Wild Swimming

Why go wild?

Open water swimming explained; a short series

Here at MyTriathlon we thought we’d write a short series about the benefits and joys of open water swimming.So welcome to our first post of 2023. We’re going to talk about why it’s so good for you, how the sport is developing in the UK, some tips and tricks and of course, some of the things you need to look out for to maximise your enjoyment and stay safe.

We’ll start off with why it’s such a great pastime. This must be true as so many people are taking it up. Did you know that Open Water Swimming could see a trebling of activity from 2019 to now? 4 years ago, there were about 60,000 open swims in the UK and last year this rocketed to 140,000; so, 2023 could be such a great year for the sport.Our sister company MyOpenWaterSwim has organised an open water swim since 2012 based in North Manchester and it’s an ideal location for new and experienced swimmers alike.

There are so many reasons why it’s so good and healthy for you. These are just a few;

• You are in the middle of nature! All around you is fresh air, birds, endless views and a real stimulus for you to appreciate everything that nature has to offer.
• It’s great for weight loss. Exercising in cold water is generally thought to burn far more calories than normal exercise because your body is working hard to keep your temperature up.
• It can greatly assist injury recovery. Muscle aches, inflammation and joint pain can all be helped by immersion in cold water, and as it’s a non-weight bearing activity it doesn’t produce the strains on your body you get from other sports.
• The different strokes you can do give different parts of your body a real workout, with a really low chance of injury. You can’t do that in a gym!
• There’s extensive research to show that your immune system, white blood count and general circulation all benefit from regular cold-water swimming; it also activates anti-bodies and improves your metabolic rate. What’s not to like here!
• It’s really sociable. Whether you join a club, a regular group, or just find a well frequented open water swimming location, you’ll expand your social circle and join a community with like-minded people.
• It’s a challenge both mentally and physically, and you’ll get a real sense of achievement as you push yourself to do a little better than the time before.

So why not a give it a go? There’s lots of information out there as to how to get started safely and Mytriathlon will be giving you hints and recommendations in this series. It’s a marvellous sport which we love; we want you to love it too!

If you’re in or around the Manchester Area pop into our Open Water Swim at Leigh and Lowton sailing club.Take a look at the web site www.myopenwaterswim.co.uk for timetables and membership details