ACTIVE | How The Global Covid-19 Pandemic Lead To Me Discovering A Passion For Open Water Swimming

June 21, 2020 Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Activities, Health & Fitness, Homepage Feature, Our Adventures, Wellbeing

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Fellow swimmers will understand how tough the last few months have been. Of course lockdown has thrown up many challenges and it’s been difficult for us all, but for those of us who use swimming as not only their main way of keeping fit, but who also rely on swimming to help maintain their mental health, lockdown and having no access to swimming pools has made things exceptionally difficult with no at-home alternative to turn to.

OPen water swimming — *Swimming at Boundary Water Park Cheshire with USwim*

I missed the water so much during lockdown that I found I was dreaming about swimming. On nights when I struggled to sleep, I’d find myself imagining I was in the pool at my gym or just floating on my back in the sea.

I missed the water so much during lockdown that I found I was dreaming about swimming

Both physically and mentally, swimming is something that I regard as important for my wellbeing. Those of you that know me, will already know that swimming played a huge role in my rehabilitation after my snowboarding accident and it continues to play a key role in stabilising my mood.

Although I’ve wild swum in a few places; in the sea when camping on the coast, in a lake when camping in the Lake District; I’m absolutely not a wild swimmer and I don’t have the confidence to just tip up somewhere and jump into a river or lake, even when I’ve read its safe/legal to do so.

Discovering Uswim open water swimming

My time away from water eventually got too much, so just over a week ago, I found myself Googling open water swimming and came across Uswim who organise open water swimming sessions here in the North West, at Salford Quays and Boundary Water Park in Cheshire.

Boundary Water Park is just a 10 minute drive away from where I live, on a lake I had no idea existed. It felt like this was too good an opportunity to miss, so when I saw they had a beginners coaching session coming up, I booked it without hesitation.

The day before my morning coaching session I ventured up into the attic to retrieve my wetsuit and dry bags and gathered together my changing robe, swimming cap and goggles, beyond excited that soon my body would get to remember what swimming felt like.

I arrived 15 minutes before the session was due to start to give me time to change into my wetsuit beside my car before making my way to where everyone seemed to be congregating. I was ticked off a list and told where to find the rest of the workshop group.

*In the check-in queue, awaiting my first ever open water swim*!

I was intruiged to find out what kind of people are into open water swimming, and it turns out, everyone! There were a huge cross section of people all across different age groups and of different ethnicities. Cheshire isn’t a particularly multi-cultural area to live in, and it’s not uncommon to head outdoors and only see white faces, so this mix of people was heartening to see.

From 30-something super-fit triathaletes, to families with young kids and older ladies, everyone was lovely and friendly, and our instructor, a passionate and engaging man who’d swum the English channel, spent time with us on land taking us through some basics, including some great advice on technique which I found really helpful.

It wasn’t long before I was heading into the water and I was surprised by the temperature of it. In my wetsuit, walking straight in felt fine and I didn’t feel cold at all during my time in the water.

We were directed off to one side of the main course, out of the way of the more competent (and I’ve got to be honest, a little intimidating!) swimmers and swam out a little way, before swimming back, into the shallows, helping us get our confidence up little by little.

After a few confidence-building short swims, we were given the option of getting out, swimming the entire course, or swimming a smaller part of it. Most of us opted to stay in and swim to and from the first buoy, a distance of just 400metres and much less than I’d do after 60 lengths in the pool, but it was such a different experience, I’m very glad that first time around I didn’t attempt to do the entire course!

Having not swum for more than 3 months, initially, it felt hard going. I was breathing hard and couldn’t decide whether to keep my head under for the usual 3 arm pulls I’d do in a pool or to do less.

***I can’t imagine my life without open water swimming now!***

I ended up swimming with my head under for 2 arm pulls, but found being unable to see much with my head under a little disconcerting, so I ended up doing a fair bit of it with my head out of the water, which was weird for me!

I’ve not swum with my head sticking out of the water for a good couple of years now, but open water swimming felt surprisingly different and more challenging and I wanted to focus on tackling the mental side of what was going on in my head first and foremost before thinking too much about speed or technique.

