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Kim Cook

Future Goal Event Fund

Lake Tahoe - True Width - 12 miles - 25 July 2024

At 4am we were met at the marina by Michael (observer from Lake Tahoe Open Water Swimming Association) and while waiting for boat captain Kelly to motor to collect us we were disturbed by a Mama and baby black bear trying to get into the locked rubbish bin in search of food. I'd heard that Tahoe has bears but this was my first sighting! In indigenous cultures bears represent strength, courage and resilience. I knew those bears would be my lucky charm for the swim, though we quickly decided to move to the end of the pier!

After the short motor to Homewood, safety briefing, confirmation of the "channel rules" (standard cossie, standard goggles, no neoprene, no smartwatch etc), attachment of lights to the back of my goggles and swimsuit, and obligatory pre-swim photo, I entered the dark water. Official swims start and finish "clear of the water" so I swam the 100m to shore and scaled the rock boulders. Hands up - ready, set GO! 

I wasn't looking forward to swimming in the dark. The thought scared me though I never dared to say that word out loud. But I had practiced in Sydney (thank you Ros!) and knew I just needed to swim the first 40mins to my first feed and the light should start appearing. The lake was absolutely glorious and I must have immediately entered a meditative state as my feed bottle was thrown in front of me and I reached for the light stick and consumed my feed after what seemed like minutes. The following 40mins saw me swim into the beautiful sunrise and that first 1hr 20mins were the absolute highlight of the swim. Sydney swim buddy Glenda had joked that I may turn into a night swimmer. I'm not sure about that but it was an amazing experience!

From 2hrs onwards the wind picked up and it got pretty challenging! Boat pilot Kelly positioned the boat to protect me from as much of the wind as she could, while maintaining a fabulously straight line. She encouraged me to call on my surf skills as I was buffeted around with waves coming over my head.

At the time I knew no better - I thought that this must be what the lake is always like!! So I just dug deep and ploughed on!

Feeding was challenging with waves coming over my head. Thankfully Lake Tahoe water quality is the same as commercially bottled water so I just took in the extra liquid with my gels haha.

For 5 hours it was a challenging swim. I swam "feed to feed" like I've never had to before. Thankfully with a change in wind direction I eventually had wind from behind and a push along with the waves coming over my head.

In my mind at 6hrs in I had 2hrs to go. Just a casual round trip from Manly to Freshie and back left was what kept me positive!! So it was awesome to hear that at my 7hrs 20mins feed that was my last feed. 1 last push to that golden (imported!) sand. 

I cleared the Nevada water line with a recorded time of 7hr 41mins 47 seconds. Hands up in the air to show the boat and Lake Tahoe Swimming Association observer that I had finished! As the finish is on private property, after a quick look around to take my surroundings in I got back into the water and swam back to the boat for a hug from the best crew person I could ever have hoped for - Kate. 

I had only met Kate in person 3 times before coming to USA and I had no idea how much she was made for the support role! Maybe it's the years of teaching matched with a passion for hiking, biking, paddling and swimming. Whatever it is, Kate was made for the support role. On a day that I needed a calm, reliable, 100% supportive person on my team, Kate was that and so much more! Thank you Kate I couldn't have done it without you! We both knew from the emotion in that hug back on the boat that was a tough day! 

I asked observer Michael at that point if the water was always that choppy (whitecaps on a lake?!) to be met with uuurm no! That was the worst conditions he had seen in 2 weeks!

A very bouncy motor back home where there was zero opportunity to stop holding on to down a customary celebratory fireball (sorry Cathy!)

Back at the cabin my brain was mush and emotional capacity at zero so Kate, Kate's friend Val and I enjoyed dinner and champagne at home.

To bookend the day, a bear came to check out the action as we enjoyed the dinner and champagne outside! I just about managed to utter "there's a bear!" before we grabbed everything and rushed inside, locking all the doors and windows. I'm sure that bear, like the Mama and cub in the morning, was sent to remind me that I had many friends, swim buddies and a guardian angel thinking of me on that swim.

Too many thanks to mention! Awesome Inez who introduced me to Kate where this whole adventure began! Kate - just WOW no words can explain my gratitude for everything. Can Too, Sydney Swimmers and Aquaculture Brookvale coaches and swim buddies. Friends and family near and far, old and new, and everyone who believed in me. THANK YOU!

https://www.tahoeopenwater.org/results/lake-tahoe-true-width-swim-results/

12 miles
7hrs 41mins 47 seconds
Water temp approx 20C
The first Australian to complete the width of Lake Tahoe under Lake Tahoe Open Water Swimming Association rules.

