Rosanna JOINED THE CHANNEL & DISTANCE WEEK IN 2025 AND SHARES HER EXPERIENCE …

The joy of swimming has come to me relatively later in life. I learnt to swim as a child, but I was put off doing sport having never being picked for the teams in school. That stayed with me for a long time and funnily enough I have found that many of my friends were scarred by similar experiences! In my mid-30s, I started swimming because I thought I should do some exercise, and I love the fact that it is solitary. It has now become a non-negotiable part of my week for my mental and physical health.

I find the water holds me, challenges me, allows me to be alone with my thoughts and washes away the troubles of the day.  Swimming makes me feel fully alive – it both calms me down and energises me. I feel braver and happier every time I swim. I also love the swimming community – swimmers are just lovely people. Hanging out with someone after a swim when you are both so energised, is an enriching and joyful experience.

When I started swimming regularly, I didn’t particularly have a goal in mind but over the years and with the encouragement from swimming guides, teachers and friends, I have quietly started to challenge myself to do more. It often feels a bit scary, but I am a firm believer that you have to push yourself into your discomfort zone to grow and live a fulfilled life.

I have a big birthday later this year and as part of the celebrations, I decided to take on a swim challenge. I’ll be swimming 7 miles in the North Sea from Sealand to Felixstowe. I chose the SwimQuest channel and long-distance week in Croatia as I was feeling nervous about my swim and wanted the opportunity to cover some longer distances before the big day. I have been on lots of swimming holidays before, but this was the first time travelling with SwimQuest.

I came into the trip feeling quite anxious – I knew lots of people would be training for channel solos, so I was feeling a bit of imposter syndrome with my 7-mile challenge. But my anxieties were soon quelled – it was the loveliest and supportive, yet challenging, environment. The guides were very experienced and early on I was giving specific tips which helped me improve hugely during the week.

Lots of swimming trips I’ve been on have perfectly adequate accommodation, but this felt more luxurious as it was a beautiful spa hotel on the waterfront. The sauna was particularly welcome after a long day of swimming!

I grew in confidence each day and my favourite moment on the trip was completing a 3 hr 50 min swim in 14.6 degree water. It was the longest swim in that temperature for me. I was excited to learn on the trip that my tolerance for cold water is much higher than I had realised. My Sealand swim now feels well within my reach. I still need to train hard, but the trip has built my cold-water tolerance and my resilience. I know that when I get in the water, however tough it feels, I do talk myself into keeping going.

I went on the trip alone (none of my friends fancied the long distance!) and I found that there was a real mix of solo and group travellers and all ages on the trip. The good thing is it feels very welcoming, and you get a chance to chat and swim with people from all walks of life. It is really inspiring to hear stories about what others are doing both in the water and out of it.

For me the trip was life-changing, inspiring and confidence-boosting. I’m learning to accept my fears but not let them define me or hold me back from doing more. I thought this was the biggest swim that I will take on and yet post-holiday, I feel that there could be an even bigger swim in me!

I’m looking forward to travelling with SwimQuest again as I felt very supported and inspired by the trip. So if you’re wavering just sign up as you will definitely have the time of your life.

Our Channel and Distance trips are on sale here.