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Kylie Grewal

2025 Summer Ocean Swim 1km

My Activity Tracking

18
kms

Another milestone

11/1 Back to pool training on Thursday night. An easy 1500m! Wow. 

But another milestone at beach training at Mona Vale today.  Swam around the point from Mona Vale beach around to the Basin. 800m. A more continuous swim. This was my next big thing to achieve as it again felt too much. But during and afterwards I felt good. Not too puffed and not too anxious. First time swimming around a headland since I was a young adult when my lovely confident friend Cath and I would do crazy memorable things on our weekend campings trips down the south coast, like skinny dipping in bioluminescent water where the water trickled past our eyelashes like stardust. She taught me to surf and ride horses. We road tripped and camped and laughed so much. She also convinced me to swim around a headland on the south coast somewhere one time. I remember I only agreed if she would swim on the outside of me…so she would be eaten first! Some friend I was! Haha

Only 1 more ocean swim session to go. 
Almost the race day we’ve been training for. Australia Day Little Big Swim Palm Beach.

Manly to Shelly!

28/12 Big swim today. Have been nervous of this swim for ages. Too many oceans critters and seems so far. But with a few of us from our pod and with the encouragement of our lovely mentor Lisa and coach Nicky, we did it! 1.45km to Shelly and back. A few stops along the way to float and enjoy the serenity. And it did feel serene. I actually enjoyed it and was distracted seeing so many fish. Plus some little stingrays, a big groper with lovely blue eyelids and even a wobbegong shark waddling off along the ocean floor. Didn’t even freak out! Such an accomplishment for An and I. Feeling like we are going from strength to strength. And meeting some great people along the way. 

Sad news

My lovely new friend and swim training buddy Kate has had to pull out of our training half way towards our goal as she has just been diagnosed with cancer. Stinking bitch of a thing. 
We have even more reason to train, fundraise and swim hard now. For Kate. As well as for all those I know affected by cancer, who have lost someone, who are going through treatment right now. For you all. 

Met my fundraising goal and more!!!

17/12 Tipped past my fundraising goal with all the amazing support from friends, family members and colleagues. So amazed at what we can achieve, bit by bit, altogether. Thank you so so so much everybody who has donated and given their support.

Swim towards New Zealand

14/12 Just follow the board and swim towards New Zealand the coach said. We are heading into open water, out past the headland today. I actually teared up in panic a bit when I first heard that. But once we started swimming today, and with my swim buddy Anna at my side all the way, we just kept swimming, got into some kind of rhythm and made it. Felt almost enjoyable. 0.9km again. Almost full length and not even half way through training yet! 

Back in the ocean determined not to freak out!

7/12 After last week I was determined to push past my freak out moment in the ocean. Spoke up at pool training in our chat time about how difficult it was last week and the coaches and mentors were really great in giving advice and encouragement. This week conditions were good for surf training. Beach side at Mona Vale, rather than the Basin we have been in previously, so dealing with getting in and out through the surf. Lots of diving under waves, some quite massive sets, all so different seeing under the powerful waves with goggles on. 
I like the surf and grew up holidaying in and out of the waves so today was a good training day. Felt successful again. Plus they threw in a longer swim out past the breakers - took my time, breathed, counted my strokes and it felt a bit more enjoyable. Phew!

Pool time trial

5/12 Challenge week in the pool this week. 500m time trial to see where we are at and then will do another one later in the program to measure our progress 
11.40mins 
Not bad!
Felt good. 
Then we went to the pub!

I hate this…

These were my thoughts every stroke on our second circuit out last Sat morning. I’d just been wacked 3 times in quick succession in the head by a wayward swimmer next to me. Was tempted to turn around and swim straight back in…but was in the middle of the pack and worried I’d get hot more. So struggled around the course, dragged myself, had a little distressed cry, was comforted by my mate, and sat out the next circuit. 
But got back on the horse as they say for our final circuit. Hung at the back to give myself more space, slowed everything down and worked really hard on my breathing, which I’m really struggling with in the ocean. Was much better. 
And I’ll just keep swimming. 

First ocean training session

First ocean swim session - check
About 6 or 7 times going in and out of the ocean at Mona Vale Beach - going out through the waves and once I got my feet back down on the sand coming in not a problem. Just lacking the fitness to make swimming back in comfortable. Still a slight panic that I won’t make it. But pushing through it. 
Feeling exhausted already - check
Enjoying being brave and doing something new for me - check
Loving the support of a great mate doing it with me - check

Thank you to those who have already sponsored me to support cancer research. Nearly half way already!

