It was still dark when I left home, and the roads were eerily quiet as I used my TriRide to get to the train station. I knew trains weren’t running but had booked my assistance and had it confirmed that I would be put in a taxi as I can’t get on the coaches they use as rail replacement buses.
Unfortunately, I arrived and there were no taxis or staff to be seen. I eventually found someone, and we sorted out a taxi. I was only travelling to Hitchin as my friend Allison (who lives further south than me) was meeting me there at 8.30 am. As I was in a taxi we didn’t have to go via every train station and as a result I was at Hitchin by just gone 8am. I met Allison, and we headed into London.
The idea of driving in London scares me, but Allison said she was used to it, so it was all good. We arrived at Tooting Bec Lido to a full car park, and i noticed my friends van, but I needed to get registered as my first race was before Allison’s. As I was getting all my stuff out of the car, the fabulous Camilla (@mybigsummersupandswim) appeared, and we went and signed in. I got my lanyard, race cards, and a really lovely drawstring bag.
I asked where I needed to go and was let through a door onto the poolside. I was a little overwhelmed by the size of the pool, it looked HUGE and turns out it wasn’t me imagining things, it is in fact 91.4m long and 30.2m wide!
One of the volunteers took me down towards where the races were happening as we tried to work out where it would be best for me to go. In the end, they made a space in the Press area so it wasn’t crowded, and I could leave all my stuff there, including my TriRide. It was just easier to have a ‘base’ in a non crowded and busy area!
After figuring out what was going on I messaged a friend to find out where they were. As I was trying to find my friend John (whose van it was), I met several lovely swimmers and eventually went and had a quick catch up and a hug before getting a message from Allison (@tazallie) asking where I was.
I went and found her and also spoke to the volunteers about what I needed to do and where/when I was meant to get changed for my first race; 30m Freestyle.
Part of our registration pack was a registration card or each event we were doing. This included having the name, race number, meet time and the race time on it. However, I was told that a volunteer (I wish I got his name) would help me get sorted. He took me to the disabled changing rooms, which included a shower with a seat in and grab rails aplenty. Once I had changed, I went back onto poolside, where swimmers were stripping off their layers ready to plunge into the 5° water.
En-route to the start I walked past lots of nervous looking swimmers, including Camilla and Ella from the Outdoor Swimmer. It also meant I was able to watch and cheer Camilla on during her heat, which was just before mine.
The easiest way for me to get in and out of a pool is to use the ladder (they did have a hoist but I refuse to use them as most of them are horrible). I learnt to get up and down a ladder so that I could get back onto pilot boats after solos swims! In my initial email I asked if it would be possible for me to enter the water a little earlier than others as I was very aware that its literally get in, 3, 2, 1, go. However, with my CRPS pain caused by the water, I need an extra 30 seconds or so to just remind my brain that the pain in my legs is ok and then I can get on and swim. Organisers were worried I would get too cold standing around but actually it wasn’t that cold (given the river has been between 3 and 4° recently) so they were quite happy for me to get in a little early. I got in, ducked under the rope into my lane and waited.
As a kid, it was always a nerve wracking and silent time on the poolside waiting to dive in, so even though it’s been around 15 years since I swam competitively it felt very strange. Firstly, I’ve not started a pool race in the pool, rather than diving in since I was about 7! There was no “silence please” from the race starter, but I kind of liked it. Instead, people were told to get in, get their shoulders under the water and it was just 3, 2, 1, beep, and we were off!
In my head I was telling myself to be long and strong, think about using the power in my arms rather than the speed that my arms don’t have! It felt amazing to be racing in a pool again but it was over before I really got started…sprinting never was my strong point and it was a reminder why! I think I came 7th out of 8 in my heat, but then I am unable to kick my legs so in sprinting I lose a significant % of my propulsion through the water. I was grinning from ear to ear though, I had absolutely loved it and my chair was by the steps ready and waiting for me. Just as I sat down someone tapped me on the shoulder and said “Hey Sophie, I just wanted to say that it is a real honour to share the pool with you”. I was a bit taken aback and wasn’t sure how to respond but it made me smile. Whenever people say things like this to me, I always take note of them and on days when I am struggling physically or mentally I remind myself how others see me and that, in turn, makes me feel better about being me and the struggles I am facing.
