Swim Marathon

Date:
- Add to Calendar 2024-08-01 00:00:00 2024-10-24 00:00:00 Swim Marathon Take on a challenge like no other as you swim a marathon or half marathon distance over 12 weeks. Swim 26 or 13 miles in 12 weeks WaterAid UK [email protected] Europe/London public
The swim challenge:
Swim 26 or 13 miles in 12 weeks
Where:
Pool, lido or open water
Fundraising target:
Suggested £150
WaterAid

Event information

Take on a challenge like no other as you swim a marathon or half marathon distance over 12 weeks.

Whether you’re already a swimming fanatic or you're looking to dip your toe in for the first time, take your health, wellbeing and fitness to the next level – and raise funds for the almost 1 in 10 people who don’t have clean water close to home.

How you do it is completely up to you: break your swim challenge down to weekly laps, or reach your distance over a few swims. What's important is you have fun, enjoy the water and raise some money to bring the joy of clean water to others around the world!

How to get started

Help spread the joy of water

In the UK we're so lucky to have clean water in abundance to help us live healthy, happy lives – for swimming as well as drinking, cooking, washing and growing food. But for 1 in 10 people around the world that just isn't the case.

Right now 771 million people don't have clean water close to home.

They must rely on far-away water sources, wasting hours every day collecting water that isn't even safe. They're forced to drink and clean with dirty water that could make them sick. But together, through our love of water, we can change that.

Tantely smilling as she splashes clean water, as her grandfather Albert looks on.
Image: WaterAid/Ernest Randriarimalala

When communities like Tsarafangitra in Magagascar get clean water for the first time there's a tremendous sense of joy. They know that from now on there's a chance for children to stay in school and get an education, for families to make a decent living, and for the whole community to lift themselves out of poverty. There's the possibility of a healthier, happier life.

You can help spread these joys and possibilities by taking part in Swim Marathon and bringing clean water to people around the world.

Register your interest for 2024

Swim safety

Always make sure you:

  • research and plan your open water swims in advance to find suitable entry and exit points,
  • bring appropriate equipment,
  • avoid swimming at night.

For more safety advice, read Outdoor Swimmer's guide to outdoor swimming.

FAQs

This is your swim challenge, so it's completely up to you how often you swim to complete your chosen distance, but to help you decide, our friends at Outdoor Swimmer have put together some guidance with suggested weekly distances, based on your experience, as well as their top tips for making your Swim Marathon fun and achievable.

However you decide to reach your distance, just make sure you're being realistic for your level of fitness and stay safe!

There are a few ways you could keep track of your challenge:

  • Download an app like Strava to track your swims. You can either link this to a waterproof smartwatch if you have one, or manually add an activity every time you swim. If you use Strava, you can link this directly to your fundraising page, log your swim distance and keep your sponsors up to date with your progress.
  • If you don’t use Strava you can still log your distance using a manual feature on your fundraising page. As with Strava this helps to track your progress and keep your sponsors up to date with how you’re getting on!
  • Keep notes with a good old fashioned pen and paper! You can then update your fundraising page with comments letting your sponsors know where you’re at with your challenge.

However you track your swim challenge, make sure to share your progress with your friends and family!

Join our Strava Club to meet fellow Swim Marathon participants. We also have a Swim Marathon Facebook Group

If you've decided you're taking on an outdoor Swim Marathon challenge, then our friends over at Outdoor Swimmer have loads of useful tips and advice on swimming outdoors, such as their guides on where to swim, and how to get started.

Yes, to celebrate your fantastic achievement and thank you for completing this epic swim challenge every swimmer who raises over £100 and completes their distance will receive an exclusive Swim Marathon medal.

Yes, new for 2023, young people under the age of 18 can be registered for the challenge by a parent or guardian. All entrants under the age of 18 must be under the supervision of an adult at all times when completing their Swim Marathon challenge. Please ensure you read the 'Registering on behalf of someone under the age of 18 ' section of our terms and conditions during the registration process. 

If you're participating in the full marathon distance, that's 26 miles or 42 kilometres, please see the lengths required to complete the challenge based on your pool length below,

50 metre pool = 840 laps

25 metre pool = 1680 laps

 

If you're participating in the half marathon distance, that's 13 miles or 21 kilometres, please see the lengths required to complete the challenge based on your pool length below,

50 metre pool = 420 laps

25 metre pool = 840 laps

Every registered swimmer who raises over £20 will be sent a Swim Marathon swim cap. We will automatically send out your cap once you reach this milestone!

(Please make sure we have up to date address information for you)

Contact us

Do you have any questions about Swim Marathon, or need advice on fundraising?

Get in touch with Lizzie from our events team – she'd love to hear from you.

Email: [email protected]

Lizzie-Griffiths