A mile to a marathon

Have you swum in mass participation events but feel ready to take your swimming to the next level? Coach Kate Gillwood gives the lowdown on solo swims and explains how you can step up to marathon distances

As you stumble out over slippery stones onto the mat and under the gantry, you are elated to have swum a mile for the first time. What an achievement – to go from short, shivery dips and 30 maybe 40 lengths in the pool, to this.