Above: Aerial view of Ullswater in the Lake District, where Jo completed the 7.5 mile "Epic" swim.
In July Jo Lockhart swam 7.5 miles across Ullswater in the Lake District, raising over £1600 for Arthur Rank Hospice.
Below: Before and after the swim, Charlie waiting as Jo crosses the line, Charlie in full flight.
The ‘ChillSwim Ullswater 7.5 Miles End to End’ event took place on Saturday the 16th of July, and took Jo exactly six hours to complete. Jo says the weather and water temperature were perfect on the day -- she didn’t even wear a wet suit for the swim as she finds them uncomfortable and swims without when possible. “The temperature at Ullswater was 16 degrees, which is warm to me,” she says. Jo says of the swim: “It was a really tough challenge, but I was lucky to have my lovely daughter with me to cook and look after Charlie,” she says. Charlie, for those who haven't seen him, is Jo’s lively 16-month-old sproodle, who often joins Jo in her (non-competitive) swims. Donations can still be given to support the Arthur Rank Hospice through Jo's "Just Giving" page.
Love of swimming
Jo has loved swimming all her life. She says: “When I was about nine, we moved to a new house that had a river at the end of the garden. I loved swimming in the river, although my Mum was absolutely horrified!”
Jo was never on a swim team, but swimming became a common theme in her life. She swims regularly at the (non-heated) Jesus Green pool, even in the winter. “I swam all through winter last year in Jesus Green,” she says, “The coldest water temperature was 2.9 degrees.” No wonder Jo didn't need a wetsuit for the Ullswater swim! She also trains at Impington Village College with the Cambridge Triathlon Club every Saturday morning, where she pushed herself to complete double-sessions of two hours when she was preparing for Ullswater.
Jo started competing in longer competition swims about eight years ago “for a challenge.” “I’m very competitive, although not very good," she says modestly. Swimming has taken her to places she would not have dreamt of going such as Finland for a swim-run, Hungary for the World Masters Championships and Slovenia for the European Masters Swimming Championships. Ullswater has been her longest swim to date, and along the way she has raised money for many different charities.
It keeps you going
Jo says that swimming was one of the things that kept her going during that stressful period we all remember as lockdown. Wild swimming was one of the few activities allowed, and she and her group of ‘winter swimming buddies’ swam daily in the Cam. She still swims in the Cam once or twice a week, although she notes that she doesn’t put her head under, to avoid potentially harmful bacteria. Jo says she often gets strange looks when she comes into the building huddled in her DryRobe to get warm after an early morning swim.
Good for depression
What does Jo get out of swimming? “It’s my way of forgetting about everything,” she says. “I just count my breathing and forget about everything else.” Jo says she has suffered from depression for many years, since initially being diagnosed with post-natal depression 28 years ago. “Swimming helps with my depression and it keeps me sane – although most people say I’m not sane!” she laughs. “Swimming is well known for helping with depression – cold water swimming particularly,” she says. “I just love being in the water.”
Jo is also a fully-qualified Open Water Level 2 swimming coach, although she generally coaches only to help people out and doesn’t charge. Her advice to anybody interested in wild swimming is: “Find somebody to go with who might like to do it with you. Only do it if you want to; don’t be pressurised. And just take it very slowly.”
Jo is happy to share her experiences with depression or swimming and can be contacted at jl802@cam.ac.uk.