Donegal woman Elaine Boyle O’Donnell yesterday completed 366 days consecutively swimming in the sea at the Boatstrand in Carrickfin.
In this interview she speaks about inspired her to take the plunge, the magic of the water and why she recommends it to everyone.
What inspired you to take on the challenge of swimming every day for a year in the Atlantic?
It wasn’t something that I set out to do , it started with going in for the month of November for Pieta House and then in December , I just wanted to see could I go on for another month, Then it was 100 Days for the Hospital in Dungloe .I never fully committed to the year as I wasn’t aware of what might come in my way to stop me .I think I was afraid to say it out loud in case I would jinks myself .
Were there any days when you almost gave up? How did you push through?
I can’t recall any day where I really wanted to give up, yes there were days when the weather was rough and the ice and snow were bad but that all added to why I was doing it . For me it was a challenge unlike any other I had ever set myself up for and it was that as well as all my swimming buddies that got me through them days.
How did your relationship with the ocean evolve over the course of the year?
My relationship with the ocean is now one of peace and tranquillity. It probably started as one of fear where as a child we were always told of the dangers of the water and the power that was behind it however over time you see it as area where when you enter into it it envelopes you in its power and takes you to a place in your head where can release all that might be inside for that 15 or 20 mins . You are thinking about the moment swimming, staying warm and breathing and it gives me peace from the world around me .To me now the ocean is my safe haven where I can just be me and I don’t have to put an act on or try to be someone that everyone else wants me to be .
Elaine and friends at the Boatshed.
What was the most challenging part of the year-long swim: the cold, the waves, or something else?
The most challenging part of my year was believe it or not having to ask people to swim with me, to put in that message in the group wondering if anyone would answer or was I putting somebody else out by asking them the swim with me in that bad weather or rough days.
Did you notice any changes in your body or mental health over the year of swimming?
My body has changed completely, I have lost almost 4 stone and my shape has completely changed. My mental health has also become so much better things situations that would have bothered me before I know let those things and dramas go over my head now. If however I am having a bad day I will just head to the sea even just for a few minutes of a dip and ground myself into a much better place.
Where there any moments where you felt scared or in danger while swimming?
Thankfully I have never felt scared or in any danger while swimming. The majority of our swimming was done in the Boatstrand in Carrickfinn where the waters are clear and no major currents affect the area so we are blessed that way .If the water were in anyway dangerous I would pick a safe spot to enter the water and only stay in for a short spell so as not to place myself for anyone who was with me in any danger.
How did you prepare for swimming in the harsh winter months?
Preparation is key in the winter, especially in February and March when the seas are at the coldest . I would have gloves and boots on to protect the hands and feet which can get cold very quickly, warm dry clothes in the car to change into as soon as and of course the tea/coffee to heaten you from the inside out.
A cuppa after a swim to warm up the muscles again.
Did you swim at the same location every day, or did you explore different parts of the Atlantic coast?
I swam 80% of the time at the same location at the Boatstrand , however on a few occasions I moved around , we did Rathmullan, Malin Head , Buncranna , The Fermanagh Lakes , The Liverpool Docks and in the company of Paddy Connaghan in Arranmore Island and while on holidays I did 5 days in the mediterranean in Spain , but by far the most beautiful and peaceful swim is in the Boatstrand.
What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself during this challenge?
The most surprising thing I learned about myself during this challenge is the letting the person who was inside me out, someone who is a lot calmer and who doesn’t react to situations, the one who just wants a peaceful calm life and who wants to give back to the world. One of the other things I learned about myself is that I struggle to take a compliment, I struggle to allow people to say nice things to me I cast them off like they must be talking about somebody else. Maybe setting this challenge was more about me trying to find me than completing 366 days swimming.
How did your friends and family react to your decision to swim every day for a year?
I have Thank God always had the full support of my family while I was doing this through everything, they would come down with me at 9pm at night so as I could get into the water and stand on the pier through wind and rain to watch over me while I swam. Yes they did think I was of my head on days but never once asked me to stop or to give up on it. My family are my life and I hope that by doing what I have done I can be an inspiration to my two daughters so as they know that no matter what you try to do in life with a bit of support and encouragement you can do whatever you set your mind to do .
Did you track any data, like distance or time, or was it more about the experience?
Sometimes I would track my swims just to know what I had swam on a day or maybe when we were getting ready to do the Gola swim in August I would have tracked distance to know that I was going to be able to complete the distance required for that swim.
What was your most memorable swim of the year and why?
I have two swims that stick out for me one of them was on a stormy day in December while down with a group the waves were nice and high which doesn’t normally happen on the Boatstrand with a nice onshore breeze , we were like a group of children in the water laughing and giggling with every wave that moved to the shore bobbing up and down and swimming into the wave , the energy that it gave everyone was irreplaceable it was so heartfelt the laughs the shouts and the fun. The second would have to be the night of my 100th swim which I completed for Charity , the people on the pier were there to support me and the cause that I was raising money for , I was completely overwhelmed by it all but as I swam out from the pier I had a great peace come over me like all the people I had ever loved and cared for that couldn’t be there with me were surrounding me in the water and letting me know how proud they also were of me . I will never forget the people that night and the support that everyone gave me and the charity I was raising funds for.
How did swimming in the Atlantic every day affect your connection with nature?
I am so much more aware of the nature around me from the clouds suns and moons at sunrise and sunset , to the birds and animals that I meet on my way up and down to the beach every day , where as I would have driven down in a rush in the beginning I now see all these different things on my way to and from and stop to take pictures or to watch the swans for a little longer as the swim across the lake . Nature and the countryside around us here in Donegal is amazing and we should all step back and enjoy it.
Did you encounter any wildlife during your swims?
I would have encountered some different things under the water , crabs , fish, starfish and odd seal would have appeared every now and then but nothing major . While swimming out around the island the seaweed under the sea is amazing it’s almost like a garden under the seas , all the different shapes and sizes big waxy leaves or long stringy bits all combined to protect the sealife in the area .
Was there a support community that helped keep you motivated throughout the year?
Well what can I say here, the Dauntless Dippers and The Buoys and Gulls , these people were my rocks without whom I would have struggled to complete my 366 days . They were with me all the way day and night, wet days and dry evenings and fully loaded with tea and glass cups at all times. I’m pretty sure they cursed me a lot of days when they had to crawl out of a warm bed in the dark at 7am or when after a football game they had to watch me running in just so as I could dip before I went home , but they did and for that I will always be grateful , they are friends for life and if you feel down they will lift you up and if you are up they wont be long taking you back down the earth again with a bang.
What advice would you give to someone considering taking on a similar challenge?
I would tell anyone considering a challenge like this to break it down into smaller pieces, the bigger the challenge the more daunting that it is whereas if you have 6 smaller ones that can all link into the bigger one it will be so much easier to complete .
Now that the challenge is over, do you plan to continue swimming regularly in the Atlantic?
I will still continue to swim every day , I personally think now that it would be much more difficult for me to give it up then it will be to continue on , there may be won’t be as much pressure on me if I have to miss a day but after a full year of swimming in the Wild Atlantic ocean I have changed completely and I don’t think that I would like to go back to my previous self ,a new form of life has been given to me to help me cope with some of the life’s ups and downs and I can use this to help me navigate the next era and hope that I will be able to deal with things differently . The swimming has also helped me to overcome some difficult things from my past and it allowed me to let those things go, I would have let them float away with the tide hopefully never to return and bother me again.
I wish that I could bottle the feeling that I get from the water and give it to anyone who is struggling in life and let them know that sometimes the answer to thing might be something as simple as dipping your feet into the water. It was worth every minute.
