Cold Water: Ice Mile Qualification Swim 19th Jan 2020

Sunday 19th Jan 2020

I've been apprehensive all week, this disquiet has been buzzing at the back of my mind when I've allowed myself to think about it. Am I really ready for this challenge?

Inevitably, I woke up early on this crisp Sunday morning full of self-doubt. Would I be able to complete the swim which would qualify me to attempt an Ice Mile? The event entailed swimming 1000m. Simple enough. However, the temperature had dropped to below 6 degrees. This was to be my coldest swim to date. My self induced pressure was building up, I had to contend with this swim being monitored throughout.

Before leaving I wolfed down some breakfast, grabbed a steaming cup of tea, kissed the kids and headed out of the door. I had to make a slight detour to pick up a mate who was supporting me. Dave kindly gave up his Sunday morning lay in to help me out and watch me swim. 

We arrived at Andark Lake, Dave had to endure my one-sided nervous chat on the drive down. Loading my kit onto my wheelchair, Dave helped me push it down to the lake's edge. Looking at the mirror glass water, I could see steam gently lift off the surface as the bright sun created white glare. I had a feeling it was going to be a special day.

Dave bought coffees and a bacon bap for himself, at that point I couldn't bear the thought of greasy food on my nervous stomach. I signed in, paid for my swim then headed over to get briefed up by the event coordinator. 
Kate, my cold water mentor, was running today's challenge. As I changed into my trunks, she covered everything we needed to know about how the qualifier was going to be assessed and all the safety aspects. Backed up a team who volunteered to help out and to provide swimmer support if required.

Finding myself ready there was little point in hanging about, I needed to get this thing done. I jumped into my wheelchair, rolled the short distance to the pontoon and then bum shuffled over to the edge of the water. I always try to dangle my stumps into the water this is an attempt to acclimatise myself to the cold. 

Dave managed to take a few pictures of me before I got into the lake. Not wanting to mess about, I got about the business of swimming. I found this swim odd, I wasn't expecting there to be so many people watching us swim loops around the buoys. It added another layer of pressure to get this right. 

Halfway into my fourth lap, I could feel my marker buoy slipping down off my waist and around my stumps, unbelievably my goggles were filling with water as well. I was struggling to see properly. I didn't want to stop. Thinking that if I did this might be perceived as a sign I was in trouble, which would result in me being pulled out of the water. Not an option, this qualification wouldn't stop for something as mundane as a leaky google, so I cracked on. 
However, because I couldn't see properly my loops became a little erratic, I was stopped anyway and asked if I was okay. Of course, I couldn't reply clearly, I was out of breath from swimming. Somehow signally that I was good, they allowed me to continue. 

This may sound crazy but I enjoyed this swim immensely, I completed my last loop and headed back to the pontoon. The safety staff were on hand to pull me out, this was a welcome relief. 

Feeling elated after my swim, I knew that all my hard work had paid off. Setting my sights on a new challenge I had completed the first part of my goal. 
As I pulled on my Dryrobe, I headed over to the sauna to warm up. Climbing up the stairs into the warmth I could smell the smoke and feel the heat from the wood fire. Sharing this moment with other swimmers reminds me what a sociable pastime this is, I feel privileged being apart of this eclectic group. 

I left the heat of the sauna into the cool fresh air, hopped onto my wheelchair and quickly got layers of warm clothes on. Dave sorted me out with a coffee and I stuffed myself with a well-earned bacon bap. It made sense to squeeze in a medical assessment, this meant they could sign me off as being fit and well to participate in an Ice Mile event later on in the year. Becoming conscious that I was taking up a lot of Dave's time I signed out of the event, not before thanking the event coordinator. 

As I write this, I'm still left with nagging doubts. Although I managed 1000m, have I got it in me to swim another 600m to complete the Ice Mile? At this point, I just don't know. What I do know is this. I'll keep plugging away at the time I spend in cold water, acclimatisation will help me. I'll increase the amount of time I spend in an outdoor heated pool, my technique always needs work. 

Realistically all I can do is try my best. The harder we work the luckier we get. Fingers crossed I've got it in me.