Level Water is a charity that helps give children with disabilities the opportunity to learn to swim. From physical development to social and emotional confidence, swimming is a vehicle to change their lives for the better. To make this happen and create long lasting impact, we know it can’t be done in isolation

Swimming should be for everyone - so grateful for your help in supporting their work.

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Update: 15th September

The weather conditions meant the organisers had to take the correct but difficult decision to cancel the event - so I have not swum the Dart 10km this year.

I have thought about the generosity of all of you who have so kindly donated to this excellent charity - and of the many hours I have trained for this event and decided you would agree that we should donate the money raised.

I will - however - commit to entering Dart 10km 2026 and complete this challenge to honour the 'contract'.

I am the winner here - by learning about this open water swimming community, from the overwhelming support from friends and family and work colleagues and from leaning into something new and slightly scarey.

I will carry on....

Nicola

Update 6th July - 10 weeks to go -

The Open Water Swimming bit....

So I have moved from the pool to the lake with a few foray's to the sea - to get used to 'dark water' swimming.

I have been indebted to the kind help at the Heron Lake (a NOWCA venue), Manley Mere (another NOWCA venue) and the very excellent Shepperton Open Water venue.

I have resolved the wetsuit chafing issues by dint of liberal quantities of vaseline and acclimatisation. I have absorbed words of wisdom from a verteran Dart (and other distance) swimmer - on sighting and my (very poor) swim technique - thank you Mike S.

And I have swum and swum in rectangles, triangles, loops and squares to build up time and distance.

Once over my initial apprehension I am enjoying swimming in open water - and whilst I am deeply grateful for the use of my local pool I would swim in 'dark water' out of preference any time over the pool.

I completed a 2 hour sea swim at the weekend - in quite choppy conditions -and even enjoyed that. My final run in to the Dart will comprise widening my donation circle, trying to improve my technique (and hence speed) and adding a few longer 3 hour swims into the mix.

I am deeply grateful to all of you who have donated to this very excellent cause - and for the few anonymous and folk I couldn't identify and thank in person - merci beaucoup.

Next update - will be - I hope - a post race report.

Thank you all - N

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I thought I would update on my progress since January 1st when I started my preparation (I wouldn't dignify my activities as 'training') and what I have learned so far - in no particular order!

1) Proper swimmers - those that glide effortlessly through the water at twice the speed as the rest of us (regardless of physique/age/gender) - apparently call us 'non-swimmers' Aquapotomuses. I rather like this and have embraced the term.

2) If you use the swim cap your son had 10 years ago - it will repeatedly fall off - this will if nothing else confirm your status as a Aquapotomus - buy a new one.

3) If you look hard enough its possible to get a pair of swim goggles that doesn't leave you looking like a panda bear after 10 lengths - but persist (and different ones suit different faces). Don't tighten them too much.

4) Holy Moly the chafing from wetsuit collar is grim and you don't notice until you get out of the water. Literally blood - I have bought a collar thing which goes under the wetsuit round the neck (which I will be wearing to the Rocky Horror Show tonight - yes its like that) which has solved the problem.

5) You see some extraordinary sights in the pool - why the bra drifting along the bottom? is a sort of fractal wiggle dance movement of the hand after the catch what we are supposed to be doing? what is the purpose of flippers and swimming sideways? etc etc. I am sure my fellow swimmers are wondering what a large Aquapotomus is doing in their lane in a voluminous swimming costume and no hat...... but okay.

6) To help get your elbow UP and in line rather than flailing outwards repeatedly bash your hand on the lane rope (more blood) - its cured that particular problem to be fair.

7) It is possible to swim through cramp (even if you have to pause and release it) - I know this I swam 6 km this morning 3 of them with cramp.

8) A baggy old swimsuit retards your progress - knocked 8 seconds off my 100m pace by wearing something a little less like a parachute for no extra effort - brilliant!.

And finally - you have all been VERY generous - and the money raised is fantastic and I would like to raise a bit more - most grateful for your help.

I am working very hard - and will do another update with the fuller joys of the Open Water training (err preparation) that will follow in the next few months.

Thank you all N

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