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
top of page
_D0A5555
swim _2
10mb 10K
_D0A5555
1/7
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.
Be the first to get fresh posts & special offers
Search
Guest
- May 24
- 3 min
Lock to Lock Champions
Over the years, the Lock to Lock 4K wild swim series has witnessed remarkable achievements from the competitors.
104
Guest
- May 5
- 3 min
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.
118
Ruth Rayner
- Mar 3
- 4 min
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
259
Tony Davis
- Jan 11
- 4 min
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...
245
Fred Newton
- Sep 30, 2022
- 3 min
Swimrun on the tranquil Thames
Fred Newton from swimrun.com describes the excellent swimrun through Wytham Woods and the tranquil Thames
297
Fiona Undrill
- Aug 29, 2022
- 8 min
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.
183
Annika Surry
- Aug 19, 2022
- 4 min
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
2,578
Aerin Bowers
- Jul 28, 2022
- 3 min
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.
248
Stanley Ulijaszek
- Jul 3, 2022
- 5 min
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.
226
Darrin Roles
- Jun 28, 2022
- 3 min
The Lock to Lock 4k
Images from the Lock to Lock 4k and reflections from the organiser and some partipants.
280
Cassie Patten
- May 27, 2022
- 5 min
Don’t be a Drag
Cassie Patten Swim Coach shares her tips on how to be efficient in the water by reducing resistance.
194
Melanie
- Feb 12, 2022
- 6 min
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.
568
Debbie, Emma and Darrin
- Jan 15, 2022
- 6 min
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.
12,234
Gemma Ferrier, Mel Haward and Lisa Keeping
- Dec 5, 2021
- 8 min
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...
467
Fiona Tomlinson
- Nov 20, 2021
- 4 min
Wild swimming with teenagers in West Cork, Ireland
There is something about swimming in the sea, something constant and comforting, nostalgic in a way.
1,993
Three wild swimmers: Fiona, Darrin and Kath
- Nov 6, 2021
- 4 min
It's beginning to look a bit like winter
Three wild swimmers reflect on the return of winter swims
244
Simon Griffiths
- Oct 23, 2021
- 5 min
Lock to Lock SwimRun with Simon Griffiths
Simon Griffiths reflects on his performance at the 2021 Lock to Lock Swimrun
197
Rob.E.Trotter
- Oct 9, 2021
- 5 min
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...
1,918
Darrin Roles
- Sep 26, 2021
- 2 min
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,...
238
Fiona Undrill & Kath Fotheringham
- Sep 4, 2021
- 8 min
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
445
Chloe De Grave
- Aug 15, 2021
- 3 min
Embracing adventure
The events have given me an opportunity to challenge myself, to test my limits, to not overthink it and just embrace the adventure.
105
Laura Watson
- Jul 17, 2021
- 6 min
Swimming for life
If I had a daemon I like to think my daemon would be an otter. A rather slow inelegant otter but one who loves the water and is just as...
175
Fiona Undrill & Kath Fotheringham
- Jun 13, 2021
- 5 min
Swim the 10k this July: mad fantasy or achievable challenge?
Two swimmers talk through the reasons to do the Lock to Lock 10k this year, or rather one swimmer tries to persuade her friend to join...
283
bottom of page