CHALLENGE
Ambitious challenges conquered by outdoor swimmers.
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Plunging with pride
As Pride Swim returns for its second year and expands to multiple venues across the UK, reader Jem Collins heads…
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Event review: National Masters Open Water Championships 2024
Simon Griffiths took part in the 3km event at Rother Valley Country Park.
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Meet the Channel swimmers – they’ve done it, could you do it too?
If you’re thinking of swimming the English Channel, then prepare to be inspired as we catch up for two relay…
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Keswick Mountain Festival: a swimmer’s guide
Jonathan Cowie reports from the adventure sports and music festival in the Lake District.
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Event review: Swim the Night
Naomi Constable took part in this all-night lido swimming challenge.
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Embracing Slow Swimming
Writer Georgie Duckworth dips her toe into a swimming event designed for those who like to take it slow
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A life-affirming and life-changing adventure in Croatia with Ultraswim33.3 #3
Mariana Santos shares her experience of this beautiful but challenging event on the Croatian coast.
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Swimming the English Channel: how do you tackle the ‘Everest’ of swims
In a few weeks’ time, five relay teams will be setting off in the wee small hours to complete the…
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How to swim a marathon (in 12 weeks)
In the run up to this summer’s WaterAid Swim Marathon, Gear Editor Jo Tinsley took on the challenge of swimming 26 miles…
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Pickie to Pier Swim returns with original race route from 1910
The Pickie to Pier Swim returns to Bangor, Northern Ireland, on Saturday 6 July, with 200 participants swimming an original…
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What’s the motivation behind your open water swimming goal?
When you set your open water swimming goals, what really matters is your underlying reasons.
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Eastern Bay Ice Mile 2024
Simon Griffiths went along to watch (but not participate in) this popular ice mile event in Dublin.
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How hard is it to swim the Channel as part of a relay?
We spoke with Louise Campbell, a partner with Moore Barlow LLP and a member of the Aspire Eagles, who crossed…
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How to complete the Great North Swim and Swimrun
Pick the right distance, plan your nutrition, be confident in your kit and pace yourself. Simon Griffiths shares insight from…
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How to swim a marathon (in 12 weeks): Preparation and motivation
Gear editor Jo Tinsley is taking on the WaterAid Swim Marathon – swimming 26 miles (42.2km) in 12 weeks –…
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Watch our webinar about open water swimming events: all you need to know
Am I a strong enough swimmer to enter an open water swimming event? How do I train? Are events only…
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PHiSH tales
PHiSH, the annual, invite-only cold-water swimming event, ended on a high with swimmers wanting more. Ella Foote reports.
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GB Ice Swimming Championships 2024: Popular and Successful
Cold water swimming returned to the beautiful and historic Sandford Lido on 6 and 7 January 2024 with the International…
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Go Swim Loch Lomond 2023
Simon Griffiths travelled to Scotland for a little dip in a big loch. Here's how he got on at Go…
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Announcing The Really Cold Swim Championships
Are you up for some really cold swimming this winter? Check out this new cold water swimming event, a joint…
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Ultraswim 33.3 #2 Montenegro 2023
Part race, part holiday, part endurance challenge and one unforgettable adventure. Simon Griffiths reveals what it was like taking part…
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My fastest skins swim of the 3 Lakes Challenge
Helen Hislop shares her story of becoming the fastest skins swimmer to swim Coniston, Ullswater and Windermere consecutively, with a…
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Ultraswim33.3: “We’ve got the formula right”
Fresh from Ultraswim33.3 #2Montenegro, Mark Turner tells us about this multi-day swimming event that's fast becoming a highlight on the…
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Our oldest mixed relay across the English Channel
David Rock and his swim buddies tell us about their record-breaking (pending ratification) oldest mixed 4-person relay across the Channel,…
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Unsinkable: Alan Corcoran’s swim of the length of Ireland
Alan Corcoran swam the length of Ireland in memory of his father. He spoke to Jonathan Cowie about his experience.
