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So, I am part of a wonderful group of women called 'Thrive' and I decided to join their event at three sisters today. It's a venue I was planning on trying next year as they are not open all year round unless privately arranged it seems! The second swim in 24 hours meant I had to get everything dry quickly which is not easy with neoprene. Well, isn't this place a well kept secret, not only is it a very nice lake it is also open year round, particularly midweek, and its on my

I had a late night last night and felt off colour this morning to the point I nearly didn't go for my swim but I pushed myself as I had been looking forward to it. I was also achy from my bike ride yesterday and my arms and upper back were stiff. I am so glad I did! Entering the lake, one of the ladies coming back from her swim asked if I was praying 🤣 I was bracing myself and I always walk gingerly down the jetty so I don't lose my footing. The water was a tad warmer at 12.

I completed my first swim for the penguin and polar bear challenge and at pretty much half way to achieving the distance this month in the first swim!. It was 🥶 but very refreshing! Water temperature was 9.5 degrees so we have officially entered the sub 10 challenge, an additional aim for me to swim a minimum of 10 swims over winter in water that is less than 10 degrees. Forgot my gloves! So my hands were particularly red and tingly 🤣 and I forgot my dry robe. But, my new s

I need sponsors! Swimming in open water is euphoric! And so good for mental health and overall well-being. I feel refreshed and energised after. Cold water swimming is my new challenge and I have been getting acclimatised to colder water. The coldest I have swam in so far is 10.5 degrees. So, if I'm challenging myself i may as well try and raise money for the charity I work for. I am officially participating in the Gold penguin challenge, where I have committed to swim 1000m

7.30am swim! and the water temperature was 10.5 degrees. It was dark when I made my way to the flash and the sun continued to rise as I was swimming which was amazing! What a way to start the morning! 750m swim with a mix of breaststroke and front crawl. The swimming lessons I have had so far really paid off and my wetsuit has now had two dips. I am feeling ready for the winter challenges to start next Saturday.

A cheeky afternoon swim was needed today to reset and clear my brain! Tested out a new venue which unfortunately doesn't open over the colder months 😒 which is a shame as it was a stunning location! Absolute bliss in the middle of the lake with the sun beating down. Yet the water was only 11 degrees 🥶 Broke my new suit in nicely and managed just over 500m 💪 Look at my cheesy grin at the end 🤣 Than straight back to school/work/Halloween disco!

New wetsuit ticked off the list! This time an actual swimming one rather than a surfing one, and a smaller size 💪 Thanks to the help of My Triathlon Shop who sorted me out! Even comes with gloves so my nails don't catch the neoprene! Can't wait to get back in the water 🏊‍♂️

I returned to Sale water park today and had my second swimming lesson with the lovely Jane from Open Water Swim. The water was even colder! Remembering to breathe when entering the water is crucial and acclimatising to the cold water. I worked more on my front control and breath control and feel like I am getting better! Now I need a new wetsuit, one because the one I have is for surfing, and 2, it is now too big after dropping even more weight!

I've 'dipped' in open water plenty of times over the years and love it! but only properly swam a decent distance in a pool which I'm not keen on because of the chlorine messing with my hair! I am very precious about my hair! Despite being a fairly competent swimmer, doing it in a wetsuit is quite different due to the buoyancy. Add to that, struggling with breath control meant I didn't have the confidence to maintain front crawl around a 500m circuit with no side to hold on to

I managed to get in another swim this week, however, it is unfortunately the last weekday swim until spring 2026. Gutted I didn't do this earlier in the year, or even years ago but never mind! I will only be able to swim on Saturday's from now on, all the way through the winter. As I am a crazy person who never does anything half heartedly, I have decided to take on the penguin and polar bear challenge and the sub 10 challenge 🥶 More details coming soon!! How beautiful is th

Another Lovely swim in the Flash and I managed roughly around 600m! Even if the sun did blind me and I went a fair bit off course and was almost into the reeds. I blame my new goggles! Thanks to the speedboat man for coming to tell me to turn around 🤣 Then walking out of the water up the jetty i managed to fall back in 🙈 I seriously have no sense of direction and I am like bambi when exiting the water. I am only swimming breaststroke at the moment and I can tell me stroke i

I headed to Pennington flash again for my second swim and managed the 450m triangle this time. It was quite unnerving getting to the second buoy and realising that I have nothing to grab hold of, or put my feet down like in a pool. I was surrounded by a vast body of water approximately 4-5m deep but I kept going. The buoyancy of the wetsuit made me feel like I wasn't moving at times and the way the water was flowing made me feel like I was going off course, but I did it! It w

My love of swimming started at a very young age and I found I was a very competent swimmer. I passed all my badges (do you remember Bronze, Silver, Gold etc?) and even competed in Galas but as I am not very competitive this didn't last long. I sadly stopped swimming in my teens due to developing broad shoulders and being very body conscious. I really wish I had continued! However, I did swim socially when I could, and with my children and have always preferred to swim outdoor

Open water swimming offers a unique challenge compared to pool swimming. The vastness of lakes, rivers, or oceans, combined with changing conditions, requires different skills and techniques. For beginners, understanding these differences and learning how to adapt can make the experience safer and more enjoyable. This guide covers essential techniques and tips to help you build confidence and improve your open water swimming. Swimmer practicing open water techniques in calm l

Open water swimming offers a unique experience that pool swimming cannot match. The feeling of freedom, the connection with nature, and the challenge of swimming in lakes, rivers, or the ocean attract many enthusiasts. However, open water swimming also comes with risks that require careful preparation and awareness. This post shares practical tips to help you enjoy open water swimming safely. Swimmer ready to enter calm lake for open water swim Understand the Environment Befo

Many open water swimmers, even in the winter, choose to wear 'skins'. Which is essentially a swimsuit! I haven't braved this yet but I have full respect for skins swimmers. Read on for suitable gear recommendations, although subjective. Swimmer ready to enter open water wearing essential gear Wetsuits for Warmth and Buoyancy Water temperature in open water can be much colder than in pools, even during summer. A wetsuit helps maintain body heat and provides extra buoyancy, mak