Dear fellow swimmers
Accepting the changing seasons
I have been very reluctant to let go of summer and accept that autumn is has arrived here in the UK. Many outdoor swimmers now swim year-round and
simply adjust their swimming according to seasonal changes; some get excited to see the water temperatures drop rapidly and long for the zing of winter.
I love swimming in the switching seasons; spring is a favourite. While autumn gives bursts of sunshine and the water holds some warmth even when air temperatures drop, it is also a gentle reminder
of short, dark days ahead. At local swim spots there are notably less swimmers about, many of the fair-weather swimmers slipping back into indoor pools and my local lake has cut back its opening hours as we head into October. It is a time of adjustment and not knowing what to wear. In the past couple of weeks I have been caught out, wishing I had packed an extra layer or flask of something hot – learn from my mistake – pack both!
Celebrating our 100th issue
Also this week, our 100th issue arrived with our print subscribers and we are still eagerly awaiting to hear of three lucky winners who may have found a golden ticket with their magazine – was it you? We have had lots of lovely comments and messages celebrating our 100th issue. Our cover was created with the help of swimmers at The SHAC who helped shape the number 100 on our cover, which is
harder than it looks. Can you do better with your swim pals? We would love to see your efforts!
As you dive into your October issue, the team here have been working on our plans for 2026, looking at themes and issues facing swimmers and how we can continue to inform, entertain and shape your personal swimming plans next year. We have some great ideas we
can't wait to share with you, which include ways to swim and meet with our readers. We often have swimmers sharing news and inspiration, which means our content is reflective of the community, but if you have any ideas you want us to explore do let us know – you can email editor@outdoorswimmer.com.
Also in this week's Dip, we review dry bags for swimmers, our Digital Editor Abi reports on her swim across the Straits of Corfu plus news on a call for outdoor swimmers who have lived experience of psychosis for a new study.
