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Wild Open Swim
Inspirations from swimming through the seasons
The Wild Open Swim Blog is a celebration of open water swimming all year and the photographs, words and artwork that it has inspired.
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A decade of downstream: Reflections from Lock to Lock
Reflecting on the last ten years of the Lock to Lock, what rises to the surface isn’t just the miles swum or the events held, it’s the people, the places, and the quiet power of swimming in nature, together.

Darrin Roles
Apr 112 min read
40


I needed a swimming challenge, pronto!
A newbie to long distance swimming Camilla Cresswell reviews her experience of her first 10k Lock to Lock swim down the Thames.

Guest
Mar 144 min read
133


A serene wild swimming adventure
An open water swimmers reveal his experience of swimming the 10K Lock to Lock last year

Guest
Jan 242 min read
88


More than a swim
I had no idea of what would come of entering the 4K Swim Oxford event in 2015 but 7 years on I would never have thought it so transformative

Guest
Jun 3, 20234 min read
116


Lock to Lock Champions
Over the years, the Lock to Lock 4K wild swim series has witnessed remarkable achievements from the competitors.

Guest
May 24, 20233 min read
139


The art and challenge of wild swimming
The Lock to Lock wild swim series is not just a competition, but a celebration of the art of swimming and the beauty of the natural world.

Guest
May 5, 20233 min read
149


1000 consecutive days and more…
Ruth Rayner didn't set out to swim every day for for any particular length of time but somehow it became a way of coping

Ruth Rayner
Mar 3, 20234 min read
279


Poems from the river
In this post we see the river through the experience of Tony Davis, an Oxfordshire artist, poet and fisherman. Tony was inspired to write...

Tony Davis
Jan 11, 20234 min read
252


Swimrun on the tranquil Thames
Fred Newton from swimrun.com describes the excellent swimrun through Wytham Woods and the tranquil Thames

Fred Newton
Sep 30, 20223 min read
316


Campaign to save our rivers & seas
Although we would prefer our articles to reflect the many ways the water helps us, we must acknowledge we swim through the scene of a crime.

Fiona Undrill
Aug 29, 20228 min read
237


From cold water to open water: the continuing journey
Annike describes her ongoing journey - the evolution she has made from cold water dipper to open water swimmer, and the great benefits felt

Annika Surry
Aug 19, 20224 min read
2,867


Lock to Lock Training Adventure
An open water swimmer from Canada shares her experience of a training swim down the Thames, in preparation for the Zurich Marathon Swim.

Aerin Bowers
Jul 28, 20223 min read
301


Blood like the River
Wild-swimmer, Stanley Ulijaszek came perilously close to death when he contracted Weihls disease after swimming in the Thames near London.

Stanley Ulijaszek
Jul 3, 20225 min read
388


The Lock to Lock 4k
Images from the Lock to Lock 4k and reflections from the organiser and some partipants.

Darrin Roles
Jun 28, 20223 min read
372


Don’t be a Drag
Cassie Patten Swim Coach shares her tips on how to be efficient in the water by reducing resistance.

Cassie Patten
May 27, 20225 min read
214


A Blind Swimmer’s Vision
What is it like to be a partially-sighted wild swimmer? A double paralympic champion Melanie writes about her wild swimming journey.

Melanie
Feb 12, 20226 min read
779


Every Body Counts
A story of how two wild swimmers in Swim Oxford's 4K Lock-to-Lock swim inadvertently helped to turn around the life of one of my clients.

Debbie, Emma and Darrin
Jan 15, 20226 min read
12,289


The Cool Vibe
The cryo bio of three swimmers reflecting on cold water exposure, what it has meant in their lives and why they keep doing it. Why do I...

Gemma Ferrier, Mel Haward and Lisa Keeping
Dec 5, 20218 min read
495


Wild swimming with teenagers in West Cork, Ireland
There is something about swimming in the sea, something constant and comforting, nostalgic in a way.

Fiona Tomlinson
Nov 20, 20214 min read
3,622


It's beginning to look a bit like winter
Three wild swimmers reflect on the return of winter swims

Three wild swimmers: Fiona, Darrin and Kath
Nov 6, 20214 min read
254


Lock to Lock SwimRun with Simon Griffiths
Simon Griffiths reflects on his performance at the 2021 Lock to Lock Swimrun

Simon Griffiths
Oct 23, 20215 min read
207


To robe or not to robe…
The first part of this article reflects on what draws Wild Swimmers to the robe; the second part offers thoughts about, and experiences...

Rob.E.Trotter
Oct 9, 20215 min read
2,381


Swim-Run 2021 photos from the day
An early misty September morning saw the start of the beautiful Lock to Lock Swim-Run on the banks of the Thames at Eynsham,...

Darrin Roles
Sep 26, 20212 min read
252


SwimRun: from the feet up...
Here is a beginners guide to understanding swimrun gear, as well as money-saving suggestions for getting by without the big outlay

Fiona Undrill & Kath Fotheringham
Sep 4, 20218 min read
654
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