Ullswater Epic Mile Swim

Sunday 14th July was upon me and after a good breakfast of scrambled egg and whole meal toast we ste off to Glenrididng, where the race would be held. Man and his kids came too, as did Mhairi's family (we opted to leave the dogs at home!  Don't think it would have gone down too well with Flirt following me around the course...)

Friends Will and Jill came to picnic and watch too, as did my sister Claire and nephew Oliver who had camped locally the night before. The kids soon stripped off and headed into the lake to paddle - the weather was perfect. Bright sun, blue skies, and not a ripple on the lake. There was already a party atmostphere, and we arrived just as the 3.8km race was finishing.

We went to register and disappointingly realised that as there were 400 nearly in our event, we had been put into seperate waves - there were 3 in total for the mile. Mhairi would go off first, with me in the second one closing after. After my initial sulk, I realised that realistically we wouldn't be able to swim together anyway, so I manned up!

Before race

Wetsuits were donned, half way up, and we headed over to the start/finish line for our briefing. I rutched myself into my wetsuit, put my shiny green race hat on, and inched my way one-by-one into the race pen. The water was so warm, you almost didn't need a wetsuit on. I gave Mhairi a hug and we wished each other good luck, and got into our wave positions. The organiser then started us off with a rendition of God Save the Queen, which could be heard all over the lake someone later told me, and the hooter went and we were off. My wave set off about 20 seconds after the first one, and I was launched headfirst into a cauldron of arms, legs, heads, hands, feet. Man - it was madness! I eventually found myself a bit of clear water and went for it, and gradually inched my way through the maddening crowd!

The first buoy was at the opposite shore, and we turned right and swam past the cows on the shore. By the time I had turned at the second buoy and started my way down the long length (think of a rectangle) I was feeling great, and had got into my rhythm. I had overtaken a lot of green caps, and none had overtaken me so far, and as I looked ahead, all I could see were pink caps from the first wave. There were some nice boats moored up, I can remember thinking!

When I reached the bottom of the straight, my arms were starting to burn, and I had had a peek to see where the finish was - not so far! As I rounded the buoy a green cap got in my way and tried to swim over the top of me! I wasn't happy - so i sped up and we ended up having a sprint finish together to the finish. It was a man (of course) and by the time I got myself upright in the shallows and my legs stopped wobbling, he had finished. I made it up the gantry and over the line, and saw my two boys and my sister and nephew. I'm not ashamed to admit I did have a little cry. I thought of my mum all around the race, and how proud she would be of me - and do you know what, i could have got in the water and done it all again if she'd asked me to.

The finish line

Back at base camp, man was there - he didn't come and support me over the line of course, and Will had a nice cold beer waiting for me. Some people are more considerate than others!

I stripped out of my wetsuit and dove in the lake - heaven! I got my breath back, had a bit of a picnic, then went home and had a good old session with friends in the pub!

The changing room!

Thank you to all my friends and family who have supported and sponsored me throughout my Wannabe Wild Swimmer adventure (not including Man here, had he has done neither), and a special thank you to Mhairi - I have enjoyed every minute, thank you for being there for me.

Just under £600 raised for the Stroke Association - job well done.

Can't wait for next year!

Day 10 in the Lake

We had our last swim in the lake on Thursday morning - perfect conditions - except trying to get our wetsuit on in 30 degrees heat. No fun in that!

My sister Jo was visiting and she was put in charge of bags, dogs, camera. No wonder she looked nervous. She hadn't met Daisy the Nutter before.

When we got in the water and set off I saw fish for the first time - brown with spots? Anyone? We swam out to the red buoy and round the headland. It was an easy last swim. I felt well prepared and Mhairi had had a hard weeks training due to a triathlon event she was competing in this weekend in Liverpool. Calm down calm down!

When we turned to head back we had company -  the dogs joined us! They swam all the way back round the headland with us, bless them. Flirt has never been so fit - i'm sure she has webbed feet now!



Me and Mhairi

I feel so ready for the event on Sunday - so in the unlikely event that a giant eel grabs me, I should be able to complete it and be proud of my achievement. I feel quite emotioanl actually, and I think that is for a variety of reasons:

1) I am proud of myself for committing to it, especially as I'm going through some personal challenges at the moment. Swimming has put a smile on my face, when quite frankly some days I have just felt like bawling.

