The April Swimmer

Last Saturday I took part in the May installment of The Swimmer, which reminds me that I haven't written up the April installment - gaah! I can barely remember what happened last week let alone last month, can you? I'm fairly certain some running and some swimming happened, and everyone had a very good time.

Hmm, let's see if the photos can jog my memory... (most are from Peter - thank you Peter! I'm such a crap blogger)

Ah yes! Despite not being able to take part this time, Liz still saw fit to make us a cake and deliver it to me and fellow Icicles Marc and Peter at the gates of Brockwell Park at 6.20am before we departed north.

The ceremonial conferring of the cake

Swimmer Taxi to Hampstead courtesy of organizers Will and Jonathan, and off we hop (about 25 of us), for swim #1 in Hampstead Men's pond.

Where angels fear to tread

Laughing in the face of health & safety, we all lined up along the pontoon and took a leap (as captured by photographer extraordinaire Chris Parsons):

On your marks, get set...

GO!!

 Although apparently Marc didn't get the memo:

High water Marc

Time for a quick change...

No hanging about

...then on to swim #2 at the cool and steely Parliament Hill lido.

Here's me diving with care:

And Simon exiting with camera:

Oh yes! Another highlight last month - two people swimming and running the whole thing in wetsuits! Apparently training for an event that involves running across and swimming between a series of Scandinavian islands (do I sent a Swimmer Swedish in the offing?)

Simon considers the chafing

Me an' my bitches

Off we toddle through Regent's Park, Marylebone, Hyde Park to bring as to swim #3 at the Serpentine, where Jonathan and Marc are quick to laugh in the face of authority:

Meanwhile I unleash my inner tiger:

We also have a rare pic of Peter, looking understandably apprehensive with Marcus in charge of his camera:

BONG!! CAKE O' CLOCK!!

Then the final 10k slog to the Brockwell finish, my legs slightly dying around Battersea... positively creaking by clapham - actually let's not dwell on that.

Glorious sunny swim #4 at my own dear Brockwell lido, featuring an inspired series of underwater pictures by Peter:

And finally... time to refuel at The Lido Cafe: