In this episode, we meet Carmen Somerset, a long-distance swimmer. Carmen

used to train in our Oxfordshire Swimming Squad before moving to Brighton,

where she moved from lake swimming all year round to sea swimming all year

round. This change moved her towards longer-distance events. She has

completed the Channel swim as part of a relay, Lake Windemere, The Rampion

wind farm and swum the length of Loch Ness. Next year, she is focussing on

a Channel swim solo. 

After her Channel Relay, she reflected on swimming and wrote down the

following thoughts:

"My swimming has taken me far beyond what I thought or even expected it

could, and that's so important to me; I have let it evolve, I have welcomed

opportunities, I have tested myself, I have met incredible people, swam in

amazing places and made memories that will last a lifetime.

Swimming is not something I do; swimming is me. I've never felt more

determined about anything, and I am giving this challenge everything I

have."

We explore what training for these long-distance swimming events looks

like, the natural fears people get of open water and how that can resonate

in life, as well as some really fantastic insight into mindset and

psychology that can be useful for all athletes hoping to balance

extra-ordinary dreams through their busy lives. This one is a must-listen

episode.