Open water swimming

My family always said I could swim before I could walk.
How true this is I don't know but I do know some of my earliest memories are being in the pool and loving it.
I was lucky to have grandparents who had an indoor swimming pool.
I am a Pisces so maybe it is in my blood but I love water, I am in it at every available opportunity. Only last week I was swimming in a local lake because it was a hot day and, well, why not.
It has become ingrained in me now that I want to complete a triathlon soon.
Now, I can run 10k and I can swim a mile easily, but putting the two together will be a challenge as well as cycling, which I need to work on.
A trainer at the gym told me about this open water swimming locally. I thought this was something I should try if I am serious about a triathlon because it is slightly different to swimming in a pool. I headed down, it's called Uswim Openwater and it is an official weekly event that is run by professionals.
I even convinced my boyfriend (who is a swim-a-phobe) to come in and do a lap.
It was exhilarating. Boundary Park is a lake lined with trees so  it was really picturesque which adds to the charm of open water swimming.
Swimming is a bit like running. Yes the treadmill is a great machine - the swimming pool is a great facility, but why be stuck inside when you can be outside in the open taking in the world?
I headed down with a nervous stomach but full of excitement because I have finally found something that was made for me.
As soon as I was given the run down by the friendly professionals I was in and off. Buoys mark the course so you can swim without getting tangled in the weeds as they clear a path for you. On my first lap however, right at the end I did get stuck in a big tangle of weeds but it is something they raked away quickly.
I did four laps of the 400m course and felt fresh. It does not feel like exercise to me swimming comes naturally so I had a great day out and it was something different for a Sunday. It did also help that it was glorious weather.