Why take part in a swim event?

How would you feel about swimming non-stop for an hour? Debs has misgivings, but as a member of our awesome Shep Shifters team for the Level Water Wild Swim Relay at Shepperton in June, she puts them aside to start training.

In the first in a series of blogs about training for this amazing, unique swim challenge, Debs from Somerset shares the beginning of her journey “from a dabbling dipper to a swooshy swimmer!” Over to Debs.

Getting started

Although I was delighted, the call-up for the Outdoor Swimmer magazine team came as a bit of a surprise. My expression of interest was genuine; not only does the event sound amazing and inclusive, but having grown up with a cousin – 6 months younger than me – who was disabled, I know how much swimming had enriched his life and am pleased to be supporting Level Water’s programme to teach swimming to children with disabilities.

As a mostly solo swimmer, what I get from ‘wild swimming’ is the feeling of being at peace in the water and at one with nature, and the opportunity to swim with the camaraderie of a group is hugely appealing.

The full realisation of what I have agreed to do sank in slowly, as did my heart, as I audited my recent swim activity and found it to be lacking. Although I had built up to swimming, in the river and the sea, to about 30-minute spells a couple of years ago, the deterioration of water quality of the Avon – my local swim spot – since the pandemic has meant I have been more of a ‘dipper’. Pool sessions are hurried affairs before work and punchy, but brief. I won’t say how brief, but sometimes the shower is longer!

For better mental health

Like many, I often wake in a whirl of worry in the wee small hours, overthinking and agitated by the constant churning of gloom, mostly emanating from the news. One thing I can say is that in the days after finding out I was in the team, my worrying about world events was massively reduced as I focused on planning a training regime, researching advice for open swimming techniques and incorporating weights and yoga stretches.

Training now has a purpose, a relevance, a reality, and I slept so much better as a result. What a huge boost to mental health just from the prospect of this 24-hour Wild swim Relay.

Meeting the team via WhatsApp was the next step. I had by now convinced myself that they were all channel swimmers and triathletes! However proficient my co-team members are, they are a friendly and supportive bunch. We have collaborated on a training playlist, and I find their photos of swims inspiring and shared advice thoughtful and helpful.

First swims

My first rookie efforts, a couple of 30-minute open water swims at Pool Harbour over Easter, were less than successful. My wetsuit was too buoyant for breast stroke, and my attempt to front crawl – a stroke I am comfortable with in the pool – was hampered by leaky goggles and an aversion to immersing my face in the water. The next day, wearing a Yulex costume that was great for dipping, I found my underarms were worn raw with chafe marks as I made my way along the coast at Studland.

Back at the pool, I did a great impression of a flailing fly, zig-zagging haplessly down a lane, trying to teach myself bilateral breathing. It worked. Eventually. Swimming for an hour is my target, and I am beginning to understand that the mental challenge of this mission is possibly more difficult than the physical.

The first 40-minute session was a torturous, clock-watching affair, keeping boredom at bay with training aids. The first hour session, a few days later, I resolved, as it was a crowded Friday night, to avoid touching the sides, weaving in and around faster and slower swimmers. I stopped looking at the clock and let my mind wander. I wondered how I would cope in a situation without lanes and timers and pull buoys to distract, and how I would keep going through a night swim?

Swimming outdoors

Last week, I ventured over to Vobster Quay, a quarry lake now used for divers, swimmers and paddlesports. I felt daunted just looking at the size of the lake, and when I found out that the short course, open for the winter season, was now closed and that I would have to commit to 330m, I had serious misgivings. I had claimed on joining that I could swim 400m, but I began to doubt that assertion. Fortunately, Nigel, the lifeguard on my session, was very reassuring – nodding at the powerboat as we mulled over the ‘worst case scenario’. In the event, I quite happily swam the 550m loop with a heads-up breaststroke and a little go at front crawl and – most pleasingly – no moments of boredom.

There is still much to improve, but I have my list of ‘things to work on’, Rowan’s training plan and the support and encouragement of friends, family and the team. I now can’t wait to return to Vobster to try the longer loop this week.

Enjoyed this? Read Jane’s blog here. The Shep Shifters team is kindly supported by Zone3.