Taking the Plunge: From Lunchtime Chat to 33.3km Ultra Swim Challenge

What inspired you to take on such a massive challenge—swimming 33.3 kilometres in open water? 

In all honesty, I wasn’t specifically looking to take on an ultra-swim. We regularly have lunch together at Red HQ, and during one of those chats, we were discussing what personal challenges we wanted to take on over the next 12 months. I mentioned I’d probably like to try outdoor swimming as something new—thinking maybe a small, local swim to start with. However, our social media manager Rachel was already in conversation with UltraSwim 33.3 at the time and quickly connected the dots. When the opportunity came up, she immediately put my name forward. 

Once the initial shock passed, I quickly found myself genuinely excited by the idea. The scale of the challenge was daunting, of course, but something about it sparked a real sense of purpose. Before I knew it, I was back in the pool, training and building up towards the event. 

Have you always been drawn to long-distance swimming, or is this a new goal for you? 

Not at all. In years gone by, I was a sprint swimmer—I loved the explosive nature of short events and the sheer amount of energy and speed they demanded. Long-distance swimming is a completely different game, especially when it’s in the open ocean! It’s been quite a shift in mindset and training, but that contrast is part of what’s made this challenge so intriguing. 

How have you been preparing for this swim? Can you share a bit about your training plan? 

I’ve always tried to swim once or twice a week, mostly as a way to carve out some time for myself. Getting into the water either before or after work really helps me reset—whether it’s to start the day clear-headed or to reflect and wind down in the evening. 

However, once I knew I’d be taking on the UltraSwim 33.3, I quickly realised I’d need to step up my training. I’ve since joined the local masters swim team at Plymouth Devonport Royal, who’ve been absolutely brilliant. They’ve played a huge role in helping me build both my technique and endurance. I’d really encourage anyone looking to improve their swimming to check out their local club and see if they have a masters programme—it’s a fantastic way to get structured support and motivation. 

What’s your typical weekly training regimen like as you build up to this distance? 

Training has had to fit around family life, so most of my pool sessions happen late in the evening—usually after my wife and I have put our one- and three-year-old to bed. It’s not always easy, but I’ve managed to build in some solid distance sessions that way, even if I’m not quite hitting the full ultra swim distance in one go just yet. 

We’re very fortunate to live close to the beach, and now that the weather’s starting to improve, we’ve been taking the boys down to play in the sand while I get in the sea for some open water swims. It’s a great way to start adapting to the variable conditions, which are a world apart from the pool! 

Have you encountered any specific challenges training in open water versus a pool? 

Swimming in a straight line is interesting! You have to sight—basically checking your direction—regularly, and ideally this needs to be integrated into your stroke for maximum efficiency. Stopping to figure out where you’re going isn’t ideal in a race scenario, so getting that rhythm right has been a key focus. 

Pacing is something I’m particularly conscious of. In the pool, you’ve got clocks at either end, which take a lot of the guesswork out of pacing and help structure your sets. Yes, there are smartwatches that can help outdoors, but checking them mid-swim isn’t always practical. Maintaining a consistent pace without that visual feedback is definitely one of the internal challenges I’m most aware of at the moment. 

And of course, beyond all that, there are the environmental factors—changing currents, swell, temperature, visibility—all of which you simply don’t deal with in a pool. Open water swimming definitely keeps you on your toes!

How do you mentally prepare for a swim of this magnitude? 

I’m still figuring a lot of this out to be honest. I know it’s going to be a huge mental challenge as much as a physical one, so I’ve been thinking about how I’ll keep my head in the right place. I’ll be aiming to just stay present and not get too caught up in how far there is to go. One stroke at a time, really. 

I’ve started trying to picture different parts of the swim and how I might feel—almost like walking myself through it ahead of time so it doesn’t come as a shock on the day. I think it’ll help to break the distance down in my head into smaller chunks, so I’m not constantly thinking about the full 33 kilometres. 

It’s fortunate that the event is broken into several swims, but I think each section will have its own pros and cons. The shorter swims in particular might be tricky, because I know I’ll want to go out fast—but being realistic about not being able to maintain that pace will be a bit of an internal battle. Then with the longer swims, it’ll be about keeping my stroke efficient, staying on pace, and making sure I’m swimming in a straight line—no one wants to swim any further than they have to! 

How do you plan to handle moments of doubt or fatigue during the swim? 

I think the biggest thing for me will be reminding myself where I am and what I’m doing—it’s an absolutely incredible adventure. My natural instinct when swimming or racing is to go out hard and fast. But that’s not what this swim is about. As my wife reminds me, just taking part is a privilege. And truthfully, it’s not even all about the swim. 

A method I’ve used—and shared with my team—is the ABC method for motivation and resilience. I’ve found it helpful to write this down and reflect on it from time to time, but I imagine I’ll be running through it in my head when things start to hurt. 