2) I am lucky to have found such a good friend in Mhairi who has given me nothing but encouragement and has inspired me to train, swim faster and harder. She must have the patience of a saint!

3) I feel fitter and healthier than I have done in a long long time. I have lost almost a stone in 5 weeks, and I am doing the 5:2 fasting way of eating too - so I think a combination of exercise and healthy eating has done it. (I would definately recommend 5:2 WOE to anyone!) I am getting into clothes I haven't worn for ages - I knew there was a reason I kept hold of them! I no longer veg on the sofa at night - well not til about 9/10pm anyway. I exercise!

After - Before. Not sure if I look any different actually!

And 4) most importantly I feel emotional because I am doing this for my mum, and to raise money for the Stroke Association. If the money I raise can stop this happening to one other person so that they and their family don't have to go through what we have and still do go through, then it is worth it.

I'm going to share a bottle of wine with Babs this evening, and Saturday will be a quiet one - I will NOT be swayed! Then down to Glenridding for about 11am; it's a British theme so we'll be proudly flying our Union Jacks, eating cucumber sandwiches and drinking Pimms (afterwards!) Then I might just let my hair down on Sunday night? What do you reckon?! And if you've nowt to do on Sunday, why not pop down to Glenridding and say hello! Bring a flag!!

Thank you for all your sponsorship so far. if you haven't had a chance yet, please click HERE! www.justgiving.com/Moira-Dudson

Many thanks, and I'll be back on Monday to report on my swim! (Unless a giant eel gets me...)

Day 9 in the Lake

We headed down to the Lake on Sunday (7th July) to hit the mile mark again. Flirt, Daisy, Harvey and Mayson (Mhairi's son and other half) came along. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and there wasn't a ripple on the lake. Unfortunately, every man and his dog and kayak had also headed down there. Half the population of Britain must have been at Pooley Bridge - seriously! And why wouldn't they head there? Spectacular scenery, water, and fun for all the family.

I tied Flirt up with strict instructions to Mayson not to let Flirt off until we were out of sight. Mhairi stressed - umpteen times- that we must sight lots. (I guess she thinks I don't sight much!) This was to avoid the yachts, dinghies, canoes, kayaks, steamers, dogs, kids and fishing lines. We would head out to the red buoy and then keep close to shore, so we didn't get in the way of the regatta (which didn't much look fun as no wind!) And we would swim out 0.5 miles and then back 0.5 miles. Sounded good to me. I was feeling good!

We waded in, and all I could hear was Flirt yelping - obviously not impressed she was being left behind! We negotiated the group of kids in canoes, the family fishing on the shore, and set out to the red buoy. God it felt good! I was freeee! Then left towards Parkfoot campsite, and then Waterside. We stopped briefly for Mhairi to check distance, and we had swum 0.42 miles. On we went, and just as I was swimming over what looked like train tracks on the lake bed, we had reached 0.5 miles. We bobbed for 10 seconds, then turned about and headed back to shore.

We were side by side one minute, then the next all I could see were Mhairi's toes. She had upped the tempo! I kicked to catch up, cursing her under my breath as I gulped in air. I stayed with her, and we bypassed the red buoy and didn't stop, and then started to swim into shore. I made it into the shallows, and pulled up, to see Mhairi laughing! 'Did you enjoy that?' she yelled. I won't type the names I called her. She thought it was hilarious! The good news was, I had swum a mile in 29 minutes!!!!! Whoa-ho cowboy!! Not bad. In fact, having googled last years Ullswater epic event, I would've been 4th female in the age 40 group over the line!!

I was shattered all day- but soon felt energised again after watching Andy Murray win Wimbledon. Wowser! My 5:2 fasting is going really well too. On the days I fast when I swim, I feel incredible - apparently a side effect of fasting. I've lost 4kg, I have a waist again, and feeling great!

