Swim for a Mile: Final wraps up week of swim challenge events

"I just hope I finish it. At this stage, it's ok if I'm not fast. I just want to finish it and not drown," said nervous Irish Times journalist Dominique McMullan ahead of the Swim for a Mile challenge at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin on Friday.

She and fellow journalist Conor Pope, both steadfast land-lovers, signed up for the event 12 weeks ago and embarked on a training programme not unlike the Couch to 5K method that gets people running.

The pair have written about their aquatic journey in The Irish Times Health+Family supplement and on irishtimes.com/getswimming.

It was the second annual Swim for a Mile Challenge, launched by Swim Ireland. There were events in pools across the country last week, leading up to Friday final in Dublin, where 300 people took part.

This year, due to popular demand, the number of participating swim centres grew from five to 80, and about 1,500 people aged from 16 to 80 swam at events in almost every county.

A trainer at Swim Ireland developed the 12-week programme, designed to help inexperienced swimmers get more confident in the water.

It consists of three 45- to 60-minute swims per week to gradually build up endurance and distance.

"It starts out very easy. Your first session is around 250 to 300 metres, and by the end of the programme you're actually swimming 2,000 metres," said Trish Mayon of Swim Ireland.

McMullan, a self-proclaimed “reformed couch potato”, did finish the swim, and fast. She did it 10 minutes quicker than her goal of 50 minutes. She said she felt exhausted and emotional at the end of it all.

“I’m so surprised at what you can do if you just challenge yourself. I hated swimming in school, and I haven’t swum since then up until 12 weeks ago. And now I just love it.

“There’s something about it that’s quite therapeutic. I feel fitter physically but also psychologically. You just feel good. There’s something about getting in the water that’s really relaxing,” she said.

“Plus, I’ve got some muscles growing as well, which is a good thing. Everyone should swim.”

The Simon Community was this year's charity partner. They encouraged swimmers to set up donation pages during the registration process to raise funds for people who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless across Ireland.

Joan Fitzpatrick, a children's officer for the Tallaght swim team, signed up eight weeks ago and has been training at her local gym ever since.

“I was over the moon to finish it,” said Fitzpatrick, whose family was there to cheer her on.

“I thought it would be a very good opportunity to get an understanding of the challenges and disappointments and struggles of the kids and what they go through. And what better way to do it than to try yourself? Hopefully, it’ll make me a better children’s officer,” she said.

“I’ve always loved the water, and I’ve missed it. And it definitely reminded me of how much I’ve missed it. I won’t be giving it up again.”

It was the second annual mile swim for Killian Byrne, who took part in the RTE programme Operation Transformation in 2012. He said the Swim for a Mile helped him maintain his weight last year, so he decided to do it again.

“I had a back operation at the beginning of the year, so I was out of action for awhile. Swimming is an ideal recuperation exercise because it’s non weight-bearing…it’s all about stretching and building up the muscles,” said Byrne, who also did the challenge to prepare for the “few triathlons” he is signed up for later this year.

The evening capped off with a swim by Today FM presenter Matt Cooper, who broadcasted his show The Last Word live from the National Aquatic Centre.