November 2019 November HOW to READ to READ HOW Issue 32 • WIND & WAVES

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THE SEA 9 £5.75 November 2019 November HOW TO READ TO READ HOW Issue 32 • WIND & WAVES

NEOPRENE ACCESSORIES

competitions competitions TRIED & TESTED: Winter swimming swimming Winter

Mind, body and soul: celebrating and soul: celebrating Mind, body the wild swimming community

THE MAGAZINE FOR ADVENTUROUS SWIMMERS! ADVENTUROUS FOR MAGAZINE THE heroes

Unsung Unsung

DARK SKIES DARK NOCTURNAL EXPLORING LANDSCAPES +

OUTDOOR SWIMMER MAGAZINE ○ ISSUE 32 ○ NOVEMBER 2019 Worldmags.netoutdoorswimmer.com

WELCOME Editor’s letter Founder & Publisher Simon Griiths [email protected] +44 (0)7958 312607 ello November – Editor Sales Managers log ires, bobble Jonathan Cowie Sharon Tice H hats and serene [email protected] [email protected] +44 (0) 7947 148 422 autumn swimming. Crisp Contributing Editor water, falling leaves and Ella Foote Joanne Jones a sense of calm before [email protected] [email protected] the icy thrill of winter, +44 (0) 7545 387 979 autumn is one of my Design favourite times of the Juliet Boucher Production Support Stuart Churchill year to swim. If you Marketing Manager want to try extending Lorna Manley your swimming season [email protected] this year, a little bit of neoprene can go a long way – read our reviews Cover image: Anna Deacon of hats, gloves, socks and Contributors accessories on page 80. Cassie Paten, Elaine K Howley, Susanne Masters, Pete Kelly, Alice World Mental Health Day was on October 10 Goodridge, Simon Murie, Helen Davis, Kathy Findlay, Keri-anne Payne, last month. In this issue we explore the beneits William Thomson, Emma Pusill, Jay Azran of cold water swimming on mental health. In 'Unsung Heroes' (page 30) we celebrate wild Subscriptions swimmers, many of whom use their daily dip to Outdoor Swimmer Subscriptions, Warners Subscriptions help combat depression, grief and pain. And on West Street, Bourne, Lincs, PE10 9PH page 80 swim guide Pete Kelly takes a group of +44 (0) 1778 392467 swimmers from mental health charity Growing [email protected] Well for a cold water dip in Windermere. mymagazinesub.co.uk/outdoor-swimmer As always, this issue brings you training advice, destination and event reports, stunning Outdoor Swimmer Magazine is published by swim photography and the most comprehensive ZG Publishing Ltd 6 Maida Vale Business Centre, Mead Road UK and international event listings to help you Cheltenham, GL53 7ER plan your aquatic adventures. Swim wild and free, Printed in the UK by Pensord Press Ltd on behalf of ZG Publishing Ltd. All paper used in this publication is sourced from well-managed, sustainable forests and is fully recyclable. Please consider the environment and recycle this magazine once you have inished with it.

Jonathan Cowie Editor

CBP000891 Get in touch… Distributed by Warners Group Publications plc, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9PH. 01778 395043 Email me at editor@ outdoorswimmer.com or connect ©ZG Publishing Ltd 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced without the writen permission of the publisher. ZG Publishing on social media. It’s good to talk! Worldmags.netLtd (Company registration no. 3799982) is registered in England and Wales. Registered oice: 6 Maida Vale Business Centre, Mead Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7ER. All content is provided for information only and, while we take reasonable outdoorswimmermagazine eforts to ensure its accuracy, we cannot guarantee it. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. ZG Publishing is not an expert provider of medical advice. You are advised to seek professional medical advice before @outdoorswimmer swimming if you have any injuries or medical conditions. Open water swimming does involve a level of risk and you are advised to take appropriate precautions. @outdoor_swimmer For more tips on open water safety, please see: outdoorswimmer.com/ open-water-safety

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 3 IN THIS ISSUE CONTENTS Regulars 6 TEAM TALK 8 PHOTO CONTEST 14 OPEN WATER NEWS 18 YOUR LETTERS 20 #SWIMWILDANDFREE 22 VIEW FROM THE WATER 23 COMPETITION Win a Huub wetsuit 24 SIMON MURIE 26 WILDLIFE AND SWIMMING Lobsters 28 THIS MONTH WE SWAM WITH... Looe Sea Swimmers 46 ECO HERO Ellie Jackson 88 TALES FROM UP NORTH Mental health swim 90 MY SWIM STORY Andrea Hall Features 30 UNSUNG HEROES Anna Deacon celebrates wild swimmers who have inspired new book 36 DARK SKIES Afraid of the dark? Tiﬀany Francis-Baker shares her tales of the night 40 MEN IN BETWEEN Unknown Channel swimmers who helped advance marathon swims

4 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com DIVE IN November 2019

Excel Explore 50 COACH CASSIE 63 TRAVEL NEWS Our resident Olympian 64 MALAWI LAKES Cassie Paten answers 66 WINTER SWIMMING your swimming queries 52 BEGINNER TRAINING Keri-anne Payne explains how to plan training Events 36 54 UNDERSTANDING WINDS What makes wind and how 70 VIDÖSTERNSIMMET it afects our swimming 72 BRECA SWIMRUN 56 SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY 74 LIDO CONFERENCE How to tackle nerves 76 EVENT LISTINGS when swimming in the sea 58 GOOD MOOD FOOD Recipes to help keep you Gear smiling this winter Worldmags.net 80 NEOPRENE ACCESSORIES 72

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 5 WHAT THE TEAM ARE UP TO… TEAM TALK Jonathan All the latest news from Outdoor Swimmer Towers! Cowie, editor I have been SWIM WILD AND FREE! enjoying magical evening Last month I experienced my irst proper triathlon – Ironman swims at the Cascais 70.3 in Portugal (the 70.3 is code for half Ironman). London Royal Docks OWS. And what an experience it was. he 1.9km swim was at dawn in Later this month I will be The start of a sheltered bay. Conditions were perfect. 3,000 athletes lined up in the Lakes for Kendal to enter the water. And when they did... pandemonium! Mountain Festival which will the swim! As I ran into the water and started swimming I was deinitely involve swimming! immediately kicked in the head. All around me people were I have also been planning my lailing wildly. Evidently only around 15 per cent of triathletes winter swimming challenges. have a swimming background – a statistic that was conirmed Watch this space! from what I saw in the water. hat statistic means a lot of people in triathlon are inexperienced swimmers and are therefore not Ella Foote, comfortable in water. Training for three sports means triathletes contributing are nearly always under time pressure –and swimming is not editor where you win a triathlon, so comes bottom of their training sechedule. I am puting he day before the race I spent most together the of the aternoon jumping of a jetty and inal plans swimming in the bay where the race for Dip a Day was to take place. Like you, I just love December 2019. Going to be being in the water – especially if there a big challenge this year. is something to jump of. hat sense of freedom, adventure and joy of being Simon Griﬃths, outdoors is why I love swimming. I am publisher feel so lucky that I have always been I’ll be racing conident in the water. It is my happy in the pool place, my irst refuge when I am feeling at National low. But it seems that triathlon does a great job of introducing people to open Masters in water only to give them a pretty stressful Sheield (50m experience. It was a lovely swim and to 800m FC) and a great race for me, but if you are not training for Ötillö Swimrun conident in the water, a triathlon swim must be horrible. It is a Malta (8.6km swim, 30km shame that for many people that will be their only open water run) at the end of November. experience. So how do we remedy this? I am sure that many of you have Joanne Jones, sales done triathlons and train with triathletes. So when you next executive ind yourself going for a swim with a triathlete, I urge you to Every season is pop a copy of Outdoor Swimmer in their bag, hide their GPS special to swim watch and encourage them to swim wild and free! in, but autumn Jonathan Cowie brings gorgeous Editor colours, a slight bite to the water and some strong lows to swim against. I have been enjoying swooshing in the Thames, open water buterly and am now looking forward to some proper cold water swimming later in the season. Worldmags.net READER PHOTO CONTEST

8 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com DIVE IN

EDITOR’S READER PHOTO CHOICE CONTEST

Whether wild swimming in Scotland, dipping in an urban lido, or exploring warm foreign seas… if you’ve captured a great swimming image enter it in our monthly reader photo contest. We’ll publish the best in Outdoor Swimmer magazine, and the winning image will receive a goody bag from swim travel company SwimQuest. swimquest.uk.com

The winner will be entered for the overall annual prize, a swimming holiday with SwimQuest!

The December theme is Friendship. Please submit entries by 11 November.

Send photos to [email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHER Adrienne Peart

Swimmer Christine MacDougall in Crummock Water

About the photo “We had our ﬁrst overnight van camp and rose early to catch the ﬁrst of the mornings sun. It was stunning.”

Worldmags.net

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 9 READER PHOTO CONTEST

10 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com DIVE IN

SECOND READER PHOTO PLACE CONTEST

The winner will be entered for the overall annual prize, a swimming holiday with SwimQuest!

The December theme is Friendship. Please submit entries by 11 November.

Send photos to [email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHER Kelsie Paris

Swimmer Natalie Palmer in Bow Lake

About the photo “Wild swimming indeed here in the Canadian Rockies. I have always biked, ran, and hiked alongside these beauties but it wasn’t until this year that I swam in them. The cold, beautifully coloured water provides a totally diﬀerent perspective on these micro adventures.”

Worldmags.net

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 11 READER PHOTO CONTEST

12 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com DIVE IN

THIRD PLACE READER PHOTO CONTEST

The winner will be entered for the overall annual prize, a swimming holiday with SwimQuest!

The December theme is Friendship. Please submit entries by 11 November.

Send photos to [email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHER Sara Barnes

Swimmer Sara Barnes

About the photo “A river pool in full low.”

Worldmags.net

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 13 NEWS OPEN WATER NEWS ROUND-UP MAP OF POLLUTION HOTSPOTS he Rivers Trust have launched a new interactive map to help outdoor swimmers identify pollution hotspots, weigh up risk and help choose the best time and location for swimming in UK rivers. Unlike many of the UK’s beaches, no river is designated as suitable for bathing. Currently, he Rivers Trust believe there are very few rivers that would meet the biological standards required for swimming. “Outdoor swimming, like all outdoor sports, carries an element of risk, but we’re certainly not trying to discourage wild swimming,” says Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive at he Rivers Trust. “By providing this No river in the interactive map, we can help UK is designated swimmers weigh up the risks as suitable for before taking the plunge and bathing

highlight some of the challenges advice is not to swim ater heavy he map, which is available on facing our rivers. We hope that this rainfall, cover any cuts or open he Rivers Trust website, provides information will encourage greater wounds and to wash hands ater swimmers with the locations of OVERHEARDin the water investment and collaboration to swimming. Bacteria from wild discharges from the sewerage achieve a higher standard or water animals, sewage discharges and network which are entering rivers. “Roll your quality that is good for both people run-of from agriculture lead to Rivers Trusts are working with the and wildlife.” pathogen levels to rise in rivers. farming industry, water companies swim socks his year there have been It only takes a small number and public to improve knowledge on... You know, a number of news headlines of pathogens to afect water and build capacity to monitor like a condom.” expressing concern around the quality and while it isn’t possible water quality efectively and safety of swimming in rivers, to eliminate the sources, it is reduce the sources of pathogens “Oh... but I with reports of some swimmers possible to identify times and in our rivers. To ind out more have never falling unwell. hese cases are locations where there might be and to see the map in action, visit used one!” rare but do occur. he common greater risk. theriverstrust.org

AN EXCELLENT SWIM in Australia 11 years two from Billingham, led On 5 October over 1,000 ago from Liverpool, a charge of people into people from 25 diferent set up the worldwide the waters at Seaton NEWS countries ran into the movement with friend Carew, Hartlepool. “It sea at the break of dawn Michael Henderson from was cold at irst but ater IN as part of the Global Middlesbrough, as a way a few seconds you just Swim Rise initiative from of coping with the grief of embrace it,” she said. “It the Human Excellence losing his father to cancer. was quite emotional, BRIEF Project. Paul Holliday, Rebecca Teasdale, a there was a great sense of who moved to Perth 32-year-old mother of togetherness.”

14 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com 2020 CAMPAIGN TO CLEAN UK’S RIVERS Things to do in Environmental charity Hubbub is this problem will just continue.” launching a new campaign which Research revealed that 500,000 aims to prevent and reduce the items of liter make their way November amount of liter along ive major into the sea from UK rivers every UK rivers and their tributaries. year. Businesses, residents and 6 Treasure Your River aims to organisations situated along collect 90 tonnes of liter from ive of the UK’s biggest rivers BOOK IT! LISTEN TO IT! the Rivers Avon, Mersey, Thames, have an opportunity to join the The Dryrobe Outdoor Reaching that loe Severn and Forth. “The vast collaborative efort to clean up Swimming Session at state. Ice swimmer Gilly majority of plastics that end the waterways. Treasure Your the Kendal Mountain McArthur on the Swim up in the world’s oceans are River will launch in May 2020 Festival is a morning of Wild Podcast talks about carried there by rivers,” says and will aim to educate the ilms and talks dedicated pushing ourselves and Hubbub’s Trewin Restorick. public about how rivers transport to outdoor swimming testing and inding out “Cleaning up the river is one rubbish from our streets and presented by Outdoor what we are capable thing but preventing liter riverbanks into the sea. Swimmer’s Jonny and of. Available from your geting in there in the irst To ind out more and sign Ella. See you there! usual podcast provider place is really crucial. Until up to the campaign visit 14 – 17 November, we change behaviour on land, treasureyourriver.co.uk kendalmountainfestival. WATCH IT! com For pool swimming enthusiasts, FINA SWIM IT! Swimming World Cup The Cool Mile at Tal y Round 6 (Kazan 1 to 3 Challenge of the month! Lyn, Snowdonia National November) and Round 7 Just keep Park, 2 November. Water (Doha 7 to 9 November), expected to be between 6 live streaming on FINA swimming! and 8 degrees. Hot Ribena TV. inatv.live According to our recent ater each 500m lap. poll, 30% of you hang up aberdoveyswim.co.uk BOOK IT! your togs in autumn until Join us next summer for next spring. Shock horror! If SHARE the Outdoor Swimmer you are one of the 30% this WITH US! Henley Festival on Sunday 12 July 2020. challenge is for you – just Share your swims and Entries are open now keep swimming outdoors! stories with us on our with early bird prices for Tag your autumn swim pics Facebook, Twiter, a limited period only. with @outdoorswimmer Instagram and Strava henleyswim. on Instagram. Serene autumn pages. #challengeothemonth swimming nityentries.com

MARILYN BELL of her 1954 swim across THE ICE-7 MAN COMETH of 5 degrees or less) HONOURED Lake Ontario, when The International Ice in each continent. Ger The International she was 16. A crowd Swimming Association completed the challenge Worldmags.netSwimming Hall of Fame’s of 300,000 people has conirmed Ger with a high-altitude recently announced list gathered to watch Kennedy has become the swim in the stunning of honourees for its her inish the 20-hour irst man to complete Laguna de Incas in Chile. class of 2020 includes 59-minute swim. Marylin the ICE 7s challenge. Jaimie Monahan just one open water then became the The ICE 7s requires was the irst person swimmer, Marylin Bell of youngest person to swim a successful Ice Mile to complete the ICE 7s Canada, in recognition the English Channel. (a mile swim in water challenge in June 2018.

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 15 NEWS OPEN WATER NEWS ROUND-UP

of LID O the MONT H

HATHERSAGE SWIMMING POOL This winter, Hathersage is breaking a well-established habit and closing for a few months. The overwhelming majority of year-round lidos are to be found in London, but for several years now Hathersage has been gradually extending its season to become a truly year-round pool. They’ve shown that a lido doesn’t necessarily need a huge local population, or a sot southern climate, to be inancially viable through the winter. The parish council and volunteer team at Hathersage have proved that heated opening twelve months of the year need not be a pipedream. But this winter something special is happening. Hathersage is closing, temporarily, for refurbishment. The plant and pipework will be replaced and housed in a new plant room. The tank itself will be re-inished, the hard standing around the pool will be replaced and the pathways will be improved. None of that work is particularly glamourous, but it is all absolutely vital to secure the future of the pool. ART OF Winter is, traditionally, the time when lidos are given some TLC ater a hard summer serving their communities and visitors, and every now and then major capital investment is required. It’s a huge testament to SWIMMING the skill and hard work of those running Hathersage that they’re in a What Lies Beneath by Gilly McArthur position to re-invest in the pool in this way but, of course, funds aren’t Gilly McArthur is an passionate ice unlimited. You can donate top their ‘Pool It!’ campaign via the home swimmer and rock climber. She lives in page of their website. the Lake District and can be found for Come early 2020 look out for announcements about the reopening club commissions/ enamel mugs and OVERHEARD of Hathersage, and be sure to go along for a swim. The Victorian individual illustrations on Instagram in the water bandstand on poolside lends an air of gentility, the views from the @gillymcarthur – no website as she outdoor hot showers are fabulous (indoor showers also available for prefers to talk on the phone, and she swimmers of a more delicate disposition) can’t draw real animals! and the excellent café downstairs will take “I have care of your post-swim hunger pangs. missed that Facebook: @HathersageSwimmingPool Do you have a news story, Website: hathersageswimmingpool.co.uk some artwork you’d like to post-swim be featured, or overheard cold water he Lido Guide is published by Unbound something silly in the water? jiggle!” and available from Amazon and all good Then get in touch with us… bookshops priced £14.99 [email protected]

16 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com 40TH ENGLISH CHANNEL ANNIVERSARY Forty years ago, Julie Bradshaw MBE swam the English Channel at the age of 15. Her subsequent 20 world record swims include a 4-way Windermere solo swim, a buterly solo swim of the English Channel and the fastest person to circumnavigate

the 28.5 mile course ways for the better but I always look hen I did butterly Coniston, What motivates you around Manhatan Island back at the good old days. More Ullswater and then the ultimate – now? swimming buterly. people are doing it now and there the Channel in 2002 in 14 hours I am running the Blackpool Pier are a lot more boats. When I irst and 18 minutes. hen in 2011 I to Pier Swim which is awesome did it there were only three boats. swam round Manhattan in 9 hours because it is where it all began for What motivated a Nowadays the excellent thing is 28 minutes. me. I brought it back in 2018 and 15-year-old to swim you can track people. When I was it was very successful. My aim is to the Channel? out it was a case of ‘where are you?’ Which is the swim you encourage people to take part and I had always excelled at swimming – we didn’t have mobile phones. are most proud of? get in the open water. hey can – the longer the distance and the My mum stayed on land worrying hat is a diicult question. hey swim with or without a wetsuit. colder the water. I swam across while my dad was in the middle of have all been diferent in their It is all about participation and Windermere when I was 12 and I the Channel with me, so she didn’t own right. I certainly know the health and wellbeing. Obviously swam the length of Windermere know what was going on! hardest swim I have done, and competitive people can race but it and got a junior record when I was that was my 3-way Windermere in is an all-inclusive event. 14. So the ultimate was the Channel Tell us about your long- 1980. It was a battle in horrendous – so I just went to my mum and distance butterly. conditions and I swam for 20-odd What did you think said “I want to swim the Channel.” Vicki Keith had done the Channel miles with a pulled shoulder. of Sarah Thomas’s She gulped but her and my dad ly and I had always said to my Looking back I think my 4-way Channel? were very supportive throughout Dad: “I would really like to have a 15-year-old Channel swim was It was phenomenal to have gone my whole swimming career. go at ly.” So me being me I started tremendous. I can still remember through what she’s gone through going to an open air pool and sitting on the front of the boat and to come out the other end. It Has Channel swimming building up the distance. I loved with my dad on the way back. It was brilliant being able to track changed? it. I swam Windermere in 1991 only seems like yesterday, I can’t her. She just kept going! Hats of It has changed a lot – in certain on ly in a record that still stands. believe it was forty years ago. to her.