2 more swims to go until the event, and I really cannot wait! I am so excited. Please please please sponsor me if you haven't already, and help me achieve my £500 target sponsorship for the Stroke Association.

www.justgiving.com/Moira-Dudson

Day 8 in the Lake

So last night (Thursday 4th July) was my 8th swim,and Mhairi and I planned to go down to the lake with no kids, men or dogs, so we just concentrate on swimming, and not panic about dogs/kids drowning and men getting bored. I was determined to go all out and swim a whole mile, just to make sure I could actually do it!

I was fasting yesterday, so I had to make sure I had eaten enough before we swam, as I didn't want to flake out in the middle of the lake. As we didn't leave Greystoke til nearly 7pm, I'd had a nana nap and actually by the time we got to the lake I really didn't feel like swimming...

The lake when we finished

BUT - on went the wetsuit, and seriously it honestly isn't any easier getting it on. We decided we would swim left out past Parkfoot and Waterside campsites and then come back, past the red buoy all the way across to the pink buoys by Pooley Bridge pier and see how far all that was.

Man it was cold!! We'd only swam a couple of minutes when Mahiri pulled up sharply. 'What's up?' I shouted. 'That bird!' she yelled back. Wtf? I looked at the shore, which was only about 6-7 yards away and there was some kind of bird perched at the waters edge. Looked like a mini vulture, and Mhairi was convinced it was going to pounce as we swam by! We got by it unscathed and I managed to get all the way to Waterside without stopping. Mhairi had bought me a different pair of goggles, as I was sick of swimming with one eye shut, and they were spot on.

I actually felt... what's the word??? FAN-BLOODY-TASTIC! I couldn't believe how good I felt, like a fish, streamlined and smooth, breathing easily. We turned back at Waterside and went all the way across to the pier, stopping at the red buoy to see how far we'd done. Unfortunately Mhairi's watch wasn't picking up satellite signal (how far things have come on eh?!) and it wasn't picking up our metres, goddammit! It said we had only swum 0.87 of a mile, when we had clearly swum more than that! We set back off, having bobbed about for earth to mars to connect, and I managed all the way to the pier. You know, I felt like I could've swam all night! We decided to head back in and see how far we'd done then. I really pushed myself, so was steaming by the time we got back to the shore.

Nice men in tight wetsuits...

0.87 miles.... Phht! I had no choice but to keep going. I wasn't getting out until the watch ticked over the 1.0 mile mark. By this point there were other swimmers in the lake, so we had to watch out for them. It was a busy little pool last night! We headed back out to the red buoy, which is about 200m out from the shore. Once there we noticed other swim hats bobbing about, and stopped to chat to 3 men who were having a rest. Niceties over, we headed back in, and hallelujah, we had swum 1.08 miles. I was elated!!



'I managed a mile!' face

While we dried off, the 3 men we had chatted to out in the lake, came in, and untied their dog from the fence. We commented that had we tied our dogs up like that, the dogs and the fence would be half way round the lake by now!  Now, I am not one to ogle, but they were obviously very fit lads, and I'm just saying that they did look good in their wetsuits. We didn't hang around to see if they had anything under them. Mhairi wanted to, but I didn't....

This open water swimming malarky is quite good fun! Next swim is on Sunday. The forecast is awesome, so really looking forward to that.

You can sponsor me by clicking on here - www.justgiving.com/Moira-Dudson

or text MDUD68 £(amount) to 70070. All money raised will go direct to the Stroke Association. Many thanks x

Day 7 in the Lake

The route! 1 mile is the full circuit...

Epic Swim minus two weeks (Sunday 30th June)- we had planned to do a mile in the lake with some other swimmers, this time getting in from the opposite side to where we normally swim. However, having driven past the lake from Patterdale that afternoon, and having experienced the wind all afternoon at the Ullswater Show and seen the size of the white horses on the waves, I messaged Mahiri and said 'Not on your Nelly!' Her reply was 'It might be windy on the day!' Me - 'I don't care - not getting in that!' Anyway, we decided that it was indeed too windy to go in without safety boats (thank the lord) and opted to go in on Monday instead, at 3.30pm.

I changed in to my costume at work, to spare my modesty at the lake, and was concerned I had a major VPL, as I had to dash to Aldi first. Half way to Aldi, Mhairi texted to say the lake was still very choppy, but as the wind was supposed to die down by 6pm, we decided to go later. Great. That meant trotting around Aldi in my cossie for nothing! I felt 10 years old again, and couldn't help wonder where my knickers were...

