View from the Water

Gain a fresh perspective as swimmers share their unique viewpoints and reflections on the world from the water's edge.

Why I’ve signed up for a 31-mile pool swimming challenge

The other day I received an email that said, “would you like to join us in swimming 31 miles, in…
In praise of masters swimming

Don’t worry, we’re not planning to drop open water swimming and return to the confines of the pool, but with…
Can we have this in the UK please?

Here’s an idea for how local authorities in seaside towns can support open water swimming. Firstly, identify a suitable swimming…
Man dies due to inactivity

Firstly, apologies for a slightly misleading title on a serious subject, but there’s a point that will become clear below.…
Brownsea Island Swim 2016

When I was about 10 I did a sponsored swim where I had to do as many lengths as possible…
Becoming an open water coach

Two weeks ago I took a trip to Walsall and the offices of the STA (Swimming Teachers’ Association) to do…
Life lessons from open water swimming: nothing great is easy

Can what we learn through swimming help us elsewhere in our lives? I think it can, although the lessons are…
#31miles6days – Harder than expected

When I signed up with #TeamBetter from GLL to swim 31 miles in 31 pools in six days, I didn’t…
Councils should ban walking or running near water

In 2014, 138 people in the UK drowned after falling in while running or walking alongside water. Forty-six of these…
To swim faster, stop caring about it

Asking you to stop caring about how fast you swim in order to swim faster sounds totally counter-intuitive, but bear…
With a little help from my friends…

Image (c) DEPhoto.biz I spent last weekend up in Sheffield at the ASA National Masters Championships. This is a pool-based gala…
A tale of two bridges, too much chocolate and pacing strategy

A few days before it took place, Jeremy Laming from Henley Swim asked me if I would be a pace…
Open water racing & pacing

Last week we posted a question about open water racing and pacing on our Facebook page: “Someone who you think…
Why our choice of words matters to our fellow swimmers

I was reminded this week about the importance of being careful with language and how the way we use words…
Saying au revoir to my wetsuit

“Do you ever want to swim the Channel?” It is a question I often get asked, and up until the…
Breaststroke sometimes really is best

When I travel around the UK, and I think I might have time for a swim, I like to take…
The advantages of not having been an international swimmer

Last weekend swimming legend Grant Hackett took part in the Australian nationals in Sydney. He’s 34 and it was his…
Why business competitions are like swimming events

You might have noticed we entered a business competition. I hope you didn’t feel we sent you too many messages…
How to keep your New Year resolutions

Let’s assume you made some New Year resolutions and one or more of those involved swimming. (If you didn’t, here…
How to pass yourself off as an Olympic swimmer

Last Saturday night I watched the film Wild with my friend Andy. If you haven’t seen it, Reese Witherspoon escapes…
A chance for regular swimmers to compete under FINA regulations

Anyone who has been through the British swimming club system will be familiar with the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), the…
Tips for masters swimming galas

Last weekend I took part in a masters swimming gala at Bracknell – my first in about four years. It…
What do they mean, “no joie de vivre”?

Swimming got some bad press last week. Despite still being the UK’s most popular sport in terms of participation, the…
Elite open water race preparation tips

I might have said this before, but last week I was at BEST FEST in Mallorca. It’s an open water…
What are the minimum criteria for travelling to do a swim?

If you enjoy both travelling and open water swimming you’ll hardly need persuading of the delights in taking part in…