RECORD BREAKERS swim, in November other swimmers were Having barely had time to 2018, took 40 hours and also recognised including NEWS recover from his 151.7km 46m. Guinness World Pat Gallant-Charete, Worldmags.net Barbados to St Lucia Records presented at 68 years and 180 swim, Cameron Bellamy his award for fastest days, the oldest person IN travelled to Los Angeles circumnavigation of the to complete the Triple to receive an award for island at the annual World Crown of Lake Monster BRIEF a previous swim: his Open Water Swimming Swims and Rostislav circumnavigation of Association Awards Vítek with the fastest Ice Barbados. The 96km ceremony. Fourteen Mile in 20 minutes 29s.

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 17 YOUR LETTERS

LOVE YOUR LIDO My husband (Alastair Cowie) wrote this poem for me relecting my love for swimming in cold water, especially Write in... my beloved local lido (Tooting). Vanessa Cowie

LIDO When I am at the botom of the well, Have your say Perspective lost, horizons out of sight, The small still circle of the sky is dull, No prospect of the sun’s redeeming light, I step up to the glistening water’s edge, And peer across the shining sheet of glass, And stretch, and curl my toes around the ledge, And breathe. And let the moments pass.

Anticipating icy loss of breath, The sense is both of fear and yet of calm, The tiny whispered quiet risk of death, The readiness for shock and then for balm. Just like the baptist at the river side, It is a choice, a mastery of fate. The beneit is that I must decide STAR to make the vital dive, to change my LETTER Rhoda state. bodysurﬁng The coil, the spring, the stretch, the Birthday plunge, Bodysurﬁng! The actions from the choice unfold, An icy torrent grasps the lungs And drives me to outpace the cold, Until emerging once again In September to celebrate my 40th and playing in waves with a cracking For air, for life, I reach for space birthday I chose to revisit the Island group of women, and to top it all a seal And easing from initial strain, of Tiree in the Hebrides where I lived popped up to join in too! I setle to a steady pace. until I was three. I got in touch with the Rhoda Wilkinson Tiree Polar Bears in advance to see Serenity is hard to ind. if i could join them for a midweek dip. SWIMMER’S ITCH! Our modern urban life, it seems, It’s a stunning island, aptly referred I’ve had to avoid the Serpentine now distracts, dismays, disturbs the mind. to as The Hawaii of the North for for several summers. I can’t take We need to ind the time for dreams, its glorious white beaches. It does antihistamines either. But what I ind the chance to cleanse our minds, and weather properly though. So when most helpful if I do get afected is to, the forecast showed a lovely morning witch hazel in any form, liquid or gel. through quiet rhythmic exercise, and a stormy aternoon I duly got Cheap, soothing and no side efects. refresh, relect, restore anew my outdoor adventures in early Good luck with the research. until we, once again, are wise. and hunkered down to light the ire, Cath Cinnamon and crack open the wine, chocolate, And here amidst the daily grind and book. That’s when my phone In autumn, winter, summer, spring beeped with an ofer of a dip with the At quiet common’s heart we ind extremely hardy Tiree Polar Bears. A quite uncommon secret thing: Looking a litle dubiously out of the An ininitely fresh surprise, window but not wanting to miss the A space exempt from worldly rules, opportunity I decided to go for it. I’m Beneath the broadest, bluest skies, so glad I did! 45 mins of bodysuring A special sacred swimming pool.

18 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com DIVE IN

VINTAGE, SUPER VETERAN AND SON! Just completed (slowly!) our very first swim event yesterday, the River Adur 5k) as a family of three – two women (vintage and super veteran who has had two strokes) and son age 14. We loved it! Now very keen to find another, so that we can get our speeds up! Excited to find this magazine... Catherine Dufy

REALLY NOT THAT MUCH she trained for the swim as her dog ASSISTANCE! doesn’t like the water! I met your lovely team at the Rachel Whitield [email protected] Serpentine Swim in September. My Ed: Outdoor swimming really is for Twiter: @outdoor_swimmer friend is a wheelchair user and she everyone (apart from your friend’s dog facebook.com/ has an assistance dog. This is how maybe!) OutdoorSwimmerMagazine

Worldmags.net

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 19 DIVE IN In association with Zoggs SWIMWILDANDFREE Send your swim snaps to [email protected]

An autumn swim take to celebrate World Mental Health Day. # Amanda Witherow

Wild and free at Coniston. Wishing I

could do it everyday. Tracy White James Garland had to have a brolly as he doesn’t like swimming in the “How to turn your sofa into a sofabed....post this picture of your wife in a national magazine!” Alastair rain! Mike Thompson Nicholson

20 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com DIVE IN In association with Zoggs SWIMWILDANDFREE Send your swim snaps to [email protected]

“Before the horrendous swimmers itch kicked in!” Ali, Lindy Woodrow and Leah Astbury – mother and Michelle and Oliver (aged 9) daughter – joined joined the Bold and the Beautiful enjoying the Dedham Vale Swim Squad in Sydney for a swim. Lindy Woodrow Mill 2 Mill swim. Ali Nicolson

Taking my my mum for her first ever dip in the Hampstead Ladies Pond. She lives up north and usually doesn’t like London but loves to swim, this was a wonderful bonding moment! It was a wild day of wind and rain for the Exmoor Abby Crawford Swim last Sunday. But the event went on and I swam 2k looking like a ‘pregnant seal’! Lydia Davis Zoggs Supporting learners, lane swimmers and open water adventurers since 1992, Zoggs makes goggles, swimsuits, learning aids and training accessories that make every swim better. @ZoggsUK Worldmags.net Zoggs.com

Sunshine and smiles from Keri Hutchinson When it’s high tide there’s only one thing to do. Swim (@waterlili_71) and the crew while showing across the harbour and walk down the flooded road! their support at Ironman Wales. Could they Members of Battery Belles & Buoys Penzance. Gaby look any happier?

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 21 DIVE IN VIEW FROM THE WATER Simon Griffiths extols the virtues of neoprene

ell that happened quickly. One minute it was summer, Sarah Thomas was doing Wmultiple laps of the English Channel and the BBC momentarily paused their blanket coverage of Brexit to talk about open water swimming, and then the weather changed and people started asking me if this would be the winter when I finally embrace cold water swimming. Spoiler alert: it’s probably not. But I suspect some of you are asking yourself the same question. If you’ve enjoyed swimming outside in the summer, then why not continue? After all, plenty of people do, and they appear to love it.

RISK AND MAGIC I’M IN AWE OF At the end of ANYONE WHO CAN September, I was you can insulate Simon tries is the hassle involved in getting kitted invited to join a WADE INTO COLD yourself from out swimming up. But there’s a trade off here. If you’re panel discussion WATER IN JUST it. A bit at least. fully encased in making the effort to go somewhere to on the Risk and This month neoprene swim, you may be choosing between Magic of Cold A SWIMMING at Outdoor a two-minute dip without neoprene Water Swimming Swimmer HQ we protection or a slightly longer one at the Sea Lanes site COSTUME took delivery of an with. in Brighton. One of the impressive collection things I said is that I would of neoprene accessories to NEOPRENE ASSISTANCE love to love cold water swimming. do just that (see our gear review I am sure there are some purists out Everyone who does it seems to be for details). I’ve been helping test who maintain you’re only a true winter having so much fun. And they all get them out, and they do a great job. swimmer if you take the plunge sans to drink hot chocolate and eat cake Swimming encased head to foot neoprene but I’d like to think that most afterwards. And, I’m in awe of anyone (literally) in neoprene reduces the swimmers are more broad-minded. If who can wade into cold water, in impact of the cold, means you can stay some neoprene assistance helps you just a swimming costume, and make in longer and opens a range of new continue doing an activity you love it look like they’re stepping into the winter swimming possibilities. through the winter, then go for it, and Caribbean. I’m jealous. I really am. don’t apologise to anyone. The trick, I’m told, is to just keep VERY PLEASANT Just remember, swimming outdoors swimming outside as the temperatures One of the arguments against covering in the winter has different risks to the drop, but I’m much better at finding yourself in neoprene is that you lose summer. If you’re tempted to explore excuses than developing a cold water your feel for the water, but I’m not winter swimming, with or without habit. The most I’ve ever managed is a sure how relevant that is if your hands neoprene support, please check out couple of widths at cold water events. and feet would be numb anyway. If it’s the safety advice on our website and the only way you can enjoy being in find a group of experienced cold water NEW POSSIBILITIES the water during the colder months swimmers to guide you. But for those of us who struggle with of the year, then why not? In fact, I And please share your winter the cold, help is at hand. Instead of found swimming in full wetsuit gear swimming pictures and tag us on

Credit: Katia Vastiau Credit: Katia trying to get used to the cold, maybe very pleasant. Another point against social media

Simon Griffiths is the founder and publisher of Outdoor Swimmer • Email Simon at: [email protected]

22 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com WIN! PROMOTION A HUUB ALPHA WETSUIT

To enter the competition go to outdoorswimmer. com/win and The HUUB Alpha Open Water Swimming wetsuit has been designed answer this to ofer fantastic lexibility while having question… the buoyancy required to give the most comfortable swimming position. Created with HUUB’s renowned How many consecutive attention to detail and scientiic years have HUUB won the knowledge, as well as the information ‘Best triathlon wetsuit gained from our long-term partnership brand of the year’ award? with Swim Serpentine and the feedback from Outdoor Swimmers. A: 6 HUUB has been awarded the ‘Best Worldmags.netB: 4 triathlon wetsuit brand of the year’ by C: 2 220 Triathlon magazine from 2013 to 2018, so you know you’re getting the best.

Outdoor Swimmer competition terms and conditions Competitions are open to readers of Outdoor Swimmer Magazine. Employees, sub-contractors or contributors are not allowed to enter. Entries must be received by 30 November 2019. Outdoor Swimmer magazine cannot take responsibility for lost or delayed entries. Only one entry per person (multiple entries will be disqualiied). A list of winners will be available on request. There is no cash alternative. The judges’ decision is inal. Submission of entry will be taken as acceptance of these rules. DIVE IN SWIMMING WITH DRAGONS SwimTrek founder Simon Murie reports from Bali

’m currently living in Bali and Igetting acquainted with this fascinating place. While it sits fairly central geographically within Indonesia, culturally it seems so diferent, with the majority of the population being made up of Balinese Hindus, with sizeable chunks of Muslims and Christians. It gives this island a unique lavour which seems to be in contrast to the rest of this wide expansive nation. While Bali’s coastline is largely dominated by big surf, the north coast is a peaceful haven and I’ve just started exploring its fascinating shoreline. WILDLIFE IS So to date the VARIED WITH most substantial open water WHALE SHARKS, ofer is on a The Komodo manta rays and dugongs among the swimming that MANTA RAYS AND liveaboard, as Archipelago cast list. However, there is a somewhat I’ve undertaken there is minimal unusual hazard that you need to in Indonesia DUGONGS AMONG accommodation be cautious about when swimming has been further THE CAST LIST options within the around the National Park: the Komodo east, between the park. Distances are Dragon! Growing up to three metres islands of Subawa and big as there is something in length and weighing up to 70kg, the Flores which consist of the like 160 kilometres between Komodo Dragon is the world’s largest Komodo Archipelago, containing Bima on Sumbawa and Labuan Bajo lizard and can live for up to 30 years. the Komodo National Park, which on Flores. hey capture the prey by irst biting has over 30 islands within an area of While there I experienced an their victim and then following them 1,700km2. awesome variety of swimming for what can be for days before they experiences. Whether it was passing succumb to an infection caused by the SAIL AWAY under the still active Sangeang volcano, initial bite. he dragons are also known he only realistic way to get around as smoke was literally bellowing out of to get into the sea and are able to swim and see what these islands have to its cone, or swimming over underwater short distances, so for the open water thermal vents, spewing hot water swimmer, it is a unique hazard and well and bubbles. hink of a hot tub on a prudent to stay more than 100 metres medium setting but extrapolated to a from those islands where they are size of 50×25 metres and you’ve kind known to habitat. Who knew dragons of got the picture. Other highlights could swim? were a day of swimming around the he best place to get acquainted extinct volcanic crater rim of Banta with them is on land and the islands of Island while passing over fringing and Komodo and Rinka are the best places patch coral reefs and also a series of to see them. So if geology and nature island hops, including one between the take your fancy then undoubtedly the islands of Pulau Batubilah and Padar. Komodo National Park has something he whole environment both above signiicant to ofer and below the water line seems to give a view of what life was like many millennia ago. If you like the idea of Caution! Komodo Dragons pioneering adventure HERE BE DRAGONS swimming holidays, check Wildlife is varied with whale sharks, out swimtrek.com

24 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com Worldmags.net WILDLIFE EUROPEAN LOBSTER Do you like yours blue or red? By Susanne Masters

utrageously blue, it was hard regulations by inshore isheries Oto miss a beached lobster stakeholders help maintain wild (Homarus gammarus) I saw lobster populations as a sustainable while walking my dog. I picked ishery. We can eat lobsters but it up and dashed between to eat lobsters in the future means breakers to put it back in protecting a viable lobster the sea. Ater a moment of population now. satisfaction about animal rescue I regretted it. SENTIENT CREATURES Beautiful fresh lobster If you pick up a lobster it handed to me by will try to defend itself – Neptune and I gave watch out for its claws, it back. especially the one adapted Many sea swims for crushing shells we are tantalisingly would need a hammer close to picking up to get into. hat claw can lobsters, one of the easily break a inger. A more expensive compelling reason for items you see on a sticking to enjoying seeing menu, for free. You lobsters in the sea and only have to dawdle and eating them at a ish shack look to ind them in or restaurant is that we are the holes and crevices beginning to understand that they lurk in. But if these are sentient creatures. you are interested in hey feel pain. Boiling them catching this dinner when alive or stabbing them before you swim there are a few cooking are not humane ways things you need to know. of treating an animal. Stunning them with an electric shock, as ish CHECK REGULATIONS restaurants are equipped to do, before Although you might identify as a cooking them is currently considered swimmer if catching lobsters you are to be a more humane way to kill them. a hobby isherman. As such you may But why are living lobsters blue not sell what you collect, this would when all cooked lobsters are red? Red be commercial ishing that requires a Zones you should not be taking pigment absorbed from their diet is permit. here are regional variations lobsters or any other wildlife out of bonded to protein in their shell and in maximum catch allowed – in them. Before collecting lobsters check appears blue. Heat damages protein England and Wales two per day, in regulations for your area. so in the course of cooking protein’s Scotland one. Similarly note that while Additionally lobsters have a inluence on colour is negated, leaving

Illustration by Alice Goodridge by Illustration you can swim in Marine Conservation minimum catch size – if their the stable red pigment carapace length is less than 90mm they are considered too small to have bred and need to be let in the wild breeding pool, not taken for a WHERE TO SEE THEM cooking pot. If you ind a lobster with lots of small jelly-like spheres l Sheringham snorkel trail, Norfolk attached this is a female carrying l National Lobster Hatchery, Padstow, Cornwall – eggs. Along with her clutch indoors, but £4.50 for an annual pass, level access, of eggs she should be let in well-behaved dogs welcome, and thousands of the sea. Likewise lobsters baby lobsters with a v-shaped notch on l Staithes, Yorkshire their tail as they have l Balscadden Bay, Co Dublin been marked as known l Badachro, Highlands Wildlife & breeding females. hese

Swimming outdoorswimmer.com GREAT NORTH SWIM | LAKE DISTRICT | 5-7 JUNE 2020

- THE UK’S BIGGEST OPEN WATER SWIM EVENTS - - ICONIC LOCATIONS AND BEAUTIFUL SCENERY - - DISTANCES FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES -

GREAT EAST SWIM | SUFFOLK | 20 JUNE 2020 Worldmags.net

IF YOU’RE GOING TO DO A SWIM MAKE IT A GREAT SWIM GREATSWIM.ORG THIS MONTH WE SWAM WITH… Looe Sea Swimmers

latter part of the year was one thing, Looe, trawlers were whooshing up into but guaranteed conditions, less so. the river from the sea as we prepared to swim. Banjo Pier ofered some SWIMMERS CHIC protection and the RNLI Looe Lifeboat I hadn’t bothered to get dressed ater Station sits just behind the beach. my previous swim and before meeting here wasn’t the usual swimming the Looe Sea Swimmers. I was wearing faf, this group are eicient. here was Ella Foote wades into warm classic swimmers chic – damp a bit of chat and discussion costume, towelling robe on where we were waters with Looe swimmers and hoodie, at least swimming to, but I was easy to spot. otherwise it was As were they, fully THERE WASN’T just getting in and he beauty of being invited for a suited and booted getting on with it. sea swim in October is knowing in wetsuits, hats THE USUAL I pulled on a hat Tit’s likely that the water will and goggles. SWIMMING FAFF, and goggles and be warmer in, than out! I met the Crikey, I was waded into the Looe Sea Swimmers on one of those actually going THIS GROUP ARE sea. It felt warm autumnal days where the weather to have to do as I was a bit cold changes every ten minutes. Just 30 some serious sea EFFICIENT from the previous minutes before we met, I had swam swimming with this plunge. Seaweed in swell, wind and waves along the lot. Looe beach is a gathers at the shoreline coastline from Looe at Talland Bay. town beach, the West Looe here, if you are not a he tide was on the way in, there had and East Looe Rivers meet and fan, you have to overcome been warm sunny spells and torrential form an estuary here. he tidal low that before you are treated to the downpours all day and hurricanes from and movement in and out of the river turquoise opaque water. Sights were the Atlantic were due to bring storms mouth is signiicant during moving set on a series of speed marker buoys. to the UK. Warmer sea water in the tides. Fishing is still big business in Founder of the group, Mandi Keal,