My man had left for Bridlington to work that morning at 3.30am, and I hadn't really gotten back off to sleep, so it was a struggle to keep going til 5.30pm. In fact, I didn't sit down. Prepared supper and pottered about, as I knew once I stopped that would be it. Swim over. I was talking my 15 year old son Nick into coming down to the lake with us, and we could take the dogs to have a play. You would honestly think I had asked him to chop his right arm off and eat it bit by bit the faces he pulled.

I intervened and asked his friend Olivia to come too, as he obviously wasn't capable of doing it on his own, so off we set, 2 swimmers, two teenagers and two dogs (Noah's Ark...?!), with a bribe of a can of coke for the kids afterwards - easy pleased!

After an initial kerfuffle of Flirt and Daisy not wanting to leave us, and running back along the shore before we'd even set off, Olivia and Nick managed to get them under control (of sorts). We did our usual route - red buoy, Waterside, red buoy, pink buoys and back around the boats and in. 0.7 miles in 22 minutes. Not bad going, and hardly any rest. I was goosed though, and felt the colour of our  mate the red buoy. My back was aching too. The suits are bouyant and I find my feet lift a little higher out of the water than usual, combined with 'sighting' (lifting your head to check you're not going off at a tangent) it makes me more 'banana' shape. More stretching on land me thinks.

Flirt and Daisy enjoy the lake!

That was enough for one night, I still had supper to make and it was 6.45pm by the time we got out and headed home. Thoroughly enjoyable, and had a lovely healthy supper to follow, paprika chicken, stuffed peppers, broccoli and sweetcorn. Mmmmm and zzzzzzzzz!I felt like I had been hit by a bus this morning - Mhairi must have turned the speed up last night! Today I got an email from the event organisers giving all the instructions we needed: briefing times, parking etc etc. The mile swim goes off at 12.30pm, with a deep water start from Glenridding. And it's a British theme - so I must bring a picnic and a Union Jack flag! Hoorah and Tally-ho!

 



Day 6 in the Lake

So, my 6th swim was on Wednesday 26th June - 13 days after I started my epic open water swimming adventure. It feels like I have been doing it forever! Mhairi was back and we enlisted the help of Babs this time, and her teenage daughter Amy, as we also took 3 dogs and 2 kids! Mhiari's (mad) dog Daisy the Labrador came as well as Blue and Flirt, and Mahiri's two kids Hope and Harvey. Not quite sure who was looking after who on the shore, but they were all still there when we got out, which is always a bonus!



This was day 1 - I will post an updated one soon - see if there's any difference!!

It was lovely evening again, and we set off out to the red buoy, along to Waterside - with a little hiccup in the way of Flirty dawg following on behind again around the headland! So we had to swim back with her and get Babs to distract her with a ball so we could escape again. She's going to manage this swim better than me at this rate!

We had a great swim, and managed 0.78 miles in 32 minutes. I feel like I am getting into a good stride, but really need to get a mile under my belt before 'The Swim'. On the plus side Babs' sprained ankle is coming on a treat with the cool water - before we know it we'll have an influx of injured locals paddling the shoreline to reap the benfits of Ullswater's healing waters! The dogs have never been as clean, and combined with my new 5:2 fasting eating habits, i am 'feeeeling fine'!!

Summer evenings have never been so lovely!

Donate to the Stroke Association by sponsoring me at www.justgiving.com/Moira-Dudson

Thanks!

Day 5 in the Lake

So Day 5 in the Lake I had a new swimming partner (not Flirt this time)- well I use the term 'new' loosely, as it was Neil, who swam with me the previous week. He was training for 'A Day in the Lakes' half ironman, and needed a partner, and I did too, as Mhairi was away. So we teamed up and met up at Pooley Bridge, in the car park, stripping off and donning wetsuits. I mean, is it just me that thinks there is something very wrong about that last sentence....

Neil filled me in on his rise to open water swimming, and how he couldn't even do the crawl to begin with, or put his face in the water. I thought 'There's hope for me yet then!' He also has a fancy garmin watch which would tell us how far we had swum, so we set off from Pooley Bridge and headed out to a red buoy first, then towards Waterside campsite. We stopped for a breather, and I had a fiddle with my new googles, which weren't doing what they said on the tin - still leaking! I adjusted my hat and had a brief panic when I dropped an ear plug - but hey - they float! You learn something new every day!

