Category: safety

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

Good Days, Bad Days and some in-between…

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

  I didn’t post a blog last week as I have been struggling a lot with my pain and fatigue but I am improving, a bit, and I have had the chance to get some decent swims in this week. Monday started with a tough session with BRJ in the pool and once again I … Continue reading Good Days, Bad Days and some in-between…

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!

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

Windermere Training (sort of) Week 14

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Family, hospital, Lake Windermere, Life in a wheelchair, open water, Open Water Swimming, Outdoor Swimming, safety, Training, Windermere

This week started off with me still in hospital so again, there wasn’t very much training done this week! By Monday I did just want to get out of hospital, which for me is always a sign that I am on the mend and feeling better. Thankfully, my bloods came back with good enough results … Continue reading Windermere Training (sort of) Week 14

Windermere Training (or not!) Week 13

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Events, hospital, Lake Windermere, Life in a wheelchair, open water, Open Water Swimming, Outdoor Swimming, safety, Training, Windermere

Week 13 of my training didn’t exactly go to plan. Last Monday I had an appointment planned with Helen Davis from think.believe.perform about the possibility of some sports psychology sessions in the lead up to my Lake Windermere swim. I know from experience that long swims are often as much about being strong mentally as … Continue reading Windermere Training (or not!) Week 13

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