The Roald Dahl Story Company’s Katie Price updates us on the team’s continued preparations for The English Channel Relay Swim 2022, in aid of The Light Fund.
I love swimming – it’s always been a big part of my life.
I grew up in Cornwall and Devon, so as a family we swam in the sea a lot. I joined a swimming club when I was seven and swam competitively until I was in my late teens. My poor Dad got so fed up with sitting by the pool side inhaling chlorine and watching my brother and I plough up and down, that he trained as a coach and then became a master swimmer himself!
However, over the years work, life and three children (including twins and a child with complex health issues) took over, so swimming fell by the wayside. I really missed it though, so when I saw Stephen Gould’s message about putting together a team to swim the channel, I absolutely knew 100% that I wanted to be on that boat.
I started my training in March with my first river swim in the Thames.
Wow! The cold was something else (it was nine degrees and was starting to snow when I got out) and although I only managed to stay in for ten minutes, I loved it and was hooked.
I now swim in this spot regularly, get excited about new technology goggles and I have even taken out a subscription to the monthly magazine Openwater Swimmer. What has happened to me?
Lockdown and the lack of access to swimming pools has meant that lots of people have started swimming outdoors in lakes and rivers and it’s up there with getting a puppy as a thing to do in 2021.
The health benefits of cold-water swimming are immense, and it provides a natural high so you can see why so many people become addicted. It can help boost your immune system, relieve stress, improve your circulation, fight depression and can apparently even improve your fertility and libido. What more encouragement do you all need?
As you may know, the rules for swimming the Channel don’t allow wetsuits, so I have been swimming in skins (open water swimming lingo for no wetsuits) ever since my first dip in the Thames. I have definitely got better at dealing with the cold and now don’t even shake and shiver that much.
My nickname is Iron Maiden which has nothing to do with my taste in music, but everything do with this new ability to be able to handle the cold water!
I have three daughters who love swimming, too and have been keen to support me and join me in my river swims – I love their enthusiasm and gung-ho attitude to everything they do.
Juggling three children, working and now swimming training is full-on, but I want to be a good role model and for them to be inspired by what I am doing. I have even got my 78 year old mum to swim in the Thames!
It’s important to push and challenge yourself outside of your comfort zone. Sometimes it’s tough, you don’t feel like training and you’re tired but my message to my daughters is that anything is possible and there’s nothing to you can’t do if you set your mind to it (especially if you happen to be approaching a milestone birthday…)
After all, life is for living.
The other fabulous thing about open water swimming and this challenge is not only that we’re raising money for The Light Fund which feels pretty good, and I’ve been blown away by everyone’s generosity, but it’s about meeting new people and making new friends.
I am continually inspired by the amazing group of people who have signed up for this challenge. Everyone has a different back story, swimming ability and reason for doing this and they are impressive and motivating to say the least.
So, here’s a few highlights from what we’ve all been doing over the last month:
Sir Gripper (Mark Kingston) and Wee Hoff (our intrepid leader Stephen Gould) took on, and completely smashed, the 10k swim in the Jubilee River in early September (equivalent of swimming 400 lengths in the pool).
There were over 400 swimmers and only 12 in skins and the water was 15 degrees. They both finished with smiles on their faces despite bad cramp and hardly being able to walk or talk at the end. Wee Hoff said he felt as if he’d been hit by a train and he’s been doing this a long time. A seriously impressive achievement – especially from Sir Gripper who up until last year had never swum more than 1km.
Anne Bradford (Skittle) has been swimming in some beautiful spots.
These include the Lochs of Scotland, Lake Coniston and Buttermere – negotiating the blue-green algae, braving freezing water and getting her whole family involved.
Although swimming has many positives, it also has its fair share of perils and unlikely scary stuff, too.
The Colonel (Terry Lamb) had to reluctantly head home due to blue-green algae at his favourite local swimming spot last month. Despite the water looking so inviting, it’s not wise to go in as it can be quite toxic.
Finally, who would of thought a cute seal could be on the list of dangers?
This fella looks so cute and harmless, but he wasn’t keen on sharing the sea with a swimming friend of the Wee Hoff who sustained a nasty scratch.
And to wrap up with one final bit of advice… never, ever leave the house without your hat and goggles.
You just never know when there might be a photo opportunity.
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thelightfundenglishchannelrelayswim2022
Twitter @thelightfund
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The English Channel Relay Swim in aid of The Light Fund is due to take place between 30 June and 3 July, 2022. For full details on the sponsorship opportunities, you can contact Stephen Gould, Mark Kingston, Simon Gresswell or Anne Bradford by clicking on their respective names. Everything you need to know about the swim can also be found by clicking here.
This month’s blog is kindly sponsored by Addo Play Ltd.
