Simon Griffiths, founder and publisher

Are you a plodder or an improver?

In one of my local pools, where I’ve been swimming for around 10 years, there’s a group of swimmers who…
A Thames currently fit for swimming

In the August 2018 issue of Outdoor Swimmer magazine I wrote about some work we’re doing with Theo Thomas from…
Remember, you can get too hot as well as too cold while swimming

I wrote last week about the dangers of being caught unawares by the cold when swimming outdoors (why swimmers are…
Why swimmers are like boiled frogs

Soaking up the sun before the swim – but it wasn’t enough to keep me warm There’s a fable that…
View from the Water – Should we go Dutch?

Last summer I took part in Pampus Rondje, a swim in Amsterdam. Talking to people there, it became apparent that…
How sociable is swimming?

I was recently approached by a research student to do an interview about the social impact of outdoor swimming events.…
View from the water – Not all good things are wild and free

Simon Griffiths dissects the cost of events, and suggests an ethical way to get free entry Last year we created…
Training sessions for Swimathon by Jolyon Finck – Team GB Olympic Swimming Coach

Swimathon 2018 takes place from 27 to 29 April at swimming pools around the UK. With challenges of up to…
How to prolong the life of your open water swimming wetsuit

With open water swimming wetsuits, there are trade-offs. That thin and flexible neoprene you want around the shoulders is a…
View from the water – Why you should consider joining a masters swim club

At the end of October each year, hundreds of adult swimmers gather in Sheffield for the Swim England National Masters…
Back to swimming foundations – and why it’s worth it for experienced swimmers

It’s very easy in swimming to accumulate distance in an effort to improve your fitness and strength without ever questioning…
Cassie Patten’s clingfilm visualisation technique

Last weekend I went along to a SwimQuest Skills session at Hampton Lido. The session was led by Cassie Patten,…
How to fall in love with swimming

Is this what your local pool looks like in January? Seventeen days. That, apparently, is the time it takes most…
Mindful swimming: six fun things to try while swimming to keep you focused on the moment

Swim down and meet the fish With swimming, it’s easy to get wrapped up in performance measures (how far did…
View from the water – wetsuit or skins?

Wetsuit or skins? Simon Griffiths believes we should swim and let swim Earlier this year we had a vigorous exchange…
Kevin Murphy Interview

Outdoor Swimmer talks to marathon swimming legend Kevin Murphy about injury, mentoring and his ambition for one more English Channel…
Flying without wings

In an article for the new issue of Outdoor Swimmer (7 Tips to Banish February Blues, Feb 2018), I suggested…
View from the Water – Terry Laughlin tribute

The death of Terry Laughlin is a sad loss to the swimming community, but his legacy will live on. By…
View from the water – Dreaming of a planet fit for swimming

We should be able to swim wherever we like without risk of illness or injury from pollution or environmental damage…
Dedicating life to promoting open water swimming

Outdoor Swimmer talks to Miguel Rahola, co-founder of Marnaton, one of Spain’s premier open water swimming event organisers Marnaton organises…
Eleven Ways to Cope with the Chlorine Box

Becoming an outdoor swimmer can completely change your view of swimming pools. What you once thought of as warm becomes…
The unexpected and unwanted consequences of FINA’s poorly conceived wetsuit ruling

Wetsuits: will we lose our right to choose in future? Earlier this year FINA, the world governing body for swimming,…
“Is it safe to swim in the river?”

Is it safe to swim here? I live about 100m from the Thames. The other day, a delivery driver knocked…
Creating a Parkrun for open water swimming

Parkrun has transformed the world of running. The 5km distance is far enough to challenge potential runners to get started…
View from the Water – Outdoor swimming communities are awesome

Originally built in the 1930s, Bude Sea Pool has been a popular swimming spot for generations and is the top…