I put on my robe and headed to get changed before I got cold. One race down, one (possibly 2) left to go as I was unsure if I was going to be swimming as part of a relay team or not.
Thankfully, I had a bit of a break to watch some swimming and meet several friends and people I have chatted to online but not met in person yet too. Including Simone (@Swimone_i_swim_a_bit) who I had a quick chat and selfie with.
The Head-up breaststroke races started and Allison was swimming much earlier than I so happily I got to watch her swim with her awesome hat on! There was a hat competition and the head-up breaststroke was the event to wear it during (more on Allisons hat later). Watching her swim and smile was just so lovely.falling off’ look on her face which did make me giggle but everyone was cheering and willing her on!
I’ve only known Allison for around a year but in that time her swimming and confidence has grown immensely and in that moment, I just felt proud to be there and to be able to be her friend too. I will admit, there was a moment where she got a ‘oh sh*t, my hats falling off’ look on her face which did make me giggle but everyone was cheering and willing her on!
Weirdly, for me, it was the second race I was most nervous about. I was all dressed in duck and it was my turn for the head-up breaststroke race. Growing up, it was my strongest stroke but Breaststroke without using your legs looks a bit like drowning in style rather than swimming, especially when its head up Breaststroke. I had tried to work on it and make use of my legs in some way but even when my right leg did the correct movement, it was pointless as there was no strength there.
When it was my turn to race, I found the gentleman that had helped me last time and got all my stuff organised and went to get changed, as before, although it turned out I was a bit early so I had to wait a while on poolside. I was actually nervous, it was a strange feeling because this was supposed to be a fun race but there was no mistaking the butterflies in my stomach. I knew I was going to come last and it wouldn’t be fast but I just wanted to enjoy the swim at the atmosphere. Like for my freestyle race, I was let in a little bit early but this time when I got in I did actually feel the cold and it hurt my legs quite a bit, and that was before I had started swimming! I went to duck under the rope again and just in time remembered that I hat a duck hat on, so took it off till I was in my lane. As previously, it was:
“Swimmers enter the water”
“Shoulders under”
“3, 2, 1, beep”
And we were off, 30m breaststroke, how hard could it be? I was behind from the beginning as everyone pushed off the wall properly and I am unable to push off with both legs. I was moving my arms but didn’t really feel like I was moving anywhere, at one point I did wonder if I was going to start going backwards, thankfully I didn’t. I think I ended up being around 3m behind the next swimmer. Even so, I had people encouraging and cheering me on, but it didn’t stop me feeling a little disheartened. It was the first time I have done a breaststroke race since developing CRPS. I used to be great at breaststroke, it was my ‘go to’ stroke, if there was ever a breaststroke race it would be me that entered it. Yet, here I was, last by a significant way, feeling like I hadn’t swum breaststroke, what I had done was imitate a drowning seal and I had just about survived it!
Once out of the water my legs were incredibly painful and I did feel cold. Allison could tell from the look on my face. As a result, I decided to venture to the hot tubs to see if I could get in them. I’d never been in a hot tub before but with a bit of help I managed it.
First thing I noticed and said was “oh, its hot”. I found a spot and sat down but had a slight issue – my legs float and as a result, I physically couldn’t sit on the bottom of the hot tub. I felt like a right numpty but I just couldn’t sit still. Thankfully, a lady came to my rescue and got me a small stool to sit on so that I was higher in the water so my bum would actually stay on the seat. I couldn’t and wouldn’t stay in the hot tub for long and after about 5 minutes I got out and went to get changed.
