Top Tips
Pick up knowledge to improve your outdoor swimming. Learn how to plan routes, train with others, complete events, and overcome obstacles like nerves or fitness level. Get guidance on skills like bodysurfing, underwater swimming, and adapting your stroke for rivers and seas. Experts and seasoned swimmers share their top tips so you can swim safer, stronger, and with more joy.
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Keep calm and carry on – and other sea swimming tips
Sea swimming tips aimed at swimmers taking part in near-shore organised swim events or wild swimming rather than long-distance sea…
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7.5km Training Session (about 2.5 hours)
To complete this as written, you should be capable of swimming repeatedly 100m off 90secs
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How can I improve my breaststroke so I can swim faster?
Our resident Olympian Cassie Patten answers your swimming questions
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7km Training Session (~2+ hrs)
To complete this as written, you should be capable of swimming repeatedly 100m off 90secs
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10km open water training plan
A training plan for those contemplating taking on the 10k Marathon distance in open water
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What are your tips for recovering after a marathon swim?
Our resident Olympian answers your swimming questions
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Don’t try this if you have a fragile ego
For most of us, comparing our swim times with those of the best swimmers in the world is far from…
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Flippin’ Fintastic
Two fins-based training sets to improve your leg position, strength and kic
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Embrace the medley – session 3
Add other strokes to your training will enhance your strength, fitness and swimming ability.
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How to use FINIS Bolster Hand Paddles
The Finis Bolster Paddle is another odd looking piece of kit from Finis but with some good thinking behind it.
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Any tips on sighting? Sighting frequency/ navigating in general?
Our resident Olympian answers your swimming questions
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Cold water swimming: your questions answered
Swimmer and scientist perspectives on ice swimming
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Take your training outside – week 1
Make the most of your outdoor swimming with our weekly training plans
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Finis Freestyle Snorkel – Sample training set
The Finis Freestyle Snorkel has been designed to allow swimmers to separate breathing movements from other elements of the stroke…
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Fine-tune your catch
Which paddles to use to work on your catch and pull technique
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How to warm up on land for swimming
Your swim needs to start before you hit the water
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Last hurrah – session 3
The third of four end of season training sessions
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5 ways to train SMART
Keep motivated through the winter by training SMART
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Train like a Champion
Keri-anne Payne explains how to make your training more interesting to ultimately make you fitter and faster
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6 Tips for Cold Water Swimming
Since lockdown restrictions eased, I’ve noticed a new wave of open water swimmers taking to our rivers, seas and lakes.…
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8 tips for working from home
Here at Outdoor Swimmer we are experts at working from home. You might imagine that we have a big office…
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Take your training outside (part 2) – week 2
Build endurance and improve your open water skills with our weekly training plans
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Speedy recovery recipes – 3
The last of three quick and easy recovery dinners from nutritionist Kathy Findlay for when time is short.
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Better Breaststroke
Follow our nine steps to an efficient breaststroke technique you can be proud of
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How can I avoid crossing my arms at the start of my stroke?
Our resident Olympian answers your swimming questions
