On Saturday 12th September I completed the Great North Swim, a one mile swim across Lake Windermere, with my father-in-law Jim Ledger.
My chosen charity was Water For Kids http://waterforkids.org.uk/, a charity providing clean water for children in a number of countries across the globe.
On to the weekend itself...
After a gruelling four and a half hour drive up through the Friday rush hour traffic and Cumbrian roadworks on the M6, we reached my Auntie's house in the Lake District, to sit down to a welcome plate of chili and rice, to build up those carbs for the next morning....oh, and a tasty pint of home-brewed ale.
We were up at the crack of dawn to witness a thick layer of fog crawling across the lake, which was visible from the bedroom window. The drive to the starting line only took ten minutes or so, and we wandered around the Swim Village. I decided my goggles were at great risk of leakage and didn't fancy an assortment of pondlife swimming across my eyes, so purchased some fancy proper open water goggles. As it was absolutely freezing, Jim and I also invested in a neoprene hat each to keep us warm. Then it was time to celebrity-spot. Dr Hilary Jones and the Sports Minister bloke were in our race, and I also saw Steve McFadden. Lisa Scott Lee was also there, but I couldn't make her out in the crowd of hats and wetsuits.
The fog hadn't lifted, so we were allowed to aclimatise. It was straight in at 9am! Jim and I hung back to enter the water last, as it was timed on the chip rather than who crosses the line first. Also, this gave a chance for Mum to try and work Dad's camera!
As for the swim itself - I didn't really feel the cold (I think the neoprene solved that), my goggles didn't leak or steam up, and the only annoying thing was swimmer number 123 zigzagging across me front crawl. I stuck to breast stroke, only breaking into a bit of crawl on the final straight. The swim was hard work though - seemed to last for ages, there were people getting in your way, the reeds came up around me at the halfway stage, the waves were pretty fierce for the last quarter especially, and visibility was difficult. However, the atmosphere was fantastic - I could hear the brass band playing, people were cheering, and everyone was in good spirit. Crossing the line was fantastic, the sense of achievement, and I had beaten my aim of completing in under 40 minutes. My time was 33 mins, 25 seconds - I was chuffed to bits with this time. Jim also beat his target of 40 mins, by around 36 seconds, so great credit to him too. We'd put the training in, and it had paid off.
The only thing now is to beat the time in 2010!! That Swim will be on 4th September, same time, same place.
However, prior to that, the 2009 swim highlights will be on Channel 4 at 8am on Sunday 13th December. Look out for us - we were in the first swim, light blue hats (and we're the only 2 people with neoprene hats beneath them! so we have material over our chins). We had matching silver/blue/black wetsuits (I know, cute eh?) and were behind Dr Hilary Jones when he was interviewed - although I will stress he both overtook him during the swim!!
Thanks again for all the donations, it certainly made sure we completed the Swim, and it's a driving force for us to do it again next year, knowing that we can raise money for a valuable cause.
Thanks
Tim (and Jim)
