A swimmer with a cause

From warm pools to the thrill of wild waters

How has it been almost two months since I wrote a post? Sometimes time ticks by and I’m in the swing of things when I look up (or resurface, to use a water metaphor) and realise how many weeks have passed.

We visited the Gold Coast in July for my husband’s Milestone Birthday and, despite the rain and southerlies, I enjoyed plenty of pool swimming. We rented two Airbnbs (consecutively) and the first one had a heated pool so the entire family got in (remarkable for us/them), and the second had an unheated pool so I was the only one who got in. My 11-year-old dipped a toe in and declared it '“unswimmable” – ha!

I didn’t do much fresh water swimming. The coast was a bit wild, and when I did find a nice canal in Palm Beach a passing local warned me about bull sharks so I didn’t linger. But finally, on our second-to-last day (when the sun finally emerged), I prioritised a swim and went to a lifeguard area, so I could swim between the flags and let the professionals worry about bull sharks. There was a current so I just swam laps close to shore and it felt great to have some time in the ‘open’ water.

Back at home, I began to settle into my usual winter routine of sporadic dips and pool training (I’m in two squads now), but then I had the idea of dipping through August for a good cause. For a while I fretted about which sea-related charity to support but then realised I could choose a more people-focussed option. Here in NZ a lot of people are struggling with high living costs and lots of redundancies/welfare cuts, so I’m raising money for Kindness Collective which gives people in need warm PJs, bedding, and so much more. Here is my Givealittle fundraising page, but no pressure. I do a little update each day with a swim summary and a photo.

As of today I’m almost halfway through the month and the total raised is $562.00. I’ve had people getting in with me along the way (or I get in with them!) and those swims are usually the most fun because I enjoy the company and chat and stay in a bit longer. My commitment is to get in the sea every day but I don’t promise time/distances because it really depends on where I am and the conditions. I don’t want to get hypothermia! Even the more adventurous city swimmers are doing loops close to shore rather than heading out further.

I also don’t want to jinx things, but it’s all going well so far.

The pros: I’m sure it’s good for my physical and mental health to get in the sea each day. The weather’s been varied but not terrible (having said that, I enjoy the colder days more). The water dropped to 9°C a couple of weeks ago but is mostly around 11°C.

The cons: Well, more of a challenge than a con – some days the swim is more of a checkbox to be ticked off, squeezed in between myriad other work and life commitments. I feel like time is moving so quickly and I’m treading water sometimes (another aquatic metaphor!) in that as soon as I’ve done a day’s swim, another day has arrived. Also, there’s a perpetual trail of sand and soggy, salty gear to be rinsed and dried (thank goodness for the heat pump).

But I’m really glad I’m doing this! There are beautiful moments and memories and connections I wouldn’t be having without this daily, little bit of added effort. I am so grateful for the lovely beaches, wild weather, the kind people who have donated, and those who keep me company (and sane). Here are just a few snapshots from the past fortnight: