Dear fellow swimmers Over the last six weeks, I’ve done four swimrun events (read my report on Love Swimrun Llanberis) but so far this season, I haven’t done an open water event. Now that summer is here, I feel like I’m missing out. Luckily I’ve got a few lined up. Next weekend, as usual at the beginning of July, I’ll be at the Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival where I’ve signed up for the 4X Challenge. The week after I’ve got a place at Brownsea Island, which is a lovely (but challenging) swim I’ve done a couple of times now. But I also want to do something new and visit places I’m not familiar with, so when I was asked if I wanted to go to Loch Lomond with Go Swim on 2 September, I jumped at the chance. I’ve opted for the 10km (might as well, as I’m travelling so far) but there are distances from 250m upwards on offer. It’s somewhere I’ve never swum but have wanted to for a long time so I’m super excited. I’m making a weekend of it and hoping to get in a couple of
other dips and wild swims too. Maybe see a few of you there? Take a look at their video for a taster. Still in open water racing mode, a couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting (via Zoom) Hector Pardoe, who represented team GB in the Marathon Swim at the Tokyo Olympics. You can read part of my interview with him here and there’s more to come in Outdoor Swimmer Magazine later in the year (so make sure you subscribe!). Elsewhere in
our newsletter, we reveal the best wild swimming walks in the Lake District, a lido hopping and cycling trail across Dartmoor and the Outdoor Swimmer team and friends share their favourite memories of the Henley Swim Festival (which is coming up on 9 July!).
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Henley Swim Festival: “a day to celebrate all things swimming”
The Outdoor Swimmer team and contributors share their favourite memories and what they’re looking forward to at this year’s Henley Swim Festival (Sun 9 July). Read more... |
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Don't miss out on the joys of outdoor swimming because of pollution
Sewage pollution is a scandal but it doesn’t mean the end of wild swimming, says Simon Griffiths. Read more... |
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Want to learn more about river swimming? Try kayaking
Whether learning how to find the fastest flow of water or avoiding hazards unique to rivers, Simon suggests trying kayaking to learn more about river swimming.
(Premium content). Read more... |
Take part in an English Channel Relay swim with Aspire |
We are looking for individuals to join Aspire Relay Channel swim teams and take on the 22 mile swim in 2024. At Aspire, we are as passionate about swimming as you are and will be with you all
the way, from sign up to feeling the sand between your toes on a French beach. Dive in and help support people paralysed by Spinal Cord Injury. For further details email our event co-ordinator, Andrew. |
STAY INFORMED & SWIM RESPONSIBLY |
EXPLORE Author and
swim guide Pete Kelly shares his favourite swim-hikes from his new book, Wild Swimming Walks Lake District.
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NEWS For the second
year running, it was an all-female podium at the Pickie to Pier Swim in Bangor, which took place on 24 June.
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INTERVIEW Olympic
swimmer Hector Pardoe on how elite open water swimming could be improved.
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EXPLORE Anna
Hattersley is your guide to lido hopping: a swimming and cycling adventure across Dartmoor.
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Expand your swimming horizons and achieve your swimming dreams. Read Outdoor Swimmer on digital or in print from anywhere in the world. Purchase a single issue or
subscribe to a monthly magazine and save up to 20% each month. |
COACH Simon
explains how practising turns in the pool can help add strength and conditioning training to your open water swimming.
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EVENT REVIEW Simon
reviews the Llanberis Swimrun, a welcoming and family-friendly event in Snowdonia.
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OUTDOOR SWIMMER HENLEY SWIM FESTIVAL (200m, ½ mile, 1 mile, 4 mile) 9 July 2023 | Henley-on-Thames
Find out more... THE WALES SWIMRUN (Full 7km swim, 26km run; Sprint 4.7km swim, 14km run)
22 July 2023 | Freshwater East, Pembrokeshire
Find out more... RD5 ROYAL DOCKS 5K SWIM (5km)
22 July 2023 | London
Find out more... LA TRAVERSEE DU LAC TREMBLANT
(1km, 2km, 3km, 5km, 10km, 15km) 3-8 August 2023 | Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada
Find out more... THAMES MARATHON AND HALF MARATHON (5.5km, 13km)
13 August 2023 | Marlow
Find out more... GO SWIM LOCH TAY (250m, 750m, 1.5km, 3km, 5km, 10km)
19 August 2023 | Kenmore, Aberfeldy
Find out more... BEAT THE TIDE 4K (4km) 19 August 2023 | Aberdovey
Find out
more... THE DYFI (13km)
20 August 2023 | Aberdovey
Find out more... Find an event on our website. To promote your event here, please email stuart@outdoorswimmer.com. |
UNTIL NEXT TIME...A few weeks ago I wrote in this newsletter about the dilemma we swimmers face when dealing with
sewage pollution. On the one hand, we want to raise awareness of this serious problem and public health risk, but on the other, we don’t want to frighten people off outdoor swimming. A reader wrote in and asked if we could republish those thoughts as an article on our website, so here it is. I’d love to know what you think about this topic. Hit reply and let me know! Simon Griffiths
Founder & Publisher |
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