Tadpole round 2023 - 50b450

 Here we are in August and only a couple of weeks before the time limit of Lynnes 50b450. Last year, one of the things she wrote on the list was "Tadpole round"- which is a short swim/run course in the Lake district. Short, it may be, but it is pretty daunting if it is something you haven't done before. It is even more daunting if you're going to be doing it breaststroke, not freestyle. There is a 450m leg and a 400m leg in consecutive bodies of water- and if you do it fast, you don't have to worry about it too much, but there is only so much speed that you can do doing breaststroke. 

The idea was not to go breaking any records, the idea was to get around in one piece. This has been put off for a good few months as the water would have been a fair bit chillier a few months ago. Maybe June would have been a good time, but there was *quite* a bit going on in June. (the 15 trigs was certainly big on the mind at that time). July was a washout, and so here we are with not a lot of time left. 

The forecast looked pretty good on the Friday, though there was a freshening wind from the North West. Crummock has its longest fetch from the NW, so any strong wind is going to create some interesting "washing machine" like conditions. Not really what Lynne wanted. However, the forecast for the morning looked pretty good. Generally calm, no rain, and not cold. Perfect. 

So up at 4 (why is it that everything I've been involved in for these challenges has involved being up/awake at 4am?!) and off up to the Lakes. A decent drive got us there for just about 7:30am. Although techincally you're meant to start the challenge from the shores of Crummock water and swim first, we parked in the main carpark in Buttermere and started there. A quick change and check we had all the stuff, and off we went. It was a little chilly to begin with- it being still pretty early, but we warmed up a little on the first climb up and over the hill (looking up to Whiteless Pike in the distance) and down towards Crummock water. There was a slight North Westerly, but nothing that was causing too much more than ripples on the water. 

A slight nav error on my part (on the official map, the start/finish has a red triangle on it... so there was me looking for a YHA... ) anyhow- we worked out that there wasn't going to be one, and went back the 300 metres back to where you get in at Crummock, and got fully changed into wetsuits. No, this was not going to be a record setting journey. (If I'd have thought about it, I'd have brought a flask of coffee as well!). 

The swim across Crummock water was at a leisurely pace- but was quite a challenge for us. Keeping pace was ok, but when you aren't swim-fit, and doing a stroke that is different to normal, 20 mins in open water with a towfloat is still quite a long time. Sighting was very easy, not doing freestyle, but in the middle of the water there was a bit of chop which didn't make our lives any easier. 

However, after what seemed a very long time, we were within touching distance of the other side, and I forged on ahead to take some photos of Lynne getting out of the water. Once there, a full change again, and then off we went down the western side of Crummock. The going isn't particularly nice underfoot to begin with. You can walk it, but if you're running it and not in "fell mode" then it's quite possible to put your foot wrong fairly easily. Once down towards Buttermere the trail becomes a lot easier, and the surface becomes very trail like, speeding you on your way. 

The get in point on Buttermere is a fair way down to the south, nearly at the other end, actually, and we shared the changing point with a few sheep. 

Putting on a wet wetsuit is not particularly fun, but it is more fun than attempting to swim 400metres in just a swimsuit. It took rather longer to put it on here than at the shore of Crummock, but eventually I was ready. The sighting across Buttermere is better than on Crummock water, mainly because it doesn't look as far or as daunting. I'm sure the fast people do the crossing in just a few minutes, but again, going slow, doing breaststroke, you're in the water for a lot longer- which means colder limbs, and more fatigue as you go on. 

Still, the sun was out, it was a beauiful day, and we could see the other side slowly getting larger as we swam towards it. The perspective on this side is also better, because as you swim, you can see the house on the side slowly disappear into the trees as you get closer, giving a real sense that you ARE indeed getting there. 

We changed on the field just out of the water, and set off on the final leg of the run, heading North on the eastern edge of Buttermere. We came back to the car at just a whisker under 3 hours, a lovely morning out, a decent amount of exercise done, another thing crossed off Lynnes list, and ready for a pie in the farm shop. 

What a lovely day out.