A more mental than purely physical challenge

Halfway out to the very first buoy my brain did a sabotage thing I’m quite familiar with as a sufferer of anxiety. It tried to make me panic.

There was a little voice telling me “you’ll be too tired to get back, you can’t touch the floor, you can’t do this, turn back, you’ll drown!”

Luckily I had a bigger and more stubborn voice of reason telling me “you can swim waaay further than this, you can do this easily, just slow down and focus, you’ve got this!”

*Warming up with a brew after a chilly Autumn swim*

I listened to the voice of reason and kept swimming, focusing on mastering my brain and ignoring the panic that wanted to take over, trusting in the ability of my body keep on swimming. When I got out, I felt a deep sense of accomplishment.

After that first session, snug in my changing robe, I grabbed my flask from the car and sat beside the water for a 15-minute breather to stop and be mindful, to think about what I’d just achieved and how I felt. I drove home unsure as to whether it was something I’d ever do again, beaming ear to ear. Something told me I’d be back to do it again.

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Massive thanks to @uswimopenwater I’ve just got home after my first open water swimming coaching session. Picked up some amazing technique tips, boosted my confidence a little and realised that it’s less about the physical aspect of swimming, and more the mental challenge that open water presents me with. It’s so very different to pool swimming or a quick dip and splash in the sea and I loved every second of it. The location for the swim is just 14 minutes away from home, on a lake I didn’t even know existed until a week ago! I’ll definitely be booking more ❤️ #weekend #weekendvibes #sunday #sundayvibes #Cheshire #swimming #swim #boundarywaterpark #lake #wildswimming #openwaterswimming #openwater

A post shared by Camping with Style (@campingwithstyle) on Jun 21, 2020 at 5:15am PDT

Discovering a new passion

Open water swimming is very different to pool swimming and I’ve realised I experience greater ‘flow’ when I’m in open water compared to doing lengths in a pool. The cooler water temperature of my Autumn swims in particular have had a marked mood boosting effect and there’s a growing body of research extolling the virtues of cold water swimming.

As I update this post, some 4 months after I first started, it’s fair to say I’m not only hooked, but I absolutely love it and would now consider myself not only a fair-weather open water swimmer, but I’m also planning my first ‘polar’ swim.

*The sense of wellbeing I get after a swim is hard to beat!*

Some weeks I’ve managed 2 open water swims (on top of being back at the gym) but as a rule, I try to go most weekends.

I’ve come a long way in a short time too, after initially just swimming short distances to help me gain in confidence and get over my fear of open water, I’m now confidently completing the full course twice and am even considering a longer endurance swim and I’ve since done a few winter ‘polar’ swims too!

You never know what you’re capable of, or what you’ll enjoy unless you push yourself and try new things.

My technique still isn’t great, I’m much, much slower than most of the other swimmers out there, but that’s OK because the positive impact it’s had on my wellbeing is so significant. I’m truly grateful for the support of Uswim, as without them, I’d never have had the confidence to do start on my open water swimming journey alone.

Age is not a barrier

In my mid-forties, having never done anything like this before, it proves once again (just like when I started climbing a few years ago) that you never know what you’re capable of, or what you’ll enjoy unless you push yourself and try new things.

It’s not about being exceptional and it’s certainly not about being extreme, it’s all about finding things that bolster your confidence, improve your resilience and fitness, and enhance your wellbeing.

Isn’t taking a baby step outside of your comfort zone or challenging your own perception of yourself now and again worth that?

Fancy having a go yourself?

The beginner’s open water workshop that I did cost £35, including wetsuit hire, swimming cap, bag and tuition. Annual membership starts at £10 and each swim thereafter costs from £6.50 for an hour.

You can find out more about Uswim open water swimming here.

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Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Editor & Owner at Camping with Style

Shell loves all things travel and outdoors and is a nature-loving, comfy-camping kinda girl. Shell started the Camping with Style blog after a serious snowboarding accident which left her with a broken back. Despite this she used the outdoors and healing power of nature to aid her recovery and she continues to spend time outdoors whenever she can.

From open water swimming, snowboarding and kayaking to hill walks and meditation, Shell shares her travels and microadventures here on the blog and in various publications she's written for, Shell has a particular interest in promoting wellbeing and the many benefits of nature therapy.

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