February 2023 ‘Challenge’
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February can be a strange month. It is short, often cold and can feel long. Festivities and New Year is way behind us, yet spring is yet to arrive. It can be a good month to start thinking about goals and how you might like to challenge yourself in 2023. This month’s issue is designed to inspire you to tackle a new swim challenge.
One of my favourite things about outdoor swimming is the variety of ways you can push yourself and swimmers are always surprising me with creative ventures. I love that there are a huge number of events up and down the UK and across the world that you can enter. Fancy a mile or a marathon, there is something for everyone. Have you ever wondered how hard it is to put on an outdoor swimming event and keep everyone safe? Find out on page 14. Melanie Barratt shares her story about being the first blind person to attempt to swim the English Channel and Jonathan Cowie finds out about swimming from Sealand. Jasmine Harrison tells us that logistics was the biggest challenge with her length of Britain swim and I meet Jayde Adams to hear all about Strictly Come Dancing and swimming. Of course, if you don’t fancy a mass participation swim – dream up your own event. Invite some pals, grab a map and plan a swim that is meaningful or challenging for you. Check out Alison Gilchrist’s swimming into fear piece, page 76. There is so much in this issue, you might have to boil the kettle twice to get through it!
Enjoy!
Ella Foote, Editor
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- Water wildlife: Native Oyster
A feast for the Romans and a Victorian staple, the once humble oyster (Ostrea edulis) has had a long and varied history on British shores. - Vanishing lakesThe challenge of finding swimmable water is getting harder in some locations, no thanks to climate change and human industry. Elaine K Howley investigates
- Use mindfulness to help you tackle challengesLiz Lowe is your guide to how you can use mindfulness to help you recognise the transience of uncomfortable sensations.
- Trends in Outdoor Swimming 2023Our annual review of what’s happening in the world of outdoor swimming.
- Swim from SealandEmbark on a unique swim from Sealand, the world’s smallest nation some seven miles off the coast of Suffolk, back to the UK mainland.
- Strictly outdoor swimming with Jayde AdamsComedian, actor and singer Jayde Adams is well known for her antics on television but, like many swimmers, she finds the best way to relax is in the water.
- Small steps towards a more meaningful lifeDo a triathlon to get to the supermarket, and other ways to live a more meaningful life. By Jonathan Cowie.
- Retaining the joy of swim trainingSimon Griffiths on prioritising the process of swim training, rather than the end goal of completing a challenge.
- Research and planning for a swimming challengeAdaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge on the importance of doing your research and planning ahead for a swim challenge.
- Para V: a new event for swimmers with disabilitiesRowan Clarke talks to Jonty Warneken about his new challenge aimed at swimmers with disabilities.
- Land’s End to John O’Groats: swimming the full length of BritainIn October 2022, Jasmine Harrison became the first woman to swim the entire length of the UK from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
- How swimming events shape the world of outdoor swimmingOpen water challenges shape outdoor swimming more than you realise. Rowan Clarke investigates.
- How do I feel less ‘heavy’ in the water?Swimming coach Cassie Patten answers a reader question about heaviness in the water, and improving stamina for an upcoming swimming event.
- Embrace all the challengesWhether it’s a short sprint or a monster challenge, for marathon swimmer Sarah Thomas all swimming challenges are an opportunity to learn and grow.
- Blind wild swimming: Melanie Barratt’s new passion for the open waterParalympic champion Melanie Barratt is hoping to become the first blind woman to swim across the English Channel solo. Here she shares her story of challenge.
