In a fit of winter boredom and yearning for hot sun and open water, I booked a series of open water swim events both in the UK and further afield. As they draw closer, I’m slightly panicked that I may have bitten off much more than I’m capable of. My sense is that these events could be quite daunting with their mass starts full of flailing arms and huge water churns. One of the events creeping up on the calendar is the ‘Arla Great North Swim 2025’. https://www.greatswim.org/great-north-swim

I have noticed that the organisers have now added a ‘Quiet Half Mile Wave’ which according to the website is ‘open to all swimmers who want to get in the water in a quieter environment.’ This will entail reduced capacity and dialling down the PA music to create a much more calming environment. I’m all for it. Although I’ve signed up for a different wave, I really applaud this effort at a more inclusive vibe which recognises different swimming preferences and abilities and I imagine that in a few years time (if I’m lucky), this will be the wave for me.