Event report: Exmoor Swim

I’m 3km down and 3km to go. Hanging off the side of the support boat in the middle of Wimbleball Lake, I’ve been handed a paper cup generously filled with jelly beans. Now, I could just eat one or two and carry on, but I’m already at the back of the field and with the sun shining on my face, I’m enjoying the moment. Yum, jelly beans. “There you are,” a voice comes from a kayak. “I look away for a moment and you stop swimming!” The gentle banter is coming from one of the superb race support team, who have been keeping an eye on me as one of the slower swimmers in the sixth running of the Exmoor Swim and its 6km ‘elite’ category. So how did I come to be here..?

Reassessing my goals

My 2022 swim season didn’t go quite to plan, I think it’s fair to say. Having swum Lake Coniston last year (8.5km), my plan this year was to move up in distance and complete the two larger ones – Ullswater and Windermere. A string of nasty lurgies messed up my early summer training though, so the decision was made to reassess my goals a little and swap to the Bantham Swoosh and Dart 10k instead.

The Swoosh went well, but then it is very much tidal-assisted, so the Dart was down as my swim A-race…. But then after the weather report suggested gusty conditions and difficult swimming, the organisers took the difficult decision to cancel. So what to do, with a load of long training swims going to waste? Well, a season saviour came in the form of the Exmoor Swim, who opened up their 6km ‘elite’ race to those of us of a less elite persuasion, to help swimmers looking for a replacement event.

Originally you needed to be able to swim a mile in under 28 minutes to enter this race (which I definitely cannot do!). My endurance is good though, so I lined up on race day with the first wave of red-capped swimmers. Originally the 6km was going to be a mass start, but with water levels at Wimbleball low thanks to the long, hot summer (most UK lakes and reservoirs are having the same issue) a floating pontoon had been constructed and swimmers were invited to enter the water in their own time, with a 60-second grace period before timing began.

Back of the pack

Keen to avoid the rush of elbows, I entered the water towards the back and within the first couple of hundred metres found myself with my own individual support in the form of the back marker kayaker (did no other slower swimmers get the memo about being allowed to enter?!) but I got into a steady pace and headed around the first L-shaped 2km lap of three. Luckily Wimbleball Lake is huge, so despite the low water levels the organisers could still map out a decent-sized loop. This is my second event here and I was quickly reminded how beautiful the area is, the water surrounded by fields and trees and the odd sloping mud-flats revealed by the low water. People say Exmoor has its own micro-climate, but the event day was bright and sunny and the water fresh at around 16 degrees.

I carried on straight through the first lap without stopping at the halfway feed boat, which was dispensing water and jelly babies to swimmers on the longer courses. Heading round on my second lap there was a change too, as swimmers doing the shorter 4km and 2km events entered the water and started swimming. I managed to get on a few sets of fast feet here and there, adding interest to my swim and some burst of speed. My faithful support kayaker (thanks John!) was superb, giving me words of encouragement and guiding me around the course.

Coming into the third and final 2km lap, the course had emptied again as those doing the other distances had mostly finished. “Are you up for this, then?” asked John the kayaker. “Of course,” I replied. “I’m slow, but we all get the same medal!” He laughed, told me I get 10/10 for endurance, and off we set on our final lap around the 2km. By this point I realised my hands and feet were pretty numb and cold, but that was more of an annoyance than a sign I was struggling as I’m pretty well acclimatised. Trying to finish strong with claw hands isn’t easy though! Around we went and in what seemed like record time, a team of kayakers appeared lining the route into the finish where several helpers were on hand to help tired swimmers get upright and navigate the walk out of the lake.

Something for everyone

My chip was removed, a medal handed to me (which also doubled as a bottle opener and fridge magnet, happy days!) and I headed back up to the race’s superb swim transition area (where you get your own little spot marked out) to collect some warm clothes. The only thing left for today? A cuppa and some cake from the event village and siting down to watch the swimmers taking on the 1km swim events. This swim truly has something for everyone and although my time certainly wasn’t ‘elite’, this was a great way to end my swim season on a high. Who knows, maybe I’ll train for speed not distance next year and come back again!

Exmoor Swim raised over £20,000 for charitable causes, Chill (Cold water therapy for people suffering from anxiety and depression) Children’s Hospice South West, Plastic Free North Devon, Somerset Wild Life Trust, Family Compass (helping to stop child abuse). Entries are now open for 2023’s event, click here.