Lake Tahoe

The Washoe Indians called it Tah-ve, an unfathomable liquid sapphire set in a 500 square mile watershed of alpine snow and ice across winter, yet too deep and vast to freeze.

Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine freshwater lake in North America at 22 miles (35 km) long and 12 mi (19 km) wide. With a maximum depth of 1,645 feet (501 m), Tahoe is the is the second deepest lake in the U.S. and 17th deepest lake in the world.

It sits at 6,225 ft (1,897m) and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountain peaks vary from 9,000 to 11,000 ft (2,750 - 3,350m).

The average surface temperature in summer is 63F/17C.

The flow of the Truckee River and the height of the lake are controlled by the Lake Tahoe Dam.

2/3 of the shoreline is in California, with the east coast being in the state of Nevada.

Once Upon A Time ...

Once upon a time, in November 2023, swim buddy Inez brought her friend Kate who was visiting from California to Sydney Swimmers squad as she thought we should meet. We swam, and over breakfast when I mentioned that I like doing swims that other people aren't doing Kate pulled out her phone and showed me the Lake Tahoe swim.


I'd never even heard of Lake Tahoe nor knew where it was ... but the seed was planted. Kate immediately said if I did the swim she'd support me. We'd known each other for less than 2 hours!


I went home and looked up the Lake Tahoe Open Water Swimming Association. There are 3 officially sanctioned swims. Length (21.3 miles), width (12 miles) and Vikingsholm (10.6 miles). The width caught my eye immediately! Just under 20k, with a start in California, crossing the state boundary to finish in Nevada!


I was too late to secure a spot for the short 2024 season but I went on the waitlist. 


A few months later I was contacted as a date had become available. Did I want to take the 25 July slot?


Cue a message to Kate ... "Were you serious about supporting me swim across Lake Tahoe? It's ok if you were just joking!"


An immediate response - "YES!"


I should have known at that point that Kate would turn out to be the most amazing, calm, reliable, supportive crew person I could ever have hoped for. 


The date was set ... I'm going to USA to swim across Lake Tahoe on 24 July 2024!!!

Bondi to Watson's Bay 2024 - you can't beat the power of Mother Nature

Better to have tried and not make it than to have never tried at all. 

I withdrew from this year's (my 6th) Bondi to Watson's Bay solo swim at the 5th feed stop after Marine Rescue said they were concerned I wasn't going to make the cut-off. My response - "I'm concerned as well - I haven't got anywhere in the last hour!" 

Paddler extraordinare Grant had reassured me at feed 4 that I WAS making progress when I said I was pulling the pin then (thank you for the kind motivation despite the progress requiring a microscope to see!!). We agreed at that point that I take the feed and reassess at the next stop. So I powered on for 40 minutes to put my head up and see I was still in the same spot! So absolutely no issues following Marine Rescue advice and withdrawing. I would still have been swimming now, on the spot like in one of those jet pools!!

My fabulous, positive crew (Freshie surf club captain Pricey and young lifesaver of the year Grace) reassured me that I HAD made progress in that last hour (1 house on the headland haha) as I climbed in the IRB and we motored to Watson's Bay. I was given the option to swim in but as Kenny Rogers sang some days you've got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them.

My first marathon DNF - in good company with nearly a quarter of the solo field. You can't beat the power of Mother Nature.

I'm massively grateful to Freshwater surf club for providing boat support and amazing crew again. Thank you to paddler Grant the ultimate waterman who tried in vain to pick the best line for my swim, reassured me and kept me calm (and paddled back to Watson's Bay while I got a lift!). The awesome foursome land support - Patrick, Stephen, Kath and Cathy - your support is generous and unwavering, thank you for the lifts, bag transfer and Prosecco! Swim buddies Lizzie and Trish who kept me warm at Watson's Bay when I arrived ahead of my clothes. And coaches, swim buddies and friends who trained with me and sent well wishes for the swim.

Narrabeen to Shelly - scary, epic, awesome!

Sitting in an IRB about 3k offshore from Narrabeen surf club for an hour gives you time to practice holding your nerve and contemplate the challenge ahead! To swim a scarily long way off shore from Narrabeen to Shelly Beach. A serious swim. Serious shark territory!

Our scheduled 12pm start was pushed back due to an incident (let's leave it that it involved a Noah and a swimmer's support craft) to nearly 1pm with me sat in togs in Freshwater surf club's IRB with driver Michael, crew and observer Gina and paddler Maz nervously waiting to swim.

