Monsters and the unknown

Mental Health Swims Community Engagement Manager Sarah Groves updates us as she finishes week 12 of training in preparation for end-to-end Windermere swim

As I write this, it’s a Sunday evening and I’ve just finished week 12 of my training plan. I’m now heading into a wonderful rest week while I go on holiday to Portugal and there are no training swims on the agenda. Thinking about it, it’s actually going to be pretty strange not doing any swimming, seeing as I’ve been swimming 3-4 times a week since February! Who am I kidding, I’m definitely going to find somewhere to dip at least, and before I go away I’m heading to the Hampstead Heath mixed ponds for the first time for a special one-off Mental Health Swims dip.

After my trip, the training plan starts getting more serious and, with open water season well and truly here, it’s time to grab my tow float, my snacks and my goggles, leave all dignity at the shore and get swimming.

Big swim, big feelings

I feel nervous if I’m honest. Every season fears of monsters and unknown depths kicks in and I feel panic rising in my chest. The first few moments when I put my head under often results in me coming straight back up and gasping for air. It’s something I have to work through and I try not to give myself a hard time about it as it’s quite a normal reflex, but it takes a lot to calm down and focus.

Sometimes the change in sunlight in the water below spooks me too. It can go from fairly bright with beautiful bubbles all around and the illusion of sparkling rays rising up from below, to deep dark green with limited visibility. It’s like someone has turned the lights off and left me in the dark.

Meanwhile, the pool sessions aren’t completely done. I’m still going twice a week to work on speed sets and I’ve grown to love them: arms turning fast, legs kicking hard and finishing in a breathless heap as I cling to the side of the pool. I’ve really enjoyed having a focus in the pool and breaking swims up into sets of varying speeds and distances. I have also been fortunate enough to train in two wonderful pools so far: the 50m pool at UB Sport and Fitness in Birmingham and the pool at Bro Ddyfi leisure centre in Machynlleth, which has friendly and welcoming staff and a lovely community of swimmers.

With a number of 5kms under my belt, my shoulders are sore and I know it’s only going to get harder from here on in. Bring it on!

Found out more about Sarah’s Windermere swim at instagram/adventure_sair and givewheel.com/fundraising/6312/sarah-swims-windermere/