A non event
None of us slept particularly well listening to the downpour of torrential rain through the night. Heavy rain means pollution and many beaches close but also the swell conditions were not expected to be good. In the typical laconic Australian way the day before our coaches described it as “it will be a bit punchy” subtext “expect to be tossed about like a piece of flotsam and jetsam”.In the morning there was no notification that the race was not happening so we trekked over to Maroubra and registered receiving our lurid yellow caps and timing anklets. One of my peers who is originally English turned up looked at the conditions and blanched, stating in the uk this would have been called off by now and everyone would be at the pub. It reminded me of the iconic Croc Dundee moment where he gets mugged at knife point and pulls out his own massive hunting knife proclaiming in his Aussie drawl “that’s not a knoife this is a knoife”! In this instance it was “that’s not big swell” cue tsunami sized wave “now that’s a big swell”.
The first event was the 500 metre (for less confident swimmers and children 8 years and older). We watched the conditions deteriorate to aforementioned tsunami sized swell whilst they were in the water (and it was already pretty wild and woolly). By the time they had to head back in to shore they were battling swell well over 2m. To make matter worse it was coming in from all directions churning up the water. All the water safety team were out in the water trying to shepherd everyone back in which they managed! The surf life saving clubs are amazing, mostly staffed by volunteers who give up their time on weekends to keep us as safe as our (sometimes underdeveloped) frontal lobes allow. I am pleased to report every little and big person was eventually accounted for!
My well developed frontal lobe watched the carnage happening in front of my eyes and decided the only answer was “not today Satan, not today”. I’m also not to proud to admit that I started to shake, I don’t know how much was cold (it was torrential rain and we’d been standing around in our swim suits waiting to get called) and how much was fear. An hour after our race was scheduled we were told they had completed a risk assessment and it had come back as a 29 which meant extreme and they’d reluctantly decided they had to cancel.
In psychology we often talk about how two opposing things can be true at the same time and this for me epitomises this, as I found myself both relieved and hugely disappointed!
In so thankful to everyone for supporting my journey both with good will and actual donations. I’ll be back next year to conquer Maroubra
Champagne bubble waves
We had our last training session at Bondi heading out on the “North Bondi Express” a rip that pulls you out quickly beyond the break. At any beach you go to always avoid the section the surfers get into the water at to go out the back, as this is guaranteed to be a rip. It will probably look the most inviting (no wipe caps, smooth water but it’s deceptive and if you ever do find yourself in the rip unexpectedly just let it take you out behind the waves and then when it releases you swim sideways and either try to make your way back in once out of it, or put your arm up to indicate you need help.On our last day our coaches had read the weather reports for Maroubra and decided we needed more experience in the waves (both porpoising out and catching the waves back in). The water was a lovely turquoise green and the waves were pretty big but spillers so they gently spill from the top (rather than dumping you under and round and round like a washing machine). I managed to catch several where I rose the top of the spill all the way to the beach, surrounded by champagne like bubbles fizzing on my skin. It was the most joyful sensory experience. I totally understand the dolphins desire to frolic and catch these fizzing waves. Sadly the session had to end but we all felt a little more confident about our goal swim
Henceforth I will answer to blue fish
On Sunday the 13th I completed my second ocean swim in the Coogee Island Challenge. In some ways this swim was easier (I knew what to expect) but in other ways it was harder (more swell so harder to see where you’re going which meant I ended up doing 1.3kms). It certainly highlighted that Maroubra is going to be tough and my heart rate still remained in zone 5 for almost the entirety of the swim - a marked contrast to the pool when I do the same distance). Yet I’m reminded exactly why I’m doing it as I learn that a friend’s father has recently passed away from cancer. This disease is unbearably cruel! It makes people suffer and It’s touched the lives of so many people I know. The only way I can help is to ensure I help make some contribution to bringing about its end.I’m posting some very unflattering pics of me at the event looking like the Dr Seuss character blue fish.