28 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com Quick Q&A with Founding Member Mandi Keal How did you get into outdoor swimming? I joined a running group called Looe Pioneers and trained to do the Couch to 5k, but my knees took a real punishing and couldn’t even atend the inal run for our medals as I was Founding Member in too much pain. My Mandi Keal mum and dad suggested swimming and even though we have swimming pools around locally, it didn’t inspire me. So, I asked a friend who swims in the sea if I could join them and I was immediately hooked. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t done it Despite only forming tells me when they irst started, only this sooner ater living in Looe for six years! I was still very this June, the Looe June, they mostly kept in the shallows, nervous to go too deep, so kept to the shallows, Jaws Sea Swimmers are running through my mind! swimming between Banjo Pier and Pen already ﬁrm friends Rocks. Now as the group has grown in conidence and size, daily swims are What inspired the group about a mile long looping around a series of buoys let out ater summer season for to start? the swimmers. Once I started, I really loved it, but I didn’t want to swim alone. My friend who I swam with was much faster than WALK THROUGH THE WATER me, so I decided to set up a Facebook page called Looe I am all ready to swim amongst the pod, Sea Swimmers. I posted an event saying, ‘Please join me I get my head in and down. I follow for a sea swim. I’m new at it and just don’t want to swim the bright tow loats ahead of me, but I alone.’ On my irst swim I had four people join me, now notice a more social swim style to my let. four months on we can have any amount of people up Never one to miss a swim chat, I slow to thirty! What’s nice is we are all new to sea swimming to join them. hey explain they prefer and everyone is super friendly, we are all addicted.

a slower, almost upright cycle-swim Looe Sea movement so they can chat. Wetsuits Have you had any problems with make breaststroke uncomfortable, so Swimmers this lot almost walk through the water. Club Facts authorities or people preventing hey cover the same distance, just at a Fav after swim you from swimming? slower pace and get to gossip at the same snack We have had a few kindly words from our authorities time. Each of them tells me how they Ater swimming we love just saying they are concerned about our visibility have found each other at the water this to ishing boats on choppy days. We now all have summer, despite living beside the sea nothing more than luminous swim loat bags and if it is choppy, for some time. Even the Looe Mayoress a hot chocolate! we go when the tide is out so there are very rarely joins the group, I was disappointed Join them they any boats or jet skis about. On the whole, the town has she wasn’t wearing a chain around her meet regularly been very supportive of us and we even have neck. Eventually all swimmers somehow the Mayoress swim with us! inish together and wade back out. It has depending on started to get dark; the group scoop their weather and sea belongings and change in a shelter of the conditions. Some What are the Group ambitions Worldmags.netbeach. Despite the holiday season being days there can be for the next year? over, the smell of ish and chips hangs in up to three swims Our ambitions for next year are just to swim further the air and it’s a miracle I made it back to going on. and from diferent beaches. Also for us to do the Looe the car empty handed Find them on one-miler again which is a swim from Looe Island Facebook: Looe to East Looe beach. I sadly gave up my place this year to be with my dad before he passed. At least sixteen Sea Swimmers of the group, who had never sea swam before, completed the swim.

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | AUGUST 2019 29 WELLBEING Unsung heroes Anna Deacon celebrates the wild ANNA Wander Women swimmers that inspired new book founder, Edinburgh

Taking the Plunge My irst wild sea swim was on my birthday one September, when the sea is the warmest. My Czech friend, Zuzi, ast year I began to publish their kindness, sense of fun, wonder was about to leave the country and she’s photographs of swimmers on at nature, responsibility for the a swimmer who swam right through the Instagram. As the collection environment around them, and most winter. I was just in total awe of her. I grew, I began to notice a of all their absolutely inclusive attitude. wouldn’t have stuck my toe into the sea Lpattern. A great many of the people I Everyone is welcome regardless of age, – there was no way. Then she said, “We’re was shooting seemed to be there not ability, gender or job – all are ushered going to do this. It’s your birthday. Your just for exercise or because they loved in with open arms, friendly advice, hot treat.” She handed me a woolly hat – and the water, but because it was helping drinks and cake. we went out round the yellow pole and them cope with or push through he water, especially in the winter, back. The irst winter I went every day something. Some were dealing with is a leveller. It doesn’t matter if you are and went to Portobello’s Turkish bath pain – ibromyalgia, autoimmune in a wetsuit or swim skins, if you are aterwards. But last winter I started to diseases, back pain. Others were swimming long distances or you are run home in my wet stuf, and what I battling depression or anxiety. Still more a ‘run in, dip and run out’ kind thought was, “All that equipment – the others were inding that simply being of swimmer. We are all one of a kind lip-lops and diferent towels and in the water was helping them deal and we share our stories as we huddle shower gel, moisturisers and all these with some grief or other personal loss. under our dryrobes, shivery hands things, a big bag full – I don’t need them.” It was about this time that I irst met holding hot chocolate and sharing That was one of my main learnings last Vicky Allan, and what began simply out cake. year. Sea swimming taught me a huge as a photographic study of our fellow We want to celebrate some of lesson in consumerism. Actually, you’ve sea swimmers in Edinburgh turned our unsung heroes in this issue, the got all you need. over the course of a year into a passion swimmers who have inspired us on our You’ve got the strength. Your body is project that saw us travelling across journey and who we hope will inspire designed to keep you safe if you listen Scotland to meet others who swam you to take the plunge as well. Because, to its signs. You don’t need many things. in wild waters. he stories they told beyond the wild watery landscapes, I personally haven’t invested in any oten echoed each other. here were almost nothing else out there makes us swimming gadgets, partly because I’m those who swore by wild swimming feel so alive also terrible at losing stuf. If I bought as pain relief. Others spoke of the way boots or gloves, I know that one of it stilled their anxious minds. Some Follow Taking the Plunge on Instagram: them would get lost. I thought, “Right I’ll described it as a kind of mindfulness. @wildswimmingstories stick to the bare minimum and make do he resulting book, Taking the Plunge, with what I’ve got.” That’s my litle anti- is an exploration of the healing power Taking the consumerist lesson from the sea. of wild swimming for mind, body and Plunge The best things in life are free – and this soul. by Anna Deacon is the best example. You’re not tied to a and Vicky Allan timetable or schedule, simply the natural OPEN ARMS is published by rhythms of the moon and the tide. One thing that stood out to Black and White Instagram: @wanderwomenscotland us unequivocally has been the Publishing on 7 unbelievably friendly nature of all November the outdoor swimmers we met – ➜

30 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com WELLBEING

PEOPLE HAVE THIS PERCEPTION OF ME GOING INTO THE SEA EVERY DAY THAT I MUST BE REALLY STRONG. BUT I FIND THE COLD REALLY HARD, TOO. THE ONE ADVANTAGE THAT I HAVE OVER THOSE PEOPLE GOING FOR THE FIRST TIME IS KNOWING HOW AMAZING IT FEELS AFTERWARDS

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outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 31 WELLBEING

➜ I THINK THERE IS A CONNECTION, A PREHISTORICAL CONNECTION TO THE WATER. I STUDIED MARINE SCIENCES AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE STUDIED WAS MARINE PHYSIOLOGY AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE DIVING REFLEX, WHICH IS A REFLEX THAT ALL MARINE MAMMALS HAVE – AND APPARENTLY, WE HUMANS HAVE IT AS WELL. WE HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE WATER. IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TRIGGERING IT. IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS DIPPING YOUR HEAD IN THE COLD WATER

Itamar Validation engineer, Edinburgh

Many swimmers talk of the healing power of floating within grief. Itamar, for instance, who swam through multiple, successive bereavements – his father, his brother his aunt, his grandmother – says, “There is something about flotation, this floating in the water, this looking at the sky, where you don’t hear anything, and there’s no disruptions, particularly in a loch where it’s so still. It is a kind of a stress reliever. Floating there, and thinking of everything, your mind very clear. Absolutely no disruptions.” Itamar was struck by the power of floating on a visit he made to some flotation pools in the Red Sea in his home country of Israel. He’s even tried to reconstruct the process of guided supported flotation in his local swimming pool. Any kind of floating, he says, works well for him. “I’ve done it in Gladhouse reservoir. I always try to just float. Floating, no gravity, no nothing, breath, some clarity. And together with the temperature of the water, it’s like all the worries of the week and what’s coming next week, dissolve. You don’t feel anything. You just enjoy the moment.”

32 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com WELLBEING

I REMEMBER MY FIRST COLD-WATER SWIM; I HAVE NEVER SMILED SO MUCH IN MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE. IN THE PHOTOS I’M STANDING THERE Dawn LIKE MR BLOBBY IN Wellbeing practitioner, Edinburgh

MY WETSUIT. Many of those who swim to counter pain say the social element is as important to them as the pain relief. Dawn, who has sufered chronic, BUT I CAME OUT debilitating pain, talks about her “swim family” and how “the social AND I BUZZED aspect” has helped her. “You get the buzz from the water, and then the buzz from the people around you is just incredible. As soon as I feel TILL THE NEXT sore now, I think, Right, I need to get in the water. But the best part is I also do it with my swimming family.” SUNDAY. I COULD For ten years Dawn sufered so terribly from pain – following a back injury, but also associated with the genetic condition Ehlers-Danlos NOT WAIT syndrome – that she would be unable to leave her house, or bed. She was, in her late thirties, “medically retired” from work. At one point she was so depressed she came close to suicide. “he majority of the problem was pain,” she recalls. “I got to the stage where I couldn’t go on any longer. It wasn’t a planned suicide; it was just that the pain was so bad I’d taken all my tablets. I have a daughter. I’m so pleased it didn’t work.” he pain isn’t entirely gone now. here are still lare-ups. But she deals with them. One of the key ways she does this is through cold-water swimming. “hat’s my medication now,” she says. “I think because it’s so cold, it reduces inlammation and then allows me Worldmags.net to move and then stops the pain getting worse.” For Dawn, as for many people, it’s not just about the act of swimming. “It’s about,” she says, “being with other people, being outside, being so close to nature, just getting out of your house. If you’re in the water for two minutes you will feel proud of yourself. Isolation and loneliness have a big impact on depression, and the social aspect of wild swimming really helps.” ➜

outdoorswimmer.com WELLBEING

➜ I’M NOT EXACTLY AT PEACE WITH MY NEW SHAPE, MAINLY BECAUSE IT’S UNFAMILIAR, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THERE’S FAR TOO MUCH OF ME TO FIT IN MY OLD CLOTHES. BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS AT ALL WHEN I’M IN THE WATER BECAUSE MY BODY FEELS LIKE IT’S PART OF THE SEA, THE LOCH, THE RIVER. I JUST BECOME A WAVE MORAG Retired nurse, Fort William My husband would say I’m stubborn. I don’t like to give up. Just achieving each bigger distance gives you the conidence. Swimming Windermere was a big turning point for me – the fact that I swam it and enjoyed it. On the whole I’m quite a positive person. JACKY I broke my arm the year before I was former occupational supposed to swim the Channel and therapist and pet shop that was really devastating. I remember owner, Callander seeing a surgeon who said, “You’ll never be able to swim front or back crawl again.” He said that raising my I’ve always had bad vision. I’ve only got arm to about shoulder height would 2% now, but I maximise what I’ve got. be the best I could do, and that if I had my right eye removed two years I wanted to swim the Channel it ago, just because I couldn’t see out of it would have to be breaststroke. hat and the pain was too bad. was a bit dispiriting. But I managed Whenever family or friends ask, “Why to train myself up – and it was just do you do that?” I say, “Because I can. determination, being really good at Because I want to. Because I love it. But doing my physio and going into the also that it’s mine. It’s everyone else’s if swimming pool and doing my exercises they choose it – but it’s my litle bit in there. At the beginning, I would of freedom.” put my hand up to open a cupboard Swimming is that zen moment. door and it would get stuck there – I Swimming gives you peace. It gives would have to put the other hand up to you a sense of wellbeing. And, we’re physically lit it down. mad – you’ve got to be a bit of a nuter I used to be the most awful coward to get in there. For me it’s not distance, at getting into the water. If we went it’s just the water, it’s nature. We’ve got swimming as a family, they would all so much of it here in Scotland and it’s be in and out the water quickly and I beautiful. would still be standing up to my knees chittering and not going in – but I ind it really easy to throw myself in now. FLOATING ON YOUR BACK IS NICE, hat happened about four or ive years ago. I went swimming with somebody AND I SOMETIMES FLOAT FACE DOWN who just went in and it helped me AND EVERYONE THINKS, “OH MY GOD, to just go in. hat’s been quite a transformation – and it’s how I set of SHE’S HAVING A DIABETIC SEIZURE.” on the Channel swim: I just went in. I’M JUST ENJOYING THE BREATHING OUT AND SEEING A FEW BUBBLES

34 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com WELLBEING

Matt WHEN I’M OUTDOORS IS WHEN Swim guide, Skye

I’M HAPPY. IT WAS ALWAYS THIS For me swimming is always about THING BEFORE OF MY BRAIN pushing my boundaries. I generally go through a bit of an argument BEING TOO ACTIVE. BUT WHEN with myself in my head. Recently YOU’RE OUTDOORS YOU CAN I did a swim in a loch that’s at 600 metres on the Cuillin Ridge. It took TURN THAT SWITCH OFF me ive hours to walk, pitch my tent, and then the day ater it’s about a four-hour walk up on to the ridge for a swim. I didn’t know the route up, so I was inding my own way – and there were a couple of parts where you were climbing. I’m having this discussion with myself, telling myself, “This is probably a bit risky. Should turn around.” Then arguing with myself, saying, “No, you’re ine, you’re ine.” They’re my favourite swims where I’m pushing myself. Then you get up to the loch and you go, “Shall I just head back?” Then you have literally a conversation in your head, convincing yourself. Of course, I’ve come all this way, so there’s no way I’m turning back, but I do quite enjoy having that conversation with myself because it’s me pushing my boundaries. If you’re not having that conversation, you’ve probably not pushed yourself. Instagram: @soakupskye

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outdoorswimmer.com SWIMTERVIEW ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? Ella Foote meets Tiﬀany Francis-Baker, author of new book Dark Skies: A Journey into the Wild Night

36 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com SWIMTERVIEW

f the light brings us warmth and William Wordsworth wrote: joy, why venture out in the dark? “Poetry is the spontaneous overlow Writer, artist and environmentalist of powerful feelings: it takes its Tifany Francis-Baker’s new book, origin from emotion recollected IDark Skies: A Journey into the Wild in tranquillity.” his is how Tifany Night, is a relection of darkness. describes her writing style. “I write in It celebrates nocturnal landscapes relection,” she says. “I like to be able and our connection to the night and to enjoy, see and be present, and then explores why we are oten afraid of later write it down.” the dark. Tifany’s night adventures began CHASING THE MIDNIGHT SUN in her home landscape, the South Ater exploring the South Downs at Downs. Her husband Dave is a session night, Tifany thought there could musician who is oten away on tour, be a book in it. “I have always really leaving her at home alone. “I was so loved walking. Going for a long walk, bored of being inside, I looked outside getting a bit lost, taking some photos and there was this beautiful night and gentle exploration,” she says. “I had sky and I thought, I am not ready for always wanted to write narrative non- bed. So, I drove to Butser Hill. It is the iction. Books are a great excuse to go highest and darkest point on the South and do fun stuf. I had always wanted Downs and a really good place for to see the Northern Lights and the stargazing. I got there and just decided Midnight Sun – both these experiences are in the book.” Tifany’s passion for the environment and natural world oten I AM NO ALISTAIR HUMPHREYS, I AM leads to her exploring and questioning human interaction with the places NOT INTERESTED IN HIKING TO THE she visits. Although I have never seen the Northern Lights myself, I found ARCTIC, BUT I DO LOVE TO EXPLORE MY comfort in Tifany’s reaction to feeling small when witnessing the natural SURROUNDINGS AND GET TO KNOW phenomenon. Her wonder in how many years the lights had danced THE SUBTLE CHANGES IN MY across the sky and how many people HOME LANDSCAPE had gazed at them I found enchanting. I too wonder and question these sorts of things when I am in awe of our natural world. to go for a walk on my own, in the Tifany’s knowledge of the natural dark. It was really enjoyable. I looked environment is impressive. “I have at the stars, wandered around, got lost, always been really into nature and found my way back and then went to very environmental,” she says. “I bed. It kicked started this love of going remember when I was about six, my out in the dark, oten on my own but mum brought a promotional box of with others too.” cereal. On the back of the box was Although Dark Skies explores this wonderful wood scene with all landscapes in this country and abroad, the wildlife you could ind. I still have Tifany is most drawn to her local it to this day. I love anything to do landscapes and the connection with with wildlife and would watch Spring places she now knows intimately. “I Watch and gardening programmes like am no Alistair Humphreys, I am not Ground Force. My mum was the same Worldmags.net interested in hiking to the Arctic, but and we would explore hedgerows and I do love to explore my surroundings pick blackberries together.” and get to know the subtle changes his yearning for the outdoors led in my home landscape,” she says. her to volunteer at Sydenham Hill Tiﬀany watching “Walking in the dark gave me that, Wood wildlife reserve when living in the Northern it was a completely new way of seeing London. “I really didn’t enjoy London, Lights something that was very familiar I found it too claustrophobic,” she says. to me.” “Volunteering at the wildlife reserve

outdoorswimmer.com 37 SWIMTERVIEW reopened the natural world for me. At a campervan – once we took it to the same time, I was doing my masters Cheddar Gorge and woke up next and a module in nature writing. It was to the river, the King’s Sedgemoor the starting point.” Tifany became part Drain. I had really wanted to try wild of a young person nature network and swimming and had got Daniel Start’s wrote a Christmas blog for them about book. We got in, it was great and so foraging gits from the hedgerow. It much fun. Now wherever I go I take a was spotted by Bloomsbury on Twitter swimsuit and the book, to see if there is and it led to her irst book, Food You somewhere nearby to swim.” Can Forage. “It was half luck, half skill,” I HAD REALLY WANTED TO I ask her if she has ever swam at says Tifany. TRY WILD SWIMMING AND night. “Apart from the sea in India once, no not really.” I think about IMMERSE YOURSELF IN NATURE HAD GOT DANIEL START’S my swimming experiences at night Like many of us who like to immerse BOOK. WE GOT IN, IT WAS and how they are something I enjoy ourselves in nature, Tifany now also and do oten, but people oten don’t wild swims. Although she swam at GREAT AND SO MUCH FUN. understand why. “People are quick school, she didn’t swim outdoors until to tell me that walking at night is recently. “I read he Outrun by Amy NOW WHEREVER I GO dangerous,” Tifany says. “Especially Liptrot and it made outdoor swimming I TAKE A SWIMSUIT as a woman! I do get it, I don’t want sound amazing. Dave’s parents have to encourage people to do something AND THE BOOK, TO SEE risky, but I have found it really IF THERE IS SOMEWHERE empowering and liberating. here is something about being outside when NEARBY TO SWIM you should be at home getting ready for b e d .” If you want to try walking at night, Tifany advises to start small and go with a friend, similar advice I give to those starting outdoor swimming. Take a torch, but don’t use it unless you have to. Have a phone with you, ensure it is charged and carry some snacks. “But mainly, learn to override any fear,” she says. “It is good to do things you are scared of sometimes. It is such a thrill and lovely experience.” hings I can relate to! “Go out in your garden at night, it doesn’t have to be mountains,” says Tifany “Turn all the house lights of and sit in your garden, look at the stars. hen extend your route, go around the block, make it fun. Don’t make it so scary that you don’t want to do it, ease into it and, like me, you will get addicted.”

