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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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Guest
Jun 3, 20234 min read
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
107
Guest
May 24, 20233 min read
Lock to Lock Champions
Over the years, the Lock to Lock 4K wild swim series has witnessed remarkable achievements from the competitors.
130
Guest
May 5, 20233 min read
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.
141
Ruth Rayner
Mar 3, 20234 min read
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
277
Tony Davis
Jan 11, 20234 min read
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...
250
Fred Newton
Sep 30, 20223 min read
Swimrun on the tranquil Thames
Fred Newton from swimrun.com describes the excellent swimrun through Wytham Woods and the tranquil Thames
312
Fiona Undrill
Aug 29, 20228 min read
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.
228
Annika Surry
Aug 19, 20224 min read
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
2,772
Aerin Bowers
Jul 28, 20223 min read
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.
295
Stanley Ulijaszek
Jul 3, 20225 min read
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.
381
Darrin Roles
Jun 28, 20223 min read
The Lock to Lock 4k
Images from the Lock to Lock 4k and reflections from the organiser and some partipants.
346
Cassie Patten
May 27, 20225 min read
Don’t be a Drag
Cassie Patten Swim Coach shares her tips on how to be efficient in the water by reducing resistance.
206
Melanie
Feb 12, 20226 min read
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.
751
Debbie, Emma and Darrin
Jan 15, 20226 min read
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.
12,285
Gemma Ferrier, Mel Haward and Lisa Keeping
Dec 5, 20218 min read
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...
485
Fiona Tomlinson
Nov 20, 20214 min read
Wild swimming with teenagers in West Cork, Ireland
There is something about swimming in the sea, something constant and comforting, nostalgic in a way.
3,342
Three wild swimmers: Fiona, Darrin and Kath
Nov 6, 20214 min read
It's beginning to look a bit like winter
Three wild swimmers reflect on the return of winter swims
254
Simon Griffiths
Oct 23, 20215 min read
Lock to Lock SwimRun with Simon Griffiths
Simon Griffiths reflects on his performance at the 2021 Lock to Lock Swimrun
206
Rob.E.Trotter
Oct 9, 20215 min read
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...
2,368
Darrin Roles
Sep 26, 20212 min read
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,...
250
Fiona Undrill & Kath Fotheringham
Sep 4, 20218 min read
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
627
Chloe De Grave
Aug 15, 20213 min read
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.
110
Laura Watson
Jul 17, 20216 min read
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...
185
Fiona Undrill & Kath Fotheringham
Jun 13, 20215 min read
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...
318
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