We caught up with Kate, the founder of KBPT, to hear about her experience completing the Level Water 24-hour swim relay challenge.
Why did you decide to sign up for a 24-hour swim challenge?
In 2022, a dear friend of mine passed away. He had completed this challenge earlier that year, and when another friend suggested forming two teams to participate in his memory, I was 100% up for it. It was a way to honor his legacy, keep the flag flying, and raise money for a charity that meant a lot to him.
How did you train for the event?
I increased my strength training, focusing more on my upper body. I also swam lots of lengths in the pool and did a few sea swims in my wetsuit, although it was still quite cold. The pool was WAY more comfortable for practicing!
How did the event go?
It was quite an adventure! I swam 5 one-hour sessions over 24 hours. My first swim was a crash course in lake swimming, which I found harder to spot than ocean swimming – spotting means swimming in a straight line, which, in a lake is weirdly much harder than in the ocean! But with some tips from my teammates, my second swim went much smoother and was my favorite in terms of speed and flow.
The night swims were interesting… I enjoyed the midnight swim, staying toasty warm in my wetsuit with winter surf gloves and boots. I swam with a friend, doing breaststroke and chatting while looking for shooting stars. It was a really unique experience.
The 5 am swim was the toughest. I hadn’t slept much from 1 am – 4 am that night, so getting back in the water was challenging. Seeing my friend look as tired as I felt definitely helped, and we pushed through, doing breaststroke and watching the sunrise. I didn’t bother trying to sleep after that and instead, I powered through with the help of a Huel smoothie. Despite the lack of energy, I finished strong pulling it out of the bag with a front crawl in my final swim.
Did you enjoy the experience?
I loved being part of a team. Everyone mucked in, working together, taking on tasks with eagerness and efficiency. When you got out of the water, there was always someone to help peel off your wetsuit and make you a hot drink. It reminded me of team activities I did years ago to raise money for cancer research. The lack of sleep was tough, but the swimming itself was enjoyable. Most importantly, we raised over £130,000 for disabled swimming lessons, which made it all worthwhile.
How can others get involved?
Level Water is a fantastic charity with many events. Check out their website Level Water: The Power of Swimming for event details. It’s one of the friendliest events I’ve participated in. If swimming isn’t your thing, you can volunteer – I’ve signed up to be on their volunteer list too!
If you’re inspired by Kate’s journey and want to get involved in fitness or charity events, reach out to us at KBPT. We’re here to help you achieve your goals in East London or online! Contact us at kate@kbpersonaltraining.co.uk
