a biblical scale. It poured and poured, the thunder roared, the lightening lit up the sky and then it raged and roared again and again. It didn’t seem possible that so much water could fall for so long…but it did. By the time we went for breakfast it seemed to have abated and we could see the seemingly calm water of Windermere in the distance.

We looked out with trepidation but also excitement. This was it. We prepared well with a good breakfast and hoped the rain had stopped for good.

The swim attracted nearly eight thousand swimmers over the weekend and it was buzzing by the time we arrived. Some early waves had already set off on their swims and some of the swim runners were out too. We heaved our bags onto our backs and set off to register and then….the heavens opened.

It was bouncing off the ground, you could almost have a practise swim in the puddles. Then the thunder crashed and the lightening sparked. The wave that had just set off was stopped and the water was evacuated. Safety is always paramount, but we had everything crossed that we would get to swim. Everyone huddled under shelter and we waited.

We watched the rain ease off and then they announced things could restart. There was a delay on races but we didn’t care, we were going to swim….hurrah!

We braved the benches that were sinking in the soggy ground and waited for our waves to be announced. We were in three different times. Margaret, Jenny, Anne Marie and Suzanne were the white wave……they set off to the changing tent with butterflies in their stomachs but well prepared and excited to face Windermere.

As I set off to get ready for my red wave half an hour later, I passed the girls as they were about to go through to the warm up….and that were still smiling…just!

We all have timing chips on our ankles, we have a wrist band with our number on and our hats also have our swim number on. We were checked in on the automated timing mats and then we went through to the swim area. You have the chance to acclimatise and get in the water for a few minutes, which I did as I swam only in a costume. As it was a mile swim the girls had opted to wear their wetsuits. I had kept my fingers crossed that I could go skins as I don’t think I can still fit in my wetsuit. The policy at the Great Swim is that you can only go skins if the temperature hits 15º, which it did, thankfully.

There is a motivational moment before you get in where they get you to limber up and ready your muscles. A rousing talk from the organiser, encouragement from a guest speaker and then it is all very real. A mighty cheer from the spectators, a mighty cheer from the swimmers and then the countdown….and we were off.

The eager beavers who are out to rush in and race off chasing fast times went at the front. As they powered themselves off with a splash of energy the rest of us eased down the matting until we touched the stoney floor and flung ourselves into Windermere. We had all been shown the course, with the half way buoy bobbing somewhere in the murky distance. As I had said to the girls, take it one buoy at a time. We kept the buoys on our right and swam. Some were breast stroke swimmers, some were crawl….I did a bit of both. There were safety kayakers all the way along the course and they were absolutely brilliant. They cheered us on as they kept a careful eye on every swimmer, it all makes you feel very safe as you head out into the middle of Windermere.

It certainly was a challenging swim. There were lots of leaves in the water that had been battered down by the storm and every time you touch something like that you have that millisecond of aaaaargh! Breathing becomes something that you actually have to think about. The cold can make you gasp a bit, the waves that hit you in the face can take you by surprise and the vastness of the water can make you breathe at a different rate. The adrenalin is pumping and if you wear ear plugs as I do you hear every rasping breath you take echo round your head. It takes a conscious effort to regulate your breathing and ease into the swim. This is a challenge in itself, especially for those doing their first swim. Once you have your breathing under control it is the muscles that you feel next. Arms and legs pushing through the waves and chest muscles controlling the deep breaths. You become aware of your whole body. The tingling fingers as they cool down in the water, the shoulders as they power through the strokes and the feeling of being both a part of the world around you and at the same time a minuscule dot in the vastness of nature.

One buoy at a time I swam on. I turned at the half way marker and swam across choppier water but it wasn’t until I headed back towards the finish that I realised how choppy the water was. I was heading straight into the wind which made it much more difficult and I had to regain my breathing again. With the half mile buoy behind me it was through gritted teeth that I forged ahead. One buoy at a time. When I saw the two triangular buoys that marked the beginning of the end I had that extra surge and plowed ahead.

As I got out of the water it was time for Ruth and Louise to do their swim.

I got dressed and headed to the spectator area to cheer them on. Their smiles before the swim were even bigger after their swim.

We all felt fantastic. The sun had actually winked at us between clouds and the storms were something we laughed about. We had done it and the sense of achievement was enormous.

Wherever you looked there were swimmers proudly wearing their t-shirts and medals.

We certainly put the WI in sWImming!

Our motivational cans! Full fat coke helps to kill any yucky stuff from the water after a swim.

And now to look to the next challenge……………

Baltic in the Baltic

Sometimes we all need to challenge ourselves, to leave our comfortable lives behind and to do something that puts us outside our comfort zone. The size of the challenges will vary from person to person. What is a challenge to one person is the norm to another, as we all differ so do the challenges we face.

I swim outdoors all year, I swim in sun, rain, wind, snow…but I took on a swim that was a challenge for me. I entered the International Polish Winter Championship 2025….GWSC – Gdynia Winter Swimming Cup. It was two days of racing in the icy waters of the Baltic Sea. I really was baltic in the Baltic.

