2020 Henley mile

Pool2lake have attended the Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival for the last 2 years. The event will be taking place on Sunday, 12 July 2020, at the stunning location of Temple Island Meadows just outside Henley-on-Thames. Make sure you book the date in your diary, as it would really be fantastic to get an even bigger team together. In 2019 pool2lake had 14 swimmers enter. You won’t be disappointed!!!

What I really like about the event is the whole family plus the dog can come along and there is something for everyone, even the spectators. The event caters for all swim abilities from recreational swimmers all the way up to elite swimmers. Children from 8 years can swim the 200m’s and club swimmers the 1 mile from 14 years old. The woman only event fills up pretty quickly.

Pack a picnic and make sure you have cake. No swim is complete if there is no cake. I normally bake various different cakes for all the swimmers. The lemon drizzle is still a firm favourite. Set up the camping chairs, blanket and soak up the swim vibes.

Distances

· 200m 8-12 years

· Half mile 9 years plus

· 1 mile 14 years plus

· Suits vs skins (2 miles)

The suits versus skins swim test.

Most of us absolutely love our wetsuits and the thought of swimming with no wetsuit causes heart palpitations for some. This is a fantastic controlled event to measure your swim times in a wetsuit and then again in skins. Does your wetsuit give you the upper hand?

Elite swimmers.

You can maybe have your few minutes of glory swimming alongside an elite swimmer. Give it a go and try draft off the swimmer!!!! Let me know if you manage it.

The event is very easy to get to and there is ample parking. If you subscribe to the Outdoor Swimmer you get free parking.

Basic camping is available from 2pm the day before. There is no electricity but water and toilets are provided. Last year the people who camped got to see the Regatta fireworks, which I believe were spectacular.

So, while you're waiting for your swim event, you can look at the various stalls. Swim Trek Holidays, Swim Quest Holidays, you might be walking away having booked a swim holiday!!! Zoggs for all your swim kit. Swim Secure and their different tow floats. Nancy Farmers has her cool swim caps and super fun artwork which are all swim related. No shortage of food stalls, the pizzas were mouth wateringly delicious.

Both my girls have swum the half mile event and for me I love been able to walk along the bank and support them the whole way. The goodie bag is a big draw card for them!!! You can also swim with your children if you want to. I get so excited seeing my swimmers reach the finish line. It’s normally their first event. That sense of achievement and exhilaration that they have achieved their goal is an absolute pleasure to watch.

Wow, nothing can beat a swimmer’s smile!!!!

Book it!!!!