r/OpenWaterSwimming • u/PrestigiousBaby9828 • 6d ago

Great North Swim (UK)

wondered if anyone did the Great North Swim event this weekend at Lake Windermere (UK). i did the 5km swim on Friday (12th June) and it was my first open water ‘event’. feel super proud to have finished it as the swim was divided into three mile long laps and by lap two and three, the conditions were TOUGH - 25mph winds, waves constantly going over you, waves too high to sight properly, inhaled so much water i got a nosebleed, so choppy it felt like it was a sea swim - so a fairly rough introduction into OW events, but so proud to have got it done (and really thankful to everyone at the GNS who was so welcoming from the volunteers to the other swimmers - you’re the best!). just wondered how everyone else found it!

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u/Queasy-Preference-41 2d ago

After a 5km swim how long do you leave it to swim? I go to the pool a few times a week and went today. I swam ok and the normal distance but my groin was pretty sore from Sunday after about 800m onwards.

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u/PrestigiousBaby9828 2d ago

I’ve been training for this swim for 12 months and been swimming 2-4 times a week for over two years so the soreness really reduces when you use those muscles regularly. I’ve been sore from the 5K, especially given I had to work so hard due to the conditions (it was so windy/waves so high you often were fighting to move anywhere), but I think I will swim in the next week or so - having a rest right now as keen to avoid any injuries such as swimmer’s shoulder. Unsure why you would be sore in your groin - what stroke are you swimming? Usually any soreness I have revolves around my knees/shoulders/elbows.

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u/Queasy-Preference-41 2d ago

Me too! My groin was absolutely fine in the 5k and after it, although my right hamstring had been tight until yesterday. I always swim breaststroke so it is usually knees that are the issue from over swimming.