Five tips for a long-distance swim challenge | What should I eat during a marathon swim? | Recycle your old wetsuit
Published: Sat, 03/18/23
Your essential weekly edit of outdoor swimming
YOUR ESSENTIAL WEEKLY EDIT OF OUTDOOR SWIMMING
#swimwildandfree
Dear fellow swimmers
Last Friday we heard that the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) had rejected all but one application for bathing water status in rivers. This is a huge disappointment to those who campaigned for recognition and the many hours they spent compiling data and submitting applications. Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), which is supporting groups applying for bathing water status, has submitted Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to attempt to uncover the reasoning for the
rejections.
Sewage pollution is seen by swimmers as the biggest barrier to continued growth in outdoor swimming. A big problem is lack of data. We can’t be confident our rivers are fit to swim in. Bathing water
status would enforce increased monitoring of water quality and provide potential swimmers with useful information. Surely the default option should be to grant bathing water status where it's requested by communities, unless there is a compelling and transparent reason not to? The barriers should be lowered and the process clarified. Expect to see more from us on this topic.
Better news for swimmers came with the announcement in the budget of a new £63 million fund to support leisure centres with pools. According to Swim England, since October last year, “around 350 facilities have been hit by service reductions, temporary and permanent closures,” primarily due to increased energy
costs.
Finally, this weekend the Outdoor Swimmer team will be at the National Outdoor Expo at the NEC in Birmingham. Come to see us on stand G20 and join our discussion at 3pm on Saturday exploring how
outdoor swimming can improve your life.
Warm wishes,
Simon Griffiths
Founder & Publisher
COACH
TOP FIVE TIPS FOR A LONG-DISTANCE SWIM CHALLENGE
So, you’re swimming long-distance? Simon Murie shares his top five tips to help get you in the best shape possible for that long-distance swim challenge you’ve got your sights on.
ALL BUT ONE APPLICATION FOR RIVER BATHING WATER
STATUS REJECTED
The Government has rejected all but one application for bathing water status for English rivers, angering campaigners. River Deben at Waldringfield in Suffolk goes through to open consultation. Here's what you can do to help...
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Jelly Babies, caffeine gels or peanut butter sandwiches? Swimming coach Cassie Patten and veteran long distance swimmer Colin Hill are your guides to refuelling during a marathon swim.
SWEDISH ADVENTURER’S SECOND ATTEMPT AT WORLD’S LONGEST UNSUPPORTED
SWIM
This summer, Swedish adventurer Jari Cennet Tammi is planning his second attempt at the world’s longest unsupported swim – from Stockholm to Helsinki across the Baltic Sea.
March 2023 – HEMISPHERES | Read it on digital or in print from anywhere in the world. Purchase a single issue or subscribe to a monthly magazine and save up 20% each month.
Swim 21 miles in 21 weeks for £21: Laura Reineke and the Henley Mermaids have epic swims planned in the English Channel and Loch Ness this summer, and they are asking you to take part by swimming 21 miles by
the end of August, too.
CHALLENGE JOIN OUR MONTHLY CHALLENGE WITH CLIMATE GAMES
We may be half way through March but there’s still time to join our monthly challenge on Climate Games. We’re trying to remove the equivalent of 12,500 plastic bottles from the ocean. For that,
we need a few more swimmers to sign up with Climate Games (open the link on a mobile device to access the ClimateGames app) and record your swims. It’s easy, and you make a difference just by swimming.
Boost your
confidence as you launch into open water swimming! The new Orca Zeal Hi-Vis wetsuit offers the perfect combination of buoyancy, elasticity, visibility and thermal insulation, for complete confidence in the water.
COMPETITION WIN THE ULTIMATE OPEN WATER BUNDLE (WORTH OVER £600)!
We’ve teamed up with our friends at Henley Swim, Outdoor Swimmer Shop, Swim Secure and Selkie to offer you a chance of winning a comprehensive open water package, just in time for the new season!
