Category: challenge

Its Not All in The Numbers

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic illness, chronic pain, coaching, Disability Swimming, Disabled, English Channel, friends, Life in a wheelchair, Living with a Disability, marathon swim, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimming, psychology, teaching, Training, Wheelchair User

If you read the latest article/blog on the STA website you will recognise most of this content, if you haven't - enjoy my training from last month and see what I achieved!

Making a start

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Disabled, English Channel, Lake Windermere, Living with a Disability, marathon swim, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, Training, Wheelchair User, winter swimming

check out my latest blog about my channel training

2023 Channel Swim Introduction

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic illness, chronic pain, coaching, Disability Swimming, Disabled, English Channel, Events, Lake Windermere, Life in a wheelchair, Living with a Disability, marathon swim, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, psychology, Races, teaching, Training, Wheelchair User

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity" Albert Einstein The beginning of the new year is always something to celebrate, we look back on all we have achieved the previous year and, perhaps, most importantly we look forwards and plan for the new year. For me, the plan is simple; to be the first person … Continue reading 2023 Channel Swim Introduction

Reflections

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic illness, chronic pain, coaching, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, Family, friends, Living with a Disability, Mental Health, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimming, Training, Wheelchair User, winter swimming

New Years Eve is typically when everyone looks back on the previous year but for me, this year, I am not looking back just one year. Instead, I am looking at how far I have come over the past few years and I have to say, if I hadn't lived it, I'm not sure I … Continue reading Reflections

The end is in sight – Dover Part 3

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disabled, Events, friends, fundraising, marathon swim, Mental Health, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, psychology, safety, Wheelchair User

Everyone (that was awake) was excited. We were pretty sure the 3rd swim would be our final swim and I think as a result, subconsciously, we had all decided to give it absolutely everything we had.  Dean was up and went in smiling, had an amazing swim and came out looking like the Cheshire cat and … Continue reading The end is in sight – Dover Part 3

The Channel Relay Begins

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Events, friends, fundraising, marathon swim, Mental Health, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimming, psychology

The boats engine started, and we were off. My first thought “make it to Shakespeare Bay without being sick”. Then it was “please, please just make it to Shakespeare Bay before being sick” and then “please, please, please just make it to Shakespeare Bay before being sick” and by that time we were at Shakespeare … Continue reading The Channel Relay Begins

Dover – A waiting game

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disabled, Events, friends, fundraising, marathon swim, Mental Health, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimming, psychology, safety, teaching, Wheelchair User

Once we were all organised and settled we shouted goodbye to the people onshore and we were off! After 14 years of unfinished buisness with the English Channel it was time to finish it.

2022 Events booked…and training begins!

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, friends, Lake Windermere, Living with a Disability, marathon swim, Mental Health, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimming, psychology, Races, Training, winter swimming

  This week has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster and, being honest, my head has been all over the place.  Good for my training, not so good for my pain. I have a lot going on right now, and my friend described it perfectly; in life we all have ‘YAY’ moments and “BOO” … Continue reading 2022 Events booked…and training begins!

Kendal Mountain Festival Part 2

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disabled, Events, Family, friends, Lake Windermere, Living with a Disability, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, Wheelchair User, winter swimming

  After spending the night dreaming of talking to a room full of cabbages I woke up feeling surprisingly rested but quite sore. We got up at around 8.45am as we had to head to the hotel restaurant for breakfast, it was the first meal we had had at the hotel, and it was incredibly … Continue reading Kendal Mountain Festival Part 2

World Swim Day 2021 – What swimming has done for me

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, friends, hospital, Lake Windermere, Living with a Disability, Mental Health, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimming, Training, Wheelchair User

Saturday was World Swim Day and I wanted to write something about what swimming has done for me. Swimming has almost always been part of my life and without it I felt lost. I had about 5 years after my accident with no swimming and during that time my life changed drastically, I became disabled, … Continue reading World Swim Day 2021 – What swimming has done for me