Dark Skies: A Journey into the Wild Night by Tifany Francis-Baker Tifany was inspired to wild swim ater reading The Outrun by Amy Liptrot

38 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com Worldmags.net SWIMMING HISTORY

“HIS GREAT FEAT IS ALL THE MORE REMARKABLE FROM THE FACT THAT HE HAS ONLY DONE EIGHTEEN HOURS’ SEA TRAINING THIS YEAR.”

40 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com SWIMMING HISTORY he Men in Between

Though you might not know their names, they helped advance marathon swimming in its earliest days. By Elaine K Howley

any people who swim or are familiar with marathon swimming know that Captain MMatthew Webb, a 27-year-old merchant seaman from Shropshire, was the irst person to swim across the English Channel. He did so in 1875, accomplishing what most believed to be a simply impossible feat. In fact, the day ater Webb’s swim, the mayor of Dover declared that “in the future history of the world I don’t believe that any such feat will be performed by anyone else.” Webb’s incredible exploit earned him instant and enduring fame. A 1955 article in Sports Illustrated reported that “Webb became a national hero. Crowds mobbed him wherever he Gertrude Ederle went. Dignitaries clapped him on the Celebrated in back. A public subscription organized New York with a by Lord Stanhope netted him £2,000. ticker-tape parade he Prince of Wales opened his royal purse and handed him £5,000. housands locked to see the stocky named Gertrude Ederle became the Delaware, and, frankly, your crossing 5-foot 8-inch blond captain cleave irst woman and sixth person to cross of the English Channel will take place the waters with the powerful stroke the Channel. In an era when women alongside these.” Similarly, President that had conquered the Channel.” It’s were only beginning to gain some Calvin Coolidge heralded Ederle as the kind of reception most marathon small liberties, Ederle shattered the “America’s best girl,” and the city of swimmers today can hardly imagine. men’s speed record for crossing the New York celebrated her return with hough interest in Webb and Channel and proved that women are by a ticker tape parade attended by more his swim soon faded, the allure no means a weaker sex. than a million people. Ederle’s name Worldmags.netof swimming between England In welcoming her home to a proud became as much a household word – and France didn’t diminish. Other nation, New York City’s mayor Jimmy and probably far more so – than Webb’s swimmers continued to strive for their Walker answered Dover’s mayoral had before her. Webb and Ederle chance to become the next Matthew welcome of Webb with a quote of earned and deserve the accolades they Webb. But it would be 1926 before the his own. “When history records the received. But they weren’t swimming in international press again truly lost its greatest crossings, they will speak of a vacuum. collective mind because of swimming. Moses crossing the Red Sea, Caesar History isn’t kind to also-rans, and hat’s when a 19-year-old American the Rubicon and Washington the those who achieve something second ➜

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 41 SWIMMING HISTORY

➜ oten get short shrit over the long eventually founded his own motor car haul. But the fact remains that between business as well, and as such had access THOUGH TIRABOCCHI Webb and Ederle, a whole slew of to touring goggles – the kind that WAS THE FOURTH determined swimmers plied their crat might be super handy when swimming in the Channel’s cool waters. hough in salt water. Indeed, he wore a pair of PERSON TO SWIM THE most of these attempts ended in abject boxy, rubber goggles on his swim. But failure, there were a few successes. he having the awkward specs apparently CHANNEL, HE WAS FAR names of the swimmers who achieved didn’t help his speed. He was slower these feats may have largely been than Webb, crossing from England to AND AWAY THE FASTEST. forgotten today, but homas Burgess, France in 22 hours, 35 minutes. Henry Sullivan, Enrique Tirabocchi, Upon inishing his swim, he and Charles Toth all crossed the Poverty Bay Herald printed excerpts Channel between Webb and Ederle’s of an interview with Webb’s widow, irsts. hese swimmers were pioneers Madeline Kate Chaddock. (Webb in their own way who helped had died while attempting to swim evolve the science of cross-Channel Niagara Falls’ rapids in 1883.) Widow navigation and develop the sport of Webb reportedly said, “I am so glad marathon swimming. Burgess succeeded because irst of all, he deserved it so thoroughly, and also THOMAS WILLIAM BURGESS because his success proves that the For 35 years ater Webb’s crossing, it great feat was not impossible, and thus seemed that his feat would never be ends the controversy raised some time repeated. Dozens of swimmers made ago by sceptics who said that Captain more than 80 valid attempts, but none Webb did not accomplish it, without could replicate Webb’s extraordinary aid.” Ater inally achieving his Channel act of endurance. dream, Burgess set up shop as one of hat is until 5/6 September 1911, the most sought-ater cross-Channel when homas William Burgess, a coaches. In 1926, he supported Ederle 39-year-old Yorkshire native – who on her successful crossing. was just three years old when Webb succeeded – became the second person HENRY SULLIVAN to swim the English Channel. On his Ater Burgess’ success, another 12 16th attempt, Burgess, known to most years would evaporate before another as Bill, proved that Webb’s achievement swimmer would break through the was in fact repeatable. he day ater tides to reach the far shore. Ater the swim, the Manchester Guardian seven attempts, inally on 5 August reported the “plucky swimmer” had 1923, a 31-year-old clerk from Lowell, succeeded. “His great feat is all the Massachusetts, a textile town north more remarkable from the fact that of Boston, became the third person he has only done eighteen hours’ sea to cross the English Channel. hough Enrique training this year.” he was the third swimmer to cross, Tirabocchi Burgess bridged the 21-mile divide Sullivan was the irst American, and First person to between England and France both that earned him an enormous silver swim from France literally with his swimming, but also trophy and a lot of fanfare back home. was able to function quite normally to England iguratively. hough he was born in He also accepted a check for $2,139.09 ater the swim. A New York Times Britain and remained a British subject, from Lowell’s mayor John Donavan, report from 13 August 1923 notes Burgess lived most of his life in France. who said it was “the git of a grateful that Sullivan “walk[ed] up the shore, An accomplished swimmer, Burgess people,” the Lowell Sun reported. hat enter[ed] a cafe and order[ed] a dish of inspired conidence in Channel same check would be worth roughly ice cream and later a bowl of soup.” swimming insiders as he toiled away at $32,000 today, or some £26,000. his crossing. he Poverty Bay Herald, Like Burgess before him, Sullivan’s ENRIQUE TIRABOCCHI a New Zealand newspaper, reported crossing was slower than Webb’s, he summer of 1923 was an ater Burgess’ swim that “a Dover pilot, clocking in at a glacial 26 hours and 50 extraordinary moment in Channel who had accompanied many Channel minutes. In fact, Sullivan’s swim held swimming. It was the season when aspirants, said, ‘any fool knows that of the distinction as being the slowest strength, determination, training and all Channel swimmers only Burgess crossing of the English Channel for 87 experience across the whole body of has an earthly chance of getting there.’” years. he record was inally broken Channel swimmers combined with Burgess was born in Yorkshire but in 2010 when one iercely determined some decent weather, and three swims moved as a child to London. He soon 56-year-old woman from Kent named happened in quick succession. fell into the motoring business and Jackie Cobell crossed in 28 hours and hree days ater Sullivan crossed, moved to Paris at age 17 to lead the 44 minutes. a 36-year-old Argentinian swimmer French arm of a tyre manufacturing Despite the exceedingly long time he living in Italy named Enrique company for Lord Shrewsbury. He spent in the water, Sullivan reportedly Tirabocchi (also sometimes spelled

42 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com Worldmags.net SWIMMING HISTORY

Tiraboschi) crossed in a blazingly fast polished of the 1923 season Henry Sullivan time of 16:33. hough Tirabocchi was with his swim, that took Held the record for the fourth person to swim the Channel, place just a few weeks ater slowest English he was far and away the fastest. He also Tirabocchi’s. Toth completed his Channel swimmer managed to be the irst person to swim swim from France to England for 87 years from France to England. in a time of 16:58 on his third On landing in England, Tirabocchi attempt on 8 September. He was exhausted. he New York Times just missed the expiration reported that “the moment he date (7 September) of another Argentinian’s feet touched the bottom £1,000 prize posted by the Daily a few yards out from the pebbled- Sketch. Nevertheless, he told the covered beach of Dover, he fell into Canadian Press Cable that he the arms of members of the crowd that made the attempt, his ith, “just had cheered his inishing strokes at the to prove to the folks back home end.” His crew hastened to assist the that I could do it.” tired swimmer. “Before the straining hat victory, however eyes of hundreds who were pushing monetarily unrewarded, and shoving to get closer to him, apparently was sweet to Toth the retinue of Tirabocchi, who had as he sat on the shore and Thomas rowed across the Channel in his wake, accepted congratulations from William removed his swimming trunks and put well-wishers. “he swimmer Burgess him into dry clothes as though they sat on the beach for a few Second person were dressing some little infant. he minutes smilingly acknowledging to swim the clean linen seemed somewhat to revive the congratulations and cheers, and English Channel the swimmer, who stood up, chatted was then taken in a motor boat back for a few minutes with a few comrades, to the tug and down into the engine- and then, before anyone had an room for warmth,” the Manchester opportunity to ind out from him what Guardian reported. he tug motored he thought about his feat, hopped into onward to Dover harbour from its a rowboat which took him out to a tug. landing spot near South Foreland to his crat immediately pointed its prow a cacophony of sound. “… as the tug back toward the French shore.” entered Dover with her siren going For his eforts, Tirabocchi earned cheerily, the artillerymen from the a £1,000 prize posted by the Daily seaward forts enthusiastically shouted Sketch, and he donated that reward their congratulations and cheered. to the International Swimming Seamen on vessels and ishermen on Federation. He was also awarded a the breakwater followed suit…” Henry large sliver trophy. When he returned Sullivan met Toth on the beach to to Italy ater the swim, customs oicers congratulate him in person. It had been coniscated the trophy and demanded a ine summer, indeed. Tirabocchi pay an import duty. “His In his 2009 book, “Young Woman explanation that it was not for sale, and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle but was a memento of an Italian Conquered the English Channel and victory, was unavailing,” the New York Inspired the World” sports historian Times reported. “Refusing to pay the Glenn Stout writes that these three duty demanded, he let the cup with swims completely changed how the the oicials and declared he would world looked at the English Channel. Charles Toth appeal to the highest authorities.” “In just a few short weeks, the entire Completed an hose highest authorities turned nature of crossing the Channel had English Channel out to be Benito Mussolini himself. changed. hree successful swims crossing on his Upon receiving the news of what the in such close proximity seemed to third atempt customs oicers at Domodossola had indicate that, somehow, swimming done, Mussolini reportedly “praised the Channel had been ‘solved’ and it THE CONTRIBUTIONS the customs oicers for their devotion simply wasn’t as challenging as it once THESE FOUR MEN to duty, but allowed the swimmer to had been.” In fact, Toth had enlisted import the trophy free.” When Ederle Burgess’ help as his trainer. MADE TO MARATHON made her crossing, Tirabocchi was Way leads on to way, and a small SWIMMING IN ITS quick to praise her in the press, calling community has a tendency to assist her efort a “marvelous swim.” its members. his is a strong tradition EARLIEST YEARS STILL that continues today. he contributions ECHOES ACROSS THE CHARLES TOTH these four men made to marathon Another American hailing from swimming in its earliest years still CHANNEL TODAY. Boston, 45-year-old Charles Toth, echoes across the Channel today

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WWW . SELKIESWIM . COM FOR FREE DELIVERY USE CODE : FREEDOS AT CHECKOUT ECO HERO WILD TRIBE HERO Ella Foote meets campaigning children’s book author Ellie Jackson

llie Jackson was inspired to picking up litter. My kids would say, THE NEXT GENERATION write a children’s book by ‘Mummy, I am saving a turtle,’ as they Ellie has four books available through an animal rescue that she picked up the rubbish.” her website, bookstores and in 15% and her family witnessed It was this experience that got Ellie of primary schools in the UK. In Ewhile living in Australia. Today her thinking about the idea for a book. “I total she has sold 22,000 copies and Wild Tribe Heroes series is part of a wrote the irst story in one evening, Dufy’s story has been translated into bigger campaign to educate the next using my kids’ crayons to draw 15 diferent languages. “I want to generation on environmental issues. roughly and illustrate it,” says Ellie. In reach as many children as quickly as “I wrote a book for bedtime stories,” September 2017, Dufy’s Lucky Escape possible,” says Ellie. “I target a town, says Ellie. “I didn’t imagine it would was published. “David Attenborough’s approach councils, businesses, clubs lead to much more.” Blue Planet came about two months and groups and ask them to sponsor Ellie, her husband and four children later,” says Ellie. “My book was in the their local schools and get the books were living on Magnetic Island in the right place, at the right time. I sent into 3-4,000 children’s hands at a time. Great Barrier Reef, Australia when they copies to Attenborough; he wrote back his could be around ten schools, observed a turtle, named Dufy, being congratulating me!” with every child learning about it at released back into the wild from one the same time. Children start writing of their favourite beaches. “One day CREATING A CONVERSATION letters to local business owners asking hundreds of people turned up to see Ater Ellie and her family returned them to remove plastic straws or make this turtle get released and we joined to the UK, Ellie added to Dufy’s a change, they talk to their aunties, the crowd to watch,” says Ellie. “My story with more real-life animal uncles, parents and guardians about daughter, who was four at the time, rescues: Marli’s Tangled Tale; Nelson’s recycling and choices at home. Very asked what was wrong with the turtle. Dangerous Dive; and, most recently, quickly you can start to turn a whole So, we went to ind out. We visited the Buddy’s Rainforest Rescue. “Because town’s attitude, starting with the hospital on the mainland and listened they are true stories you can teach children as the inspiration. It then to the vet talk about the problem with children about the issues we are facing spreads and the next town along wants plastic and how turtles consume it, without upsetting or overwhelming to get involved because they have seen mistaking it for food. My children had them,” says Ellie. “To show children or heard about the campaign.” seen the turtle, been to the hospital, images or footage of sea creatures Each book has a list of ideas at the seen the plastic on beaches and caught up in ishing nets or straws back of how to help and get involved, started to link it together. Ater that up their noses isn’t appropriate.” slowly creating more plastic free we couldn’t leave the beach without Ellie used her background in communities. “It is hard to say no environmental science and as a to an eight-year-old writing a letter geography teacher to take her stories about plastic straws to you as a local MY BOOK WAS IN THE into schools and create a conversation business owner,” says Ellie. “Do the that was more powerful and best you can and let’s teach the next RIGHT PLACE, AT THE RIGHT appropriate for young children. generation!” TIME. I SENT COPIES TO ATTENBOROUGH; HE WROTE BACK CONGRATULATING ME!

