The alarm buzzed at 5am. I shut it down quickly and dressed in the dark, trying not to wake my partner. I grabbed my swim bag and headed over to breakfast at the luxury Lazore Hotel in Herceg Novi, Montenegro. Cool air tumbled off the mountains, the streets were deserted, and the only sound was the soft tap of wavelets against the harbour wall and the clinking of rigging from the marina.
The contrast to the atmosphere in the breakfast room was stark. I thought I was early, but the room was already buzzing with the voices of excited and nervous swimmers. At this stage, I only recognised a handful of faces from the briefing the night before, but that was going to change over the next few days. I looked around to see what others had chosen for their pre-swim meal. Some had piled their plates high, indulging in the full range of treats on offer. Others chose lighter options, conscious that we’d soon be in the water. I chose oats, as I would at home: dull but sensible.