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Adventure swimming

Shannon Keegan: In search of Memphre

A swimmer raises their arm. Morning light reflects off the water, and mist rises up.

Shannon Keegan has a personal relationship with Lake Memphremagog. It’s the place that inspired her to take part in her first open water swim event, and where she caught the wild swimming bug, so it’s no surprise it’s somewhere that she’s returned to multiple times since. In this episode she talks about swimming across the 25 mile lake in search of Memphre – the mythical lake creature who lives there.

Shannon speaks in such a real and honest way about swimming, from the nerves before her first event, to what it felt like as she stepped into the water at nighttime for her 25 mile swim.

Through her work at Intrepid Water, Shannon helps other people find that same love of outdoor swimming, and shes’ been documenting the experiences of endurance swimmers through Marathon Swim Stories.

Intrepid water
Marathon Swim Stories

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Adventure swimming Episodes

Swimming the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz

A swimmer in front of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

I share my once in a lifetime experience of swimming from the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz. Not quite the route of the legendary swim from the prison, but close enough (I’ll have to go back one day!)

I can’t swim right now due to lockdown conditions, but I can reminisce about swimming! From being so nervous I didn’t want to go, to being in the water and seeing these two iconic landmarks from a very different perspective. 

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Adventure swimming Episodes

Matt Williams: Swimming the Lakes

Man in wetsuit swimming front crawl in lake, with mountains in the background

Adventurer Matt Williams on his incredible challenge to be the first person to swim every lake in the Lake District!

Matt shares his feelings ahead of the challenge – and how he needs more socks! Then we catch up again to find out how he got on, and the unexpected highs and lows on the journey.

Sponsor Matt

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Advice on training for events Episodes

Swimming the Dart 10k

A view over the River Dart in Devon

My experience of my first marathon distance swim, swimming the Outdoor Swimming Society’s Dart 10k from (very early!) start to finish. I got really lucky with perfect conditions that definitely made it easier than it could have been. In this episode I talk about the highs and lows of the swim and my thoughts on finishing the challenge.

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Adventure swimming Episodes

Liz Roe: A great day out

A swimmer in a wetsuit swimming past boats

A dedicated open water swimmer, Liz loves the freedom swimming outdoors gives and loves to encourage others into the water to experience this for themselves. In this interview Liz talks about her move from triathlon to longer swims. She recounts her swim across the longest lake in England, Lake Windermere, and her journey to becoming an open water swim coach and helping others get into the water. 

Liz’s website: Lakes Lidos Lanes

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Cold water swimming Episodes Swimming and mental health

How swimming helps with the tough stuff

A sunset reflecting on the sea

The podcast is back after a short break! In this episode I talk about why I needed to take a break, and how swimming has helped me with recent life challenges; from allowing me to focus on being in the moment, to making me more resilient.

For more information on the cold water research I mention in this episode, have a look at these articles:

BBC News: Can cold water swimming treat depression?

The Guardian: Could cold water swimming help treat depression?

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