Never Swim Alone………..Really?

The term “Never swim alone” crops up in lots of safety information, often from really big, high-profile organisations. It’s a bit too abrupt and bossy for my liking. I suspect it partly originates in water safety advice we give to kids. That makes sense, children often haven’t yet developed the skills to assess risks properly …

Group Swimming………….The Joys And The Challenges

This is a mirror piece to Never swim alone.......really? on solo swimming. It’s written from the angle of informal swimming groups. Swim venues, organised training sessions or being out with a swim guide or coach are a different environment. Whoever’s organised it has a clear responsibility to you as a participant. However, much of what …

Swim Failure………..What Can Happen When You Get Too Cold

This is the second in a series of three about the basics of what can happen to your body when you swim outside. It's based on years of experience as an outdoor swimmer, coach and wild swim guide. This blog talks about swim failure, a potentially scary phenomenon associated with getting cold whilst swimming. Swim …

Getting Older

Last week I started to notice my age. Old isn't the right term, I'm still only 40 after all, but the changes that come with age. Not the bad ones, I mean the richness of life and people that comes with time. Is aging all that bad then or does it bring greater joy to …