Open Water Swim

After much searching we found the perfect bit to start off from. It was clear that one thing that was not missing from the lake was regulations, so the opportunity to swim open water was effectively banned . Its a pretty weird requirement anyway, who in their right mind swims a couple of km's in a cold lake in May....

However we'd travelled a long way and I needed to know if I could do the distance. I'd trained for it and done it in the pool, however its another thing to jump into a big body of water and swim its length or breadth. I've probably never swam more than 200M from the shore in my life, even at that it would make me breathless with anxiety.

Ironically, we parked up next to the large state of the art indoor swimming pool. I carried my wetsuit down to the waters edge and managed to get into my wetsuit quite easily. We'd looked at a map and saw the lake was just short of 1Km across. We'd therefore swim at an angle to make up the distance to at least 2KM. The distance looked very substantial to me standing on the shore. I have never swam so far outside and the buildings on the other side were hardly visible from this side. I was more than a little nervous as I waded in.

The water was cold as it hit my face and as a little dripped down my neck and back. I just started right away and decided to keep going but at a steady and easy pace. After 10 minutes I looked back and could see I'd covered a nice distance, the far side buildings though I could now not even see as I was so low down in the water. I just put my head down and kept going, aiming for the trees at the top of the hill. As we reached the middle the lifeboat appears...no swimming the guy says... I knew we should have gone to the place I'd been recommended near Mechelen.

However we argued the case that we were two and had wetsuits on and obviously were in no distress at all and in fact were only just going over the other side and back. That statement alone I think blew his mind and in typical Belgian fashion he just gave up and said OK I've warned you so my job is done then sped off. We continued the journey. There is in any regard little or no danger as you can actually float on your back without any effort due to the wetsuit. The additional bouyancy is pretty dramatic. We were already in the middle so clearly turning back wasn't a realistic option for us.

The sun was out and shining down through the water. You obviously couldn't see the bottom as it was so deep but it was nice and bright with a green tinge and after a few minutes any remaining nervousness of reaching the goal went and I just tried to concentrate on my technique. I even stopped looking at the distance.

The first thing I worked out was that I was taking a very indirect route and was effectively zig zagging across the lake. As I'd do a sighting I'd see I'd be heading too far right or left and need to correct my course. That won't be such a big issue in Zurich as I'll be guided by buoys and boats on a narrow track out and back.

I found the way out pretty relaxing and I didn't suffer from any oxygen debt or over tiredness at the start. I was soon at the other side and I was jubilant. I went to the shore and stood up just to look back over. The view was amazing. I'd just swam right across. I plunged straight back in and set off back. I was 32:30 out and 24:28 back, this included time chatting with lifeguard and stopping at the far side. I think my route back was also less zig zagging and maybe a little faster as I was now on the home leg and I now knew what I needed to do it..

I measured the distance on google earth when I came back and it was just over the km mark but my zig zagging was adding some distance.

I felt fine when I came in and was laughing as we'd seemed to have drawn about 10 or 12 spectators on our journey. Even though I say so myself it looked an impressive feat from the shore and the two swimmers must have been an interesting and unusual sight.. Speed wise it was OK and I was totally fine at the end. Not washed up at all and I doubt my heart rate was elevated much the whole journey. I tried as much as possible to stay relaxed and I did lie on my back a couple of times on the first leg just enjoying the experience.

I can do the distance on the swim leg and I can do it outside in open water. That was the whole point of the exercise. My previous competitive 750M open water experience in Roybon was a bit of a shock. I should now hopefully not be intimidated at the start in Zurich now. I'll just start at the back and side and keep out of trouble.

I would not recommend doing this on your own. If you have no choice then swim the shoreline, don't swim directly across on your own. Having someone else there is a very good safety net. It also helps mentally to see some other madman doing it.