Dear fellow swimmers

I’m still recovering physically from last weekend. Not only did I do the Henley Swim 4x Challenge (I swam the Henley Mile four times last Sunday morning), I also had the job of setting up and then dismantling our gazebos and shifting all our kit. At the same time, I’m buzzing. The event had a wonderful atmosphere with both new and experienced swimmers enjoying a lovely day in and besides the river. And, although I had Covid a couple of months ago, it was lovely to be at an event without the shadow of Covid restrictions and fears dampening the experience.

Tomorrow I’ll be back in the water again for the wonderful Brownsea Island Swim. This is the first time the event has run since 2019 and I’m super excited to be doing it again, despite the horribly early registration time, which means I will need to wake up at something like 3am. I sometimes wonder at the stress we put ourselves through for these events. But while they can be hard (both to get to and to complete) and expensive, they create lasting memories. I also love the connections I make with other swimmers.

If you’ve done swimming events before, you’ll know what I’m talking about. If not, I recommend giving one a try. Check out the event listings on our website for inspiration.  For those training for marathon distances, read my guide to help you prepare. 

Elsewhere in this week’s newsletter, the Langland Sharks swim through the night to become the second all-female relay to swim the Bristol Channel, Ross Edgley makes a second attempt at the world’s longest continuous swim and coach Cassie Patten has advice on how to avoid getting dizzy when swimming front crawl. 

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TRAINING & TECHNIQUE

How I’m preparing for my next 10km marathon swim 

Simon Griffiths is swimming 10km at Go Swim Loch Lomond. Read on for his training plan and top tips for completing your own marathon swim.
 

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EVENT REVIEW

Getting the Henley high

An event for newbies, elite swimmers or the simply curious. Digital Journalist Jo Tinsley reports back on this year’s Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival.

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OUTDOOR SWIMMER EXTRA

"How do I stop feeling dizzy when swimming?"

Dizziness is a common issue when transitioning to front crawl, but how can you adjust your head position and stroke to make sure it doesn’t impact your experience? (Premium content). 

Read more... 

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JULY 2023 - RIVERS

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Swim in the crystal clear Caribbean Sea at the The Barbados Open Water Festival, returning 8-12 November 2023.
 

Experience three incredible open water swimming locations and swim in water described as a “large swimming pool but even more beautiful” at the Barbados Open Water Festival, which returns 8-12 November 2023. The festival takes place over five days: three days of practice swims and two days of races. Participants can swim for one day or all five.

The races (covering distances of 1.5k, 3.3k, 5k and 10k) are open to a range of ages and abilities, from serious swimmers to first timer sea swimmers and those just there for enjoyment. And what a pleasure it is to swim in the crystal clear and calm Caribbean Sea, which laps gently onto a long white sand beach with little or no undertow. 

Over the years many familiar faces of the open water world have been seen at the festival, from Olympians, world champions, Masters champions and marathon swimmers to ice swimmers and Triple Crowners. Why not join them and make a holiday of it?

EVENTS COMING SOON 

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JULY

THE WALES SWIMRUN (Full 7km swim, 26km run; Sprint 4.7km swim, 14km run)
22 July 2023 | Freshwater East, Pembrokeshire
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RD5 ROYAL DOCKS 5K SWIM (5km)
22 July 2023 | London
Find out more...  

AUGUST

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
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SEPTEMBER

GO SWIM LOCH LOMOND (250m, 750m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10000m)
2 September | Loch Lomond, Balloch
Find out more...  

GAELFORCE GREAT FJORD SWIM (750m, 2km, 3.9km)
9 September | Connemara, Ireland
Find out more...  

THE BIG BRUTAL SWIM (2.5k, 5k and 10k)
10 September | Llanberis, North Wales
Find out more...  

SWIM WALES CHALLENGE SERIES (500m, 1.5km, 3km, 4x500m relay)
16 September | Llys-y-Frân, Pembrokeshire
Find out more...  

GO SWIM LOCH MORLICH (250m, 750m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10000m)
16 September | Aviemore
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MARINERS MILE (500m, half mile, 1 mile)
23 September | Cheshunt
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SWIM CASCAIS '23 (1km, 1.9km, 3.8km, 5km, 10km, 20km)
23 September | Cascais, Portugal
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ULTRASWIM 33.3 #2 MONTENEGRO (33km, 6 swims over 4 days)
29 Sep-3 Oct | Herceg Novi, Montenegro
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SWIMTHEISLAND – GOLFO DELL'ISOLA (800m, 1.1km, 1.8km, 3.5km, 6km)
30 Sep-1 Oct | Bergeggi, Italy
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OCTOBER

GREAT BARRIER REEF OCEAN SWIM SERIES (1km, 3km, 5km)

21 October | Port Douglas, North Queensland
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COOL MILE, TAL Y LLYN (1 mile)
28 October | Gwynedd, North Wales
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Find an event on our website. To promote your event here, please email stuart@outdoorswimmer.com. 

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

You may also have noticed that we’ve been updating our venue listings. Please do take a look. Venues are the ideal place for safe outdoor swimming, especially if you want to put in a few training miles. Many also have coaches attached, if you want advice on swimming technique or open water skills. And some are just lovely places to go and have vibrant communities.

Have a great week.

Simon Griffiths 

Founder & publisher

p.s. If you’re a venue operator and we’ve missed your venue, please let us know.