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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell want to tell a load of strangers...

121 replies

edwinbear · 03/09/2017 22:52

About the fact I swam the English Channel as part of a relay yesterday!! Lifetime goal, which my Dad (who died in 2008) always encouraged me to do. And I did it!

OP posts:
Jesterstolehisthornycrown1 · 03/09/2017 23:40

That's amazing well done!! You're fantastic.
I'm ashamed to say I can't even swim at all. Grew up beside a beach and never learned.

NewUserNameForMe · 03/09/2017 23:42

Congratulations! Amazing achievement, well done!

Original poster
edwinbear · 03/09/2017 23:42

I've been swimmer all my life. But I got into open water swimming when I used to train in the public lanes of my local pool whilst my local open water Club were training in the next door lanes during the winter - I was basically head hunted by one of the coaches.

OP posts:
Original poster
edwinbear · 03/09/2017 23:44

But whilst I swam competitively as a child, I was never the fastest. Open water, long distance swimming is more about mental grit and determination than swimming ability.

OP posts:
StorminaBcup · 03/09/2017 23:45

Fantastic achievement OP! That's definitely bucket-list worthy. You must feel immensely proud and satisfied! Did you all know each other before you signed up? I had no idea you could do a relay channel swim.

Original poster
edwinbear · 03/09/2017 23:47

We were all part of a swim club yes, a relay is achievable for anyone who can put 4-5 hours a week in (in a pool) and an hour at the weekend in the sea. A solo (which one of our team has done and I am considering) is a totally different beast.

OP posts:
SukiPutTheEarlGreyOn · 03/09/2017 23:48

That's an incredible achievement. You deserve to be proud! 💐🏆

KoolKoala07 · 03/09/2017 23:48

Sounds brilliant op- well done!!

Ttbb · 03/09/2017 23:50

Well I am very impressed!

CheckpointCharlie2 · 03/09/2017 23:50

Wow! That's so impressive OP! Very pleased for you!

Seren85 · 03/09/2017 23:52

Congratulations!!! That is an incredible achievement! It was always one of my dreams as a former competitive swimmer but I'm too much of a wuss for open water swimming.

Original poster
edwinbear · 03/09/2017 23:55

Here I am!

To tell want to tell a load of strangers...
OP posts:
Original poster
edwinbear · 03/09/2017 23:57

And another

To tell want to tell a load of strangers...
OP posts:
uokhunni · 04/09/2017 00:22

You are awesome OP - I love the pictures - amazing 😎

BitOutOfPractice · 04/09/2017 00:35

Wow! What an achievement. I am in awe.

HappylandToysEverywhere · 04/09/2017 00:42

Well done! I can barely walk! I can swim but 20 lengths of a small gym's pool and I'm in a heap! What an achievement, I too would be telling everyone!! X

therealpippi · 04/09/2017 00:58

Well done!!

AlrightBabby · 04/09/2017 01:05

Wow!! Well done edwinbear what an achievement Star

oldlaundbooth · 04/09/2017 01:12

Crikey Edwin that's incredible 👙

I'm a terrible swimmer.

Did you have a special diet? I guess you had to eat more during training?

Leavingonajet · 04/09/2017 01:21

That looks amazing, well done ! As someone just learning to swim properly I can't even imagine how you do that.

endehors · 04/09/2017 01:32

Cripes Edwin! Well done.

SparklyUnicornPoo · 04/09/2017 01:38

Wow, well done. how long did it take? I can't swim at all and am trying to learn now, I can't imagine swimming the channel.

ForgotwhatIcameinherefor · 04/09/2017 01:57

EdwinBear surely you mean the lard thing is an aquatic myth? Or a marine myth..? (Not an urban mythWink)
Massive congrats to youStar

vikingprincess81 · 04/09/2017 01:58

Fantastic!! Well done you! Great pics too Grin

garud · 04/09/2017 02:08

Amazing OP, well done! For some reason, although I understand what 'swim the channel' means, it wasn't until you talked about stepping foot on the beach/rocks in France that I actually thought - bloody hell, you swam to France! Grin