"This is MEN-TAL!" states a member of the Tyne and Wear fire services in a north-east accent as we wade en-masse into the waves of the North Sea avoiding stepping on the masses of dead jellyfish on the beach.
It's a daunting prospect, waves, wind and cold water. The few spectators look cold and they've got several more layers of clothing on.
The worst thing is having to do two circuits. The idea is that you wade back out again through the jellyfish, round a pole stuck in the sand then repeat the whole thing again. Why?
"To check that you're still alive!"
I'm in the second wave, that is, the more naturally old and weak.
After about two minutes of trying to swim into the onshore swell, catching glimpses between the peaks and troughs of the rest of the field getting ahead with one goggle leaking in brine, my weaker self is getting a bit panicky and gaining the upper hand.
"Really two laps of this with a time constraint on the first one? it's all too much, head for the shore IMMEDIATELY, it definitely is mental you can't do it. This is pointless"
1 comment:
I see there is definitely some motivation to be found.
Post a Comment