About lizziecantoo

Late in 2009, I couldn’t tell a flutter kick from a flip turn, blue bottle from a blue-bottle, shore dump from a surging wave or spiller, peloton from a pod, didn’t know how to spot a rip and thought swell was something to do with Frank Sinatra.

Nonetheless, I stupidly agreed to attempt a 2.7km ocean swim.

One of my great friends will tell you that when I think I can, I can, but when I think I can’t, I can’t.  Lucky then that the insane person who signed me up to this, also signed us both up to Can Too – a non-profit program that coaches beginners and experienced athletes alike to run or swim in endurance events in return for raising money to fund cancer research through Cure Cancer Australia.  As a result, amazing people whom I am fortunate to count as my friends, family and former colleagues have donated over $20,000 in support of Can Too.

For the last five years, my conversation in bars for the festive season (when I am not asleep) has degenerated to stroke correction, shave downs, surf skills and asking for advice in an attempt to stop my bum looking big in lycra (it’s not working).  I spend many hours staring into space contemplating whether there is a back and front to a swimming cap and what the female equivalent of budgie smugglers/dick stickers is.

Somehow, I have managed to complete that 2.7km ocean swim not just once, but four times and many other shorter ones along the way too.  That’s despite being in the bottom 3% of finishers each time.  And despite still being terrified of surf (chop, swell, rips, other swimmers and my bum looking big in lycra; oh, did I mention that already?).  And not to mention the fact that I am a pom; who thought a trip to the seaside revolved around a stick of rock, fish and chips, sunburn and a knotted handkerchief; and who definitely didn’t grow up with the benefit of reading surf skills on the back of a Weetabix packet.

This blog is a place to share the wonderful experiences of ocean swimming that I have encountered on the journey so far.