British swimmers and others who reside in London just get on with it and swim year-round in the Serpentine and other cold water venues throughout the UK
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Deirdre Ward of the Serpentine Swimming Club finished a two-way English Channel crossing in 27 hours 52 minutes on August 23rd-24th. John Tierney explained the significance of Ward's third and fourth career crossing of the Channel. "Deirdre's swim is the 43rd two-way crossing of the English Channel in
"...never be scared to dare..." Ram Barkai, South Africa "...old swimmers don't die, they just wade away..." Ted Erikson, USA "...nothing great is easy..." written on the memorial of Captain Matthew Webb, UK "...expect the unexpected..." Heraclitus, Greece "...just get on with it..." John Tierney, Ireland "...big love..." Nick Adams, UK "...going for a
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Soon after the Daily News of Open Water Swimming reported on the Serpentine Swimming Club and its mindset of "just get on with it" (see here), reports came out of London that today's Serps practice was conducted in near 0ºC (32ºF) water with an even lower air temperature and wind chill. Those conditions
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. In the Mediterranean climate of Southern California where hundreds of outdoor pools dot the landscape, there are tens of thousands of swimmers who train daily under professional well-paid coaches. Under the nearly constant California sunshine, athletes enjoy beautiful aquatic facilities and miles and miles
John Tierney of the Serpentine Swimming Club penned this poem: Some say that swimming is boring, perhaps a trifle dull, Splashing past chlorinated lane ropes, with very little to mull. But other places are more profound, such as in lake, river and sea, Like many a dry-docked Londoner, it’s the Serpentine for me. It’s open in the summer, when the Serps
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. "You won't kill yourself," were the first and repeated encouraging words from the die-hard members of the Serpentine Swimming Club in London. Their advice was "to get in, get on with it, and get out when you need to." The problem with that strategy is that I am admittedly soft, unhardened like warm
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. With a heavy fog laying down over Hyde Park, the early morning hours in the Serpentine presented a tranquility that was more characteristic of a rural setting than a venue in London. In the heart of one of the world's greatest metropolitan areas, youthful and middle-aged exercise enthusiasts were riding
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. "Just get on with it," was heard frequently upon our visit to the famed Serpentine Swimming Club in London. On an early morning when the London fog blanketed Hyde Park and the skyline fell low upon the horizon, the hardy members of the Serpentine Swimming Club religiously walked towards the Serpentine.
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.
Kilometer after kilometer, open water swimmers continue to forge through the world's oceans, lakes and bays.
Seemingly impervious to pain, discomfort and cold (or hot) temperatures, these aquatic adventures take endurance to the ultimate extremes.
They inspire each other as the
