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Jan 16, 2025 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Simon Griffiths
Why do swimmers train in different ways, and what’s the best way for you to train? In our December issue, we looked at why it’s beneficial to structure your pool swimming into training sessions and gave an example of what a simple pool training session might look like. You'll need to subscribe to unlock this content. Already subscribed? Login?
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Jan 9, 2025 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Simon Griffiths
Simon Griffiths looks at why pools are in peril and what the consequences might beIn November last year, Ella and I attended a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Swimming. Three facts jumped out at me, two positive and one less so. You'll need to subscribe to unlock this content. Already subscribed? Login?
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Dec 18, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Simon Griffiths
Back in September 2024, the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, announced an ambition to clean up London’s rivers and open up new areas for Londoners to paddle and swim. He committed to “develop a bold plan for swimmable rivers within 10 years”. The London Assembly Environment Committee, which is tasked with holding the Mayor to account, is now investigating that commitment through a series of meetings with experts, a call for evidence from interested individuals and organisations, and a survey.
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Dec 9, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Simon Griffiths
Do we need another type of hand paddle for swimming training? If you’ve been training for a while, it’s likely you’ve accumulated a few pairs and probably experimented with several others. Paddles usually claim to serve one of two purposes: building strength and improving the pathway of your hand through the water. Some paddles claim to do both.
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Dec 3, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Simon Griffiths
Winter swimming is an odd activity: exhilarating and accessible but with easy-to-overlook dangers. The risks are manageable, but as it gets colder, your margin for error narrows. The difference between a great swim and a disaster could be just a few extra minutes in the water or too much time faffing when you get out. Multiple factors determine how quickly you get cold. Water temperature is crucial. In shallow inland waters, the temperature can change rapidly.
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Nov 27, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Simon Griffiths
Take a moment to look back on your swimming year. What stands out? What are you most proud of? It’s quite likely to be a swim (or series of swims) where you’ve pushed yourself outside of your comfort zone, done something brave or tried something new. It’s also likely that the effort you put into preparing for that swim has made you a stronger swimmer. It’s not too early to start thinking about what you might do next year. Is there a swimming challenge that makes you nervous but also gets you excited?
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Nov 22, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Simon Griffiths
Pool-based training sessions can be confusing and intimidating if you’ve never swum in a club environment. Here’s a short introduction to pool training and how a session is structured. Why should I do training sessions rather than just swim? You'll need to subscribe to unlock this content. Already subscribed? Login?
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Nov 21, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Simon Griffiths
Many masters swimmers (older swimmers who continue to train and race in pool events) are mystified by cold water swimming. They may, occasionally, venture into open water in the summer, in a wetsuit. But by early autumn they won’t be shifted from heated water. Here they can train to their heart’s content and work on their fitness and skills without any fear of hypothermia. Similarly, many cold water swimmers don’t see the attraction of racing in the pool.
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Nov 18, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Simon Griffiths
Last week I travelled to Manchester to join the Bathing Water Forum, an event organised by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). SAS has been leading a campaign to support local groups achieve bathing water status for their favourite swimming spots. In May this year, the government announced 27 new sites had been awarded bathing water status. SAS was involved in 13 of these. The government then promptly suspended new applications and announced a review of the process!However, all is not lost.
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Nov 15, 2024 | 
outdoorswimmer.com | Simon Griffiths
Racing in cold water is very different to dipping, says Simon GriffithsWinter swimming events usually run to a strict time schedule. There isn’t much scope for faff when being invited to undress in potentially sub-zero temperatures and climb into icy water. You'll need to subscribe to unlock this content. Already subscribed? Login?
