So after guiding so many individuals and teams on Windermere it was time for me to take on my longest solo swim to date. Not one to shy away from a Challenge I tackled this swim with a totally different mindset. My last long swim was 7.2 Miles of Ullswater where I set off just to see how it would go. Relaxed, happy and simply swimming. This time Dave had said "put pressure on your stroke " and in my head I wanted to push it for the 10.5 miles just to see what was in the tank.

Not from a swimming background and only stepping up the solo distances this year, I did not have a target time. I know too well that setting yourself this goal can have a negative impact. Especially if you are wearing a watch and you keep looking at it during your swim. This swim, the watch was left to avoid any negative distractions. There are too many factors that can influence a swim that its unfair to be led by time alone. I see so many swimmers look at their watch and then you can see in the water they are beating themselves up and the mental attitude changes.

So I did not bother with Suncream, as most of my swims the sun decided to stay away for the day, but I vaselined the cozzie lines and was raring to go. Slightly anxious I have to say but looking forward to it. At 0930 I jumped it at Ambleside with my partner and Uswims Dave Quartermain to guide and feed me. The swim began. Water temperature 17 degrees, overcast, grey and dull but no wind.

I chose to feed on predominantly fluid using a CNP diluted mix adding in warm tea and the odd piece of banana here and there. The first 90 minutes is always the worst for me as my body adjusts to the temperature, I had calf twitches and sciatica had started in my leg. I also had something I could feel scratching my eye but did not want to move my goggles as they were in perfect position. I remained in a happy place and apart from feeding back I was feeling chilly to Dave, I fed fast and just got on with it.

I know the Lake so well, that every land mark I knew the distance achieved and the distance left. I deliberately minimised my view and just sited to the boat. I had clocked the 5 km marker (Bass Rock) and was thinking wow, I've made a great start, but I didn't get carried away. Just under 3 hours in I had hit the halfway marker. BOOM!

Messages were passed on by Dave which gave me so much encouragement. I had such a positive experience on this swim that I began to plan "what swims next" with my growing confidence. I continued to push and chose not to have any CNP for the last couple of hours. My energy levels had not dropped so I chose a drink of tea/warm vimto or a small piece of banana. My right shoulder began to ache an hour before the finish, but I knew tired shoulders were making me drop my arm slightly so I concentrated on trying to maintain elbow above my wrist.

6 hours and 33 minutes I had completed the 10.5 mile Lake Windermere Swim. Very happy and proud of myself. Huge thanks to the support received from the Swimming Community and from DQ on the boat.

Dave Q feedback "a fun, drama-free swim from my gorgeous woman who never ceases to amaze me with her swim achievements. Just over five years ago she was recuperating from a life changing back condition and now swims the longest stretch of water in England! Respect xx