‘I’ve found my happy place’
For Nicola Russell, 53, from Belfast, her brave dive into open-water swimming has been life-changing
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‘I’ve always loved swimming, and spent a lot of time at my local indoor pool. So when the pandemic hit last March, the pools closed and I was furloughed from my office job at a textile company, I didn’t know what to do with myself. Then I had a thought: ‘There are so many lakes near my home; why not try swimming in them instead?’
I messaged a local open-water swimming group I found online, and received a quick reply. ‘We’re going to Belfast Loughshore tomorrow morning,’ the email read, ‘Join us!’
It was a surreal moment when I arrived and took in my surroundings. Ferries and container ships sailed past and the view of mountains in the background was punctuated with cranes. Was I really going to swim here?
I took a deep breath as I tried to calm the butterflies in my stomach. Not only was I going to swim in the open water for the first time, but I was also about to strip off to my swimsuit in front of strangers! But I needn’t have worried. The group of eight like-minded ladies really welcomed me – and after quick introductions, we dived straight in.
The coldness of the water took my breath away, and I felt my body tingle. But, as I began to swim, I started to feel exhilarated. Afterwards, wrapped up in a towel, we chatted and drank tea, and I went home with such a buzz.
I was hooked. The group added me to its Whatsapp chat – which, to my amazement, had 250 people in it. They were all so kind, giving advice about safety in the water. I learned to always go with at least one other person, and when you feel warm, that’s a sign it’s time to get out.
I’ve also bought new kit: cold-water diving shoes, gloves for my freezing hands and an inflatable tow bag to carry my phone and car keys into the water. It’s bright orange, so easy to see from the shore.
As I continued to wild swim regularly, my husband David noticed a huge change in me. For six years, I’d been struggling with the menopause. The more I swam, the better I felt. ‘It’s like I have the old Nicola coming back to me’ he said.
He was right. It was the happiest I’d been in a long time. I felt fitter, too – the currents and waves mean open-water swimming requires more stamina and energy than in indoor pools. I’m so glad I decided to take the plunge, because I feel like a new person.
The open water is my happy place.’