First training session

Last night Anna and I braved our first training session. 1.5km of lap city at Narrabeen Academy of Sport pool. Met our ‘pod’ members, coaches and mentors. Felt so encouraged already and even was told I could be the poster girl for one of the swim drills. Phew! Can still swim well. Just fitness! Was worried about how my shoulders, neck and arms would pull up today but feeling ok. Next step - ocean training on Saturday morning. 

Quietly terrified!

I’ve signed up to do this thing…kickstart some exercise over summer despite being very unfit, get my joints moving so the inflammatory arthritis I have doesn’t hold me back, confront my quiet fear of ocean critters and commit to raising over a $1000. Quietly terrified indeed! 

But here I am. Signed up. Start pool swim training tonight. Ocean training on the weekend. All with my good mate Anna alongside me. In order to help support Cantoo’s  funding of early career cancer researchers and their projects. Because I lost a friend from choir to cancer this year.  And know many others fighting the many types of this insidious disease. Taking my health seriously and doing something for me, to make a difference in my life. 

So 14 weeks of swimming here I come. 26th January you’ll find me doing my first ocean swim - the Little Big Swim at Palm Beach. 

Please support me in my fundraising committment of $1360!


Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$1,710

My Goal

$1,360

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Thank you to my Sponsors

$100

Robyn B

All the best for the swim, Kylie and Anna. Fantastic goal. My donation is in memory of beautiful Rose.

$100

Caz

Good on you Kylie ❤️🌹❤️

$100

Anonymous

Go you!!!

$100

Viv

You will love this!

$100

Georgina Potts

You can do this ❤️😘

$80

Glynis Cochrane

This is such a great swim for you to do. Good luck with training. And keep visualizing Rose💜😊

$50

Deborah Maze

Such a fabulous thing to do, for yourself and for Cantoo research ❤️

$50

Khan-marie Crump

You go girl, you got this 💕

$50

Maria Carmody

Go Kylie! What a wonderful thing to do

$50

Lisa Carmody

Courageous Kylie- swim well my friend 👏💜

$50

Lisa Joy

You’re a super star Kylie

$50

Jeanette Treffery

Good luck Kylie

$50

Sara Scullin

You are a superstar and an inspiration Kyles xx

$50

Kieryn

Good luck!

$50

Lisa Atkinson

Love this Kylie! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

$50

Annie

Good on you! Hope you enjoy every moment x

$50

Cara Tobin

Love tjagg tv you’re not letting the terror hold you back. Great cause!

$50

Elisabeth Gray

$50

Carlie

I hope you enjoy getting back into swimming! You have got this.

$30

Laura Stevens

You’re amazing! Very impressive start and excellent cause xx

$30

Bella Wakes-miller

You are amazing doing this( I know it’s way past your comfort zone. Happy to swim with you before January. Come and join me on one of my Cabbage Tree Bay snorkel/swims. Keep on swimming with Rose close to your heart. 💜

$30

Jane Yabsley

Great cause!!! Hopefully you develop a love of ocean swimming at the same time.

$30

Nicky Sandler

Go Kylie! You're an inspiration.

$25

Kris Mateika

You've Got This

$25

Janet Cater

Well done Kylie - I think you are very brave doing the ocean swim . Such a worthwhile cause and I think it wonderful that you feel motivated by the lovely Rose, she was brave .

$25

Wisecracker 2

Well done being brave and for a good cause Kyles! Cheering you on! 👏🏽

$25

Roz

$20

Amy Mcknight

Go Kyle's! Love your work!!

$20

Hattie Delaney

Good luck Kylie.

$20

Bec Sutherland

Amazing Kylie! So impressed and wishing you all the best in your training x

$20

Louise Shea

Well done.

$20

Sally From Alto2

Good luck Kylie! You’ve got this. The alto2s will be cheering and singing you on.

$20

Jesnette Horstead

You can do it❤️

$20

Helen Adamson

$20

Catherine Mackinnon

$20

Old School Pal Nat

Way to go Kylie!

$20

Kate Blows

What an admirable challenge and fabulous cause, well done Kylie xx

$10

Maureen Carr

Enjoy the swim and thank you for caring xx Mo

$10

Charlie G

Good luck on your big swim mum! Love you so much. Remember to have fun and try hard. You’ve done so much training for this big day so go out and do it! From Charlie

$10

Little Bud!

Love you mummy. Hope you have a great time and make it from the start and back. Your the best mummy in the world. Hope you have a fantastic day at your swimming. Hope you have a fun time. Hope you take your time and enjoy and try your best.

$10

Kristin Hellmrich

Good luck !!

$10

Glennes

Good luck Kylie!

$10

Bianca W

Good luck!