What an incredible event. Thousands of swimmers descended on lake Windermere to swim various distances throughout the day for a variety of charities. 

My 5km wave started at 12.45 on Friday. Windy weather and a water temperature of 15 degrees was going going to provide a real challenge. 



I was confident that I could complete the distance - my training had gone really well. I didn't however, anticipate the impact that swimming in rough water, along with swimming amongst lots of other swimmers - it was very tough - not quite the same as Bradley Stoke lake!!! 

After being kicked and hit during the first 500m, I managed to find some space to settle into my stroke and started to make good progress. This progress was soon interrupted with a bout of motion sickness. The rough water was really taking its toll. 

I soon found out how important regular siting was on open water and starting drifting off line on a regular basis and got quite disorientated in the cold water. In fact, I got so disorientated I ended up completing an additional lap resulting in me swimming an additional 1.5 miles! 


I was incredibly relieved to reach the end. I don't mind admitting it was exhausting and one of the most physically challenging events I've ever completed. It wasn't until I downloaded my gps stats after the race that I realised I'd completed 4.5 miles instead of 3 miles in 2 hours 15 minutes. 

I can't thank the OCs' Society enough for their overly generous donation to my chosen charity - Macmillan Cancer. 
So many of my friends and family kindly donated to a great cause and I intend to continue raising money and competing various other challenges in the future. 

My final challenge this year is swimming the Great Scottish Swim on Loch Lomond in August.

Thanks again for all of your support.

Kind regards 

Darren