January/February 2025 ‘Swim On’

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The start of a new year is a complex time for many. January in the Northern Hemisphere can be a bit bleak and as a long month, with spring still a way off it can feel endless.

If you are a regular pool swimmer, you suddenly encounter a lot more people at the pool – lanes full of well-intended swimmers, keen to make this year the year they get in shape or conquer a challenge. While we don’t want to discourage people rediscovering the joy of swimming, it can be frustrating when you want to knock-out multiple lengths before you start your day. People at my local pool joke they will all be gone within the month, but honestly, I really hope they are not!

Local leisure centres need our support more than ever. Pools across the UK are in financial hardship and the best way to keep the doors open is to plunge into pools as much as we can. Perhaps this year, you can engage in some friendly lane-chat and encourage new faces to sign-up to a summer swim challenge to keep them swimming?

Of course, one of the joys of outdoor swimming is that there is always plenty of space in open water, but you still may find curious new outdoor swimmers at the water’s edge this month. January isn’t the ideal time to start outdoor swimming, but it isn’t impossible either, so keep an eye out for the newbies and give them some helpful encouragement. One of the benefits of the rise in popularity of outdoor swimming is that many outdoor pools, lakes, ponds and venues now open year-round, which means people can dip into our passion with safety and support.

The passing of time, the turning over of the calendar can ignite a need to change, reshape, leave things behind or an urgency to conquer. But my advice this month is to reflect and percolate. Ponder what your year might look like, make some lovely swim plans and then let the year introduce itself to you. Swim slowly into 2025 and see what reveals itself to you.

Ella Foote, Editor


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  • New year, new plans for Sophie Etheridge
    Adaptive swimmer Sophie Etheridge reflects on 2024 and reveals her exciting plans for the year ahead, including her first ever winter swimming gala at Tooting Bec Lido.
  • Pools in peril
    Simon Griffiths looks at why pools are in peril and what the consequences might be.
  • Looking back on 2024: an incredible year of swimming
    Looking back over 2024, we asked outdoor swimmers to share their highlights. What were yours? Rowan Clarke reflects on an incredible year of swimming.
  • How to choose a swimming cap
    Durable silicone swimming caps, long hair swimming caps or thermal swimming caps: read our guide to choosing the right head cover for pool or outdoor swimming
  • Swim on in 2025
    What has 2025 got in store for outdoor swimming? Rowan Clarke finds out.
  • Why I swim: Polly Atkin
    Polly Atkin can’t get enough sunlight, which is why outdoor swimming is ideal. Here she shares how the outdoor world feeds her soul and her work.
  • “Sufficiently cold and treacherous for her purposes”
    Myrtle Huddleston’s Lake Tahoe crossing tested her mettle and her ability to adapt to challenges on the fly.
  • The best thermal swimsuits for outdoor swimmers
    There are plenty of ways to make a swimsuit warmer whether neoprene, Yulex, thermal silver lining or thick bonded material. Read on for reviews of our favourite thermal swimsuits to help you spend more time in the water All products were chosen independently by our editorial team. This review contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. Click here to subscribe to the magazine. Read more Outdoor Swimmer gear reviews. Main image: Zone3.
  • January in the swim community
    NOWCA reminds winter dippers to swim safely with the help of their handy app, and Mental Health Swims is on the lookout for new swim hosts.
  • How to tailor your own swim training plan
    Why do swimmers train in different ways, and what’s the best way for you to train?
  • Caitlin O’Reilly: word’s youngest Ocean Seven swimmer
    An ultra-marathon swimmer from New Zealand has got herself in the Guinness World Records after becoming the world’s youngest person to complete the seven big channel swims, known as the Oceans Seven
  • The Rivers Trust: reflecting and looking ahead
    Environment charity The Rivers Trust shares their hopes and goals for the year ahead, striving for “a proactive approach to our bathing waters that puts the health of communities and the environment first”.
  • Asking the right questions about your swimming
    Wherever you’re at on your swimming journey, it’s always important to take a few moments to reflect on the swimming you’ve done and look forward to the swimming you still want to do, says Sarah Thomas
  • Portishead Popsicle Party
    Portishead Popsicle is a highlight in many swimmers’ calendars and for the second time Ella Foote plunged into Portishead Open Air Pool for its winter event
  • Weekend swim break: Cedar Manor, Lake District
    Ella Foote heads to Cedar Manor, Windermere, for an indulgent afternoon tea, fell walks and cool dips in lakeland tarns.
  • How to stay swim fit without an event
    Swim Smooth coach Paul Newsome shares how to build a flexible training plan for when you don’t have an event on the horizon.
  • Beta Cottage, Suffolk: a place to swim, rest and create
    Planning swim holidays and trips yourself can be tricky when there are so many wonderful places to stay in the UK, Ella Foote discovers staying in a swimmer’s home-from-home is a good place to start.
  • Move of the month: Camel Pose
    This is a great spinal exercise for those of us sitting for long hours at desks and computers.
  • The best long hair swimming caps
    For those blessed with voluminous hair, wearing a regular silicone cap can be a real pain. We put three long hair swimming caps to the test to see how they compare during a pool training session

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