Swim Serpentine Minreet Kaur
CHALLENGE,  Event reviews,  EXTRA,  FEATURES,  October 2024,  Readers' Swims

Minreet Kaur: My first open water mile at Swim Serpentine

Minreet Kaur reports back from her first open water mile at Swim Serpentine – a real milestone that has given her the boost to train more and get stronger

Who would have thought that someone who hated swimming just did their first mile open water swim at Swim Serpentine! Well I did and I feel so proud of myself because it certainly wasn’t easy.

The lead up to the big day has been intense as I’m an unpaid carer to my mum and training hasn’t always been possible. My mum was also my swimming buddy and we were meant to swim it together. She has myeloma, a rare blood cancer, so she couldn’t do it this year.

It definitely felt hard when I was swimming but with faith and a mind over matter attitude, I did it. I came last in the one mile group, which made it even more of a memorable moment. What a place to be that person! The amount of support I had along the way and at the finishing line made me feel so good, especially as I achieved something that not many of my community do. I met a volunteer at the end who said: “Well done for representing the sisters as there aren’t many here who look like us.” It really touched me. Even though this year 20 Muslim women from the charity Cycle Sisters took part, who I wish I had seen, it still isn’t enough.

I hardly slept the night before. All I could think of was how cold the water would be and what if I needed to wee once I’d left home and was already in my wetsuit. It takes so much energy to get it on in the first place!

That morning I rolled out of bed at 6.30am. Mum brought me a turmeric shot followed by a nice masala chai. I was so nervous and my stomach was churning.

Photo by Felix Diemer for London Marathon Events

As soon as I got to the Serpentine, the atmosphere and the sun gave me a spring in my step. Near the start I met a couple of guys who were doing the six mile swim and they kindly helped me with getting my timing chip and wrist band on.

As soon as I got to the area where everyone was getting ready to swim I started to feel really nervous; my stomach was making funny noises. As I got closer and I started to see people entering the water, I quickly went to one side as I wanted to go in super slow. The photo captured definitely doesn’t show what I was feeling inside, which was “shall I turn back now?”

I swam head-up breaststroke and I could feel swimmers passing me by, including those swimming two miles, but I kept on going.

Photo by Felix Diemer for London Marathon Events

I have to say it was tough. I kept thinking: don’t swallow any water, stay to one side, breath and keep going. There were times I wanted to give up. This swim felt so much harder than Dorney Lake and Henley. My back was hurting, my socks were filling up with water. It was intense and this is only 20 minutes in. I thought I’d be done in 45 minutes but I felt like I just wasn’t moving!

I felt tired half way through and I just couldn’t see light at the end of the tunnel. Plus, sometimes it felt quite isolating as I was at the back. I remember one swimmer asked if I was ok and I said “I think so but I keep getting knocked or kicked by the fast swimmers”. He said: “Don’t worry, kick them back, it’s your swim. Enjoy it and keep going, you’re doing great.” This made me laugh, water ended up in my mouth!

Towards the end I thought I have to try swimming with my face under the water and so I did and it wasn’t easy like it is in swimming pool. I felt dizzy when walking out and I was exhausted. I eventually saw my mum and she said: “I was worried about you; I went to ask the volunteer to look for you!”

As I walked out, there was hot Ribena and then I got my medal, presented to me by a friend, Hardev, who was volunteering on the day. It was a special moment and I felt really emotional as I couldn’t believe I did it.

The experience was amazing it felt like a real milestone. It’s an achievement that will stay with me. My parents were so proud. The medal was for my mum. I hope by next year, she will be feeling on top of the world so we can swim together!

This swim has given me the boost to train more and get stronger. I know if I could swim with my face underwater, I wouldn’t put the weight on my back as I did.

Doing something that you feel scared of and overcoming it is a big deal. I did something I thought I never could and I hope to encourage more from the Asian community to give it a go, it’s life changing!

Find out more about Swim Serpentine: swimserpentine.co.uk

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