Fiona Barras
Fiona's Snowdonia Swim
Fundraising for Aspire
Story
SNOWDONIA AUGUST 2010!!
The Result!!!
Woo Hoo!! I did it!
My story - The weather wasn't brilliant all the time. My wetsuit wasn't exactly skin tight - in fact I looked like a grey shar pei wrinkly dog and as the water was only 15c when I got out I was snuffling like shar pei too!! My internal sat nav was a bit haywire for the first buoy and I went off course a couple of times, but I still managed to do the 3 Mile endurance course in 1:47:20 - though I probably covered more than 3 Miles ;) When I got out my wetsuit had bulges of lake water which I'd been dragging around with me too!
The water was so cold and there was a current in the lake which made it tiring to swim, so for the afternoon session the group was split into 4 teams of 4 for a relay race. My team captain from SwimTrek was Andy & we won!!!.
It was a fantastic weekend, I met some really great people.
I'd like to thank you all for sponsoring me and supporting Aspire - to date they estimate they have raised £10,000. It's not too late to sponsor me now. I'd also like to thank SwimTrek and all their staff for making this a fantastic adventure xxx
Hello,
Thank you for sponsoring me - sponsoring me to do two swims in Llyn Gwynant in Snowdonia in August - thats a mountain lake - still very very cold even in August - brrrrr! My training log is at the bottom of the page
The first swim I am attempting is 3 miles long, then after lunch I plan to swim another 2 miles.
A total of 5 miles
I've chosen to do this swim because following a car accident in 2003 which resulted in a back injury, I was told I might not be able to swim competively again. I was fortunate enough to be able to get back into the water with help from therapists.
To ensure that all the money raised goes to the Aspire, I have paid all my own costs associated with the swim.
Who are Aspire? They support people with spinal injuries. A spinal cord injury can result in complete or partial paralysis.
They can tell you better than me what they do so visit them here
Please support Aspire in their work.
Thank you once again
£100 will by a complete set of easy to hold crockery for an Aspire house suitable for use by someone with limited use of their hands
2/08/10 - Training Update - I'm tapering now - don't want to get any injuries before the big day. Also taking it easy with plenty of sleep planned. Take care X
25/07/10 Training Update - Woo hoo just managed to complete 200 lengths - 5km in one session. It took 1hr 42mins & I'm tired and my back is sore. I smashed a toe on Thursday - not sure if its completely broken, that held up till the end though the turns off the wall were a bit hairy at times. Resting with a Bud now.
05/07/10 Training Update - I've been away on a training course this week, so I've been swimming in the Livingwell gym Pool in Sheffield. I've completed 240 lengths - 4.8km, but it's sooo different swimming in a warm pool. Take care x
27/06/10 Training Update - Thanks to BAD Tri, I did an hour lake session at Henleaze Lake Bristol today - ok, it was the warmest day of the year so far, but it was early morning & I didn't have a wet suit. I managed to stay in the water for an hour swimming circuts of the lake. It was very definetly different to a pool!! Thank you for your support
14/06/10 - Training Update - upto 170 lengths now- not far to the target. I still haven't got to acclimatise to cold water yet - I know its cold!!! Keep smiling
25/05/10 - Training Update - I managed a 140 lengths last Sunday - the target is 200 in one session. Unfortunately, I reacted to the pool water - which for those of you who know me know what that's like - sneezy!!! I'm fine now. I'm now looking for some nice, cold open water to swim in to get used to it
Thank you for all your support :)