On Saturday 5 September 2020, 10.5 miles, 15 degrees, 7.5 hours and 12,712 strokes later, I swam Lake Windermere. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! I actually swam Lake Windermere!! I'm so so happy I can say that because there were plenty of times when I wasn’t sure I’d make it. What an adventure! So, the adventure, henceforth to be …
Author: channelswimmingmum
100 days of Lockdown
A whole 100 days... Or thereabouts. And what a roller-coaster! Some days it doesn’t feel that long. A lot of days it feels like forever. On the bleak days I have cried a fair bit, seriously missed my friends and family and church family, worried about food running out, wanted to throw anything to do …
This is going to hurt
So, 2020!! First blog of the new year, of the new decade in fact, and I can now say that NEXT year is the big swim. It felt so far away at first and now it feels a bit too soon! Eek! It has been strange to have a goal so far away. I'm usually …
Why? Part III
A couple of weeks ago I completed my first official swim event - the stunning Dart 10K - and it was amazing! Since then I have been nursing the mother of all ear infections and I haven't been allowed to swim - so sad!! But 2 lots of antibiotics, 3 lots of ear drops, some …
The Windfarm
Well, I have started writing this blog at least 5 times! I thought I was low on time before the summer holidays but over the last six weeks pretty much the only ‘alone time’ I’ve had is when I’ve been asleep! But, the kids are back at school and I have some daytime, so, without …
Foundations
At the start of the year, my gung-ho swimming plan was to jump in the pool and swim for longer and longer periods of time each week. I was regularly swimming for 1h30m and covering 4500m. It was tough, it was good and I was about to push for 2 hours and 6000m. But with …
Snugg
Up until now I have been swimming in the sea in ‘skins’ - just my swimming costume, goggles and a rather attractive swim hat! The brighter the better! Lols! This is the first time I have swum all year round in skins and, honestly, it is amazing! So exhilarating and wild and free! I know …
Why? Part II
So, part deux, maybe not quite as upbeat as part one, because life doesn’t always go how you expect or hope hey? Let’s face it, things can go wonky in my house before 7.30am in the morning! Lols! Anyway... In early 2017 me and the husband had some ‘talks’ and decided to go for baby …
Why? Part I
So, the thing I have been asked most since announcing my Channel swim is... Why? Why would I swim all that way? Why not take a ferry? WHY??!! My short answer is; I love to SWIM, I love an ADVENTURE, I want to INSPIRE people, and I want to FUNDRAISE for the local children's hospital, …
It’s official!
All was quiet in the early hours of Christmas Eve morning; babes and husband sleeping in their beds while I got ready to work my last shift before Christmas and, you know, finalise my Channel swim! Lunch packed, uniform ironed and deposit paid, I wrote this little message for my family to wake up to. …