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
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