This Saturday, I’m jumping into two freezing ponds and running a total of 13 miles. Sounds great, doesn’t it? It’s all part of The Swimmer event that’s been quietly building a reputation as a fun (if freezing) way to experience London’s outdoor delights.
The swim-run event was inspired by the John Cleever short story and Burt Lancaster film, The Swimmer, and takes place on the second Saturday of every month throughout the autumn, winter and spring.
I’m no stranger to outdoor swimming, having taken part in the inaugural Great North Swim and a couple of triathlons. A few of summers ago, I even contemplated tackling the English Channel as part of a relay team. The reason I didn’t, aside from the substantial cost that such a trip incurs, was the cold. Try spending 30 wetsuit-free minutes in 12-degree water and you’ll see what I mean.
Fortunately for me, The Swimmer doesn’t require entrants to swim a certain distance; you simply jump in, splash around and jump out at your leisure. As such, it’s a refreshingly relaxed alternative to the super-competitive world of triathlons: The Swimmer attracts people of all abilities but it is explicitly not a race.
The festivities start at Hampstead Heath ponds at 7am. Having jumped in the icy waters, the entrants then make their way on foot to the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park, a distance of 5 miles. After they’ve immersed themselves there, it’s a seven-mile jog to the Brockwell Lido, an unheated outdoor pool in Herne Hill. To finish, everyone’s encouraged to refuel and reheat with one of the lido café’s famous cooked breakfasts.
The whole thing (excluding breakfast, which you regrettably have to buy yourself) costs £20. Not bad, heh? Anyway, I’ll be reviewing the event in the next issue of MR so keep ’em peeled. Right, I’m off to find my speedos…
