Outdoor, Wild and Open!

When we talk about swimming in the great outdoors? What exactly are we talking about?

Outdoor Swimming:

Any swimming you can do outdoors, usually lidos, pools etc. These generally have changing rooms, showers, café and regular opening hours. There’ll be lifeguards – usually pool lifeguards, and the water is often chlorinated or salted. There may be lines on the bottom, or even lane dividers. Sometimes they’re heated and sometimes not. Thames Lido and Guildford Lido are good examples. Perfect introduction.

It’s my first ever cold water swim. I park in the car park and walk to the entrance, where a lovely girl takes my money and lets me through the turnstile. In the changing rooms, it’s a bit breezy, because the cubicles are not sealed against the outside world, and it’s the middle of February. It reminds me of Baylis Lido in the 70’s. I was here to practise cold water swimming for a triathlon in Snowdon in May, so I struggle into my wetsuit, don my hat, and off I go! The water is cold, but it’s ‘heated’ to 8 degrees (I believe it’s now heated to 10 degrees in the winter). The cold is biting, and there’s some squeaking as I get in. I managed a few lengths – a 50m pool is quite a novelty! I avoid the hot showers when I get out (do not hot shower after a cold swim) and quickly change into my woolly hat and warm clothes, shivering as I cup my hot chocolate from the machine in the foyer, cold but invigorated to have taken my first cold water dip. The first of many, as it turned out!

Open Water Swimming:

Usually a manned body of water, often a lake or section of a river or sea. Non-chlorinated, but could have a dye added to the water to limit the growth of weeds over the summer. Usually have a marked course of various distances. Lifeguarded by an open water lifeguard on land or on kayaks etc., and usually with a safety boat available for quick extraction of swimmers. Often have a café or sorts, and changing rooms, but often quite ‘rustic’ in nature. Caversham Lakes and Queensford Lake are good examples.

I was training for my first open water triathlon, so knew I had to get into the lake to swim. I was a bit scared, if I’m honest. Who knew what went on below those waters? There was no wading into this lake, just an unglamourous plop in from the jetty. You couldn’t help but go under the surface when you plopped in. It was a bit of a shock, but the water wasn’t too cold, and the water not too deep. I waited till my breathing settled, and started off for the first buoy. I was immediately struck by how fresh the water ‘tasted’ – not that I purposely drunk the water, but you know… and the second thing that struck me was a memory from my school years, of swimming in the local lake with my chums, messing around and climbing logs (the boomed area). I’d kind of forgotten it, up to that moment.

That first buoy seemed so far away, but I made it (just), and I even made it to the second buoy, which was a bit closer to the first. The third buoy looked like it might be anchored somewhere in Scotland, it was so far away. I didn’t get to the third buoy. I cut across the lake and clambered out. My kit was just sitting in one of the tables, and I changed in the indoor changing room.

Sometimes I marvel that I’ve gone from just managing half the circuit, which was about 400m max, to swimming much longer swims relatively easily. Nowadays even a 5km swim doesn’t seem all that far! I still remember the elation of finally passing the fourth buoy to complete a full circuit of the lake, and the mini celebration party I held in my head when I got there. At this stage, I was still wearing a wetsuit.

Wild Swimming:

Swimming in a body of water that is unmanned – rivers, lakes and the sea. Usually accessed by hiking across fields or woods or up mountains. No payment taken for access, and no lifeguards. Could be jealously guarded by fishermen, boats or swans! Ideally needs to be researched and risk assessed before going in.

For this swim, I’m in the Thames. I’m quite choosy about when I go into the Thames. Parking is on a road, and I walked across a field to get to the river. I was wearing my swimsuit, a light changing robe and shoes that are suitable for swimming in (I hate squishy silt between my toes!). I had a large drybag style tow float and inside was a small towel, a plastic bag with my car keys and mobile phone in – even though it’s a dry bag, it’s not always all that dry inside, so I’d definitely recommend putting your phone inside something else that is waterproof, in my case a sandwich bag!

We walked about a kilometre up stream where there was a ladder down into the water. Unfortunately the g

ang of swans that were bobbing there thought we might have food, so they flocked to the foot of the ladder. There is no way I would ever enter the water in the middle of a gang of swans, so we waited for them to get bored and bugger off. Once they were gone, we whipped off our changing robes and squashed them into the tow float, securing the bag and inflating the float. Mine always makes these really loud farting noises with every breath. Embarrassing at times!

When we were ready, we clambered down the metal ladder and into the water. The flow was quite fast, so we were intending to swoosh downstream, rather than swim proper. We had quite an audience standing on the river side – middle aged women in swimsuits clambering into the river is still quite entertaining for passers-by!

It was really peaceful bobbing along, chatting and swimming with a recreational breaststroke type of swim stroke. It’s important to be a bit more vigilant on the Thames because it can get really busy with boats, and they’re not necessarily looking in the water for swimmers. This is where a tow float is essential. And a bright hat helps too. Grey, blue and silver hats merge into the water and become really hard to spot.

Eventually we came to a beach area that’s shallow and where it's easy to wade out of the river. After a quick rub down with the towel, we popped our light robes on and trekked back to the cars to get changed on the roadside.

Want to learn more about swimming outside?

The precautions yo

u take whilst swimming all depend on where and when you’re swimming. You should never swim alone except where there’s a lifeguard looking out for you who can raise the alarm and begin rescue procedures.

The kit you take is dependent on where you swim, and it’s a good idea to have a snack and warm drink after a cold swim.

If you want to learn more about how to stay safe in the water, and how to enjoy dipping and swimming, then get in touch about my next Intro to Open Water Swimming workshop.