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Ultra-marathon swimmer Nick Edwards is always looking for the next challenge – which is why an anniversary trip to Bora Bora in French Polynesia with his wife also included an attempt on a record-breaking swim.
The 34-year-old Deputy Principal of Ahutoetoe School in Milldale has had a connection with the sea since childhood, when he lived on Britain’s south coast.
He swims in the ocean year-round, finding the cold immersion beneficial for his health.
“It also tunes you in with your body, your breathing, and requires being totally present in the moment,” he says.
Nick believes that type of focus is an important building block for mental health.
In March this year, he became the third ever British person (and the fastest Brit), to swim Lake Taupo (40km), south to north.
He had paid his deposit to swim Cook Strait, but the queue for this is long. When he found out he would not be able to do it until next summer, he started looking for a goal to fill the gap. While planning a wedding anniversary trip to Bora Bora with his wife Laura, he stumbled on information about swimming around the island itself.
The distance is around 26km and only one documented swim was recorded.
“I felt that setting a goal of beating the time officially recorded and simultaneously becoming the first ever male to swim around the island was a lofty but attainable goal,” Nick says.
He says Laura was a great support, knowing that Nick would also ensure they had time together as a couple on the island.
“She knows my strength is compartmentalising – so I can be really focused on a goal, but that is always in harmony with family life and activities, career, time out and everything else.
Over the next four months, he trained for the big swim, which he did following Marathon Swimming Federation Rules – this allows only swim shorts, goggles and a swim cap, no rests ashore, no holding onto the boat for help, or any floatation support.
His circumnavigation of Bora Bora took place on November 6.
It was an opportunity to see vibrant marine life, including coral and hundreds of tropical fish, manta rays and stingrays. Shoals of flying fish blew past him.
“For me, being in nature and connecting to the sea is so important for my mental wellbeing,” he says.
The deeper water included sighting a large shark, and having to simply carry on swimming.
Towards the end, he began to tire mentally and physically, cramp and lactic acid took hold.
“I hit a wall and my arms began to feel like lead. My stroke rate and pace dropped dramatically in that last hour. I just wanted the swim to end and even began thinking, ‘why do I do this to myself?’ I was desperate for the pain to be gone. This just goes to show how much of ultra-marathon distance swimming is a mental, as well as physical, game.”
He found renewed strength in the final stretch and finished in 7hrs:14mins:50secs, setting a new world record for the circumnavigation by more than 2.5 hours.
“I am so grateful to everyone who contributed to this achievement. There is always a team behind the accolades of ultra-marathon swimming and they deserve just as much credit.
One of his goals was to raise awareness of the importance of valuing and building mental health, so Nick is sharing his story through the Sir John Kirwan Foundation, Aotearoa NZ Mental Health Foundation and First Steps NZ.
“I hope that this swim has provided an opportunity for others to reflect and connect to their past, strengthen their present, and envision their future. When you’re ready, set yourselves some goals and get after them!”
For now, Nick is enjoying and reflecting on his achievement but says he will soon begin researching his next goal.
