Taking the Plunge - London
Stepping back into the water after the COVID lockdown.
Read Rosanna short piece she wrote for Swim People.
On Monday 4th January 2021, I pushed myself hard and had a great swim at the lido. It was, what I thought would be, the first swim of my six-month training for my Channel relay swim. Later that day, the UK went into lockdown and all pools and outdoor swimming venues were shut. Had I lived nearer the sea, I could have gone for a dip but here, in the middle of London and with the advice to stay local, that wasn’t an option for me.
During the lockdowns, I have learnt a lot about myself. I am more resilient than I give myself credit for. Despite losing most of my work for nine months and losing access to my favourite sport for several months, I have had a productive and spiritual time and found joy in lots of other places – a reignited love of reading, walks, chatting to people in my local community and various home workouts. Although I must admit that nothing else quite hits the spot like swimming!
It has also been a very reflective time for me. By slowing down, I have become more in tune with my emotions and had the time to think about how I choose to respond to those emotions. When difficult things come my way, I haven’t pushed them away but sat with them, journaled and found the right path forward for me. It’s not always easy, but I know that I am much happier and more balanced, when I choose to embrace all my emotions rather than just the positive ones.
Last week on Monday 29th March 2021, I was beyond excited about the re-opening of outdoor swimming. I knew it would be a busy work week, so I was looking forward to destressing with a swim. The immersion really does make me feel like I can take on the world! I was also looking forward to seeing everyone at the reservoir – my swimming community is so supportive, and I have missed those chats and encouraging words before I swim. I was there on Monday morning and sure enough, it felt absolutely amazing!
Aside from the obvious excitement of returning to the water, there were two specific things that happened that made me happy. Firstly, I didn’t even bother packing my wetsuit for the reservoir, content in the knowledge that I would be fine in the cold water. Admittedly I did have a moment of panic when I noticed a sea of wetsuits on my arrival, however that soon passed and I thrived in the cold water. Secondly when I went to the lido, I chose one lane faster than my normal lane, successfully dismissing the voice in my head that was saying everyone would be faster than me. And you’ve guessed it, I was fine!
These two defining moments meant the world to me. I realised that my emotional journey in lockdown has had a huge impact on my swimming journey. I am starting to let go of my limiting beliefs around swimming and sport in general. The growth mindset that has come so easily to me in other areas of my life, has taken a little longer to seep into my fitness life but it has finally arrived! This has been a big change in mindset and one that I know will be invaluable as I embark on my Channel relay swim in July. It feels fabulous to be back and I hope that I can continue to embrace more swimming challenges over the coming months. Happy swimming everyone!
Thanks Rosanna. Read her full story
