Red Equipment - UK
Red Equipment - UK

Red x Swimmr | Find Your Next Open Water Swim Challenge
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Written by Lydia Burdett /

In the final post of this week’s blog takeover, Olympic and World Champion swimmer Dan Wallace of Swimmr suggests some inspiring open water swim challenges to help stay motivated…

Open water swimming isn’t just about fitness or technique – it’s about adventure. Once you’ve built up confidence in the water, the real magic happens when you start setting challenges and pushing yourself in new ways. Whether it’s an organised event, a personal challenge, or ticking off some epic swim spots, there’s always something exciting to aim for.
Red Equipment - UK
Red Equipment - UK
Red Equipment - UK

Take On an Open Water Event

Nothing pushes you quite like an official event. There are so many open water races out there, from 1-mile charity swims to marathon distance challenges. Events like the Henley Swim Festival, Dart10k, and the Great North Swim are fantastic for all levels.

Tackle a Bucket List Swim

Some swimming challenges go beyond racing – they’re lifetime achievements. If you’re looking to push yourself, consider:

  • A Mediterranean Swim Holiday
    Explore crystal-clear waters, stunning coastlines, and multi-day swim trips in Greece, Italy, or Croatia.

  • The Scilly Swim Challenge
    A multi-island swim across breathtaking waters in the Isles of Scilly – scillyswimchallenge.co.uk

  • Swimming the English Channel
    The ultimate test of endurance, taking on the 21-mile crossing between England
    and France.

Commit to a Consistency Challenge

If racing or travel isn’t for you, setting a consistency challenge can be just as rewarding. Try one of these:

  • Swim 10 times in a month – track your progress and see the improvements.
  • Set a distance goal, like hitting 20k total distance in four weeks.
  • Pick a location and aim to dip every day for a month.

Start a Structured Training Plan

Taking on a new challenge doesn’t always have to mean racing or travel. If you want to improve your technique, endurance, and confidence, following a structured training plan can take your swimming to the next level. Swimmr offers tailored programs to help you build consistency, refine your skills – and swim smarter, not harder.
Red Equipment - UK
Red Equipment - UK

The best thing about open water swimming? There’s always a new challenge waiting. Whether it’s an event, a dream swim location, or just getting in the water more often, pushing yourself keeps things fresh and exciting.

So, what’s your next big challenge? Let me know!

Happy Swimming,
Dan Wallace
Swimmr Head Coach
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