A cheeky 1km to finish

Despite some fairly strong and gusty winds once I started swimming today I decided to keep swimming past my usual 250m turning point and complete the full 500m to the end of the buoys in front of the lido. When I turned round I did wonder if the current would be too strong to make it back but I powered through and completed the full 1km is about 22 minutes.

I was once again joined by Caroline, which was fantastic. She has been so supportive this winter and an inspiration in her own right, swimming around 10 - 12 minutes every time she goes in - just wearing her costume with a little something on her feet. Most people are, quite rightly, more impressed with her going in the water than me!

This last swim brings up 7,000m for March - much more than I managed for the Gold Challenge last year. The overall total for the winter is now 23,500m or 14.6 miles. I will be updating my total on the Polar Bear official website and can’t thank Pauline Barker (Mama Bear) enough for creating this opportunity.

Next year I may be on a Buddhist pilgrimage during February and March so I may not be able to take on a full challenge next winter. No dates have been agreed yet with the friends that I am travelling with. I’m still considering taking another step up and giving the Apprentice Jedi a shot. My plan is to get some training and practice in to swim the distances required during the summer/autumn to see if I can make these when the water is in double figures before I sign up on 17th September when entries for 2022/23 are made.