Clare Lorrimer

Saturday 16th February Bunnings BBQ at Rydalmere

What a sizzler at Bunnings Rydalmere on Saturday. We served about 500 plus sausages to happy, polite customers - many came back for seconds. It was a long tiring day but worthwhile. At the end of the day Tony and I drove for 1 1/2 hours to North Curl Curl to dive into the ocean, ridding ourselves of the strong smell of sausages and onions! Mind you, Tony still had nightmares that night - waking smelling of burnt onions. All for a good cause.

The North Bondi Swim - Cancelled - Sunday 10th February 2019

How disappointing that the 2km swim at North Bondi had to be cancelled due to the rough surf conditions. Tony and I were all prepared - an early night, no wine, a light pasta dinner and then up at the crack of dawn.

But we made the best of the cancellation. We heard about the cancellation on route to Bondi so quickly veered off the expressway and headed for Freshwater Beach. There the surf was dangerous too but we were able to do a few laps in the ocean pool and then adjoin to a cafe.

The photo shows some of my fellow Can Tooers at Freshwater Ocean pool.

The BIG swim from Palm to Whale Beach on Sunday 28 January 2019

The BIG Swim from Palm to Whale Beach turned out to be longer than expected - another 500 meters was added to the swim making it 3.3km in total. Getting out through the surf was fine but there was quite a swell once we were out. It was difficult to sight the buoys and I veered off course at one stage of the race. Coming in to Whale Beach I was hit by a couple of dumpers but due to my training had the skills to land the right way up on the sand.... then limp to the finish line.

Tony took this photo at Palm Beach prior to setting off. I'm with my fellow swimmers and an old school friend ,Sue McCreery [in the green cossie]. Sue came first in her age division - amazingly fit and fast.

Warrierwood to Mona Vale Ocean Swim on Sunday 20 January 2019

Here is a photo of a group of my fellow Can Tooers prior to the 2.2 km swim from Warrierwood to Mona Vale Beach. As I am the oldest in the group, I had to wear the bright green cap and swim last! But a big advantage was that as there are less 60 years plus competiting, I came 2nd in my age category for women! I last won a place in an event at preschool - the egg and spoon race. So not bad?

AFR Saturday 12 January 2019 - On a [sausage] roll - inside Bunnings' charity phenomenon

Today Tony wrote about Bunnings and how it is supporting fundraising for charities such as Can Too. This all came about because we will be holding a sausage sizzle at Bunnings Rydalmere on Saturday 16th February. He was interested in all of the people I had spoken to at Bunnings, Woolworths, Coles and Can Tooers!.

Sorry that the image of the AFR is so poor - you will have to buy a print version or subscribe to read it! Otherwise I can give you a copy.

Training at Mona Vale on Saturday 12th January 2019

What a surprise to have perfect conditions for Mona Vale i.e not difficult to swim out in at all!. So we walked to The Basin and swam around the rocks into the beach at the flags. Lovely clear water most of the way so you could spot fish, shimmering seaweeds and the sandy ocean floor. A mosty enjoyable training swim and not too taxing - a welcome change. 

Saturday 22 December The Bold and The Beautiful, Manly

To keep fit over the festive season a group of us went to Manly early this morning. It was dark and windy on the corso. But once in the water we were warm enough. Luckily we made it to Shelley Beach and back before we were hit by a sudden downpour. By that time I was enjoying a flat white in Hemmingway, a cafe filled with interesting books about Ernest in Manly.

This photo was taken at Manly prior to the swim. It went up on The Bold and The Beautiful's blog.

McIver Baths at Coogee - 6th December - Mini- Training

Lucky enough to have a dip on a glorious morning at the McIver Baths at Coogee. They are perched below a cliff face and you walk down to the rock platform to swim. A good way to celebrate my 32nd wedding anniversary although no husband allowed! It's a ladies only pool!

Mona Vale Beach - 4th Training - 1st December 2018

Again we had to swim at The Basin as there was too much white water to get out through the surf. Surprisingly after the 100mls of rain that had fallen earlier in the week, the water was clear apart from clumps of seaweed. Stingrays were about but I didn't encounter one. Our aim today was to practise sighting in the water. This was good preparation for our ocean swim race days when it is important to swim the most direct route! You must keep the markers either landmarks or buoys in your vision. Veering off course adds a lot of distance.

The photo shows my team members from West Pymble Pool who are swimming 2km with me.

Mona Vale - Beach Closed - Saturday 24 November

We had hoped for a nice, easy surf but it was huge. The beach was closed, and even the ocean pool was awash [see photo]. So we had to train in 'The Basin' a sheltered inlet with a washing machine swiriling around in it. The water was cold; I managed to do the big swim out towards the headland and then back in to safety avoiding the pull of the rip. With teeth chattering and goose bumps, I opted to leave the others and get changed into some warm clothes.

Mona Vale - our 2nd ocean training session - Saturday 17 November

Although the water wasn't too cold, there was a deep channel running off the beach and lots of white water to dive through to make it out through the surf. All my fellow 2km swimmers including Penny and Annette made it out the back. it was tough getting out and I felt a bit breathless. We then swam about 200 metres north in a big up-and-down swell before returning against the current and wind. We regrouped and timed our swim back into the beach - avoiding the rip and coming in between the flags. Then it was time for a chat and coffee at the cafe on the beach.

First training at Mona Vale Beach on Saturday 10 November

A good start with fair conditions at Mona Vale for our first ocean swim training session. A blustery wind was blowing making it quite chilly when out of the water. Thanks to my dear husband, I was wearing his wedding anniversary present to me from last year - a half wet suit. The pod did five swims out through the waves, swam along the beach and back in through the flags - a bit of a rip pulling us north. I was dumped badly on one of the swims as I swam to shore - swallowed a lot of water and shipped a lot of sand!

But it was a great start.I felt so much more confident than this time last year.

I'm training and fundraising for cancer research with Can Too

1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. This means that potentially someone we love may have to battle cancer, and that’s a statistic that needs to change.

So I asked myself, “what can I do to help?” That’s where the Can Too Foundation came in! Can Too provide professionally coached training programs for participants – of any fitness level – to run, swim and cycle their way to a healthier lifestyle and a cancer-free world.

In return, I am raising valuable funds that go towards innovation in the prevention, care, and control of cancer. Since 2005, Can Too Foundation have trained over 15,000 participants, raised over $20,000,000 to invest in 158 one-year cancer research grants through major beneficiary Cure Cancer Australia and collaboration beneficiary Cancer Council NSW.

It would be fantastic if you could sponsor me, or even better join me in a program!

Thank you for your support!