A is for Achievement – this is about listing all the things I’ve achieved or am currently achieving in life. They don’t need to be huge milestones; even the smallest wins count, as long as they’re mine. 

B is for Belonging – this is thinking about the groups and communities I’m part of, like family, work, the swim squad, friends—all the people I’m connected to. 

C is for Control – these are the things I have control over in my life, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. If it’s something I can manage or influence, it matters. 

Over time, I’ve noticed that the number of things in each of these areas can rise and fall, which is why I try to stay aware of them—writing them down on my phone helps. When someone feels low or demotivated, it’s often because one of these areas is out of balance. Taking the time to check in and boost those areas can be incredibly empowering. Resilience, I’ve found, often comes from knowing that even if one area is depleted, I can draw strength from the others. That’s exactly what I’ll be doing during the swim—especially during those tougher stretches. 

What are some of the physical challenges you expect to face during the swim, and how are you preparing for them? 

Physically, I’m not entirely sure what to expect—I imagine there’ll be some aches and pains afterwards, but hopefully nothing major. I’ve been fairly lucky so far and haven’t had any real injuries in training, so I’m hoping that continues. One thing I am aware of is chafing, which can become a real issue over longer swims, especially around the neck and shoulders. 

At the moment, I’m planning to wear a wetsuit, which should help with warmth and buoyancy, but I know that could also come with its own challenges. If I find I’m overheating or it starts causing issues I hadn’t expected, I might have to reconsider. A lot of it will come down to how things feel on the day and being prepared to adapt if needed. 

How do you plan to manage your energy, hydration, and nutrition during the race? 

This is definitely an area I’m still working on. In the past, I’ve never really had to think about fuelling during an event—my races were always over in under a minute, so it just wasn’t a factor. These longer swims are a completely different story. 

Day-to-day, I make a conscious effort to stay well hydrated, which I think will help as a baseline. For race day, I know there’ll be designated feed and hydration stations throughout the course, which will be important to make the most of. 

UltraSwim 33.3 have been absolutely brilliant in this area—they’ve pulled together several webinars packed with advice on fuelling and hydration strategies, and I’ve found them really helpful so far. I’ve no doubt that the guidance they’ve shared will be incredibly valuable as I get closer to race day and start fine-tuning what works best for me. 

Do you have a strategy for pacing yourself during the swim, or are you planning to just go with the flow? 

This is something I’m still figuring out, and to be honest, it’s probably one of my biggest concerns at the moment. I need to find that balance—going fast enough to make good progress, but not so fast that I burn out early on. At the same time, I don’t want to hold back too much and end up underselling what I’m capable of. 

I’m hoping that with more open water training, I’ll start to get a better feel for my natural pace over longer distances. It’s very different from pool swimming, where you’ve got a clock and set distances to guide you. Right now, I’m just trying to get a sense of what sustainable effort looks like for me out in the open water and trust that, with time, the pacing will start to come together. 

Will you have a support team with you during the swim? If so, what role will they play in helping you complete the race? 

Absolutely. In addition to the official UltraSwim 33.3 team—who I’ve heard are fantastic and incredibly well organised from a practical and safety perspective—I’ll also have a couple of the Red HQ team on the ground. They’ll be working at the event, but more importantly, they’ll be there as moral support, which I know will make a huge difference. 

I had really hoped to bring my family along too, as it would have meant a lot to have them there. But in the end, it just wasn’t realistic. It would’ve been a big ask to manage the travel, and for my wife to look after everything solo while I was in the water. As much as I’ll miss having them at the finish line, I know they’ll be cheering me on from home. 

Is there anything you’re nervous about or concerned with going into this race? 

If I’m honest, there’s a bit of an internal conflict I’m still trying to manage. Deep down, I really want to do well and place well—it’s just part of who I am when I swim. I’ve always had that competitive instinct when I’m in the water, and it’s hard to completely switch that off. But at the same time, I know that’s not what this swim is about. As I’ve said before, just being part of this event is something special, and I really do need to remind myself of that. 

It’s not easy being pulled in both directions—wanting to push for a result, but also wanting to fully appreciate the experience for what it is. I’m not sure it’s something I’ll fully resolve before race day, to be honest. I think it’s just about finding a bit of peace with that tension and doing my best to stay present and enjoy it along the way. 

Do you have specific time goals or benchmarks you’re aiming for during the swim? 

To finish—that’s the goal. Everything else is a bonus. 

What’s your mindset going into the race—are you more focused on the journey or the end result? 

The journey—definitely the journey! My thought process is that if I put the work in now during training, and start preparing myself mentally during my longer open water swims, it’ll give me a solid foundation to build on. That way, when I’m out there, I can really enjoy the experience for what it is. 

Phil takes on the UltraSwim 33.3 'Islands' edition in Croatia, 16th–19th May 2025. Follow @redequipment on Instagram and TikTok for updates from his journey.