Ever since we opened the doors to The Swim Shed there are countless things that give us a daily buzz…but the one that brings us the most happiness is helping people achieve what they didn’t think was possible for them. Our last clients today were the brilliantly funny and enthusiastic Blackmore’s, Ashley & Ros and their dog, Stanley, from Cambridgeshire. It was their final coaching session and check-in with Keith before flying to Copenhagen next week to compete in their first

The lakes are all open. British Summertime is here. No more excuses not to strip and dip! Whether you are in training for an open water swim event, or want to experience the expansive freedom of wild swimming...then wrestle an hour free to join us on a Friday night. You can soak up a TOP hours swim coaching and have some watery fun with like minded dippers all for eight quid. Before you rush to sniff out your budgie smugglers, sit back and have your swimming appetite whet by

I LIKE THE RHYTHMIC NATURE OF SWIMMING. In February we published the first account of Swimming + Me by Mark Gabriel. This month our good friend, Emily Campbell, steps into the spotlight to tell us all about her relationship with swimming. I HAVE ONE OF THOSE INCREDIBLY ANNOYING ATTITUDES OF 'OF COURSE I CAN DO THAT.' I am the great granddaughter of a long line of East Coast Lifeboat men. Men who were fishermen during the day, making a living from being on water, and lifeboat

…so long in fact that I am yet to say Happy New Year to you all! A month ago today I took the photo above just before our Scottish Christmas Day dip! Here we are a month on, 25th January, continuing with the Scottish vibe…Burns Night! So is 2015 all about the swim for you? Or is it a mix of swim..bike…run? Huge numbers of you are taking the plunge for some epic open water swims this year. Three-ish months to go ’til most lakes are open to the public, that said I know there ar

By far one of the best inventions in my daily life is the dishwasher. Yep. I had to put up a real case, many moons ago, to persuade Mr. Lewis of the positive impact it would have in our lives. Apart from the obvious ‘neither of us having to wash up’ I went as far as suggesting (as the icing on the cake) that we could do more enjoyable and pleasurable things (!!) with the time that we were freeing up! Sold. Mr. Lewis regularly reminds me that I am behind with my payments (huh)

October already and we’re on our 5th drop-in swim session at Wolverton tonight! As local lakes close for open water swimming, it’s super to see the ‘Wolverton Regulars’ retreating indoors along with a host of new faces. It’s exciting and inspiring to hear about what you have all committed to event-wise in 2015…a rising tide raises all ships! If you are planning to come along at some point between now and Christmas, get hold of a Tempo Trainer so you can join in some of the dr

Two weeks ago on Sunday 6th July Sheddie, Emily Campbell, lined up at the swim start of Ironman Frankfurt. Her first triathlon, her first Ironman…she only began learning to swim in January of this year. So, following 7 months of training she got kicked and swam over in the early stages of the swim. Vurst, a german kayaker, came to her side and paddled with her for the remainder of the way. They had a swim / paddle / natter and it transpires that ironically Vurst had camped at

Friday afternoon Sheddies, how is your week shaping up so far? What have you got lined up for this weekend? I was talking with Adam (Wallace) after swimming last Friday and he asked me how I came up with stuff to write about. My answer is and was – I never know until I finish work, grab a cuppa and sit down in front of the computer! ( You’re probably thinking…’yeah it shows!’). Well my week has been punctuated with all things run-related…so that’s what I’m going to share wit

Game day! That’s what Keith greeted me with when I got up on Saturday morning. Over muesli he asked me what my race plan was! Race plan, what race plan? Since January this year all I had been focussed on was getting into the lake, making my way across to the other side, then getting out at which point I would feel euphoric and the rest was just fuzzy stuff. In reality, speaking as a new born triathlete (!!! woo hoo) it was so much more than that. Keith shot off to Blenheim ve

Two weeks ago I put my new swimming skills to the test, for the first time, in open water in preparation for the Blenheim Tri. I wasn’t alone on this maiden voyage, accompanied by the nucleus of our new triathlon club (Shed Triathlon), my friends, fellow ‘Shed’ members and Blenheim competitors, Bethany & Leigh were also taking the open water plunge for the first time. After apprehensive changing room banter, me, Bethany and Leigh casually walked out, wet-suited up, along the