Swimming

It doesn't sound perfect but personally I'm just glad to see an open water swimming venue opening up, how often does that happen?

Agreed. I'm just a grumpy old man. I'll almost certainly make a trip to Beckenham Park even though it's miles from me.

There is a campaign to Revive Wild Swimming in Broomfield Park - https://www.spacehive.com/broomfield-pond-swim-society

As long as I have Shadwell Lido to myself, it's unlikely! But it's nice to have another OW venue open in the city.

A tragic incident at Shadwell Lido:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/urgent-search-as-swimmer-feared-dead-after-taking-dip-in-east-london-dock-amid-soaring-temperatures-a4196786.html

Public self - that's really tragic that someone having a pleasant afternoon who just doesn't know the potential dangers of diving into open-water swimming 20m deep has paid that sort of price simply for not knowing any better.

Private self - that pissed noob twat means there's gonna be cops stopping me swimming there for the next few weeks - where were those twats in January?

Three suspected deaths in total:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/three-river-thames-swimmers-feared-dead-after-taking-a-dip-in-33c-heatwave-in-separate-incidents-a4196901.html

Kingston and Shadwell I can understand, but who gets it into their head to go swimming near Waterloo Bridge?

The Thames as it flows through Reading has become a riverside resort. Dozens of people in the river today.

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Back into the pool after a week in Annecy swimming in the lake every day. Some of the beaches a particular hit with daughter (Imperial and Talloires because of the slides, Saint Jorioz because of the diving platforms). Awesome holiday.

2 and a bit weeks until Swim Serpentine. Need at least 3h this week and next, and then a mild taper.

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13,400m in the last 7 days. Shoulders feeling mostly ok though.

10 days until Swim Serpentine.

Hmm, I should do a bit. Think I've done about 1k in the last 7 days.
2 mile Serpentine swim? I'm off at 11.55 in Wave 6

Super 6 for me, did the 2 mile swim the last two years and decided to go all in this time.

I get to pick when I swim but will probably do 9.35, 11.55 and 14.15 waves, that gives me 1h between swims if I take 1h20 for each of the 2 miles.

If I'm faster that may be too long out of the water between each so I may do 9.35 (2), 11.25 (1), 12.50 (2), 2.15 (1) but the Super 6 lot can go in at any time (within reason) so I don't need to coincide with any particular waves, but personally I prefer to start with a bunch of other people (2/3 of the way through the pack so I don't get in the way of the faster lot).

Wow.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-49724851

Been following this, it's beyond amazing. The S-curves in particular tell a story- she landed right on Cap Gris Nez and Shakespeare's each time, which is bloody difficult, particularly if you have a shit pilot (she had a shit pilot).

Started winter swim training at Gospel Oak Lido. Temperature was 16 last week and managed a nice cool 1500m, was back up to 18 this morning and did just under 4K before getting kicked out.
I plan to be one of those nut jobs that swims there in skins all winter just for the hell of it.
I have been reading up on how to avoid dying whilst doing so. Looking forward in a sick kind of way to it dropping back down and getting below 12. This is what people seem to agree is when it starts to get proper cold.

+1 yeah wtf. I mean how is that even possible?

Lake Annecey looks amazing, it's a place I plan to visit soon

Very good, another ultra-endurance record for a woman. Are there any male swimmers likely to be able to increase the record or is it now likely to be fought over by women only?

Gospel Oak Lido

It's called Parliament Hill Lido...

I plan to be one of those nut jobs that swims there in skins all winter just for the hell of it.

It's great, enjoy.

Looking forward in a sick kind of way to it dropping back down and getting below 12. This is what people seem to agree is when it starts to get proper cold.

I found it changes. Between about 10 and 5 I feel the cold in my chest. Below that and the only thing I can think about is how much my toes and fingers hurt.

The endurance folk go for 10 lengths + 1 per degree. I'm a wimp and went for 1 per degree.

It's not that difficult, you just keep swimming. I've been winter swimming for years, but if I was only getting in every few weeks, would be shivering for hours afterwards, borderline hypothermic on occasion if pushing things. Last winter I was getting in a couple of times a week, and it made a massive difference, even when well into single figures.

Also, much prefer to swim at the Men's Pond rather than the Lido, mainly as it feels a bit more natural. Horses for courses. Lido may be a bit safer if you're planning to push your limits.

Are there any male swimmers likely to be able to increase the record or is it now likely to be fought over by women only?

I really don't know - iirc, there have been three people who have done three and got partway into their fourth, and two of those were male. I reckon if you can get to 3.5, with better conditions/training/more luck, you can do 4.

Interesting that there are two guys who've been battling (often quite petulantly) over the King of the Channel title, for most crossings - one of them was the observer on yesterday's swim. Neither of them are anywhere near Alison Streeter's record as Queen of the Channel.

I was talking about channel swims with my new BiL at the weekend, he's done one as part of a 4 man relay, and got to within sight of France on a solo attempt where (ironically he says) he lost it when he was finally able to see the far coast. He's tempted to try again on a solo attempt.

I don't mind doing hours of swimming in pools or lakes but jellyfish and other sea related things just give me the heebie-jeebies.

I've always called it Gospel Oak Lido :D

I plan on getting gloves and socks for when it goes below about 15 I am thinking.

Once it goes below 12 I am gonna stay in about 1-2 mins per degree and see how I go from there! I'm new to it, I have heard it is an amazing buzz, if you don't get hyperthermia :)

he lost it when he was finally able to see the far coast

Know a few people this has happened to. Key rule is - never look for France - only ever look at your pilot, let him worry about France.

I've just done 2 and 4 man relays. Never a solo yet, and time is running out.

Thanks KL, I plan on going at least twice a week.
I am prone to sinus and respiratory infections due to this underlying rhinitis condition and although I like the ponds, for me the lido is a better option.

I plan on getting gloves and socks for when it goes below about 15 I am thinking.

kl-compliancy fail

I plan on getting gloves and socks for when it goes below about 15 I am thinking

They make a very big difference. I use socks for winter sea swims when it's rocky, and gloves for Shadwell Basin in low single figures, as you need to grip and climb about 8-10 foot up a metal ladder, and it could be game over if your hands weren't functional.