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Why volunteer at an open water swimming event?
At many open water events you’ll see people in high-vis vests directing swimmers to the starting line, giving you a…
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H2Open celebrates five years – with a pool party!
It might seem slightly ironic for a magazine that promotes open water swimming that we decided to celebrate five years…
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What’s your swim training type (and what does it say about your personality)?
When you arrive at a swimming training session, how do you approach it – and what does it say about…
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Don’t talk open water swimming down
This weekend we had a stand at Swim Expo in Manchester. We like events as they’re great places to talk…
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Sean Conway talks about rafts, unsupported swims and using tidal currents
On 1 April 2016 Sean Conway will set off on his around Britain triathlon. Starting at Lulworth Cove he will…
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Theodore Yach completes 100 Robben Island swims: interview
At just over 7km from the mainland and visible from Cape Town the possibility of swimming from Robben Island has…
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Don’t follow your dreams
I have a confession to make. For the past few months my swimming has been pretty much confined to the…
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Masters of the universe
The phrase ‘masters swimming’ is perhaps not the best to describe what is, in essence, structured swimming, with an option…
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The first open water swim of the year
When you’ve spent the winter cosseted in warm indoor pools, your first open water swim of the year can be…
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In the wake of Mercedes Gleitze
I grew up on the Causeway coast of Ireland in a little seaside town called Portstewart. I am now 33, a…
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We need to change attitudes to swimming outside
The other day I was looking back at a Guardian article about open water swimming from last year (Different strokes:…
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Lucinda River
Lucinda River from Phillip Wood on Vimeo. Lucinda River is a film by Phillip Wood following a group of swimmers running…
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H2Open’s cold water swimming tips infographic
Download the PowerPoint version here.
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Always try to say yes (to open water swimming)
Tel Aviv, Yaron Davidi and Frank Turner’s wisdom I love music; it’s nearly as important to me as swimming. A…
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Get the main things right before worrying about the details
If you’ve been swimming for a while, you’ll know there isn’t a secret formula to turn you from plodder to…
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Where I’ll be swimming from 25 Feb to 1 March
On Thursday morning, 25 Feb, I will be getting up at a ridiculous time of day to travel across London…
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Don’t “smash it”
Thanks to Fiona Ford for the idea for this post. Fiona writes swim training sessions for H2Open and also runs…
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Pirita Open Winter Swimming Festival: literally Baltic
A weekend in Tallinn is the perfect trip for cold-water thrill seekers “I’m sorry madam, we have no more Prosecco…
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Nine New Year’s resolutions suggestions for open water swimmers
We decided it was that time of year to draw up a list of suggestions for New Year’s resolutions for…
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Things fall into place
One of the pleasures of writing about open water swimming is the opportunity it gives me to meet and talk…
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Swimming for joy: Karen Pickering interview
Karen Pickering is best known as a pool-based 100m and 200m freestyle sprinter and for her impressive collection of 35…
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Handicap racing has kept open water swimmers interested for 150 years
Contrary to some people’s belief, open water swimming is not a recent spin-off from triathlon. It was the Victorians who…
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What goes through the mind of a cold water swimmer?
What do you think when going through a cold water swim? Is it anything like the following, or something completely…
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Winter swimming
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How to use a wetsuit to become a non-wetsuit swimmer
At our H2Open Day recently the water temperature was a little over 12 degrees Centigrade. Some people swam in full wetsuits…
