THE GREAT NORTH SWIM

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

For the first time ever I was to be an athlete. I was in training all summer, building up my stamina in the swimming pool, in a river, in a lake, every day another length, another second faster, I was in  training for the Great North Swim.

I was  never  a sporty child, never singled out for running at school, legs too short for netball. The hockey field squelching with mud on a wet February afternoon was misery. I’d slink away to the trees, with my friend Pat, we’d light up a cigarette between us and watch for boys on the horizon, looking cool in navy woollen knickers and a white air-tex gym blouse.

I danced through my young years leaping about in African print caftans , curtains of dark  hair and bare feet – succumbing  stoned  to the rolling stones and twirling through time, every day a Ruby Tuesday

I missed a step one drunken evening and broke my leg with a resounding crack so I spent my middle years  trudging uphill and down dale, trailing after my strong Peak District lover,  a flask of coffee and brandy in my backpack, a determined smile not to be beaten by the descending grey mist, a dark sky and the wind whipping our cheeks.

So no sporting conviction from me, until now - past my prime, heading over the hill, a small round figure grappling with rubber, squeezing into my wet-suit, falling to the ground as I tame my flippers.  

But hey, just find me wading fearlessly into the surf on the edge of the cold North sea, hear my gasp as I plunge into the icy river and roll over and over in the current  as it rushes down from the hills.  Watch me glide confidently across the still mirrored surface of a lake surrounded by mountains, calm wide strokes as I swim through reeds and rushes, a kingfisher flying past my ear.

Yes, I am an athlete in water; I swim out to the next adventure.

It was to be the culmination of a summer of training - a mile every other day - preparing  to swim across Lake Windermere.

For the first time ever I  would stand breathless, gasping, beaming, clutching my medal of endurance and achievement.

For the first time ever there was blue algae on lake Windermere.

For the first time ever The Great North Swim was cancelled.

But I’m still a swimmer

I’m still an athlete in water, swimming out to the next adventure.


struggling into our wetsuits



J and me in training