46 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com ECO HERO

MY CHILDREN HAD SEEN THE TURTLE, BEEN TO THE HOSPITAL, SEEN THE PLASTIC ON BEACHES AND STARTED TO LINK IT TOGETHER. AFTER THAT WE COULDN’T LEAVE THE BEACH WITHOUT PICKING UP LITTER

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INSIDE Worldmags.net 50 Coach Cassie 52 Training 54 Understanding wind 56 Sport psychology 58 Recipes

h2openmagazine.com H2OPEN | JUNE/JU LY 2016 49 EXCEL COACH CASSIE Our resident Olympian answers your swimming questions

In the swimming pool I breathe every six strokes, in open water I breathe every two. But with every breath I take, the opposite shoulder sinks too How oten do deep in the water. It you recommend costs a lot of energy sighting? I’m to get into the right checking every 12 position again. How can I change this? strokes. Is this too Francien Domenie oten? Rebecca Minogue Coach Cassie says: aim for, close your eyes and swim 20-30 strokes I It is good that you are heading in that direction. When you have swam aware of how oten you your 20 strokes stop and see if you are still breathe, however I would heading in that direction or if you have veered say that you should look of to the let or right. I have done this several to breathe every four as a times and I am always amazed by how far some maximum. Holding your people can swim of course. Please ensure you breath for six strokes can Coach Cassie says: The optimum number are swimming in a space that is safe to swim quite quickly put you into of strokes between sighting is unique to each with your eyes closed, or swim next to someone oxygen debt, which has a individual; however, regardless of how eicient who can stop you if you’re heading into danger! detrimental efect on your you are at swimming in a straight line I would If you have an ineicient sighting technique swimming speed and how always recommend sighting more oten than it can be very fatiguing to continually look up, quickly you fatigue. not. so I tell my swimmers to improve they need to Without seeing you it There are numerous diferent factors, incorporate it in to pool sessions. An easy way is diicult to accurately including weather and swimming styles, that of doing this is in a recovery session ensure that determine what is causing can afect how oten you should be looking up. every fourth length you practise sighting. This the dropped shoulder. In perfect calm conditions I personally would will help you perfect your technique so when A common factor when normally sight every 10 strokes. This for me was you next swim outside it will be more luid and people unilaterally breath is the upper limit for sighting. The reason for this integrated into your stroke. that your body gets biased is I could cover approximately 20 metres in 10 Also it’s good to always remember that if you towards the breathing side. strokes, so if I was to swim of course between are swimming next to the shore every time you Try to ensure that your head sights this could add 30m on to the total swim. breathe to the side you can also gauge if you are and body realigns back Do this continuously over a 10km it can be in swimming straight or not. to the centre line and the the hundreds of metres extra that you are Finally, if you are going around bouys in very opposite arm is focused to swimming! windy/ tidal conditions or into the inish you traveling forward not down. A good way to test if you are eicient at will need to increase the sighting frequency to Hopefully this should assist swimming in a straight line is to pick a point to ensure you are taking the best line possible. in keeping both shoulders in neutral alignment and to Cassie Paten won bronze in the irst ever Olympic 10km marathon swim, in the Beijing 2008 Olympics. stop the shoulder dropping. Cassie now coaches and is a commentator at open water events.cassiepaten.co.uk @cassiepaten Email your questions to: [email protected] with the subject ‘Coach Cassie’

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outdoorswimmer.com Olympian David Carry. Keri-anne Payne Keri-anne is a double open water with her husband, triple Swimming methodology the 10k open water marathon marathon the 10k open water straightlineswimming.com She created the Straight-Line and Olympic silver medallist in and Olympic silver at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.at the Beijing Olympics world champion, triple Olympianworld

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ith winter fast fast winter ith is now approaching your make the time to a reality. plan training

NOVEMBER 2019 | NOVEMBER

here are three key sessions to it it to sessions key three are here technique. are able to swim with great able to swim with great are Increase the distance you the distance you Increase Technique endurance – Technique capacity to maintain race pace. Race Pace – Building your Race Pace – Building your your speed range. your ability to push the upper end of Speed – To ensure you have the have you ensure Speed – To goals. goals. stronger swimmer to achieve your your achieve to swimmer stronger become a more eicient, quicker and and quicker eicient, a more become into your training week to ensure you you ensure to week training your into to improve on in order to achieve it. it. achieve to in order on improve to and more importantly what you need you what importantly more and why you are trying to achieve your goal trying your are achieve to you why performance plan. You should know know should You plan. performance have a well prepared and speciic and prepared a well have followed last month’s article you should should you article month’s last followed your training plan is exciting. If you you If exciting. is plan training your sofa so we need to make sure that that sure make need sosofa to we gets darker is to stay in and sit on the on sit in and stay to is darker gets he easy thing to do when the nights do when the nights easy to thing he

52 TRAINING

your goals your schedule to achieve schedule to achieve plan your training training plan your explains how to how explains Keri-anne Payne Keri-anne medallist swimming silver swimming silver Olympic open water water Olympic open

SESSIONS

KEY TRAINING KEY W

s EXCEL

Speed session Race pace session TECHNIQUE ENDURANCE BREAKDOWN WARM UP - 15 minutes of mixed WARM UP - Aim to swim at least he aim of these sessions are to swimming inishing with 4 X50m half the distance of your main complete the distance with technical with 1st 15m sprint the rest easy set - 800m mixed warm up excellence. Speed and time are not with 20 seconds rest. inish with 4 X 50m descending the challenge, the focus will be on each 50m to race pace speed on the mind. he great thing about this MAIN SET - 6 X 25m MAX effort number 4 & 8. session is that you can build up each with as much rest as you need. week to add a few more 100s to achieve Minimum 1.30 second rest MAIN SET - either 100m - 800m your goal distance. You are looking reps. Aim to take your heart rate to have the best technique during this SWIM DOWN 15 - 20 minutes regularly and give each session session which is why you will need to recover swimming with a few a mark out of 10 for how much use your brain to keep a check on that. 10m bursts of speed to remove effort you put in and how hard it he overall distance of this session the lactic acid. felt. Tracking this will give you an depends on your overall goal but here idea if you are improving. is a guide of how far you should think about swimming dependent on goal SWIM DOWN 15 minutes of distances. recovery ideally on the strokes you did do in the main set. Add Under 2km goal – Aim to swim some bursts of speed to remove over the distance at least twice lactic acid from your system. a week.

Under 5km goal – Aim to be swimming up to the distance at least once a week. SPEED SESSION BREAKDOWN need to break that down into 100m hese sessions are short sharp repeats splits. For example, if your goal is to 5-10km goal – Aim to swim with full recovery between each. swim 1600m in 32 minutes that’s 2 close to the distance in one hink about your speed on a scale of minutes per 100m. Now that might session but over the distance in 1 to 10, 10 being your maximum. If seem little scary if you have never been your weekly volume. you’ve never pushed your body to its able to swim that pace before. maximum speed then you will likely Let's say your current pace is 2.10 15km or over – Aim to swim feel like 6 out of 10 is your max, but per 100m, so we need to drop 10 over the distance in weekly what we are trying to do is push that to seconds per 100m over three months. training volume.

your true 10 out of 10. his will enable As important as it is to ensure you s you to start hitting your race pace know what 2 minutes per 100m feels In your irst few weeks of training you times. like it’s also important to try and see might struggle to swim the goal distance what 200m or 400m will feel like but don’t worry –use the above as a goal RACE PACE BREAKDOWN hitting goal pace. he table below is an guide over your training plan. Each goal he aim of this session is to try and example of how to plan and do your distance is individual and if your goal simulate what your race goal will race pace sessions. is 15km and if you want to feel super feel like and to give you conidence he table below is a rough guide but conident you can cover the distance swimming at your race pace. following it will give you a good idea if then you can aim to swim close or over If you have done a successful your goal is achievable. Coupled with 15km in one training session if that will performance planning session you will the speed set each week your overall make you feel conident you can achieve know what your goal pace is. Now you speed will be much quicker. the distance. Giving yourself as much time as possible. I would recommend at least four months of training to really give Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 your body the chance to improve all aspects. Distance 16 X 16 X 20 X 16 X 8 X 8 X 16 X 8 X 4 X 16 X 4 X 16 X My inal tip is to ensure that you 100’s 100’s 100’s 100’s 200’s 200’s 100’s 200’s 400’s 100’s 400’s 100’s give your body some time to rest and Worldmags.net adapt to the training you are doing. @ pace 122112311422 My suggestion is that you plan your training in four-week cycles with the Recovery 222111111111 fourth week always being a rest week. On a rest week maintain the number of Rest 20 20 20 rest 30 30 20 rest 30 20 30 10 sec sessions but decrease the distance and sec sec sec week sec sec sec week sec sec sec efort

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 53 GUIDE TO THE SEA Understanding Author William Thomson Wind explores what makes the wind and how it aﬀects swimming conditions.

o far in this series we have learnt what to expect from Sdiferent phases of the tide, and the currents it creates. Now we will move away from the hydrosphere and explore the atmosphere, because the two are inextricably linked. Starting with the theory, what actually makes wind? Wind is the movement of air from areas of high pressure [where cold air is sinking] to areas of low pressure [where warm air is rising]. he wind this process creates has a massive efect on the seas in which we swim, and the two variables you need to consider are speed and direction. While stronger winds deinitely have the potential to create rougher seas, in coastal waters the direction it blows is perhaps even more signiicant. Cross-shore, on-shore or of-shore winds shape very diferent seas.

MAKING WAVES IF YOU HAVE THE LUXURY OF On a day with no incoming swell and BEING ON A NARROW STRETCH a strong ofshore wind, the likely efect OF COAST, LIKE CORNWALL, is whitecaps out at sea, but calm water that’s perfect for swimming close to YOU CAN MAKE THE MOST OF shore. his is because wind needs THIS EFFECT BY SWIMMING ON to blow over a large area of water to THE DOWNWIND SIDE, OR THE make waves, a phenomenon called LEEWARD COAST AS SAILORS fetch. Close inshore, where the wind has come straight of the beach, there WOULD CALL IT. has been no fetch so there are no waves - but as you go further out the ripples will grow into waves, which is

54 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer EXCEL

why you will see whitecaps out at sea. IF YOU’RE ON BRITAIN’S EAST Following this theory, if you were to spin the wind around so that it blows COAST IN THE SPRING AND onshore, the whitecaps would come SUMMER, THERE’S ONE MORE all the way to the shore and a heavy REASON TO AVOID ONSHORE shorebreak would start crashing on the WINDS; THEY CREATE SEA FOG beach, despite the wind speed staying the same. his emphasises how wind direction is sometimes more important than speed. If you have the luxury of being on a narrow stretch of coast, North Sea are 1-2 degrees warmer like Cornwall, you can make the most than the coastal waters, so an onshore of this efect by swimming on the wind brings the warm air over the downwind side, or the leeward coast as cold sea, where it turns into fog. I can sailors would call it. vouch for the cold; last summer I had to revert to breaststroke on a swim in ONSHORE VS OFFSHORE Northumberland because of brain- If it’s not possible to ind a leeward freeze while front crawling. Luckily, coast, one option is to time your swims there was an ofshore breeze otherwise for when there is a higher probability it would have been prime conditions of ofshore winds. At night, the land for the Fret to add to my woes. cools quicker than the sea, so wind For a Sea Fog to disperse you need blows from the colder land to warmer a change of wind direction; ideally sea; this ofshore breeze is common an ofshore breeze, but a cross-shore in the early morning. But by mid- will work. However, this presents new morning [especially if it’s sunny] the challenges. Last month I demonstrated land heats up faster than the how a cross-shore wind sea, and the temperature creates choppy seas if diference forces the the wind and tidal wind onshore. If WIND currents oppose there’s a swell NEEDS TO BLOW each other, and [which we will lat seas if they learn about in OVER A LARGE are travelling more detail AREA OF WATER TO the same next month] way. Another this cycle plays MAKE WAVES, A consequence of a a signiicant role PHENOMENON cross-shore wind in how the waves is its efect on the break. Ofshore CALLED time of slack water. winds create tidy waves FETCH that peel mechanically, FLUID MOTION holding their shape for longer. When I was ilming How to In contrast, onshore winds create the Spot Currents for the Tidal Compass opposite; messy waves that break all YouTube, there was a 15-knot over the place. his is another reason northerly wind and the currents were why ofshore winds are preferable, supposed lowing to the north. One of because they make reading the the demonstrations was for my partner waves simpler and the clean faces are Naomi to go for a swim and drit with fantastic for bodysuring. the currents; it was an hour and a half before Slack Water so they should have TURNING TO FOG been lowing to the north. But instead If you’re on Britain’s East Coast she drited south. he strength of in the spring and summer, there’s wind had obviously overpowered the one more reason to avoid onshore currents and Slack Water had arrived winds; they create Sea Fog. Known 90 minutes early - a reminder that Worldmags.netas a Haar in Scotland and Sea Fret in tides do not move with a mechanical Northumberland, Sea Fog forms when precision, but a luid motion that is warm air blows over a cold sea, cooling strongly afected by the wind. his also the water vapour to its dew point so afects the vertical tide; an onshore that it condenses into water droplets. wind will push water up the beach and he reason it’s so common on the give higher tides, while ofshore winds East Coast from March to September will push back the water, creating is because the waters in the central lower tides

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 55 SPORT PSYCHOLOGY “I AM NERVOUS OF SWIMMING IN THE SEA”

Sports psychology consultant Helen Davis suggests ways to manage feelings of Deborah’s concerns self-doubt Deborah is feeling excited by the DeborahSwimmer: Carr challenge of the Deborah Carr is 49 years old and Killary Fjord Swim. lives in Firhouse, near Dublin. Deborah is a member of Pulse With the date of her Triathlon Club and swims twice a swim approaching, week in open water. she is feeling a bit

Swimming seting. Flanked by the steep fearful but knows she and sporting sides of the Killary Fjord, the sea can do it. Her main background swim is surrounded by mountains Deborah began swimming as a child with Mweelrea, the tallest peak in fears are someone but had never been able to do laps. Connacht to the north and the Twelve She did a swim teachers course in the Bens and the Maumturk mountains knocking of her military and began triathlons in March of Connemara to the south. It sounds 2018. This is really when she ‘began’ beautiful! goggles, getting hit to swim, and she has competed in or swam over. She triathlons ever since completing the Cascais half Ironman in Portugal and doesn’t want to be winning a few age group triathlons. THREE INTERESTING She has been nervous of swimming in caught in the middle the sea this year and prefers using a FACTS ABOUT tow loat. She has swum regularly in DEBORAH of the group and open water all summer. panic that she’s in Deborah is retired from The event the military a crowd faster than Deborah has entered the Gaelforce Deborah is a new triathlete her. She would ind Great Fjord Swim in October. The that intimidating. Great Fjord Swim is 3.9K in length Deborah is a single mum to and is renowned for its fabulous a son with special needs and cares for him full time

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s EXCEL

Deborah has entered the Great Fjord Swim

Helen says…

Deborah has speciically identiied a plan means that if Deborah inds for two counts and exhaling for six managing feelings of self-doubt and her mind worrying about her goggles breaths. Ater the breathing exercise, learning a relaxation technique, so she coming of, she can remind herself of Deborah could remind herself of doesn’t have to ‘swim breaststroke the course of action she will take if that statements, written in her planning and panic.’ were to occur, rather than continue to stages that will help direct her thinking worry about it. to helpful, constructive thoughts. STRATEGY: MANAGING FEELINGS When faced with feelings of doubt, Examples of these might be: “I am OF SELF-DOUBT I would also encourage Deborah looking forward to swimming today”, Deborah says she experiences self- to be kind to herself. How self- “I am going to admire the mountains, doubt and feels she needs to stop compassionate you are has been found smile and lower myself into the water telling herself that she is ‘rubbish’. Self- to be a big predictor of how much slowly,” “I will blow some bubbles and doubt has been deined as uncertainty self-doubt you have. Focusing on visualise what my irst ive strokes will about one’s abilities, potential for preparation for her swim, Deborah look like.” All these example statements success, or competence in performance can strengthen her conidence that are designed to be calming and situations. It would seem that she is well prepared – physically and focusing on the present and technique. Deborah’s self-doubt includes thoughts psychologically. Being prepared can Once planned, keep practising the and feelings related to bad things help with stopping focus on potential statements in the lead up to the race. happening (goggles coming of, getting negative consequences and things you hit or swam over) and feeling unsure of can’t control. It can encourage you to A FINAL SAY… her abilities (‘I tell myself I’m rubbish”). concentrate on the present moment Good luck with your Killary Swim Deborah’s fears are very real ones and the things you have control over, Deborah! in an open water event; her goggles leading to more positive outcomes. might come of; she might get hit or swam over. At the moment Deborah is STRATEGY: RELAXATION focusing on uncertainty and ‘what… TECHNIQUE Helen Davis is a swimmer and sport if?’ scenarios (and therefore it feels Keeping relaxed and in control of psychology consultant who works Worldmags.netout of her control), which can raise emotions can be improved by using with individuals, teams and coaches anxiety. If she can switch her thinking efective self-talk and Deborah can on their sporting performance. and make a plan to prepare for these plan and practise this prior to her Each month, Helen will proile a scenarios happening, she will feel event. One suggestion is to incorporate swimmer who has an event planned more in control. Start making some a breathing technique pre-race. his and suggest psychological techniques ‘if…then’ plans to take back control of might be sitting in a relaxed position to help them. thinking, for example, ‘IF my goggles somewhere quiet before the race and www.thinkbelieveperform.co.uk get knocked of, THEN I will… Having inhaling for four breaths, holding

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | November 2019 57 REAL FOOD FOR REAL ATHLETES Good mood food

SWEET POTATO LOAF As the days darken and become colder I've put together a INGREDIENTS: Add the mince and 125g soya mince 4cook for 1 minute few recipes to help keep you 70g bulgar wheat before removing from 2tbsp olive oil the heat. smiling by stabilising blood 100g grated carrot Add the remaining 1onion, diced 5ingredients and stir sugar and preventing dips 100g grated sweet potato through. Season well. 1 garlic clove crushed Line a 2lb loaf tin associated with depression, 70g oats 6with greaseproof 2tsp Marmite/Vegemite/ paper then spoon in boost the production of yeast extract the mixture, pressing 1 egg (or ﬂax egg)or down. serotonin and melatonin simply omit Bake for 40-45 (our 'happy chemicals') 2 tsp thyme 7minutes, covering Seasoning half way through if it and increase EPA and DHA begins to burn. METHOD: Rest for 5 minutes levels which have been Preheat oven to 200 8before turning out. 1degrees C found to be low in people Cook the bulgar 2wheat according sufering with anxiety, to packet instructions Superb for Heat oil and fry the Sunday lunch with depression and bipolar 3garlic and vegetables all the trimmings for 5 mins or served cold disorder. Chin up and with a salad or reheated for tuck in! lunch leftovers

EXPERT ADVICE Kathy Findlay is an open water swimmer, nutritional therapist and advanced sports and exercise nutritional advisor providing personalised nutritional advice and plans to athletes. foodforsport. wix.com/nutrition See Kathy’s Instagram account for more recipe ideas: food4sport_

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MEXICAN BEAN CHILLI WITH SEEDED BULGAR

INGREDIENTS add the garlic 2tbsp olive oil and pepper 1 onion, inely chopped Cook through for 3 cloves of garlic, 25 minutes, stirring inely chopped every now and then. 1 red pepper, inely Add the spices to the chopped pot and once you can 1tbs cayenne pepper start to smell then, stir 1tbs paprika through the tomato 1tbs cumin and chipotle pastes 1tbs dried oregano before adding the tin 2tbs tomato paste of tomatoes along 2tbs chipotle paste with one can full 1 tin of diced tomatoes of water, lime juice Juice from half a lime and salt. 1tbs salt Bring to the boil 1 can each of pinto beans, 3then add the beans black beans and kidney and sweetcorn and beans, drained and rinsed cook for 25 minutes. 100g sweetcorn You may want to add a 75g Bulgar Wheat little water as you go if per person the chilli becomes too 1tbsp mixed seeds thick. Season to taste. per person Make up the bulgar 4wheat as packet OMEGA BOOST METHOD instructions suggest, Heat the oil in a non adding 1tbsp mixed SMOOTHIE BOWL 1stick medium sized seeds per person. pot and sauté the Serve the chilli onion over a low heat 5alongside the INGREDIENTS until translucent then bulgar. 3/4 cup frozen peaches 3/4 cup frozen raspberries 1/2 cup almond milk 1/2 cup cranberry juice Yum! ½ avocado 1 banana 1 tbs walnut oil

To serve: Oats and seeds to sprinkle METHOD: Using a blender or 1smoothie maker, blend all ingredients until smooth! Worldmags.netSprinkle with oats and 2seeds to enjoy as a smoothie bowl!

