**update - 1 day out**

A lot's happened since the last post, the evening after posting which I managed to fall over in a bizarre way and quite badly damage one of my ribs! Not a full break but I've been feeling it click around in there and my word it smarts.

That really hindered the last 2 weeks' training, so I'm relying on the residual fitness to get me through the distance. I swam without the rib actually stopping me on Tuesday night, so that's all the reassurance I need to take it on.

On the swim itself, because of sewage discharge and quite brutal weather, everybody signed up is on tenterhooks about whether it's going ahead. Currently the Saturday swim (my swim) is about 35% chance of going ahead, and the Sunday swim is about 15% chance of going ahead. Brutal to try to get into the right headspace to do an even harder swim against the elements when there's also a likelihood it's going to be cancelled, but that's what happens with events like this! Mike my coach has given me some good techniques and scripts and all I can do now is eat a lot of pasta, pack my back and get down there.

Whatever happens, see you on the other side!

**update - 20 days out**

Rough week last week with my first earache of this year - knocked me for six and the pause in training gave me a bit of a crash that I had to manage, but I got through it and jumped back in yesterday for my first swim back down London Fields Lido which has become my new home pool!

Today I had a good sea swim against the currents which felt like the right training 3 weeks out - the waves and drag were tough work and I think they'll be harder than the dart - my heart rate was sitting at 150bpm when it's normally at 130bpm on a distance swim. This week should be the last really tough one of the training before working on cold and flexibility for the last run in.

Absolutely blown away to hit my target today, thank you so much to everyone that's donated. This is such an incredible cause and I'm really touched that so many people have bought into it.

**update - 1 month out**

Hitting a good stride getting consecutive long long swims in, and as such hitting new milestones - first 18km total distance inside 7 days (ever?) some great new lidos (Parliament Hill 200ft, Tooting Bec 300ft) and my first trip to the hampstead ponds this week for a splash around. only £100 to go until we're at our target which is mind blowing, really looking forward to kicking on and getting into it!

**update - 6 weeks out!**

Training is going well, averaging about 12-15km a week, but am yet to try 10km in one hit! Saving that for the big day. I'm finding colder and colder places to swim, with parliament hill and tooting bec lidos currently coming up trumps, though a bit of proper wild water will soon show me up even more. It's taking some doing but progress is good. Unexpected change is that despite hours and hours of cardio every week, I haven't lost even one kilo - ya boy's not missing any dinners. I'm hoping the blubber will help me transcend into a full human seal for the big race.

I'm blown away by the donations and am thinking of trying something ostentatious this month to push through the target - thank you all!

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I am training like mad to swim 10km down the River Dart on September 13, in my trunks, no wetsuit. This is a big ask for what is a marathon in swimming terms but I'm going for it as part of a goal to swim 365km this calendar year, which is also on track!

I'm taking on this challenge to raise funds to ensure that children with disabilities have a shot at experiencing the joy and freedom that swimming offers. Swimming for children with disabilities is the biggest unmet need in sport and with a target of £1,500, we can provide 100 swimming lessons for these amazing kids.

Level Water's mission is to harness the transformative power of swimming to enhance the lives of children with disabilities. For many of these children, the water offers a safe haven where they can play and express themselves in ways that may not be possible on dry land. The water takes your weight; it’s a true leveller. It relieves pain and offers freedom and independence that many of these children never experience elsewhere. It is essential that we come together to break down social, economic, and physical barriers to pool access so that every child has the opportunity to learn how to swim and develop a love for the water.

I would love it if you could contribute one or more swimming lessons to this cause - times are tight but this is something I wholeheartedly believe in. Your support can help change lives and create lasting memories for these children.