We then began the long haul back towards Pooley Bridge and the steamer pier, where two pink buoys sit. Man, that feels like a loooong swim! But, it's good to get a bit of distance in, and I can tell I am so much fitter, even just after 4 and a half swims! We didn't hang about the pier end, as it's surprising how much colder it is down there. We made our way back to the red buoy, then back in to shore - all in all 0.87 of a mile - the furthest I've managed so far!

I felt like I was beginning to get the hang of this open water swimmimg....

Sponsor me at www.justgiving.com/Moira-Dudson in aid of the Stroke Association.

Many thanks x

Day 4 in the Lake

Sorry for the lapse in blog updates - I've been a busy bee, but am determined to get it all up to date today!!

So on my 4th swim in the lake I had to be brave and 'Go In On My Own!' When I say, 'On My Own' that means I took my friend Babs and our dogs - Flirt the Labradoodle and Blue the Collie, with me to keep me safe from drowning - from the shore. How this was supposed to work I have got no idea, as Babs was fully clothed and doesn't swim. Much. But it made me feel a hell of a lot safer just having her there.

It was a lovely sunny evening and the lake looked stunning. 'Doesn't it make you want to get in?!!' I yelled across to her as I was (still) struggling into my wetsuit. er - NO! she shouted back... Fair enough...  She did paddle, as she has sprained her ankle and the 'cool' water felt nice (think ice bath).

So there was a buoy about 40 yards out, and I decided it probably wasn't the best time to attempt an across the lake swim whilst being on my own, so I opted to swim out to the buoy and back a few times, sprint out, little rest and easy back to shore. In I dove, and set off like the clappers towards the buoy. Once there, I bobbed about for a bit, enjoyed the view and turned around to swim back. I got the shock of my life! About 10 yards away from me was my dog! In proper DEEP water, doggy-paddling like her life depended on it to get to me! I mean that takes separation anxiety to a WHOLE new level! 'You stupid hound!' I yelled, and set off slowly back to shore, with her splish splashing beside me. Babs was standing watching from the shore - not a lot she could do was there?! I had visions of me having to go into lifesavers backstroke mode and tow the dog back. It would have made a lovely picture - me and my swimming partner - move over Mhairi -you're out, Flirt's in!

Flirt didn't seem too bothered by her open water swimming, and she ran off to play with Blue, and left me to get a few more 'lengths' in. I found I was swimmimg into the reflection of the sun in the water, and I have to say, it was a beautiful feeling. I felt so free, and relaxed! I only swam for about 20 minutes, but I was pleased I did it - I could've just as easily not gone as I had no partner. I was feeling pretty damn pleased with myself!

Please don't forget you can sponsor me by clicking on this link www.justgiving.com/Moira-Dudson
 -even just a pound or two. I really want to achieve my target of £500 for the Stroke Association - you can read my story of why I have chosen the Stroke Association on my Just giving page.

Many thanks!

Day 3 in the Lake

Day 3 was hard! Conditions were ok - a bit overcast, a bit of drizzle. And the lake wasn't TOO choppy - that's the first thing I break my neck to look at as we swing round the corner to Pooley Bridge! Mhairi and I had company on Day 3 (Monday 17th June). Neil and Emma both professional like Mhairi.  (Lots better than me anyway!)

We parked in Pooley Bridge car park and decided we'd live dangerously and chance getting away without putting a ticket on the car from the pay and display this time. We agreed we'd split the fine - if we got one! Seeing as we were the only car in the car park at 9.30am we thought the chances of getting caught were pretty slim. Neil and Emma arrived and Mhairi told them about our cunning plan. We'd kind of forgot Neil was a policeman! Oops!

Damn wetsuit seems to be shrinking rather than fitting better. Maybe it was because there were 2 extra people there it made me nervous!

Walking to the Lake I overhead conversations like 'on the bike I use gels', 'the last 3 miles at */?** were the hardest' 'I've a bike and swim to do today' of which I joined in because obviously I was a professional too now as it was my third swim...

