Meet Trev's GYTAMS - don't worry, we'll come back to the name in a bit. They're a group of competitive athletes, made up mainly of mums aged in their 30s and their partners, who hit Merewether Ocean Baths on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays for swim training.

Their coach is Trevor Scott, a 69-year-old Valentine local who has coached ironmen and other elite athletes over the years.

Trev says the GYTAMS don't cancel their sessions for big surf or bad weather, fronting the cold in their wetsuits "Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 5am... always".

"We're usually there in good numbers facing down whatever Merewether serves up," he said.

At 5am, almost two hours before sunrise in winter, the group also has to deal with a lack of light.

They even put different coloured torches on top of the diving blocks so they can see where they're swimming and don't cross over into each other's lanes.

"There is marking on the floor of the baths, but when the surf comes in it's hard to see so we need those lights," Trev said.

One might ask why they would choose to get up at that hour to swim in the dark.

It's so they can get their workout in before work for the day but also beat the morning crowds and still swim safely distanced from one another in individual lanes.

"We're very COVID conscious," Trev said. "During the first lockdown, we kept separated and wouldn't walk down together.

"Then when we get there everyone has a lane to themselves so we can stay apart."

Trev said the group dynamic is crucial to its success.

"The thing about swimming is if you don't do it you lose it pretty quickly," Trev said.

"We go three times a week - we couldn't drop it to two and keep our fitness up.

"We know if one doesn't go, others will feel less inclined. We keep each other on track.

"And whether you go at 5am or 10am, it's still pretty hard.

That mentality is also the meaning behind the name GYTAMS.

"It stands for 'Get Yourself To All My Sessions - that was always my line to them," Trev said with a laugh.

The group started out more than a year ago as a running squad for women who were looking for a bit of competitive training.

"Some of the women were in (social female running group) the Night Striders," Trev said. "But they wanted to go a bit faster."

Trev met one of the women at Charlestown pool and offered to coach her for triathlons.

More women became involved and the group started meeting for runs, which turned into sand fitness sessions at Merewether.

"We became quite the sight for people at Blue Door," Trev said.

"People were watching us on a Friday morning doing these incredible sand sessions.

"It was 20 women as far up as Dixon doing this exhausting work.

"There were people collapsing."

A smaller group then branched off from that for swim training.

They used to swim at Charlestown pool, but when coronavirus hit, the group had to be creative in order to keep training together.

Trev said for the sand sessions, he started getting down to the beach at 4.30am to set up workouts.

Then to comply with government restrictions, the athletes would stagger their starts up until about 7.30am, when Trev would go back and clear the equipment.

"They would organise times and smaller groups," he said.

"After about eight weeks, restrictions relaxed and we could have groups of 10 and then 20.

"We ran two shifts at 5.10am and 6am and sometimes a third at 7am and they would book a spot.

"They called the 5.10 the ugly hour."

Trev is now in his fifth decade of coaching, but he said this experience with the GYTAMS had been completely different to his others.

"We laugh and joke around between the sets and are hugely supportive of one another throughout the hour or so it takes to complete the session," Trev said.

"Three kilometres later, we're exhausted but happy. We touch elbows with mutual approval and recognition of a job well done.

"I'm really surprised by how supportive the environment is even though it's competitive.

"I love the women - they're all very special."

But among the laughs and encouragement, the group's program coordinator Lee Klep makes sure they keep on track.

"She's really nice about what we've got to do," Trev said. "She does it with us, right alongside because she's not just the coach, she's also the captain.

"She explains it fully as well reminding us of what timing is required.

"Today we stopped at half way for three seconds, and there was no way we were getting four."

Lee, quite modestly, doesn't like to refer to herself as a captain or coach of the squad.

She says she's just the person who puts the group's programs together for the swim sessions.

"Trev tends to talk it up a bit," she said.

"I just boss everyone around - keep everyone going and keep us warm."

Lee has been a swimmer for a long time, and said for her the training is as much about mental health and enjoyment as it is about keeping fit.

"We have a lot of fun," she said.

"We support each other immensely.

"But at the same time, we work bloody hard. It's very, very tough.

"It's sort of that work hard, play hard mentality, which is a good combination to have."

And Lee agrees with Trev that the group format of the sessions help them remain accountable to one another.

"If you know you're meeting a group at 5am you're more likely to go," she said.

"There's no way I'd do 90 per cent of it if I had to do it on my own back."

But the fact that the athletes have similar mindsets and interests certainly makes the early mornings easier and more enjoyable for Lee.

"We're all similar minded," she said. "We're all tenacious, strong, driven women.

"I've actually formed some really strong friendships through it."