I laugh so much when I say, ‘My Journey to Swim the Scilly Isles.’ It always sounds so serious and no fun at all, when actually Open Water Swimming is the thing I have had the most fun with ever.

Why do I love it so much? Well, basically everything, whether it's being quiet and peaceful in a body of water (which is hard for me as I do talk a lot), or training distances in all those lakes and seas, or the gang of people I swim with, or meeting new people, or doing things like writing this – so, as I say, everything.

So the Scilly Isles 360 - Why?

 The sea. My favourite swims are always the sea. I love the challenging waves and the single-mindedness you need to prepare for a sea endurance swim. To be honest, I’ve not swum this far in the sea before and I thought if I’m going to go for distance then absolutely it has to be the stunning Scilly Isles.  I am excited but a little bit scared too!

Swim around St Marys Isle approx. 15k

https://scillyswimchallenge.co.uk/blog/post/6/scilly-360-race-2020

My husband Sean will be walking the island while I swim and carrying my nutrition. Although when he did this with the Henley Marathon, he missed me completely and only saw me at the end, with a quick well done, followed by ‘what took you so long’!

I am swimming for the Charity - Marine Conservation Society

https://www.mcsuk.org They are fighting hard to stop the tide of plastic in our oceans and Seas and after sadly swimming through the plastic at a Colwyn Bay event last year, this had to be the chosen charity. They are working tirelessly to fight this.

So onto training.

I will be ‘adventure’ training ‘til September. I say adventure for a reason. Training with my friend Natasha, sister Dawn and her husband Ozzie is always an adventure. Something always happens – wetsuits stuck on, melted cake in bags, flashing bums and boobs while changing on banks, Vaseline all over the place and still laughing loads when we wee in our wetsuits – so childish. Ozzie is swimming the channel in July this year so at least there is a serious swimmer amongst us to focus me.

At the moment I am in a dreaded chlorinated indoor pool in Banbury doing lane swimming. I am doing swim drills and the odd 3k straight off. To build fitness I also Spin most days and chuck in a bit of hillwalking. I am training in the pool at least 3 times a week.

I have been cold water swimming this winter too, in skins, in various lakes including Scotland. OMG the pain of getting in but the feeling after – there is nothing like it (once the shivers have gone!) Try holding that cup of tea or even getting a sock on with those shivers lol.

 At the end of March, I am heading to an endurance swim camp in Menorca with sis and Ozzie and the King swimmers 

 https://www.thekingsswimmers.co.uk

Kevin Murphy is our coach and has swum the channel more than any other man in history, 34 times, so I think we are in good hands. 

I think I may be the slowest swimmer in this camp but think Tortoise and hare !!

The sea swims will be about 14 – 15 deg so great training.

Once we return the training will nearly always be in lakes, cant wait. Mostly swim at Queenford Lakes in Oxford as the nearest to Banbury, and a great café.

4.30 am starts to get to the lake are not something I relish, but some of the sunrises are too die for.

Bye for now and more updates soon – happy adventures all.

 You can check my Instagram: adventurejaneyjane or my Just giving account

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/janeswimagainstplastic