Storms, rain, grey days – this winter feels a bit like Boris Johnson's parties... never-ending. But at Outdoor Swimmer we are excited for the year ahead and are chasing those winter blues away. It's time to Swim Happy!

As much as we love winter dips we are also looking forward to longer swims this summer - time to get in the pool and start training! In this issue we look at motivation, how to choose summer races, how to structure your training – and to get you started we have a sneaky pool training session from top coach Dan Bullock of Swim for Tri for you to try.

The global statistics on drowning make for sobering reading: in the new issue Becky Horsbrugh reports on global drowning prevention programmes and finds out what you can do to help. Elsewhere in the issue we talk to inspiring marathon swimmer Attila Mányoki, one of a select few to have completed the Oceans Seven; discuss poetry and outdoor swimming and the urge to capture our swim experiences; marathon swimmer and award winning writer Elaine Howley explores the history of mythical and deified women of the sea; and we meet the dip-a-dayers swimming away the winter blues. 

Plus, the usual mix of stories from the global outdoor swimming community, travel and adventure, and wild swimming inspiration from around the world. Whether you are a winter dipper or a Channel swimmer, leap into the February issue of Outdoor Swimmer! Order your copy for just £5.95 or subscribe now to get your dose of swimspiration delivered to your door every month. 

Swim wild and free,

Jonathan Cowie, Editor