Griffith endurance swimmer Jodie Millar is learning the hard way the trials and tribulations of open ocean swimming.
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Ms Millar has been putting herself through a grueling training regime to raise money for the Starlight Foundation only to have her planned Sydney ocean swim postponed three times now.
Originally organised for January 23, Ms Millar set a goal to swim 27 kilometres from Palm Beach to Shelly Beach, but the Sydney Northern Beaches COVID outbreak forced her to postpone.
The event was then rescheduled to February 6 only to be cancelled again due to bad weather and now her most recent attempt to battle the surf has been knocked back too.
"I rescheduled everything to February 23. My family traveled with me on the Thursday ready to swim on the 23rd and we got a message when we had already arrived in Sydney that due to the weather it couldn't go ahead again," Ms Millar explained.
"It was the wind direction this time. Because it was a southerly wind and we were travelling south I would've been swimming against the current for eight odd hours which is a very difficult swim.
"Not only that, it could be very dangerous for the boat, kayak and swimmer."
IN OTHER NEWS
Her target date for Sydney has been pushed back to April, 2021 but Ms Millar has now got to refocus on her next challenge; a 27 kilometre ocean swim from Freemantle, WA to Rottnest Island.
"It's dependent on all things going well with the borders and then of course the weather, but we are hoping it should be okay weather wise," she said.
"I've been introduced to the realities of open water swimming. It's weather dependent you can't rely on swimming on a set date, sometimes you get to swim sometimes you don't.
"My plan is just to get back in the pool and continue my training."
Ms Millar has so far raised $3659 of her $5000 goal for the Starlight Foundation and recently drew the winners of a raffle with prizes generously donated from Griffith businesses and individuals.
She wished to thank Collier and Miller, Dom's Motors Griffith, Hancock Hampers, Bunnings Griffith, Charlie Millar, Evielution Lifestyle Guidance, Kmart and Whitton Malt House for their donations for the raffle.
Kat is a former English teacher to international students and has taught all over the world. She is beginning a new career as a journalist with the Area News. Got something you want to chat about? She's all ears.
Kat is a former English teacher to international students and has taught all over the world. She is beginning a new career as a journalist with the Area News. Got something you want to chat about? She's all ears.