So it was a relief to finally jump in the water and set off just before 1pm. Until I quickly realised I couldn't see land, couldn't see anything past the immediate southerly swell, so this was going to be a mind game as much if not more than physical.

Across the 4 hours there were more times of joy than pain. Spotting my first large marine creature in the first half hour, navigating the scary whitewater and surf around Long Reef, the neverending Dee Why headland where the current was at its strongest against me and I was constantly stung, and the jimbles from Curlie to North Steyne particular dark spots!!

But while the hard bits were harder than expected, the good bits were joyous and better than I thought! I enjoyed being able to see the headland at times, and savouring the beauty of Sydney's northern beaches.

The delayed start put time pressure on, and with Surfcom concerned about the IRB returning in fading light I put the afterburners on after the last feed off Freshwater and enjoyed the home ground advantage of a body of water I regularly swim in.

To my surprise there was a MASSIVE finishing party to welcome me to Shelly Beach just before 5pm. A smiling, cheering team of the orange Can Too army, swim buddies and friends. I enjoyed a lot of celebratory hugs, even more special as I felt I'd earned every one, and we were all there for the same reason - to celebrate people challenging themselves and challenging cancer.

The now customary fireball shot shared across the beach was extra special, and particularly poignant as its beautiful instigator Cathy had to share the experience from the other side of the world with her sister managing late stage cancer. This swim was for you Cathy and family.

I couldn't have done the swim without land support Patrick, Stephen and Kath, water support from Freshie surf club, Michael, Gina and Maz, and the Sydney Swimmers and Can Too coaches and swim buddies. Thank you all!

What a scary, epic, awesome challenge! What and when's the next adventure ....?!

10k Narrabeen to Shelly (Saturday 13 April 2024)

I've always had a "dare to be different" streak and I love doing things that not everyone else is doing. 

With a "terr-exciting" (terrifying and exciting) swim on the horizon I'm in the year where a 10k swim becomes training for what's to come!! Eeek!

So I'm swimming from Narrabeen to Shelly Beach - for training, for the challenge, to raise funds for cancer research.

Turns out I'm the only solo 10k swimmer which confirms you have to be a bit crazy to do crazy things! Though I am joining about 40 swimmers starting at Palm Beach!

I'll be accompanied 1-2k off shore by Freshie surf club IRB team Michael and Gina, and paddler Maz as we navigate Long Reef headland and pass the beaches down to Shelly - all into a raging southerly wind, swell and current!

It's been a couple of weeks let's call it tapering ? where I've added a few Korea kilos but filled my heart and belly ready to enjoy the scary, epic adventure!

Windermere: 2nd Time Lucky

With my start brought forward to 6am to avoid the worst of the forecast weather, I waded into the 17.6c water and swam to the can marking the start of the ratified 10.5 mile length of Windermere swim. It was not warm and I was full of nerves and trepidation. What was I thinking? I'd come all this way. Could I do it?

Boat pilot Dave started the timer and I was off. The first hour was the hardest mentally. I had to dig deep. I didn't even say a word at the first feed stop (VERY unlike me!) I was feeling the cold and knew I had a LONG way to go! I forced nice thoughts into my mind. Swim buddies, friends, family, and an imaginary shot of Fireball finally helped settle my mind.

After that I had fun! With the amazing Kari looking on, counting my strokes, no doubt analysing my technique to work in back at squad :-) We had a mix of perfectly flat glassy water, rain, a millisecond of sun, and then wind for the last third.

We dodged the ferries (extending 1 feed stop to allow the chain ferry to pass!), followed the swans, ducks and tourist boats tooting and shouting encouragement :-) I could see parts of the beautiful scenery. And the water temp rose above 18c! 

As I stopped for my last feed on 6hrs Dave informed me that my stroke rate was the same in the then as when I started! I felt strong - and powered to the pebbly beach past Waterhead Pier, super proud to finish - with a smile!

Hugs all round from my awesome support team - towel carrier and taxi driver Dad, observer, feed director and social media manager Kari, and boat pilot Dave from Chillswim. Then fish and chips to celebrate and refuel.

10.5 miles
17.6-18.4c water temp
6 hours 26 mins
Windermere end to end - tick

Windermere: Unfinished Business

Windermere in 2022 was not meant to be. I was ready, the weather was not.