It was decided we would swim towards Waterside campsite (!?!) and see how I get on. Ooooookkkaayyy. So we set off and I did ok, except my new googles were leaking and I didn't want to stop after 5 yards so I kept going with one eye shut. The other problem I have at the moment is I need a filling. I have a crater size hole in a back tooth, and when I swim, the cold water gets in and it's like crunching on an ice cube - yes, you know the feeling right. I remedy that by sticking my tongue in the crater. So I was swimming along merrily, with one eye shut and my tongue in my tooth... It's a good job no-one can see me underwater- I'd look like I was trying to gurn at the same time as swimming.

We didn't quite make it to Waterside, but far enough along, to a red buoy. I huffed and puffed for a minute til I got my breath back, then we were off again , this time back the way we came, but past the start point and all the way across towards the steamer pier. What!! Mhairi said 'It's half a mile. You can do it!' Dear God. And I did do it. One eye shut, tongue in tooth - it was great!

Neil and Emma set back of for the red buoy and I decided that was enough for one day, and headed back in. Mhairi's watch said we had swum 0.76 of a mile! How chuffed was I! I was as red as a beetroot mind, and puffing like a steam train but I felt elated. I was actually getting somewhere. When it's the Swim Day, I want to be able to swim all of it without stopping, so I need to be able to get to 1 mile in my training.

I wobbled back to the car, as I was feeling a bit motion sick again - even though I had tried my new ear plugs. I'm sure water got in then the ear plugs trapped it in there! Mm. Keeping an eye on that. Straight home then straight to work - didn't have time for a shower so looked like I'd swam in a lake for the rest of the day, which of course I had!

Don't forget, if you are enjoying the blog, I'm doing The Swim to raise money for the Stroke Association and you can donate by going to www.justgiving.com/Moira-Dudson. My aim is to raise £500.

Many thanks!

Day 2 in the Lake

I have to confess that my first swim in the lake should have been a few Sundays ago, however the sun was shining, and having called in at some friends (Will and Jill) for 5 minutes, I caved in, (after 10 minutes of Jill going 'Have a beer!' and me saying 'NO! I'm going swimming!') to the lure of beer and BBQ and cancelled my swim with Mhairi, much to her (and mine!) disgust. I think her text read something like 'It better be a life or death situation Moira Dudson!', as I left a message for her saying 'Something's come up...!' I wondered how I could make BBQ and beer sound like a life or a death situation.... Anyway, so far that's been my only blip, and I am in fact gagging to be in the lake!

My first dip was Thursday, and my second foray into the Lake was to be the very next day, Friday 14th June (1 month exactly to The Swim). We parked at Pooley Bridge, again to the lull before the storm of tourists, got changed - still a struggle, I hadn't sped up overnight, and strode down to the Lake with a positive spring in my step - till I saw the waves! I felt sick just looking at them. They were huge! Well, you know what I mean, they were bigger than the day before.

Mhairi said we would stay nearer to the shore, where it might be less choppy. That was fine by me - my seasick-ometer was on red alert. In we plunged, cooler than the day before and set off around the boats. I stopped at one point and shouted to Mhairi 'Come and look at this!'. She immediately started backing away and shouting 'No!' It was only a sunken boat, jeez anyone would think it was a dead body or something...!

I couldn't believe how much harder it was to swim with waves. You turn to breathe in and get a mouthful of lake water instead. Not pleasant. My mantra has become 'Don't think about it. Don't think about it' when thinking about the state of the water, the murkiness, the beasties in the water - you get the picture? I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere! I realised if conditions on The Swim Day were like this it wasn't going to be quite as I pictured it -sun shining, friends and family watching whilst enjoying a picnic, maybe even a BBQ, the dog and kids paddling - everyone cheering and waving flags, not a breath of wind, boats gliding lazily across the surface, hands going into smooth, glass like water.... Mmmm.

