26 July 2009 – from Rapperswil to Zurich
38-year-old Tasha Morey from Winton was third woman home and second in the 16 to 39 age group to finish one of Europe’s most challenging long-distance swims, the Lake Zurich marathon swim, in an amazing 8h 7m.
The time was an hour inside her target and made her the seventh finisher overall. who started swimming in Ringwood Leisure Centre’s triathlete training sessions 11 years ago and remained in the “bottom lane” for two years.
Relive the fascinating atmosphere of this year’s event as swimmers from England, Ireland, India, America and all over Europe enjoy the 26.4 k competition in Switzerland in splendid weather conditions in the above 7m 12s video (flashplayer required to view).
“I was a runner and a sprinter at that,” Morey told the Bournemouth Echo. “My mentality is to go quick and get it over and done with. But five years ago some friends were doing the Round Brownsea Swim and I joined them and did the Half-Brownsea in two-and-a-half hours.”
Morey went on to do the full Brownsea distance and the Bournemouth Pier to Pier. Then two years ago she was invited to replace an injured swimmer in a two-person relay which also forms part of the Zurich International.
With her husband Ben on the support boat, she and her team-mate swam in one-hour shifts and completed the course in eight-and-a-half hours. That led the county sports partnership officer to enter the individual event this year.
“I love training but I train with people who have all ‘done something’ and I wanted to achieve something myself,” said Morey, who was accompanied on the support boat by her training partner Barry Adams.
“Conditions were lovely. There were blue skies and water with a temperature of 20C. I was terrified beforehand and swore that I would never do it a second time. The biggest battle is the mental one and in the race there is the physical one. But I was amazed at my time and I woke up next day with no aches and pains.
“Now I feel I have proved myself as a proper swimmer and I’m thinking that in a couple of years probably I would like to come back and do it again. I’ll be in the over 40s then.”
The ASA’s Nuala Muir-Cochrane recorded 8h 04m 24s to win the 40 plus category. Well done to both!
Click to view results.
If you wish to enter either as an individual or form part of a Club relay team in future events, contact Ali Budynciewicz.