The event took place at the Marina, but as an introduction to the Baltic I had a pre-competition dip in the choppy sea from the beach. Oh my, it was cold. The wind was blowing a hooley and the waves were vicious. I had travelled with my swim buddy, Victoria, and we met up with Karen and Dave…QSwim Adventure…and fellow USwim members Val, Amy and Julie.

We didn’t wear our neoprene gloves in preparation for the competition where we were not allowed them. The cold was ferocious on our fingers and toes, but we did it. I hadn’t been brave enough at home to go without and I was relying on Adrenalin to help me endure the pain. I emerged with all digits still intact and I felt amazing. This was what I had flown out to Poland for, the challenge and the excitement, for the chance to step outside my comfort zone. Once I had dipped in the Baltic I felt the adventure had truly begun.

Friday afternoon was registration. We picked up our swim passports which gave our swim times. This was it, we were ready, we were nervous, we were excited.

Saturday! Oh Lordy, this was the start. We met at the marina and shared pastries in the hope that some calories would boost our fight against the cold and give us a surge of energy….or maybe just distract us from the nerves.

Val, Amy, Julie

Half an hour before our events we went into the changing tent. The one paltry heater wasn’t quite enough to warm us but the nerves were jingling enough to distract, until….we were called and walked to the ‘hot bus’. The wind was brutal as we stepped outside and it made the air temperature about -11. I was only swimming 25m but in those conditions it was challenging.

The hot bus was a lovely, warm interim. We waited until called and then we were led out to our lanes.

It made you feel quite special to have your name announced to the crowds. The breakwater and the lane barriers ensured flat water even though the wind whipped around us. The crowd were cheering but all we thought about was having to get in 3° water quickly. The rules were quite strict and we only had five seconds for each instruction. As we lined up the first announcement…Take off your clothes…robes and shoes were put in the boxes and carried round to the finish for us. Crikey, it was cold. It was an intense cold that felt very different to the coldness of Manchester. Get in the water. Five seconds to climb down the ladder, hold on with one hand and dip the shoulder of the other arm in the Baltic. Go. Swim swim swim. It was freezing but there was no time to think or worry about the cold. My hands hurt but I just swam. My feet went numb but I just swam. It was a relief to slam my hand on the board at the end and that was it. We had done it.

Me and Victoria

I felt incredible. What an absolute buzz. I felt I could do anything, but most of all I knew I could get through the three events I had on Sunday.

Me, Julie, Karen,Val, Amy, Dave and Victoria

We all have our own challenges, mine was 25m on the Saturday. Dave swam 100m and won his heat easily, but Amy was an inspiration as she swam The Baltic Beast…1km. That’s 40 lengths in 3° in just a swimming costume and a swim hat. It was a privilege to watch her compete, she is a beautiful swimmer. My swim was 25m breaststroke and I couldn’t have water going over my head which was great as I didn’t want the brain freeze, but Amy was swimming freestyle. She cut through the water as sleekly as an otter and won her heat beautifully.

There were two mobile saunas which we warmed up in after the swims. When Amy had completed her swim and had all her layers and her dryrobe on she then went in the sauna…and still shivered!

Sunday was bathed in sunshine, but the water temp had dropped under 3º. We were nervous but had the confidence that we had already experienced the water. I had three events throughout the day and it started with the 50m breaststroke race. I actually came third in my age group….that was a win for the oldies!

50m is not a long distance, but when I turned for the second lap I could feel my fingers freezing, I thought a toe or two might have sunk to the bottom of the Baltic and the cold was trying to snatch my breath. I had a deep respect for Dave and Amy who had swum lap after lap, they really were amazing.

With the first race under our belts, Val, Julie and I had big grins in the sunshine. We sat in the sauna to warm up but I don’t think my toes….I double checked and I still had ten…ever thawed out throughout the day. We had some soup and prepared ourselves for event number two…the fancy dress fun swim.

We had decided on a Victorian swimsuit and Dave went as Captain Webb to celebrate the 150th anniversary of his Channel swim. We had made more effort than anyone else so everyone cheered us, everyone wanted photos and we felt fabulous. There was no pressure to race and we just enjoyed the swim.

We absolutely loved the attention and as we had our photos taken afterwards we didn’t notice the cold. Eventually we did have to warm up though, so it was back to sauna….with huge grins on our faces. We were the celebrities of the moment….and quite rightly we won the prize for the best costume!

The last event was the relay. There had to be a mix of sexes and so Julie was our first swimmer, followed by Val, then me and our fastest swimmer, Dave was fourth. There were some super teams who finished all their laps in half our time, but we had fun.

The championships were over, what an amazing experience it was. There were swimmers from all over the world, I sat in the sauna and chatted with a lady from Argentina, there were swimmers from Latvia, Austria, Holland, Belgium and elsewhere. Some were world champions, some were there for the experience like us. It didn’t matter about age, experience or ability as there was an event for everyone. We had a blast and were already talking about ‘next year’.

The whole experience was a challenge, it was rewarding and it was done alongside amazing friends. The cold was unbelievable but we overcame our fears and embraced everything. If anyone is thinking of entering this or similar events I can recommend it. If I can do it then so can you!

I can truly say….I WAS BALTIC IN THE BALTIC.