Just as I’d finished getting changed it was the ‘Dip for Crisis’ swim, lots of swimmers and people turned up for the event and braved the dip for the charity Crisis.
Camilla found us and confirmed I wouldn’t be needed for the relay and one of the other members of her team kindly gave me a couple of hand warmers for my nose because it was the only bit of me still cold. I looked like a plonker but it helped!
As I wasn’t needed it gave Allison and I the time to go and find a hot drink and some food! It was a bit tricky as the majority of the food/drinks was being served from food trucks and the counter it much to high for us to reach in our wheelchairs but we both got our drinks and a hog roast (my first ever hog roast). Sadly, Allison took one bite (if that) of the hog roast and said it was horrible. I obviously didn’t know any different but it was a little spicy for me and I ended up eating the bread rather than all the meat. Allison also then bought us a cupcake each to have instead.
Once fed and watered we had a look at the various stalls, Tooting Bec Lido stall, DryRobe were there, I had a quick look at Swans Goggles where I also spotted Geri from Level Water and finally a couple of small, independent/handmade stalls where neither Allison or I could resist purchasing something! On the way out of the tent I spotted the hoodies for the event and thought they were really nice but they didn’t have the size I needed. Hopefully, I am going to get my hands on one soon though.
We headed back to poolside ready to watch the last few relays and some cold water swimming synchronised swimming before the hat parade and competition. Its a bit of a rubbish video but it shows some of the gorgeous and inventive hats that people had made:
This is what Allison had to say about her “Totally Topical” hat –
“I made my hat to reflect me and others who are disabled swimmers. It was really important for me to show that in the water we really are all mermaids and are amazing and awesome. I choose Barbie’s as they are readily available and are finally becoming inclusive and are fun for kids to see and aspire to, which is important to do, to normalise disabilities for kids.
The main Barbie on top was a mermaid in a wheelchair, she has no visible disability because let’s face it, a tail in the water is not a disability, so for me she represents all of us with invisible disabilities and all of us who even though we use wheels on land can glide through the water in peace and harmony with ourselves. Then there was blind Barbie with her guide dog and her white cane. Then D/deaf Barbie with her cochlear implant and finally but not least a Barbie with a prosthetic leg. All were equal and all are mermaids in the water, and are free to be who they are regardless and perhaps inspite of whatever aids they have. And that’s what my hat was about. That in the water we are us, we are not our wheels or our canes or implants or prosthetic limbs or any other aid we may use. In the water we are just us, who ever we may be. In the water we are all mermaids and we are all free.”
After that it was time for the prize presentation for all of the swimming races, I said bye to people before Allison and I headed back to her car. I didn’t know where she had parked as she just dropped me off and went to find parking so I followed her and Barbie (her new power chair). We discovered on this walk back to the car that her power chair steering was a heck of a lot more sensitive than her mobility scooter and as a result she kept almost steering off the curb and into the road; I think my heart rate was higher following her than it had been when sprinting 30m Front Crawl! Ive never been so grateful to be back at a car in one piece with someone!
We headed home and got a bit stuck in London traffic. I fell asleep for a while, i’m not sure how long but I was exhausted. Allison dropped me back at Hitchin, where I met a rail replacement taxi who drove me back to Huntingdon station. I went home via the chippy for some dinner and eventually got home at around 8.30pm and was absolutely shattered and incredibly sore. I literally ate dinner and went to bed as I had work (which I tried to get out of) the following day.
Overall, my first winter swimming gala experience was amazing. The people, the venue, the volunteers and organisers and the atmosphere couldn’t have been any better. It was great to see several people with a range of disabilities and needs being included and their taking part. It felt like one of the least judgemental and most inclusive event I have been to in a long time and surpassed my expectations.
A HUGE thank you to everyone that organised, volunteered, worked behind the scenes and had anything to do the event, bring on next year – I will be back!
This event is so unique, it’s one of the few things that I miss having moved away. Glad you enjoyed it.