Category: Disability Swimming

My first 10 Weeks of Winter Swimming

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Disabled, friends, Living with a Disability, Mental Health, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimming, safety, winter swimming

  I have learnt many things over my first few months of winter swimming and I am so glad that I decided to set myself the challenge of swimming skins through winter. I've learnt so much about how my body reacts to different temperatures and situations both physically and mentally. Ive also learnt just how far … Continue reading My first 10 Weeks of Winter Swimming

Kendal Mountain Festival Part 1

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, Family, friends, Lake Windermere, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimming, Wheelchair User, winter swimming

  I am not entirely sure where to begin on such an amazing weekend but I have to start somewhere so I think to begin with I will start with some thank yous: The biggest thank you goes to my absolutely amazing sister, Laura, or my big fishy. Without Laura acting as my carer/helper for … Continue reading Kendal Mountain Festival Part 1

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

Winter swimming is finally here!

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, friends, Life in a wheelchair, Living with a Disability, Mental Health, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimming, safety, Wheelchair User

  If you have followed my blog, then you will know that when I swam 2-way Windermere I was wearing a wetsuit. This was because I didn’t know how my body would react to the cold as most of the swimming I have done in open water since getting back into it 5 years ago … Continue reading Winter swimming is finally here!

Travelling to Nottingham in a Wheelchair

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, Life in a wheelchair, Living with a Disability, Mental Health, Open Water Swimming, Wheelchair User

  Last weekend was a big deal for me, it was been exciting, stressful, panic inducing, wonderful and simply fantastic. I have always been nervous about travelling alone since I have been disabled. This is because as much as I don't like to think it and don't feel it, I am vulnerable. Many more things … Continue reading Travelling to Nottingham in a Wheelchair

British Long Distance Swimming Association Championships, Colwick Park

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, Life in a wheelchair, Living with a Disability, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimming, Races

  The British Long Distance Swimming Association put on several events each year, but I have never attended one before as they’re expensive. However, I wanted to end my open water season on a high so decided to take part in the event at Colwick Park in Nottingham. For this event I would be entirely … Continue reading British Long Distance Swimming Association Championships, Colwick Park

10 Years

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Family, friends, hospital, Lake Windermere, Life in a wheelchair, Living with a Disability, Mental Health, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Training, Windermere

  This week marks the 10 year anniversary of my cycling accident that triggered all my current health issues, including my Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. After the day of that accident my life changed forever but at the time, I didn’t realise the result of the accident would be so drastic and have … Continue reading 10 Years

Windermere – Ambleside to Fell Foot

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, Family, friends, fundraising, Lake Windermere, Living with a Disability, marathon swim, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, psychology, Races, safety, Windermere

  I woke up at 5.15am on Wednesday morning having only had a couple of hours sleep. Thankfully I had, had the sense to get everything ready on Tuesday night, including talking through my swim plan with my sister. I had also had my final sports psychology session with Helen from think.believe.perform. We had gone … Continue reading Windermere – Ambleside to Fell Foot

Windermere Training Week 17 – Back in the Water

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, fundraising, Lake Windermere, Life in a wheelchair, Living with a Disability, open water, Open Water Swimming, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, Races, safety, Training, Windermere

This past week has been another emotional rollercoaster, but I can finally say that I have decided to attempt my 2 Way Windermere swim despite only having surgery just over 2 weeks ago! As mentioned in my last Windermere blog, the district nurse took my stitches out on the 14th August and told me that the … Continue reading Windermere Training Week 17 – Back in the Water

Why I am Fundraising for Arctic One?

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, fundraising, Lake Windermere, Living with a Disability, open water, Open Water Swimming, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, Training, Windermere

After my cycling accident in 2011 I stopped all sports, I tried to continue with Triathlon for a while but I was just in too much pain so eventually, I gave up. I didn’t train, compete, or even think about sports for 5 years.  I first got back into swimming as a result of going … Continue reading Why I am Fundraising for Arctic One?