Heart attack or shark attack
Again I think there must be easier ways to fundraise for charity but the truth is even though I’m terrified of the Noah’s I’d rather face them than shave off my hair. I realise this makes me sound terribly vain but I like to think of it as playing the odds. I can be bald for certain, or I can take a chance with the Noah’s. Having said that, this last Sunday I entered my first 1km ocean swim as a practice for the main event. It was held at Balmoral Beach so is very sheltered with minimal waves, a good starter event. Yet my heart rate monitor showed my heart range was between 124 and 194. Every time I saw a splash (always another swimmer thankfully) my heart rate spiked. 194 is way too high for my age so now I figure I’m less at risk of death by shark and more at risk of death by heart attack caused by the potential shark (the irony is not wasted on me). All in all, I’m feeling pretty proud of myself for competing and not coming dead last. I am feeling worried about the Maroubra swim over known shark hatching grounds and what that’s going to do to my heart rate but currently that’s a problem for another dayLucky number
Before we head out into the ocean for our training session we receive a number which we have to write on our hand (to remind us once we’re out there because it’s easy to forget when you’re in sensory overload battling the swells, the current, the panic about sea creatures out to eat or sting you). They do this to ensure they have the correct headcount along the way. We stop at various points and our coach asks us to number off and everyone raises their hand and shouts out their number. This is presumably to see how many have been picked off by hungry Noah’s (after Noah’s Ark which is rhyming slang for shark - we’re actually told to refer to them as Noah’s at the start of the program). We have had a couple of scares where we’ve been missing a number only to realise that someone’s just forgotten to yell out their number because of the aforementioned sensory overload.The other week I was given the number 9 and duly put it on my hand, only to then notice that when I turned my hand back the other way (the way it would be when swimming) it looked like a 6. I decided I’d problem solve it by writing the 9 next to it but then before I can figure out how to fix it up, we’re told it’s time to roll out, get into the water and play Russian roulette with the Noah population. Now I’m on Bondi Beach with a large 69 emblazoned on my hand and I’m sure that won’t be the most humiliating thing I’ll experience on this adventure
Bruce the Nemo Shark NOT Jaws
I’ve learned to porpoise through the waves to get out beyond the breaking waves as safely and quickly as possible (arms outstretched protecting my neck and face from unexpected sandbanks, or unintentional kicks from fellow swimmers). I’ve also learned to breathe so I’m always watching the direction the waves are coming from. This should feel like great progress but unfortunately, I may have had a little set back in the confidence department after a shark decided to “chomp” someone at a Sydney beach (not my beach but still).As a consequence I may have then completed a tonne of research about the effectiveness of shark deterrents (not effective for swimmers although there is one that works some of the time for board riders). I then thought I might feel better if I looked at the shark tracking data but the first shark I saw listed as visiting the Bondi vicinity was a Great White (sigh). Again I’m struck by the thought that there must be easier ways to fundraise for cancer research!
This meant that our first big ocean swim out beyond the buoy from one side of the headland to the other my head kept playing a nice little video montage of myself inserted into various scenes from Jaws. It’s very hard to move the body from threat system when it’s that activated! However, when in doubt use the resources you have at hand so I fell back on my professional skills. All the things I talk through with clients. I focused on my breathing, changed my mental imagery (more Bruce than Jaws), changed the focus of attention (lots of lovely little fishies), and employed my inner cheerleader (it’s okay breathe, you can do this) and just focused on my next step (or stroke on this case) rather than all the what ifs of a gory short lived future. I’m going back next week and I’ll no doubt have to employ all these strategies again but by the end of my training perhaps ocean swimming might just become something more than the thrill of surviving. #bluetherapy
Any donations (no matter how small) gratefully received.
Mission - shark bait fundraising for cancer
This is for Nan, Nadja and my wider community of friends who have lost parents, siblings and loved ones to this awful disease Cancer! I’m of an age that I watched Jaws at one of those pivotal developmental stages. I also seem to exude a pheromone that attracts nibbling fish. This is regardless of whether I’m swimming in freshwater or snorkelling, so deciding to do a 1km ocean swim to fundraise for CAN TOO is therefore currently feeling like one of my more questionable life choices (surely there’s less risky ways to raise money). I figure perhaps if donating for cancer isn’t enough of an incentive then perhaps people might be willing to donate for the possibility of seeing me become shark bait.I'm supporting cancer research and prevention with Can Too Foundation.
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 provides 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 has trained over 22,000 participants and raised over $30,000,000 to invest in over 150 cancer research grants.
It would be fantastic if you could sponsor me, or even better join me in a program!
Thank you for your support!
Thank you to my Sponsors
$200
Alan
$100
Jim And Yami Coleman
Good on yer cobber!
$100
Edward Tong
$100
Mia And Steve Murray
Keep safe and remember… just keep swimming, just keep swimming….
$50
Alex Kruger
Such a great cause Kaja! Well done!
$50
Kieren Moffat
Swim faster, for God’s sake!
$50
Renaee
I am so proud of you Blue Fish!
$50
Dylan Bradshaw
$50
Nadja Rothmund
You’re bloody amazing! No shark allowed to take a chunk out of you my friend 😁 lots of love from us ❤️
$50
Ben, Aoife, Troy
Just make sure you're not last (so you don't get eaten)!
$30
Cassowary Tours
A start, stay safe !
$20
Keong Yap
Great idea Kaja!
$20
Tharini
So brave of you Kaja! Your description of shark bait is so so funny.
$20
Madeleine Fraser
Goodluck, you're a star!
$10
Good luck! We’re proud of you. Try not to get eaten by a shark.