It was her father who ignited Karen’s passion for swimming. “My dad took up swimming in his late 30s/early 40s to keep fit, and then he took me swimming on the bus on a Sunday, and we always did 20 lengths each,” she recalls with fondness. “We did this every week without fail, and so swimming became my sport. It is something I have always done, and I feel really quite proficient at. I feel good at it, and I get a real sense of achievement doing it.”
Today, Karen’s commitment to swimming remains unwavering. “Right now, I am swimming 2 to 3 times a week,” she shares, though her desire to swim more often is tempered by concerns about the effects of chlorine on her hair, she laughs.. “I have experimented with so many hats, lotions, and things like that, but it is very difficult to keep hair unaffected by the chlorine. So it is only vanity which stops me. I would swim 4 or 5 times a week otherwise.”
For Karen, swimming goes beyond mere exercise. It is a source of profound joy and liberation. “I absolutely love swimming,” she exclaims. “I love the feeling of swimming. I like to feel strong and I like the feeling of propelling myself in the water, to move forward. I like the slightly otherworld sense that you can by swimming as you are in a different element. I feel anonymous and within myself. It is a meditative thing. I feel free.”
For Karen, the motivations for staying fit are as diverse as they are powerful. “Swimming is great for me if I am angry!” she declares with a laugh. “I literally thrash through the water. Sometimes I get very angry when people act badly, and then I go swimming, and by the time I get out, my endorphins have kicked in, and I am a much better person.” Yet, beyond anger management, Karen recognises the importance of exercise for her overall well-being. “Other motivations to go swimming are to keep fit,” she explains. “I know that I don’t feel very good if I don’t every day go out in the fresh air or go swimming — ideally both. I feel more myself. I get a lot of viral illnesses, but I feel so much better when I exercise.”
Navigating the challenges of menopause hasn’t been easy for Karen, but swimming has been a constant source of support. “Through menopause, I have had aching joints and been very tired at times,” she shares. “The thing about swimming is that unless I am really shattered, I can, even if I am tired, still go. I might do less or go slower.”
Still drawing strength from her family, Karen emphasises the importance of intergenerational role models in shaping attitudes toward fitness and ageing. “My mum and dad still go swimming, and they are in their 80s,” she proudly shares. “Because they have normalised it for me, they are still normalising it for me, and still doing it makes me think I will be doing it too when I am 80.”
For Karen, the connection between exercise and mental well-being is undeniable. “When I am stressed, I know that after I have been swimming I will feel relaxed,” she shares. “Hormones are released. You will be more connected with the world. It is like a melting.” Her experience echoes the growing body of research highlighting the positive impact of physical activity on mental health, from reducing stress and anxiety to enhancing mood and overall well-being.
Karen suggests for a simple yet powerful solution to encourage more people to exercise: companionship. “I would offer to go with them,” she suggests. “Let’s do it together.” Recognising the challenges of stepping into a new environment, she emphasises the importance of support in overcoming initial apprehension. “It is very difficult sometimes to be brave and do something new,” she acknowledges. “You can tell people to give it a go, but they still have to go for the first time by themselves. It is very hard if you haven’t done it before.”
Highlighting the pivotal role of welcoming staff, Karen affirms, “The staff are so friendly, and this is a massive plus for Wave. They are so welcoming, especially for those new to exercise or leisure centres.”