In this episode I talk to avid swimmer, Cath Pendleton. We talk about her swim filled childhood, how her triathlon experiences lead to ice swimming, and how she fared crossing the English Channel and swimming a mile in the waters of Antarctica.
We discuss:
- Swimming and other sports as a child
- Her childhood dream of swimming the English Channel
- Cath setting the Ice Sevens Challenge as a goal for herself
- The pros and cons of aging and being an athlete.
… and more!
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Here are some highlights:
Cath’s early athletic life
“I always played sports growing up,” Cath said. “I lived in a small village and they built a pool when I was 3 or 4 and everybody swam. We swam in rivers in the summer and did club swimming through primary school age. In high school I found badminton and hockey and other sports.”
How triathlons became Cath’s new love later in life
“At the age of 35 I found triathlons,” Cath said. “I used to train on Friday nights with a local group. I initially didn’t want to do it but I had picked up some running in the years before that. I finally agreed and eventually fell in love with it. Because of triathlons I fell back in love with swimming, especially open water swimming.”
The beginning of ice swimming
“I saw an advertisement for an Ice Gala,” Cath says. “I thought it sounded crazy to go swimming in winter but thought I’d give it a go! I spoke to a few friends I knew from fitness classes and triathlons and we just begin practicing late at night. I instantly became addicted. It was a one kilometer event for the gala and we practiced for months before it.”
Swimming the English Channel
“I wanted to a big swim,” said Cath. “I decided to make my childhood dream come through. I googled how to do it and then began contacting some pilots. And I thought that since 2 years was ages away I would do fine. Six months later I realized I should start training for it. That’s when I found out that the slot I had was terrible and I got advice on which tide and slot to be in.”
The Ice Sevens Challenge
“There is a challenge called the Ice Sevens Challenge,” Cath says. “It is swimming one mile in each continent of the world and so far only two people have done it so far. One of them was doing a trip to Antarctica and I contacted them to get involved. This is where a real stroke of luck came in and I was able to get funding from multiple businesses which abled me to raise money for charities to do the swim in Antarctica.”
Cath has an Ice Palace!
“I have an ice palace where I can sit in a freezing cold freezer,” said Cath. “A couple of times a week I sit in it and it really helps with swimming Ice Challenges. Next year I plan on going to South America and Australia and for me to be acclimatized in July will be amazing.”
Cath’s advice on starting out in ice swimming
“My biggest piece of advice would be to find a group,” Cath says. “You can find an ice swimming or winter swimming group. And there are lots of dipping groups that just get in the water and come out to enjoy the coffee and cake. Get education before you start. Start very slowly and get out while you’re still ok. Try it and you may end up addicted like me.”
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Connect with Cath: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.howard.33449138
IG and Twitter: @swimcathswim
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