Two weekends ago I brought my first wetsuit, well my husband brought it for me as an early birthday present, and swam my first open water 400 metres on my own. Both momentous occasions for me.

When I say my first wetsuit it actually wasn’t as it brought back memories of over 50 years ago when I used to waterski. In those days (wow I sound old!) you actually brought a kit, cut it to size and glued it together. It was much thicker and not so hard to get on – but that could be because I was younger, fitter and more flexible.

Enough reminiscing though – I had read up about wetsuits, asked advice, confused myself and knew I wanted a neutral buoyancy as I intend to do breaststroke. Armed with all the information I brought the one recommended after trying it out in the water and just hope it is ok.

I then had my talk with the lifeguard where he told me about the lake, where to swim, proved to him I could lay on my back and wave my arm about, etc.. He also told me that when I had completed the 800 metre circuit and they were happy with my swimming I would be awarded my green hat to prove I was ok in the water – now this is something to aim for.

Our local lake, The Trifarm, is really for triathlon training so I was a little intimidated but got in splashed face and neck with water ducked under and acclimatised myself to the water. I was pleasantly surprised how warm it felt, 18.5 degrees. At the moment I don’t tend to worry about what is lurking under the surface but that could change when I come face to face with something and was happy to see weeds beneath me. As I had swum over a mile in the pool the day before I just did the 400 metre circuit and found swimming in the wetsuit and outside quite different but I am sure I will get used to it. It was harder than I expected and new muscles were aching the next day.

My aim now is to swim 800 metres get my green hat and do at 1600 metres at least twice before Henley.

One thing I do know is that I will carry on swimming outside after Henley.