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 59

s s Introducing the RuckRaft® — the next generation tow ﬂoat for wild swimming adventures. A simple kit to transform all your gear into a raft you can easily tow while swimming.

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Worldmags.net INSIDE 63 Travel News 64 Malawi 66 Winter swimming competitions

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London lidos with saunas

5Brockwell Lido Enjoy the traditional Scandinavian and Russian winter swimming THE WORLD’S experience with a cold swim in Brockwell’s unheated 50m pool GREATEST followed by a stint in its wood-fired barrel sauna. Beware, it gets crowded! SWIM TRIPS fusion-lifestyle.com Stuck for destinations for your next big WATERFALLS IN INDONESIA Parliament Hill Lido trip? Here’s our pick of the best places The Bali region enjoys so many hidden Warm up in the deep-end around the world to have outdoor beautiful waterfalls that are perfect sauna after an unheated swimming adventures. for a well-deserved dip after a hike. swim in this steel-lined Usually found in the thick of the forest, beauty of a lido. The pool is NORWEGIAN FJORDS they range from the gently tricking 61m and open to members Norway is the place to head for some smaller falls to the most magnificent of the public 365 days of jaw dropping backdrops to your at tens of feet high. Take a walk to one the year. swims. Though some bodies of water and relax in the stillness you’ll find. parliamenthilllido.org are fed by glaciers, in the summer you can find some pleasant warmer swim SWIMMING ACROSS CONTINENTS Tooting Bec Lido spots. With lakes often having a cooler IN TURKEY London’s biggest lido, a layer of fresh water run off from the If you love a challenge, head to whopping 91m – and the mountains, a swim in the Scandinavia Turkey to find some incredible cross coldest of the London lidos will certainly be refreshing dip. You’ll continental swim crossings around due to its size. The sauna probably find some great routes for the country. You can swim from Asia was a gift from the winter your swims too, as wild paths the fjords to Europe in the middle of Istanbul swimmers of Finland. have cut out for themselves make for in the Bosphorus Strait or follow in Members only some meandering journeys through the footsteps of Lord Byron with the during winter. the countryside. Particularly beautiful iconic Hellespont Swim in the historic slsc.org.uk spots include Eidforden, the Lofoten region of Troy. These swims certainly Islands and Fjaerland. come with their own bragging rights! Oasis SwimTrek offer packages for both the It might be heated but, as SNOWDONIA, WALES Hellespont Swim and the Bosphorus its name suggests, this With equally impressive backdrops, Cross Continental Swim. pool off Tottenham Court there’s plenty to see and swim in north Road is an oasis of calm in Wales. There are hundreds of bodies ARIZONA LAKES, USA central London. The sauna of water in the National Park, from This dry, southern state of America looks out across the pool. charming smaller tarns to expansive may not be the first place you think better.org.uk lakes that lay in the shadow of some of as a swimming spot, but there are Worldmags.netthe country’s biggest mountains. Why so many great swim adventures to be Hampton Pool not hire a car and take a swim tour had here, from the canyon lined Salt Another heated pool with a around the park, enjoying forest lined Lake to tranquil watering holes of the sauna, Hampton Pool offers lakes and calm, glassy pools where Saguaro National Park. You’ll also find outdoor swimming all year you’ll almost certainly be the only the Havasu Falls here, an idyllic milky round in its 36m pool. people there? turquoise pool at the foot of a waterfall hamptonpool.co.uk that you have to hike partially through the water to get too!

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 63 TRAVEL Swimming Lake Malawi Five swimmers, three nationalities and 25km separating a common goal. By Jay Azran

n 23 April this year we was further than any of us had the slower group needed maximum lew into Lilongwe, Malawi swum before – and we wanted and daylight hours to achieve success, Owith the goal of swimming needed the best conditions possible Walter recommended we camp the across one of Africa’s to increase our chances. However, night before at the starting point on great lakes – Lake Malawi. We were a there was talk of a hurricane gathering Makanjila point. When we woke the multinational crew made up of Polly momentum of the Northern Coast wind was blowing a gale and despite and Chris Stapley from Swaziland, of Mozambique. We didn’t know if it reassurances that it would settle down Ruth and Jay Azran from South Africa would make landfall, but we decided by lunch, the irst group of Polly, and an Australian – Andy Stevens. to go for glory on the irst swimming Ruth and Andy set of as the sun was Some of us had never met, some had. opportunity. about to peak above the horizon. With All of us were vibrating with nervous We were going to attempt the swim Walter conirming these were the worst anticipation and all of us wanted to in two separate groups. Given that conditions he had encountered to date complete this solo crossing. for a crossing – we knew we had our Given the remote location, logistics work cut out. were handled Walter Muggleton from Cape Town who had successfully BOUNCING AND BOPPING seconded a handful of Lake AS ANY OPEN An hour later, Chris and I set of. Malawi crossings, together SWIMMER KNOWS, Despite the conditions we were with his wingman Aubrey optimistic and, as any open swimmer De Klerk. he objective and THE ONLY WAY TO knows, the only way to quieten the strategy was simple: we had a QUIETEN THE NERVES nerves is to just get in the water and four-day window to complete pound it out. And this is what we this attempt. he crossing IS TO JUST GET IN THE did, through troughs and crests we WATER AND POUND slowly started eating up the distance. As we bounced and bopped along IT OUT. Ready to go! on our own little navigation routes, I had to wonder at our predicament and at one point during the swim I convinced myself that we were all mad – which then turned into uncontrollable laughter and had the support team thinking I was choking. Our pace was steady and ater six hours we passed the irst group and clocked 18km. he body was feeling great, the cramp hadn’t arrived yet, the wind had calmed down and was blowing from our backs, and the water surface was a lot calmer. We had this in the bag! hen we hit the currents. here is nothing more demoralizing than Camping the swimming hard and going nowhere. night before at Ater 22km we were so close yet so the starting point far. We were aiming for Namalenje Island but we couldn’t stop for a break

64 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com EXPLORE

Making new friendships and strengthening exisiting ones

otherwise we went backwards so we about the current to come. But just had to hammer it until inally we Andy battled his way through surged through and we were on the to complete the crossing in home straight. Let arm, right arm, 10hr50 min – at the age of 63 breath and then again. Slowly the other breaking Chris’s short-lived side started coming closer until we record of the oldest person to both knew we were going to make it. swim the lake! And despite And we did in a time of 8hr 40 min, her shoulder injuries, Ruth 25.3kms. What a feeling! inished the swim in an Chris had broken the record of impressive 11hr 08 min. being the oldest person to swim Lake So, what does the Malawi, but not for long! post-mortem reveal of Touching land an adventure like this? A GREAT ADVENTURE I think the winner here Left arm, right arm! We jumped on our support boat is the sport itself. Open and went to ind the other team. water swimming injected Unfortunately Polly had been pulled her an experience into our Worldmags.netout by the support crew ater a gutsy memories where we explored the 5hrs+ of swimming and an admirable rural beauty of Malawi, experienced distance of 12km, but Ruth and Andy the generosity and kindness of its folk, continued to battle on. Andy was about made new friendships, strengthened 20 mins ahead with 3km+ to go and was existing ones, and walked away with swimming 45 degrees into the current a sense of achievement that will never hell bent on making landfall. Ruth fade. What stretch of water are we was looking tired and I was concerned going to tackle next?

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 65 WINTER SWIMMING

Why you really Remove should try a winter swimming competition. By your clothes! Jonathan Cowie

’m sorry madam, we have no more Prosecco let.” “I It is always interesting to get a window into the lives of elite international athletes. his is not one of those occasions. It is 7.30am and I am on a light to Tallinn, Estonia, to take part in a winter swimming competition. My teammates have already decimated the Ryanair drinks trolley. Two bottles of Prosecco and a can of cider might not be the usual recommended breakfast before competing in a swimming competition, but everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. If you haven’t taken part in a cold water swimming competition, you might think they are the preserve of super-serious ice swimmers and competitive PB seekers. Please disavow yourself of those opinions. True, the competition is healthy and oten serious, but a weekend away ice swimming is a great way to meet friends old and new. he contests are about more than just swimming, with an emphasis placed on the winter swimming community. Plus, the added bonus of post-event parties with the chance to mingle with your fellow swimmers, sample some local delicacies and usually the opportunity to watch some weird and wonderful entertainment. My annual winter trip is the highlight of my swimming year! he Pirita Open Winter Swimming Festival is just one of a growing number of winter swimming competitions in this country and abroad. Larger events are organised under the auspices of the International Winter Swimming Association (IWSA) or the International

Warm up ater your race in a hot tub

66 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com EXPLORE

THE WATER IS COLD AND DARK, MEANING YOU HAVE TO SIGHT FOR THE END OF THE POOL

If you are feeling energetic you can try the Ice Fly race

Ice Swimming Association (IISA), while smaller competitions may just be organised by a local swimming club. Check out the event listings in the back of the magazine or the websites of the IWSA and IISA for events to enter. For the full-on winter swimming experience, there are events in Russia the 25m head-up breaststroke (the TOP TIPS and Scandinavia, while closer to traditional winter swimming stroke, If you are flying and want to home the IISA GB Championships and the perfect introduction to the travel hand luggage only, pack take place on 22 February at Sanford sport). hen it is the 50m freestyle. As Lido, the 2nd Scottish Winter I make my way to the start the strap on smart and wear your changing Swimming Championships on 7 my goggles snaps. robe on the plane. Anna Wintour, March at Taymouth Marina and Disaster! Luckily a kindly Latvian eat your heart out! the Irish National 1k Ice Swimming lends me his pair and, on the command If you haven’t got a changing Championships on 25-26 Jan at Wild of the announcer, I lower myself into robe, don’t worry. Dressing Water Armagh. his season is also the water for the wet start. he water gowns and coats are de rigueur the IWSA World Championships, is cold and dark, meaning you have poolside at international events. the world’s biggest winter swimming to sight for the end of the pool. By the contest, taking place from 3-9 February end of the second length the cold starts Leave your wetsuit at home! at Lake Bled, Slovenia. housands of to afect your stroke; I am glad to get Winter swimming events winter swimmers from around the in the hot tub and even gladder for the are skins only. world will converge to take part in portable saunas: ierce heat stoked by Don’t forget your bobble hat! races ranging from 25m to 1000m. strapping Russians constantly pouring Especially for the heads-up water over the hot coals. breastroke race. GET INTO THE WATER! As with most winter swimming If you are feeling very Back in Tallinn, the swimming is a competitions, the weekend ends with mixture of the serious and ridiculous: a party with awards for the winning energetic, try the Ice Fly race! Olympians racing against ladies of a swimmers from each age group. We are Remember your flip-flops certain age sporting bobble hats (either then wowed by a special appearance or Crocs for walking to way, everyone seems to be having a of a troupe of dancing girls, but and from your race. lot of fun). Five lanes are set up in a unfortunately no dancing chihuahuas Take as many swimming marina, which is still frozen around – the star turn ater the Polish winter costumes as you have races. Worldmags.netits edges. It is a perfect day: blue skies, swimming championships one year in Shivering into a cold, damp sunshine, and very cold. he water Jurmala. So, ater a day of swimming temperature is hovering just above and an evening of throwing shapes on costume is not a lot of fun. freezing. Each race starts with the the danceloor I wander towards bed announcer ordering the swimmers clutching my medal and certiicates. Resources to: “Remove your clothes! Get into Winter swimming competitions: iwsa.world the water!” he relays go by in an deinitely about more than just internationaliceswimming.com adrenaline-fuelled blur, followed by swimming!

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 67 WORLD TOP 100 OPEN WATER SWIMS – WOWSA April 22-25, 2020 – entries open November 1, 2019

SCARSWIM.COM EVENT ZONE

Worldmags.net INSIDE

70 Vidösternsimmet 72 Breca Jersey 74 Lido Conference 76 Event Listings Vidösternsimmet

Simon Griﬃths took on Sweden’s longest swim

t seven in the morning, on a Saturday in August, AI was one of around 100 swimmers stood staring into the distance from the beach at the northern end of Vidöstern, a lake in central southern Sweden. A brisk breeze was stirring he irst feed station, ater 3700m, the surface and heavy, grey clouds was an in-water stop serving gels, threatened rain. If you looked very coke and water. he second, third carefully, you could just about make and fourth feed stations are all out the irst two of the 22 large yellow on land and you are required to buoys that marked out the route. he exit the water at each of them. other 20, and the rest of the swim, were his is part of the event safety as beyond the horizon. it gives the organisers a chance When the starting hooter sounded, to check on swimmer welfare. there wasn’t the usual frantic dash From a swimmer’s perspective, I into the water, more of a determined welcomed the breaks. It’s easier to wade – and we had to keep wading for eat when you’re out of the water about 50 to 75m before inding and the feed stops were one water deep enough to swim of the few moments in. I didn’t mind. I knew when you could there was plenty of look around swimming to come and properly Start area at north end – a little more than FROM A take in the of the lake 21km of it in fact. SWIMMER’S beauty of the surroundings. FAVOURABLE PERSPECTIVE, he inal feed and it’s motivational to count The organiser provides CONDITIONS I WELCOMED station is again them of, although they tow ﬂoats Vidösternsimmet on a rat in the don’t quite correspond to started in 2010 THE BREAKS water. he land- kilometres swum. It’s worth and conditions have based feed stations knowing that there is still some varied considerably provided energy way to swim ater buoy 22 and that from year to year. gels, cola and chocolate you have to head towards and then Received wisdom is that to bananas, pickled swim under the bridge across the River 2016 was the toughest year on cucumbers and cinnamon rolls. Lagan as it leaves the lake. Only then record while 2017 was the best – and here is also the option to bring your does the inish line come into view. it was also the year Ted Molin set the own supplies. Hopefully, you’ll have saved enough course record of 5:10:03. his year, it energy to slap the board as you swim appears we were blessed by favourable EASY TO NAVIGATE under and register your time. conditions and that was certainly true While it was sometimes diicult to Overall, this is a challenging but of the inal section, which was mirror spot the course marker buoys from the achievable long distance swim. Given lat. Still, we had to contend with spells water, the course is easy to navigate the distance, logistical support, the of driving rain and gusting winds. he as it mostly follows the let shore of organisation and free hot meal at the organisers aren’t joking when they the lake. And if you do deviate too far inish, it’s good value for money at proudly describe the challenge as the from the route, one of the volunteers SEK2150 (about £185) – not just one longest and toughest open water race will point you back on course. Each of for the bucket list but one to return to, in Sweden. the buoys is marked with a number, to see what you can improve on

70 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com EVENTS

21+ KM Osudden ca 3700m Funtabo ca 3900m

Tånnö ca 5500m

E4: an Camping

6+ KM ca 3400m Toftaholm EKENS CAMPING

ca 5000m LILLA

Swim details Name: Vidösternsimmet Location: Lake Vidöstern, Getting there Western, which is the location Värnamo, Sweden for the event brieing and bus Option 1 departures to the race start. It Water type: Fly to Gothenburg, train to Värnamo also provides an early breakfast Fresh water lake Option 2 at 4:30 in the morning. However, Distances: 6km, 21+km Train or train plus overnight bus – there are other hotels and bed Temperature: usually 16 several route options (check out and breakfast options within easy to 20 degrees rome2rio.com for ideas) walking distance or book a log compulsory Option 3 cabin in Värnamo’s camp site. Wetsuit policy: (non-wetsuit allowed by prior Road trip – Värnamo is slightly less Värnamo is a small, sleepy town than 1000 miles from London on mostly that can easily be explored on agreement and proof excellent roads. Apart from crossing the foot. It has a pleasant historical of competence) Channel, you can drive all the way via park and there’s an enjoyable Tow loats: compulsory, Worldmags.netDenmark, or break the journey with a ferry stroll along the River Lagan to the supplied by organiser crossing between Germany and Sweden. top end of Lake Vidöstern. Wider aield there are plenty of other lakes Accommodation to explore, oten with delightful and things to do swimming spots. The oicial hotel for the event is Best

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 71 Breca Jersey Teamwork makes the swimrun dream work, says Jude Palmer

hilst more swimrun events now cater for Wsolo participants, the shared adventure between two people and the landscape through which they are travelling remains at the very heart of the sport. You can have all the best gear done all the training and have been born with gills as well as lungs yet it can count JERSEY for nothing if you and your team mate aren’t on the same page. For some START l choosing a swimrun partner is as meticulous as choosing a car, while for others all it takes is a chance encounter. I ‘picked up’ Pat on the shore of St. Helier Shepperton Lake about two years ago. Here was someone who seemed non plussed that she had a wedge of foam l FINISH between her thighs, was entering the

Photography: Paul Mitchell @wildman_media Paul Photography: water in her best trail shoes and had

