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Sky Tower Base Jump Spookers Fright Night Mid-winter Swim 'Have a Great Day' Sign Nipple Piercing Sky Wire Flying Fox Hitting the Streets in Drag Busking in Town Eat the Hottest Curry High Wire Rope Course Blind Run Elders Council Getting Chest Waxed on Good Morning Air lifted from a helicopter Free Hugs Cheer leader at the Makos Half Marathon before work Go on a blind date with a listener Public speaking to 200 teenagers Rap Battle Spend a day in a wheelchair Get burnt alive Lost at sea Back to school for the day Death Bed Talk Listener's Challenge Pose as a life-drawing model Get buried alive Sky Diving Stripping at a nightclub

Blog: Mid-winter Swim

So what started out as a 'dip' in the water down at the beach turned into a 600 metre swim to Haulashore Island. I knew it was going to be cold but really wasn't prepared for what happened. It was so cold my body froze up and it was hard to breath and keep my muscles moving. There were times that I thought 'Oh my god, I'm not going to make it'. Then I started to swallow water! You have no idea how scary it was.

I then had to race back, warm up in the shower and get to work for a full-on morning. I really haven't had time to process what happened. What I did learn while I was out there though was that I had to focus on my goal of getting to the shore and forget what was happening with my body. I had to block out my internal dialogue (that little voice in your head that says you cant do it). I just had to keep going knowing I was going to make it. And I did!

It did highlighted some things; we need to have more safety procedures in place. We will be going through the list and ensure all the fears have safety precautions in place. I was genuinely scared for my life this morning. I'm about to go for a run to have a good mull over everything and warm up a little! I'll write some more tomorrow, if I can unfreeze a little!

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  1. Glad to see you are getting some more support procedures in place! Was watching your swim video and just going, "Someone get something warm around him". That little towel was so inadequate! Have a great month! And good on you!!!
    Alison, Wellington - Ex Motueka
  2. hi i can't believe u did that swim!!! it's really inspiring that u do your challenge and still go to work!!! wow what do your kids say? good luck.
    Katjana, Nelson
  3. Fantastic stuff Grant. I was getting cold just watching you swim. Morning ritual for August - coffee and read Grant's blog. Keep safe so we can see you in Oct.
    Di, Mt Maunganui
  4. I'm really glad you are still alive, it was really hard watching that today and I was genuinely scared for you as was everyone! I'm glad you've got the safety stuff sorted we don't wanna loose you just yet :-)
    Cindy , Nelson