I’m Dan Power, still just about in my early 30’s (if 38 still counts as early 30’s) and I have a bit of a confession to make…I’m in love with open water swimming!! I first started as a favour to my sister Kirstie who was just starting training for a triathlon. It was in September 2009 in Portsmouth, the sea was really cold. I hadn’t swum properly for years or trained for it, but I instantly remembered why I used to love swimming.
I was a reasonably good swimmer as a kid – I competed at county and southern county level and won a fair few races, but when I reached 15 – the lure of beer, girls and not getting up at stupid o’clock in the morning or competing in Gala’s on the weekends was much too strong. I also felt that, even as a part of a team, swimming was essentially a lonely sport.
These days I am married to the amazing Vicky, have two wonderful boys (Charlie is nearly 8 and Ben is 4) and years of working in and around my favourite thing in the world (Food) has really taken its toll on my waistline. I suppose I have to face it that I am a big guy and maybe the fact that the water is a great leveller is one of the big draws of swimming.
Why I am I doing this? In November 2010 my brother in law Craig lost his battle with cancer. He was only 34. It was a horrific time for the family, as grief always is, but I really felt that we should try to do something positive, mostly because Craig was always the fittest and strongest of us all – and he really loved adventure. So last year we all, including the boys took on a challenge. Ben gave up his dummy, Charlie took part in a 2k run, I did all of the Great British Swim Series and Vicky and I completed the Shine Moonlight Marathon – all in aid of Cancer Research. It was hard, at times painful, but the sense of 
accomplishment for us all was a fantastic feeling.
So this year I am doing all the Speedo open water swim series and (I can’t actually believe I am saying this) the London Triathlon! Now I am to running what a tank is to floating, so this is going to be some journey which I hope you will join me on (I’m on Twitter too @danpower1 – please follow me). I promise to be honest about the ups and downs; I will tell you exactly how it is for someone going through a midlife crisis – trying to lose weight, train whilst working full time with two young boys, and share in the successes ahead. Can I do the triathlon? Well I completed the marathon so believe I might just be stubborn enough!
I’m really looking forward to working with Speedo on this – trying out the new kit, working with the expert coaches and learning from some amazing athletes. I’m so excited and feel that this is also a chance to raise some serious cash for Cancer Research.
Support Dan and Cancer Research UK and donate here – http://www.justgiving.com/Dan-Power74