Category: Races

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

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!

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

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

Week 16 – Two Weeks To Go!

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

None of this is what I hoped to be writing just 2 weeks before Windermere but sometimes things just don’t turn out the way you hoped. It doesn’t seem possible that I had a pretty major surgery less than a fortnight ago, it was slow progress when in hospital but as soon as I was … Continue reading Week 16 – Two Weeks To Go!

Open Water Swimming Safety

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, Disability Swimming, open water, Open Water Swimming, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, Races, safety, Training

As the sun comes out and it gets hotter more and more people will be tempted to go for a dip or a swim in open water. I love that more people are getting into open water, and I even actively encourage people to try it. However, I wish more people would think about the … Continue reading Open Water Swimming Safety

Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival 2021

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, Disability Swimming, Events, Life in a wheelchair, Open Water Swimming, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, Races

It took quite a lot of figuring out to ensure that I could get to the Henley Outdoor Swim Festival but for me it was an event too important to miss this year! I have never been to the festival before, but I have done the Henley Swim Thames Marathon a couple of times and … Continue reading Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival 2021