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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Ask the Experts
Why am I so much faster with a pull buoy?
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Quantifying the benefits of fat for open water swimmers
Anecdotal evidence suggests a carrying a little extra weight helps protect a swimmer against the cold.
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Food planner
Having a framework (or goal) for our nutrition is crucial. We might be trying to lose weight, gain muscle or tailor…
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Pilates for swimming: Increase efficiency, reduce drag and increase speed
Physiotherapist Darren Wigg explains how to use Swimming Specific Pilates (SSP) to swim more efficiently and reduce injury
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Amateur vs Elite
Whether you are an Olympic medallist or tackling your first open water race, correctly fuelling your swimming is crucial.
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Sport Psychology – challenge or threat?
How are you viewing your next race?
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How do I draft properly in races and avoid getting kicked?
Our resident Olympian answers your swimming questions
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“I just get so nervous; my breathing goes into overdrive and I don’t know what to do”
Strategies to tackle anxiety when racing
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Is there anything I can do to help me master bilateral breathing?
Our resident Olympian answers your swimming questions
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Tips for swimming training in public pools – infographic
Start with a long term goal
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How do I best structure my training for a 5k swim?
Our resident Olympian answers your swimming questions
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How to get into cold water
Previously we've recommended the slow approach as this can help reduce the cold shock response, prepare you mentally for the…
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What training should I do before taking on an 8k event?
Our resident Olympian answers your swimming questions
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6.9km Session – about 2.5 hours
To complete this as written, you should be capable of swimming repeatedly 100m off 90secs
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Back to Basics – Kick and Pull
Focusing on kick or pull can help refine your stroke
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Efficient body position
Get your head position correct and the body will follow
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Real Life Nutrition – Part 2
The word ‘diet’ can mean both what you eat and drink in general terms or a specific, prescribed nutrition programme…
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How can I stay motivated to keep training?
Our resident Olympian answers your swimming questions
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Wild swimming scoffs – recipe 1
Fuel your wild swimming adventures with the first of three recipes from nutritionist Kathy Findlay
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Carb loading for swimmers
It wasn't until recent years that the 'art of carb-loading' has been perfected to ensure muscles are fully fuelled and…
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Ready to race
Ben Price takes a back to basics look at event preparation
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How to perfect your breaststroke
It's not all about front crawl! Olympic silver medalist Keri-anne Payne teaches us the fundamentals of breaststroke
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What if I get stung by a weever fish?
Watch out for the little fish that fell giants.
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The 00 Session
An easy to follow session for some good old fashioned distance
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Fundamentals of freestyle
Go back to basics and check your breathing, head position and rotation