72 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com EVENTS

plastic plates strapped to her hands. he 1.5 km swim from the tip of People were actually staring. But in my Bouley Bay on the north coast was the mind, I had found a kindred spirit. Fast longest and utterly exhilarating. he forward to September and with Otillo chop meant that we didn’t know if our Hvar under our belts, we were on a paddles would slap air or water and plane bound for Breca Jersey. whether we would get to breathe or I would like to say that we were not. Quite oten I would ind myself totally prepared. We weren’t. he looking down at Pat as we surfed the WhatsApp traic the previous day had waves and the next moment the elastic been ierce. on our tow line would tighten as she rode upwards. Revelling in every ‘Have you seen the route? stroke we emerged with huge grins on There is a 20km run our faces. in the middle of it. CONSISTENT PACE Jumping high That must be a typo.’ hese faded as the longer into foaming ‘It’s not’ runs and the sufering water, just one ‘Have you seen its 55km began. Wetsuits down of the twists in total?’ we shared the tight ‘Uh huh’ narrow footpaths THE CHOP on the south coast ‘How much running of the 10 km run MEANT THAT we knew there have you done?’ with sprint teams were at least - silence- who had the WE DIDN’T KNOW 100 loathsome enthusiasm of IF OUR PADDLES concrete steps up people who knew to the inish. I ‘We aren’t on the their inish was in WOULD SLAP AIR could have cried start list?’ sight. For the long OR WATER had it not been for ‘What?’ teams it was back the steadying hand of ‘We aren’t registered!’ into the Atlantic for a Pat on my back pushing ‘*@$*’ brief 400m swim before me up each one. he inal starting out again on the 20 step was up onto the podium km sandy shule along the western – 3rd place in the women’s category. It Jersey as it turns out was created for shoreline of Jersey. Clicking of the seems that teamwork really does make swimrun. It is full of beautiful swims distance in 2 km’s we kept up a slow the dream work – next time it will do in crystal clear water along jagged consistent pace only stopping to dunk the admin too shorelines and coastal trails which dip our heads into the beach pools to cool and rise frequently but ofer glorious of and drain cups dry at checkpoints. Jude Palmer is a UK Athletics Trail views of hidden white sandy coves Having eaten our ill in gels, boiled Running Coach who when not running and glimpses of wartime relics. Add in potatoes and cake, it was time to break can be found swimming. Breca’s reputation for creating courses out the mashed mars bars. How Pat that ofer that perfect balance of can eat and run I will never know but sufering and surprises and I knew we then I can wee and swim and so all is would be in for a treat. A long one. fair in swimrun. If we thought the last few swims GOOD PACK OF SPECTATORS and runs would be a breeze, we were Mount Orgueil on the eastern point wrong. High jumps of into foaming of the island with its imposing castle water, twists and turns through deep was the start for both the 69 sprint undergrowth along paths which would (don’t let the 19km deceive you) and have even the hardiest wincing at the 42 long course teams. With wind the proximity to the edge and a long, and tide working against us, Pat and roped descent down a steep sandy clif I paced ourselves as we headed out certainly kept our interest. For me anticlockwise around the island. he this is the nature of a great swimrun. irst few runs and swims were short, I don’t want to just slog around a sharp and lined with enthusiastic course. I love it when the race director Worldmags.netislanders cheering us on. uses the landscape to their advantage I love a good pack of spectators. to challenge us both mentally and Chance to suck in the abs, look like you physically, to make us work as a team know what you are doing and run past and to make us think how we are going conidently when inside you are crying to swimrun our way round. because you have only gone 4 km But ater 55km, thinking was getting and you are already questioning your tricky and as we emerged from the sanity in signing up. sea for the last time at Portelet Peach

outdoorswimmer.com Lido Conference 2019

f you thought a Lido Conference were having.” Janet also volunteer to organise, host Iwould be all in-jokes about plant All outdoor pools with public access and lead the event. he conference rooms and water tanks, you would are invited. Largely, the delegates continues to be run on their interest, be right! But it is also an upbeat and attend on a voluntary basis, giving passion and hobby. positive meeting of minds to extract up their time and funding their own value, learn from one another, share travel. his year’s Lido Conference FOUNDATIONS OF PASSION resources and build community. Lido was held in Cheltenham and the Passion would be the word to sum up Guide authors Emma Pusill and Janet theme was: Reviving, Surviving and the event. Every speaker stood with Wilkinson are the masterminds behind hriving. As well as people who run their feet irmly in the foundations of the event, the second of its kind. pools - campaign groups, journalists passion. Phil Bradby shared updates As a result of Janet and Emma’s and ilmmakers were in the audience. from the Save Grange Lido Campaign quest to visit each publicly accessible Host lido, Sandford Parks opened the and gave pointers on how to lead a outdoor pool in the country to event sharing the history and story of similar revival crusade. Grange Lido produce their book, the pair their pool. Later a tour and swim were is an iconic Art Deco pool and only discovered that the people running ofered. “he ticket price is really low, surviving seaside lido in the North lidos, didn’t talk to each other. “Emma it is just to cover costs,” says Emma. West and one of just ive in England. and I would spend over an hour on “We want pools to come and pools It closed in 1993 and this year was the phone talking about lidos,” says don’t have money!” Emma and threatened to be illed in, but now Janet. “We would say things like, if Save Grange Lido are working hard that lido only did what this lido did to ensure the Lido is fully restored as over here… Why doesn’t this “EMMA AND I WOULD a community swimming facility and lido know about that lido? So SPEND OVER AN regional tourist attraction. Architects before the book was born, Studio Octopi are working closely before the publisher was HOUR ON THE with Phil’s team and Director Chris found, we had put together Romer-Lee shared the current plans to a plan to have a conference PHONE TALKING transform the current site. where people could come ABOUT LIDOS,” Managing volunteers, lifeguards and and have the same kind lido memorabilia were big discussion

Photos: Roger Taylor Photography Taylor Photos: Roger of conversations we SAYS JANET topics under the Surviving section.

74 NOVEMBER 2019 outdoorswimmer.com EVENTS

Conference 2019 Ella Foote joins volunteers, trustees and lido supporters at the second ever Lido Conference

Pam Barrett shared Buckfastleigh policy. Most lidos have a strict, no changes like getting them onto social Open Air Pool’s story as an example photography rule. Jubilee Park ran media, a free channel for marketing,” of how to get outside funding and the 2019 season on a responsible says Emma. create a political landscape for pools to photography policy and the social operate within their own communities. media is proof of how well this has REVIVAL AND REBIRTH A true expert in local councils and been received as a result. Helmsley It is no wonder that ilmmaker Patrick government, she encourages lido Pool is another good-news story where, McLennan has chosen the revival and operators to stand up and ight as a result of meeting with like-minded rebirth of the British Lido as his next for their local communities and pool operators they have enabled their ilm project. Patrick was co-Director demonstrated how the success to save pool to be more visible and get more of he Ponds, a popular ilm that and invest in the pool at Buckfastleigh people involved resulting in signiicant launched this year about Hampstead had a ripple efect on the rest of investment in the lido. “For some Pond swimmers. He chose the Lido area. “he pools across Devon are a lidos, it has been about simple, positive Conference to announce plans for great example of how the conference his next project, Splash Palace: he has beneited this community,” says Rebirth of the British Lido. It aims Emma. “hey got together at the irst “FOR SOME LIDOS, IT HAS to investigate why the renaissance of event and developed various shared the lido has occurred and how lido initiatives as a result. hey have the BEEN ABOUT SIMPLE, culture has come full circle. Patrick more-pools challenge where swimmers POSITIVE CHANGES hopes it will incorporate a treasure can collect stamps for swimming in all trove of historic ilm, social history, the lidos in Devon and have driven LIKE GETTING THEM architectural analysis and personal Worldmags.netcosts down by buying chemicals memoir. As you can imagine, Patrick’s together.” ONTO SOCIAL news caused a swell of passion and Other positives to MEDIA, A FREE sharing of stories from the room. Will come out of the Lido you or your favourite lido feature? Conference include CHANNEL FOR Watch this space… Jubilee Park Woodhall MARKETING,” Spa’s new responsible For all things lido head to photography SAYS EMMA thelidoguide.com

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 75 EVENT LISTINGS LET’S SWIM! UK AND INTERNATIONAL EVENT LISTINGS

Image: James Kirby

Event organisers, if your event is not listed please email details to [email protected]

ENGLAND & WALES

NOVEMBER 2 Fireworks 500 (500m), Capernwray, t2.events 3 Bonire Night Swim (Dip), Allostock, uswimopenwater.com 9 Tal-y-llyn - he Cool Mile (1 mile), Tal-y- llyn, aberdoveyswim.co.uk 10 Swim to Remember (1.2km), Derwentwater, Keswick, SwimToRemember.co.uk 2020

APRIL 18 he Guildford 12 (mile every hour for 12 hours), Guildford Lido, Guildford, zwimevents. com Scotish Winter M AY Swimming Championships 15-17 Enduroman Festival of Ultra Events (4.8+2.4 miles, 7.2+4.8+2.4 miles, 12 miles), 7 Jubilee River Swim (10km), Windsor, 7 BLDSA Torbay (4 miles, 8 miles), Torquay, Bransgore, legendendurance-events.co.uk mysportingtimes.com bldsa.org.uk, NW 16-17 Keswick Mountain Festival Derwent 7 Tal-y-llyn - he CLASSIC & he BIG (2km, 11 he BIG Welsh Swim (1.3km, 3km, 6km, Swims (1500m, 3km, 5km), Keswick, 10km), Tal-y-Llyn, aberdoveyswim.co.uk 9km), Llanberis, loveswimrun.co.uk keswickmountainfestival.co.uk 13 Bradford-on-Avon Slow Swim and Picnic 11 Cambridge Slow Swim and Picnic (2.5km), 16 Greater Manchester Swim! (1 mile, (1.7km), Bradford-on-Avon, hamiltonsitness. Grantchester, Cambridge, hamiltonsitness. 500m, 3 miles), Salford Quays, Salford, co.uk co.uk uswimopenwater.com 14 Epic Lakes Swim Ullswater (500m, 1 mile, 11 Pier to Pier Sunset Swim (1.4 miles), 24 Marlow Classic River Swim (1.5km, 3km), 3.8km), Glenridding, epicevents.co.uk Bournemouth, bhf.org.uk Marlow, f3events.co.uk, NS 20 Great East Swim (250m, 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 2 12 Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival mile, 5km, 10km), Ipswich, greatswim.org (1 mile, 200m, 800m), Henley-on-hames, JUNE 28 Selkie Henley Classic (2.1km), Henley-on- henleyswim.com 5-7 Great North Swim (250m, 1/2 mile, 1 mile, hames, henleyswim.com 12 Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim (1.4 miles), 2 miles, 5km, 10km), Windermere, greatswim. Bournemouth, bhf.org.uk org JULY 18 Swim he Bay (1.2 miles, 2.4 miles), 6 he BIG Bala Swim (1.5km, 4.5km, 9km), 3 he Wales Swim (1.2 miles, 2.4 miles), Tenby, Weymouth, justracinguk.com Bala, loveswimrun.co.uk thewalesswim.com, NS 25 Club to Pub (1.5km), Henley-on-hames, 6 Salty Sea Dog Long Swims (2.5km, 3.8km), 4 Salty Sea Dog Long Swims (2.5km, 3.8km), henleyswim.com Boscombe, Bournemouth, votwo.co.uk Boscombe, Bournemouth, votwo.co.uk 6 he Solva 'Green Monster' Swim (2.5 miles, 1 5 Fugitive Open Water Swim (1.5km, 3.0km), AUGUST mile), Haverfordwest, muuk-adventures.com Marlow, f3events.co.uk, NS 1 Salty Sea Dog Long Swims (2.5km, 3.8km),

76 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com EVENTS

Boscombe, Bournemouth, votwo.co.uk 9 Dedham Vale Mill 2 Mill Swim and Picnic (2.3km), Dedham, hamiltonsitness.co.uk 15 he Abereiddy 'Blue Monster' Swim (2.5 miles, 1km), St Davids, muuk-adventures.com 16 hames Marathon - Bridge to Bridge (14km), Henley-on-hames, henleyswim.com 16 Epic Lakes Swim Coniston (500m, 1 mile, 3.8km), Coniston, epicevents.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 12 Epic Lakes Swim Windermere (500m, 1 mile, 5km), Newby Bridge, epicevents.co.uk 12 Llangorse Lake Big Swim (1.5km, 3km, 4.5km, 6km), Powys, llangorseswim.com 12 Scilly 360 Swim (15km), St Mary's, scillyswimchallenge.co.uk 20 Aberdovey Swim - he Dovey (13km), Aberdovey, aberdoveyswim.co.uk

OCTOBER 4 Aberdovey Swim - Beat the Tide (4km), Aberdovey, aberdoveyswim.co.uk

SCOTLAND Outdoor Swimmer 2020 Henley Swim Festival 6 Fleetwood SwimRun (swims 250m, APRIL MARCH runs 9.6km, pool run 80m), Fleetwood, 18-19 Ötillö Hvar, World Series (swims 8.4km, 7 Scottish Winter Swimming Championships, getset4success.co.uk runs 30.2km), Sprint (swims 1.6km, runs Kenmore, Aberfeldy, swimwilduk.com, NW 6-7 Breca Coniston, Standard (swims 6.5km, 10.2km), Experience (swims 1km, runs 5.3km), runs 38.7km), Sprint (swims 3km, runs 18km), Hvar, Croatia, otilloswimrun.com/races/hvar Coniston, Lake District, brecaswimrun.com 26 SwimRun Edreams Cap de Creus by Head, M AY IRELAND Cadaqués Sprint (swims, 1.5km, runs 5km), 23 Hokey Cokey Swimrun, Standard (swims Roses to Cadaqués (swims 5km, runs 18km), 5.2km, runs 13.8km), Sprint (swims 2.5km, 2020 Cadaqués, Spain, headswimrunseries.com runs 7.8km), St. Austell Bay, Cornwall, madhattersportsevents.co.uk JANUARY NOVEMBER 23-24 Ötillö Utö, World Series (swims 5.12km, 25 IISA Ireland 1k National Championships 23 SwimRun Lanzarote by C.D. Fariones runs 35.18km), Sprint (swims 2.05km, runs (1km), Armagh, iisaireland.ie, NW powered by Head, Starter (swims 2km, runs 11.25km), Experience (swims 0.95km, runs 6km), Sprint (swims 3.5km, runs 13.8km), 6.05km), Utö, Sweden, otilloswimrun.com/ JUNE Marathon (swims 8km, runs 32km), races/uto 6 Metalman Swim Series (1km, 2km, 3km), Puerto del Carmen, Canary Islands, Spain, Sligo, metalmanswimseries.com, NS headswimrunseries.com JUNE 23-24 Ötillö Malta, World Series (swims 6 Great North SwimRun, Short (swims 1.84km, JULY 8.9km, runs 30km), Sprint (swims 2.65km, runs 10.8km), Middle (swims 3.34km, runs 26 Swim Lough Rynn (750m, 2km, 4km), runs 11.85km), Experience (swims 1.05km, 20.6km), Endurance (swims 4.06km, runs Mohill, swimloughrynn.com runs 4.35km), Valletta, Malta, otilloswimrun. 34.77km), Windermere, greatswim.org com/races/malta 7 As Keen As Mustard SwimRun, Intro (5k Solo Swimrun), Mild Mustard Sprint (10k Solo SWIMRUN Swimrun), Middling Mustard (Half 21k Solo 2020 Swimmrun), Middling Mustard (Half 21k Team Worldmags.net Swimrun), Peterborough, akamustard.events EVENTS 13-14 Ötillö Isles of Scilly, World Series FEBRUARY (swims 8.35km, runs 28.9km), Sprint (swims OCTOBER 29-1 Mar Ötillö Catalina, World Series (swims 3.1km, runs 12.5km), Experience (swims 6 Epic Landus SwimRun by Head. Long (swims 7.5km, runs 31.6km), Sprint (swims 3.1km, runs 0.95km, runs 6.9km), St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, 5.2km, runs 29.5km), Short (swims 2.9km, runs 11.8km), Experience (swims 1.6km, runs 6.2km), otilloswimrun.com/races/isles-of-scilly/ 16.7km), Sprint (swims, 1.3km, runs 9.3km), CA, US, otilloswimrun.com/races/catalina 20 Great East SwimRun (swims 2.1km, runs Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, headswimrunseries.com 9.2km), Ipswich, greatswim.org

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 77 EVENT LISTINGS

20 Love SwimRun Llanberis, Standard (swims 3.5km, runs 12.5km), Sprint (swims 1.3km, runs 4.7km), Llanberis, North Wales, loveswimrun.co.uk/love-swimrun-llanberis/ 28 As Keen As Mustard SwimRun, Intro (5k Solo Swimrun), Mild Mustard Sprint (10k Solo Swimrun), Middling Mustard (Half 21k Solo Swimmrun), Middling Mustard (Half 21k Team Swimrun), Bedford, akamustard.events

JULY 4-5 Ötillö Engadin, World Series (swims 5.8km, runs 39.6km), Sprint (swims 2.65km, runs 12.65km), Experience (swims 1.31km, runs 5.59km), St Moritz, Switzerland, otilloswimrun.com/races/engadin 5 As Keen As Mustard SwimRun, Mild Mustard Sprint (10k Solo Swimrun), Middling Mustard (Half 21k Solo Swimmrun), Middling Mustard (Half 21k Team Swimrun), Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, akamustard.events 11 Hokey Cokey Roseland (swims 8km, runs 28km), Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall, madhattersportsevents.co.uk 19 As Keen As Mustard SwimRun, Mild Best Fest Open Water Mustard Sprint (10k Solo Swimrun), Middling Swim Festival Mustard (Half 21k Solo Swimmrun), Middling Mustard (Half 21k Team Swimrun), Graham, Cambridgeshire, akamustard.events Championship, Cancún, Mexico, oceanman- Petersburg, Russia, zimplav.ru, NW openwater.com 29 6th Annual Memphremagog Winter SEPTEMBER 28 Amstel Ice Swim (50m, 100m, 200m, Swim Festival, Newport, Vermont, US, 5 Love SwimRun Holy Island (swims 500m, 1000m), Amsterdam, Netherlands, kingdomgames.co/, NW 2.5km, runs 15.5km), Rhoscolyn, Anglesey, internationaliceswimming.com, NW North Wales, loveswimrun.co.uk/ MARCH loveswimrunholyisland 25 2nd Open Winter Swimming Championships of Karelia (IWSA World Cup 2020 Stage 4), Petrozavodsk, Russia, victoria-karelia. ru, NW SWIM JANUARY 25 he Ruby Swim (10km, 3.8km, 2.5km, APRIL AROUND THE 1.2km, 600m, 200m), Lake Wanaka, New 22-25 S.C.A.R. Swim Arizona Challenge Zealand, swimrubyialsnd.co.nz/ (4 lakes, 4 days, 40 miles), Mesa, AZ, US, WORLD 25 16th Latvian Winter Swimming scarswim.com Championships, Liepaja, Latvia, veloronis.lv, 22-25 Marathon Swim Camp Shasta (6 NOVEMBER NW swims, 4 days, 31 miles), Shasta lake, CA, US, 1 11th Jelgavas Roni Cup (IWSA World Cup intrepidwater.com Stage 1), Jelgava, Latvia, jelgavasroni.lv, NW FEBRUARY 2-3 Oceanman Krabi, Krabi, hailand, 1 Bodegraven Ice Swim (50m, 100m, M AY oceanman-openwater.com 200m, 500m, 1000m), Reeuwijkse Hout, 8-10 Oceanman Turkey (2km, 5km, 10km, 6-10 Barbados Open Water Festival (1.5km, Bodegraven-Reeuwijk, Netherlands, 3x750m relay, kids' 500m), Alanya, Turkey, 3.3km, 5km, 10km), Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown, internationaliceswimming.com, NW trchallenges.com Barbados, swimbarbadosvacations.com 1 III Ice Swim in Morocco (50m, 100m, 200m, 23-30 Best Fest Open Water Swim Festival 9-10 Oceanman Cyprus, Cyprus, oceanman- 500m, 1000m), Aguelmam Azegza, Morocco, (1.5km, 2.5km, 3km, 4.5km, 5km, 7km), openwater.com swiminmorocco.com/en, NW Colonia Sant Jordi, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, 3-9 12th Winter Swimming World Spain, bestopenwater.com DECEMBER Championships (IWSA World Cup Stage 3), 1 River Labe CZ 5th Anniversary Ice Bled, Slovenia, winterswimming-bled.com, NW List of events compiled by Outdoorswims.co.uk. Swim, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, 14 9th Scandinavian Winter Swimming All UK & Ireland events are regularly updated at internationaliceswimming.com, NW Championships (IWSA World Cup Stage 4), outdoorswims.co.uk and can also be accessed 4-8 5th Tyumen Open Cup (IWSA World Cup Skelleteå, Sweden, vintersim.se, NW using the related Android app. Stage 2), Tyumen, Russia, winterswimming.ru, 23 53rd Winter Swim Across the Meuse River, NW = No Wetsuits Allowed NW Huy, Belgium, traverseedelameuse.be, NW NS = No Skins Allowed (Wetsuits Compulsory) 14-15 Oceanman Cancún World Final 29 St. Petersburg Big Neva Cup 2020, St.