Reality check. Coupled with this, whenever we stopped I had to make sure I was in shallow water so I could stand up and anchor myself, as I felt really sea sick! We managed to make it over 400 yards this time, and gave up due to the atlantic ocean waves. I staggered back to the car, changed and drove home feeling rotten. This time Mhairi forgot her underwear - I think she just wanted to see how it felt going commando myself. It was later on in the day before the sickness subsided. I decided I needed to take drastic action, as I didn't want the motion sickness putting me off. The next day I purchased ear plugs (apparently it's the cold water in the inner ear that can course motion sickness), and some root ginger capsules (aids digestion and helps with motion sickness - and keeps midges at bay apparently!) I felt confident this would get me back on track.

Here's a video of an open water swim in Buttermere recently - looks awesome! And if that doesn't make you want to have a go - nothing will!!

Buttermere open water swim video

The serious part of this swim is I am going to do it for charity (don't groan!). The plus side being it will give me more motivation to do it, the down side is a) I will probably fall over the finish line a blubbering wreck, and b) it means you have to dig deep. I would like to think I could raise somewhere in the region of £500.

I will be swimming for the Stroke Asscociation http://www.stroke.org.uk/, as those of you who know me, know my mum had a massive stroke 4 years ago, and now needs full time care and is in a home. She was only 66 at the time, and now she can't speak, walk, barely swallow, or do anything for herself, and spends her days in a wheelchair, leaving my dad and myself and two sisters bereft. This could happen to anyone - your mum, dad, brother, sister, partner, friend. By raising money for the Stroke Association, your generosity will help provide support through Life After Stroke or information services, funding pioneering research, campaigning or providing Life After Stroke Grants to help improve the quality of stroke survivors lives.

Visit my Just Giving page to sponsor me www.justgiving.com/Moira-Dudson
You can donate through the Just Giving page, text a donation, or the easy old fasioned way by filling in my sponsor form!

Many thanks!

Day 3 will follow later today!

Day 1 in the Lake

Last year I entered an Epic Swim in the Lake District. And didn't do it. I failed. Miserably. I even talked someone into doing it with me, and they went on to get hooked and completed the swim, leaving me feeling very ashamed and weak willed.

So, I have entered again! The Ullswater Epic Swim on Sunday July 14th 2013 in the Lake District. And this time I WILL do it!! Hence this blog, FaceBook pictures, sponsor form. I figured the more i  get myself out there and let as many people know as possible - I can't possibly fail this time!

I am very lucky to live only 10 minutes drive from Ullswater - it helps -  a few hours drive to a venue would have been another excuse not to do it. My friend Mhairi (experienced triathlete) offered to enter the swim too, and start me off in the lake. I wasn't aware it's a no-no going in on your own. I suppose steamers, currents, cold water, boats may get in the way a bit, and needs more than a quick dynamic risk assessment (I live by dynamic risk assessments - my kids are experts in them - 'Don't jump off that! - what's the WORST thing that could happen?')

First thing I needed was a wetsuit - and the little shorty one I use in Devon for body boarding wasn't going to cut the mustard either. I contacted our local bike shop, owned by friends Sarah and Phil Graham, who also organise the local Tri Club, and checked she had a Mrs Blobby size wetsuit before I showed myself up expecting there to be one. She assured me I wasn't THAT big and that yes she did have plenty 'larger' sizes.  She would get one out for me. So off I went on Saturday morning, leaving Man in the car telling him I wouldn't be long (famous last words....)

We had a heat wave that day, and after Sarah thrust said wetsuit into my arms and instructed me to go and change in the bathroom upstairs, i was sweating profusely before I even got my clothes off.

Let me set the scene....The toilet had no window, 4 foot square and was around 300 degrees hot , give or take a degree or two. I stripped down to my swim cossie (already put on before leaving the house, and reminded me of the days I used to go to the local swim baths as a child with my sisters, a walk of about 3 miles, and I'd wear my cossie because you got in the pool quicker. And then after swimming you realised you'd left your knickers behind and had to walk the 3 miles home commando, holding on to your skirt as the lorries passed you so you didn't flash your bum.)

Sarah said, inch the wetsuit up over your legs and when you get it to waist height give me a shout. Hmmm. Easier said than done. It was like trying to prise myself into a straightjacket 3 sizes too small. By the time I got it to waist height, I was swimming in sweat (which made me think 'I'm gonna have to buy it now I've sweated all over it!'). I burst out of the toilet like a horse out of its starting block. Phil thought it was highly amusing (he's obviously used to over weight middle aged women squeezing into wetsuits in his shop...). Sarah came up and started helping me into the rest of the suit. Arms first, and then made me bend over double to 'hitch it up over my bum'. I explained it was far too small for me and I need a bigger size, but she assured me it was fine. She then demonstrated a gymnastic move to get the zip up the back done up yourself, which I tried and failed, believing I was going to nip my skin with the zip (another childhood memory).

