I entered the Great North Swim as a challenge. I had never swum competitively before and although this wasn't competitive I knew it was going to be a challenge for me.
I had no experience of open water swimming, unless you call splashing in the sea in Greece open water swimming. To be totally honest the day of the Swim was the first time I had been outside swimming in England!
I enjoy swimming and actually work as a swimming teacher and spend a lot of time in the water teaching children, which makes it look like I am a keen swimmer. However, I don't get much 'me' swimming done.
To train for the Great North Swim I practiced at the pool where I work. I started out swimming a quarter of a mile and gradually built this up until I could swim a mile.
I also tried to do some swimming in the sea when I was on holiday in the Canary Islands two weeks before the Swim (bad timing as holidays aren't for training!). However, I think this is totally different to swimming in a lake but that might just be me. It does give you the opportunity to swim without being stopped by a wall.
In the two weeks leading up to the Swim I swam at least three to four times per week and did a mile in one session, three quarters of a mile in another, and half a mile in the other sessions.
"As I approached the finish I didn't want it to end. I had such a buzz. If someone had asked me to go again I would have done it! The finish was great - I couldn't stop smiling."
During my training sessions I tried to avoid putting my feet on the bottom or touching the wall at the end of each length, which is not as easy as it sounds but a helpful training tip as there is nothing to give you a push in the middle of the lake.
I didn't make a weekend of it in the Lakes. However, I did spend the Friday night at the Ambleside Youth Hostel just round the corner from the event. I chose to stay the night as I wanted to be there for the start to see the elite swimmers take to the water – an event that proved to be very nail-biting, especially the men's heat.
I took my mum along to the Swim for support and it’s nice to have someone there to tell you what happened while you were in the water. It’s also nice to have a big fluffy towel waiting for you at the finish!
I enjoyed the whole experience, for all I was extremely nervous before the start and almost dreading getting into the water.
As I approached the finish I didn't want it to end. I had such a buzz. If someone had asked me to go again I would have done it! The finish was great - I couldn't stop smiling.
Yes, the water is cold and when you first get in it is as cold as everyone tells you it’s going to be if not colder! But once you start swimming you forget about the cold and just concentrate on the swimming.
The worst bit is putting your face in for the first time, but if you just duck under a few times it gets you ready for the swim. Be brave!
I think the best bit of advice I could give someone is enjoy yourself as it makes it easier to swim and it makes the whole experience more enjoyable and memorable.
I would recommend that if you are swimming this year you invest in a wetsuit as it was a lifesaver for me. And don't be afraid of going to your local pool and practicing your swimming with your wetsuit on – it’s a different experience as you are far more buoyant.
Oh, and one final tip – learn to spot! Lift your head and look where you are going, especially if you’re a front crawl swimmer as you lose all sense of direction.