Thanks mate!

My partner, Keith, decided for me that I needed to get into ocean swimming when he gave me a wetsuit for my birthday in August last year. Thanks mate!

My partner, Keith, decided for me that I needed to get into ocean swimming when he gave me a wetsuit for my birthday in August last year. Thanks mate! I was comfortable swimming in the pool - but confess it was a whole different 'ball game' transfering the skill to the ocean. I struggled big time - experiencing difficulty breathing and I wondered whether I would ever get it together. I finally tamed the anxiety and negative messages in my head and swam comfortably around the island in Paihia a week before the Harbour Crossing. I entered, went out too fast and experienced an attack of anxiety before I'd even reached the first bouy! I had to give myself a severe 'talking to' in order to carry on. I told myself that I would try and make it to the 900m bouy and if I got pulled out of the water because I was too slow then cest la vie - but if not I would keep going. And that was really the turning point for me. I didn't get taken out of the event, I kept going and I made it to the finish line in 01:37:02. What a feeling of achievement! I was totally buzzing. Since then, I swam the Russell to Paihia in 01:25:50 (yeehaa) and yesterday swam the 'sand to surf' (in Pilot Bay, which was nice and flat) in 01:00:36. It is fantastic to experience the thrill of completing the events and especially to see my own improvements. Next up - King of the Bays. Bring it on!!!