Finally, I was in it, trussed up like a Christmas Day turkey. Sarah spun me around to check it fit, and there were no gaps anywhere. You couldn't have fit a grain of sand in it let me tell you. I was then allowed out of the straightjacket, I mean wetsuit and the relief was palpabble. Mind you, I did comment how it would be great under a dress, like one of those Triumph full bodysuits to hold everything in and avoid muffin tops! Slick with sweat I thanked Sarah, paid my £140 and left, exhausted. I headed back to the car, and needless to say Man wasn't happy - '45 minutes you've been! I thought you were just buying a wetsuit not swimming the lake in it!' If only he knew....'

So my first swim came on Thursday 13th June, and Mhairi filled me in on the do's and don'ts. Don't look down. Do 'sight' properly. Don't hit the bouys. Do breathe to both sides. I mean, I am a good swimmer - swam to county level in my youth (in a pool), and it's like riding a bike right? Just on a different road?

I was really excited! We parked at Pooley Bridge car park, very quiet at 9.30 in the morning fortunately (for those of you who don't know Pooley Bridge, it's like St. Ives in peak season and peak times - full of touroids. Cossie was already on - be prepared! Poured myself into my wetsuit (15 minutes), and then we walked to the lake 5 minutes away, passing the OAPs out for their morning constitutional, who didn't bat an eyelid at us! Either they were blind or are used to seeing people in wetsuits wandering about.

We got to a little sandy bay and put our pink hats on. Not sure if that's so they can see you under water if you drown, or so the steamers can see you and avoid running you over... And in I went! The wetsuit was amazing - you couldn't feel the water, apart from your face, hands and feet. The lake had been a pleasant 17 degrees a few days earlier Mhairi informed me, and I was tempted to believe her. We waded out and set off, around a few boats moored up, and a couple of bouys. I was giddy with excitement! I was doing it, and what's more, I was loving it! The water was quite murky - in fact, very murky - gone was the illusion of crystal clear water, and me fish spotting - 'Ooh look there's a trout!' I've always had an affinity with water - wherever I walk with my dog, it has to be by water, and not just for her benefit. I should have been a Piscies instead of a Virgo! I felt so at home, and it all came flooding back to me. Mhairi showed me how to 'sight', as unlike in a pool, you have no pool ends, lane ropes, floor markers to guide you. It's easy to go off track, wasting energy, and in races, banging into other swimmers, which according to Mhairi, is very annoying!

We rested and bobbed about for a bit, there was a bit of a 'swell' - the wetsuits are quite bouyant, and then swam some more laps - by which time I was huffing and puffing like a steam train - how unfit?! Mhairi has a fancy watch which measures the distance and she informed me we had swum 399 yards....! What?!! I felt like I'd done the Ironman swim distance. I felt a tad deflated after that, but Mhairi said I'd done well. I glowed like a ten year old praised by her teacher. She was impressed I'd put my head straight in, and had gone straight out without flapping. I promised myself I would swim futher next time.

I felt 10 feet tall as we walked past the OAPs back to the car. I wanted to stop them and tell them I'd swum 399 yeard in the lake, didn't they know! I peeled the wetsuit off (15 minutes - I'd have to practice that if I ever want to take up triathlons, as the other athletes would have finished the bike leg while I would be still hopping about one leg in one leg out of wetsuit.) I suddenly realised that i felt a bit queasy - like sea sickness. Now I know I am a seriously bad traveller/passenger - I just need to look at a boat and get sea sick, but come on! I did feel like I'd just got off the Calais to Dover ferry, and didn't quite get my land legs back til later that afternoon.I was going to have get that sorted out.

I dried off, and just as I was going to take my cossie off, I realised I had made the same old school girl error. I'd left my knickers behind. Old habits die hard.

Tune in tomorrow for Day 2 in the lake on Friday 14th June