Into the deep as open water season begins
OPEN water season has come around again. Where did that year go?
From now on, swimming enthusiasts from across Sligo will be testing the waters, as they venture out into the cold dark lakes and choppy seas for the summer months.
Once experienced the lure of the open water stays strong. And it seems every year more and more people catch the bug. After all there is nothing like an exhilarating dip in the ocean to wipe away the cobwebs of a tough day at the office.
The popularity of open water swimming has snowballed in recent years. Local swimming coach Sheila Ryan runs a number of coached open water sessions in Rosses Point, Lough Key and Glencar.
Ahead of the first class at Rosses Point Beach last night (Monday) she says: “We are at record numbers. 218 swimmers have singed up for open water classes so far this Summer. It is all about getting people together to get confident in the open water. We cater for basic swimmers right up to competitive swimmers. There is not necessarily an emphasis on competition, it’s about the social aspect of things too.”
So why the sudden surge in popularity of swimming outdoors? Sheila believes much of it is down to word of mouth and the realisation that anyone who can swim is capable of taking part.
“Last year, we had so many people coming up to us on the beach asking about what we were doing,” she explains.
“They assumed we were training for tri-athalons and didn’t realise the sessions are accessible to all.
“My mum Deirdre Ryan who was doing the registration for the classes last year has bought her first wetsuit and is going to take the plunge this year. It’s all about trying it out.
“Having the support of swimming coaches out there makes all the difference to people. They tell their friends ‘I went in scared of the sea last year and now I can do it.’”
Of course there are also those signed up to the advanced coached sessions with Sheila who are keen to compete in a number of races and swims in Sligo this Summer. Already most of the spots in these events are full up.
Organisers of the North West Hospice Lough Gill 10k swim say places for the gruelling challenge were snapped up in record time.
Indeed this scramble for places was one of the in- fluencing factors in my decision to sign on the dotted line. Now there is no turning back. Having completed the 10k swim last year as a novice, I know what I’m in for and somehow I’m still interested.
I can remember the feeling of elation on reaching the dock at Back Avenue last year after almost four hours of constant swimming. That magic feeling is worth having again.
As for the aches and pains in my weary arms and legs, the seemingly endless horizon ahead during the swim itself and the disciplined training, well those things I could live without.
My fellow swimmers though will ensure the training goes well and is as enjoyable as any two hour swim in a cold lake after work can be.
I am concerned about my fitness levels though as undoubtedly I had much more pool time under my belt last winter. This year, I’m more or less starting from scratch. So once I signed up last Wednesday, I headed, determined, for the Sports Complex at lunchtime.
I rummaged through my swimming bag for my Garmin swim watch. It had not been used since last September. I reset it and off I went. The first ten lengths were doable, an easy pace, I was in no rush. But after 500 metres, I really needed a break and a good glug from my bottle of water. My aim was to get a kilometre done before heading back to work. This, I achieved, but the time it took was at least four minutes more than it would have taken me last year. There’s obviously a great deal of work to do. But, like anything if the will is there, things should fall into place - eventually.
Another swim that is coming back to Sligo this year is the 6k warrior of the sea from Rosses Point to Strandhill on June 23rd, which opened last week. Places for this challenge are also filling fast. So dust down the wetsuits and enjoy the water.