Windermere 1 Mile and 2 Mile Challenges

Windermere 1 mile and 2 mile challenges

By Karen Quartermain

May 10, 2022

Monday and Tuesday were fun-packed, supporting swimmers who had completed mile challenges before and wanted to push to 2 miles, as well as those doing their first open water mile ever.

Monday saw Sara, Roy, and Kate complete their challenges. Water was sitting just over 13 degrees with a moderate wind. Therefore, the swim route was changed to ensure swimmers were not facing the wind, especially as they were all breaststroke swimmers. At least the rain stayed away and swimmers could enjoy Windermere all to themselves, as there was no one else completing a true open water mile or two.

Tuesday the wind had picked up, so we changed the swim to keep swimmers more sheltered by swimming down the left side of Windermere. We saw sister act Jasmine and Ellie setting the standard for the day, followed by Sara who absolutely loved her swim. Lou and myself swam the return leg smack bang into the wind—it was fabulous!

Last swimmers of the day were full of beans. We saw Lisa smash out her mile in preparation for her weekend event, and then friends for over 40 years, Lorraine and Janet, totally embracing the moment and sharing another experience together.

What an absolutely fantastic couple of days with super fabulous swimmers. For some, they swam the furthest they had ever done, and for others, it was their first time open water swimming in "real" open water—not on a marked course, but guided by a boat, safe and able to enjoy the environment they were in.