78 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com Get your Christmas From shopping started! just £29.95!

MAGAZINE GIFT SUBSCRIPTION

Get ahead this year, avoid the high street and give a present that will put a smile on the face of your friend or loved one. Purchase an Outdoor Swimmer Git Subscription. We will send you a FREE greeting card to write your personal message and a FREE swim wild and free swimming hat designed exclusively for Outdoor Swimmer by swimmer and artist, Nancy Farmer.

> 6-month gift subscription costs £29.95 d> 12-month gift subscription costs £56.00 Worldmags.net Order securely online. Simply visit: d mymagazinesub.co.uk/outdoor-swimmer/git-subscription/ Or call our subscriptions hotline: +44 (0) 1778 392 467 Or email: [email protected] GEARGEAR TRIED & TESTEDTRIED & TESTED Credit: Katia Vastiau Credit: Katia

hether you are a dedicated Wwinter skins swimmer or planning your first foray into NEOPRENE year-round swimming, a little bit of neoprene can help you stay in the water longer and enjoy your swims more. Whether you choose to wear a wetsuit or not, ACCESSORIES gloves, hats and socks will give you an extra bit of insulation – it is the extremities that get cold first. Neoprene socks, booties, hats and We tested a full range of neoprene accessories – other accessories to help you keep including a bandana from Head, a balaclava from Huub and a swimming as temperatures drop – neoprene swimming costume from Zone3! Some kit can even we test the essential kit for your cold be worn under a wetsuit to give you extra protection from water swimming adventures the cold. If this is your first year of cold water swimming, check out my six top tips for thrilling to the chill on page 87. Jonathan Cowie

80 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com TRIED & TESTED GEAR

SOCKS AND BOOTIES Orca Hydro booties £35 XS-XXL Very similar to the Orca swim socks but with a split toe design, slightly thicker material and longer on the leg for additional protection. orca.com Head Neo Socks 3 £15.99 C-Skins Swim XXS-XL Research We found a size below Swim sock our regular shoe size £25 gave a beter it. Good 2XS-L lexibility at the ankle Split-toe design helps minimises interference keep sock in place. There's with swimming. no fastening but they it head.com well and are comfortable. I have been known to wear around the house! Huub Excellent range of sizes. Swim socks swim-research.com £29.99 S-L Split toe design feels odd Zone3 to start with but helps Heat-Tech swim socks keep sock in place. We £35 liked the Velcro fastener S-L on the calf. Helps keep Thick 3.5mm neoprene water out and means keeps your feet warm. socks can be worn alone or We liked the rubberised over a wetsuit. sole for grip and huubdesign.com durability on land. Hard- wearing rubberised seams. Adjustable Orca velcro fastening keeps Swim socks everything snug. Good for £29 wearing with or without a XS-XXL wetsuit. Rubberised sole gives zone3.com great grip and added protection with no loss of lexibility in the ankles. Lomo orca.com Tri-X socks £19 S-XL 3mm neoprene sock. No fastening but tight ankle Worldmags.net iting keeps water ingress to a minimum. Embossed sole gives extra durability and some grip but wasn’t the grippiest on test. Bonded seams. lomo.co.uk ➜

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 81 GEARGEAR TRIED & TESTEDTRIED & TESTED

➜ HATS

Head Zone3 s Huub Neo cap 3 Swim cap Varme Thermal Balaclava £24.95 £25 £34.99 S/M and L / XL S-L S/M and L/XL This 3mm thick neoprene cap from Head High viz orange cap of 3mm neoprene. Velcro Wow! Complete head and neck coverage. provides no fuss protection against the fastening with sot and stretchy chin strap Makes you feel like you’re on a secret mission. cold for your head, ears and chin. – very comfortable while swimming. Best worn with a wetsuit.. head.com zone3.com www.huubdesign.com

Lomo Head Orca Swim cap Neo Bandana 3 High Visibility Neoprene Swimcap £14 £11.99 £20 S-XL One size S/M and L/XL Bright orange double-lined swim cap for Love this. Extra protection for your head and Bright orange avoids the need to cover with a visibility and warmth. Velcro fastening. ears when you don’t need a full neoprene hat. another bright swim cap. Ofers visibilty but Wide range of sizes ensures a good it. Popular with swimrunners. with the warmth of neoprene. lomo.co.uk head.com orca.com

Huub Yonda C-Skins Swim Research Skull cap Ice cap 3mm GBS Cap £20 £29.99 £19.99 XS-XL £19.99 S-L/XL M-L One-piece strap with adjustable velcro Velcro chin strap; useful if you like some Simple, practical, bright. No fussy Velcro fastening. Medium was snug but availability lexibility in it, and comfort. Black, so or fasteners. Titanium coated Yamamoto of wide range of sizes ensures a good it. Sot should wear under a bright cap. neoprene helps keep the heat in. Fited well. lining very comfortable. huubdesign.com yondasports.com swim-research.com

82 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com TRIED & TESTED GEAR

Worldmags.net WOW! COMPLETE HEAD AND NECK COVERAGE. MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE ON A SECRET MISSION SIMON ➜

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 83 GEARGEAR TRIED & TESTEDTRIED & TESTED

➜

Our Ed, Jonny, enjoys the positive effects of coldwater swimming!

Head Huub Lomo C-Skins Swim Zone3 Neo gloves 3 Neoprene gloves Tri-X gloves Research Heat-Tech swim gloves £20.99 £29.99 £19 2mm GBS Gloves £35 XXS-3XL S-L XS-XXL £45 2XS-XL S-L Comfortable with good Relatively stif but holds No fuss glove that Sat comfortably around Long wrists and Velcro dexterity. Long wrists ingers in good swimming delivers great warmth at wrists and stayed in place straps help keep water work well for full coverage position. Tough and stylish a sensible price. Flexible while swimming. 2mm out and make these when worn with a wetsuit, – also good for cycling 3mm neoprene with neoprene very lexible. great for wearing but we found gloves in the rain. Long fabric bonded seams. No velcro Medium were a bit roomy, without a wetsuit. Thick took in water when worn (rather than neoprene) fastening but wide range but wide range of sizes but stretchy, no loss of without. Huge range wrists reduce of sizes ensures excellent available. Minimal dexterity. A durable and of sizes. water ingress. it, litle water ingress. water ingress. stylish glove. head.com huubdesign.com lomo.co.uk swim-research.com zone3.com

84 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com TRIED & TESTED GEAR

Tips for Cold OTHER ACCESSORIES 6Water Swimming Selkie Swimskins By OS editor and year-round skins Vest - £60 swimmer Jonathan Cowie Pants - £85 S-XXL 1. Acclimatise Ideal for cooler but not extreme cold water. Swimming feels good due to As the temperature drops, just the freedom at the shoulders and keep swimming and your body the gentle buoyancy from the legs, will get used to the cold. although we found the vest a litle loose around the middle. Vest could 2. Be safe be worn under a wetsuit. Open water can be dangerous. selkieswim.com Only ever swim where it is safe, and make sure you can enter and Orca Heatseeker vest exit the water quickly and easily. £45 Never swim on your own. XS-XXL 3. Wear the right kit Designed to be worn under a wetsuit for an extra barrier against the Wear a swimming hat, or two, cold. Sleeveless design avoids any to help preserve body heat. restriction on your swim stroke. Cosy. You can also wear neoprene www.orca.com/ gloves, booties, balaclava or Zone3 a wetsuit – whatever you feel Neoprene swimming costume comfortable with. £45 XS-XL 4. No diving New from Zone3, a neoprene Do not dive or jump in unless swimming costume that can be you are used to the cold water. worn on its own to keep you warmer in cold water, or as an extra layer Cold water can cause gasping under your wetsuit. 1.5mm neoprene of breath and cold water shock, is super lexible while giving core which can be dangerous. body insulation. As well as keeping you warm also makes you faster by 5. Know your limits improving buoyancy and reducing As the temperature drops, drag. Win win! decrease the amount of time you zone3.com spend in the water. In winter, Lomo swimmers oten only swim for Neoprene shorts one or two minutes at a time. £37.50 6. Warm up slowly XS-XXXL If you don’t want the full coverage of Don’t have a hot shower. Hot water a wetsuit but would beneit from a can cool your core too quickly bit of warmth, why not twin neoprene and it can be dangerous. Instead, shorts with a vest, gloves and socks? Designed to improve buoyancy and Worldmags.netmake sure you have plenty of therefore make you faster in the warm clothes, wrap up well and water, neoprene shorts will also keep have a hot drink. Finally, spend the you warm. These have thick 5mm panels on the front with 3mm sides rest of the day on a high, trying to and rear. convince your friends and family lomo.co.uk that you’re not completely nuts.

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 85 GEARGEAR TRIED & TESTEDTRIED & TESTED

➜ What’s in our kit bag?

FORM Swim Goggles Marlins Platysens $199 £139.99 We’re very impressed with these goggles with a built-in head-up This works brilliantly. You can either upload sets / swim routes display that shows you live metrics as you swim. For pool training, onto it from the accompanying app, or you can track your swims they’re a game changer. Ater pairing with your phone via Bluetooth with it. It’s got a metronome in it so you can work on stroke count, to set up the goggles for irst use, all you need to do is press a and as it sits on your gogglestrap the GPS signal is uninterrupted. couple of butons when you start and inish swimming, and, like The bone conduction audio is clear, and gives you regular time magic, you’ll see numbers loating in front of your eyes. You choose updates on how fast you cover diferent intervals, what data you want to see from pace, time per lap, stroke rate, and an overall summary of the set / swim. distance etc. All data is recorded and beamed back to your It’s comfortable and fairly easy to use and has lots of diferent phone for further analysis when you inish. applications to swim training. It’s also nice hearing updates without For our full in-depth review see: bit.ly/33hyV0i having to check your watch. formswim.co platysens.co.uk

Aftershokz Xtrainerz Swimovate Poolmate 2 £139.95 £120 It sits comfortably on your head, with the bone conduction Comfortable to wear and not too bulky, this is a good watch speakers resting just in front of your ears. It’s really discreet under for tracking laps in a pool and giving you metrics on your swim. a swim cap, and secure if you use it when running or cycling you can It can also be conigured to open water or endless pools, barely feel it’s there. Your ears are free to hear the surroundings, using your stroke count to work out distance ater being or to wear earplugs in water and the sound quality is excellent – conigured in the pool. slightly louder underwater than out of the water. The 3 4 butons We used it in both pool and open water, and found that as long as are very easy to use, even if mid length you want to change a song. your stroke was consistent it was mostly accurate. You can sync It’s easy to charge with the usb cable, and you upload music or your swim data to the poolmate app using NFC, or using the cable podcasts via that too. The only slight challenge is where to provided. The batery doesn’t need recharging, and can be replaced get music from as I stream most of what I listen to. when it runs out (stated as 12 months with regular use). atershokz.co.uk swimovate.com

86 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com

I I

SWIMMING ADVENTURES, COACHING AND EVENTS IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS

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outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | NOVEMBER 2019 87 TITLE TALES FROM UP NORTH

GROWING WELL Pete Kelly takes a group of swimmers from a mental health charity for their ﬁrst cold water swim

t’s not your typical swimming group. In answer to my standard Iquestions aimed at working out group dynamics the responses are a little unnerving. Only a couple have swam outside before, one has an ify heart, one can loat but not swim, and the look in their THEY HAD eyes goes a little sun shine down with her volunteers (as do all of the The swim was a beyond nervous. ACHIEVED upon us just team I have met at Growing Well) and positive outing for What impresses DEEP PERSONAL as we became is clearly liked and respected by them. everyone me most though fully immersed. In a brief review with Bex following is their courage in AND GROUP With the sun our swim she passed on some lovely even turning up: SATISFACTION came the smiles, feedback from our swimmers. hey the lake is cold, the again ampliied and had found the experience powerfully sky is the colour of wonderful to behold exhilarating and although perceiving Kirkstone slate and we’ll and what followed the activity as dangerous, drew be swimming skins. was one of those sublime great feelings of achievement from October swims in refreshingly overcoming their fear and doing it WITH THE SUN CAME THE SMILES cool water, with a warming sun in style. hey had taken conidence Having lost two close friends to the rippling rays down on us between in trusting, listening and in taking ravages of mental illness this year I’m stratocumulus, rendered benign with instruction. Some felt more present keen to support and promote those the improving weather. he view across and focused, while others experienced that genuinely seek to help them. the North Basin was upliting – what an attachment to nature that they had Growing Well is a farm-based mental an excellent irst swim this was for never experienced before. Many agreed health charity located at Low Sizergh, most of the group. Relieved that this that they had achieved a deep personal near Kendal and they do a wonderful seemed to have been such a positive and group satisfaction from this swim, Pete is the job of helping people recover their outing for everyone I realised I had taking a lot from the shared experience Adventure Swimming mental health, while growing, cooking been feeling a weight of responsibility of facing this challenge and coming out Director at Swim the and generally mucking in at the farm. I for these lovely people which must be of the other side glowing. Lakes in Ambleside, was delighted when they asked me if I part of daily life at Growing Well. hanks to Bex, Alix, Ali for the they are the would take them swimming one day. good work that they do and to our pioneers of guided swimming trips and Slipping slowly into the waters SHARED EXPERIENCE exceptional team of volunteer swimmers adventure swimming of Windermere worked its usual Bex, Growing Wells’ irrepressibly for the pleasure of their company – I holidays in the magic, although the initial cold shock upbeat occupational therapist was wish them well for the future Lakes. They also run reactions of our swimmers seemed ready as we tottered out of the water beginner’s courses ampliied to an alarming degree. In with warming blankets, hot chocolate You can buy really good vegetables, and sell all the gear a timely answer to my prayers, the and some of the best lapjack I have donate and support their Crowdfunding at swimthelakes. clouds parted and let the warm autumn ever tasted. She has a wonderful way drive at growingwell.co.uk co.uk.

88 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com SWIMMING ART CHRISTMAS CARDS • PERSONALISED PRINTS GREAT GIFT IDEA!

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andreahalldesign.etsy.com [email protected] Find me on social: #lookfortheduck TITLE MY SWIM STORY

That lightbulb moment

A return to Andrea at her ﬁrst Great Swim swimming inspired a in 2013 new career for artist Andrea Hall

grew up with swimming. My mum, and grandma before her Iwere both swimming teachers in my home town. I gave up when I went to art college in 1984. Nearly three decades later, out of curiosity, I sat down to watch the women’s 10k marathon swim in the Serpentine during London 2012. I was a big girl in those days and I settled down I SETTLED DOWN with a bottle of red wine and a WITH A BOTTLE family pack of OF RED WINE AND Doritos, when Andrea I famously said A FAMILY PACK OF exhibiting to my partner “I her artwork could’ve done that DORITOS when I was younger”. hat was the lightbulb friends from all over the work as well as my play. Last year I felt moment, that changed my country who had come compelled to start painting some of the life. I heard the words come along to support me because snapshots in my head from my swims out of my mouth, and thought what am it was such a massive deal for me. he and share my experience. My work I on about, I’m not old at 48, I could euphoric feeling when I inished and is all about the joyful feeling and the still do it if I wanted to. got my medal still feels special when I view from the water. I love to paint the So the next day, I started swimming think about it. mass start of an event too, because it’s at my local pool – Tadcaster It didn’t stop there though, I’ve done bonkers and I love the energy of it. I Community Swimming Pool. I went lots of events since – the Chill Swim like to portray the unpredictable nature to lane sessions three times a week Coniston End-to-End is probably my of the sport and slight vulnerability I throughout the winter and lost a longest achievement. I still do the feel when I’m in the middle of it all. staggering ive and a half stone in odd event – it’s a bit addictive, but I As well as my irst gallery exhibition weight. During that time I decided to also enjoy doing my own thing, and I at Stephen Joseph heatre in enter the Great North Swim, with the prefer skins swimming for the feeling Scarborough, I have been exhibiting at singular aim of getting my own gold of freedom. I’m a bit of a swim tourist various swimming events this summer, medal. I joined a local open water because I love the diferent natural where I personalise prints of the mass club as soon as the season opened and environments and I’ve also found start designs by writing people’s race trained up to swim in the lake. a slight fondness for a bit of winter numbers on a hat. It’s a little memento he mile swim at the Great North dipping, it makes you feel like you’ve of the day and goes down really well, Swim was tough. My lack of experience conquered the world when you get out. and I love meeting the swimmers and meant I went of too fast and had a Swimming is now a massive part their families and seeing the events mild panic attack at the irst buoy. I had of my life, because it’s becoming my from the other side.

What’s your Swim Story? Email: [email protected]

90 NOVEMBER 2019 | Outdoor Swimmer outdoorswimmer.com Worldmags.net PRIMUS SWIMRUN DESIGNED FOR THE AMPHIBIOUS ATHLETE

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