After staying on in England until September last year to be part of the inaugural “mass participation” Chillswim Windermere End to End 11 mile swim, forecast strong winds forced the event to be cancelled. The winds did not eventuate and the conditions ended up being perfect. Such is the open water swimming game, where you must learn to be flexible, expect the unexpected, and acknowledge that safety must always come first.

I feel like I have unfinished business. I have the cap. I have the tshirt. But I have not done the swim. YET .....

So this time I’m de-risking cancellation by swimming solo. Just me and a support boat. The first time I will have done a swim like that. A different kind of challenge!  Just me, my thoughts, and a long swim.

Windermere is the largest body of water in the Lake District in north west England and also the largest lake in England. It is 1 mile wide, 10.5 miles long (17k) and 67 metres at its deepest.

With a 6.30am local time (3.30pm AEST) start on Friday 14th July I’ll be swimming under “Channel rules” – no wetsuit, no touching the boat. My regular nutritional feeds will be thrown from the support boat attached to a retractable dog lead (that's a first for me!) and I’ll try to consume them while treading water (a greater challenge without the buoyancy of salt water!).

I’ll have a GPS tracker for anyone who wants to track my swim online. https://live.opentracking.co.uk/windermere23/ (copy and paste into browser)

This link covers all solo Windermere swims throughout the summer with data cleared every 24hrs – so on 14th July it will show my progress!

You can also follow my swim live on the day via Chillswim social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter).

The goal remains the same – pushing my comfort zone, funding innovative cancer researchers and completing the longest swim in England with a smile on my face :-)


2022: The "Triple Tiara" of English swims

While not in the same league as the marathon swim triple crown that totals over 100k across 3 of the world's most challenging swims, in the Queen's platinum jubilee year, and the 10 year anniversary of Mum's death to cancer, I am attempting a self-titled "triple tiara" of English marathon swims:

- 10k Jubilee River swim
- 13k Thames Marathon swim
- 18k Windermere End to End - England's longest lake

Yes I have completed a LOT of marathon swims (I think I am approaching 20), but these 3 swims give new challenges! I'll be in unfamiliar waters without my swim buddies or the buoyancy of the ocean's salt water, and its glorious visibility and sealife (hoping I can at least see my fingers ...), water temperatures are dependent on the beautiful English sumer, and let's not go there with the River Thames water quality reports. Oh and 13k, then 18k will be the longest swims I have attempted!

But the magic happens outside our comfort zones, so into the unknown I go with the goal of funding innovative cancer researchers while I attempt to survive swimming in England's best known river and complete the longest swim in England - the length of lake Windermere.

I'm supporting cancer research and prevention with Can Too Foundation. 

1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. This means that potentially someone we love may have to battle cancer, and that's a statistic that needs to change. 

I've supported Can Too for over 10 years, raising valuable funds that go towards innovation in the prevention, care, and control of cancer. Since 2005, Can Too Foundation have raised over $25 million to invest in over 200 one-year cancer research grants.

Please consider donating to this cause. Thank you for your support!


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$100

Dad

It would be quicker to drive .....

$100

Andrea Tustin

You are inspiring Cookie! 🧡

$50

Rhiannon Kerr

Congratulations on this incredible effort and ticking Windermere off the list. Inspired & very proud.

$50

Anne Butler

Congratulations on an amazing effort Kim xx

$50

Sej Kotecha

Go Cookie! You’re such a trouper!

$50

Cathy Murray

Focus on the Fireball! ❤️

$50

Lindsay Asquith

Awesome Cookie...so fabulous you are x

$50

Adrienne Hamann

Truly amazing achievement. Congratulations 🥳

$50

Trish Dawson-kermode

Kim- you are a powerhouse of energy, positivity & inspiration ! Congrats on an incredible swim all whilst being jet lagged . I’m again blown away by your efforts ! Glad I was there to see u finish Trish x

$50

Carolyn And Sean Mcilvin

Kim you are a legend! Utterly incredible!

$50

Sal

Inspirational Cookie big congrats 🙌

$50

Sime, Zacy Morten And Kate Morty

Kim Cookie, we think you are amazeballs how you keep on swimming, completing your goals and celebrating life afterwards. Well done on your windermerw take 2 swim! We love you loads xx

$35

Ro Evans

Well done Kim! You’re an inspiration, and that river looks lovely. Though cold!

$35

Inez Maurer

Go get it Gurl!! Keep on showing the rest of us how it's done!!!

$30

Diann Handley

Well done Kim your an amazing person

$20

Sandra Haberlin

You are an inspiration. Well done on Lake Tahoe.

$20

Julie Boxsell

Epic swim! What a great achievement on a tough day!