Wild Wye Swim for the Win!

I signed up months ago, meant to do some serious training, but summer holidays and a hectic work schedule have gotten in the way. What will swimming 7km for the first time as an adult feel like?

On the morning itself it feels like being back at school before an exam. We all swore in the WhatsApp chat that we haven't done proper training but reassured each other it'll be ok. In reality, some of us have swum two to three times a week for months and others have done a few 2km swims. 

On the flip side, none of us has swum in a wetsuit for ages, some of us are unsure if our wetsuits still fit, and I am worried that the others all have neoprene booties! 

Still worrying about little details, we wander over to the registration point where we are issued pink Wild Wye Swim hats and get kitted up. Registration and infrastructure are at the finish, so we wait for a coach to take us to the start. The driver doesn't seem clear where he's going but a local river swimming regular helps out and we make it! 

There's quite a crowd at the start point waiting for the all clear from marshalls down the route. And then we are off, descending down some steps into the river where we step over the rocky bottom to the marshalls who signal we can start swimming, one at a time. 

It's quite shallow to begin with so not a lot of swimming to be had. We nervously giggle, laugh, attempt different techniques to catch the current and keep our bottoms or bellies off the riverbed. Some are more successful than others but as we chat, howl, bump ourselves and giggle some more the anxiety leaves my body and I enjoy a thrill as we start to swim.

From there it's fun. Really fun. The current is fast and just 45 minutes later I find myself at the half way point where a little boat awaits with bananas and lucozade. There are several jolly swimmers standing around and we can't believe how quickly we've got this far. Boosted by the mood and the snacks I set off again to enjoy the second half.

At no point during the swim did I worry about whether I'd make it, particularly after the reassurance of that social midway stop. The marshalls were friendly, advised us where the river gets shallow and whether to stick to the left or right side. For some bits I was solo, swimming on my back with my eyes to the sky, elsewhere I crawled in a crowd, or head-out breaststroke chatted to fellow swimmers. 

The finish came too soon. Marshalls in a kayak said: 'Well done, you're almost there, you'll see the bridge and finish round the next bend!', and there it was. Climbing up the bank was less than elegant but what a thrill to climb out, be handed a Wild Wye Swim towel and cheer my friends as they finished. 

I would love to do this swim again. It isn't a race: you don't get an official time, and the atmosphere is supportive and upbeat. I would recommend it to any keen swimmer.