About the Great North Swim

The Great North Swim is the UK’s biggest open water swimming event, set in the stunning Lake Windermere. It’s a three-day weekend of swims, community, nature & challenge - whether your goal is 250m or 10k, it’s got something for you.

Here’s our hot take on the Great North Swim:

Six distances to choose from: 250m, 500m, 1 mile, 2 miles, 5k & 10k - whether you’re dipping your toe in or chasing a marathon swim, there’s something for everyone.

An iconic setting: Windermere is England’s largest lake, backed by scenic hills & forests. Swimming here feels special.

A welcoming crowd: Last year, over 7,500 swimmers & around 20,000 supporters took part. You’ll meet people doing it for fitness, for fun, for charity, or just for the buzz of completing their first outdoor swim.

Safe & well organised: After 18+ editions, the team know their stuff. Expect tested water quality, safety crews, rescue support & calm oversight.

Festival vibes: Beyond the swim, there’s food, music, activities & a buzzing community feel. We’ll be there too with a Catch stand - swing by & say hi.

If you’re new to open water, this is one of the friendliest places to start. And if you’re aiming for your fastest or furthest swim yet, it’s a brilliant stage for that too. It caters to both ends of the spectrum.

Whatever distance you’re swimming, good preparation makes all the difference. With a plan to guide you, you’ll enjoy the process as much as the event itself. Many Catch swimmers find that coaching, technique learning & training helps them fall in love with swimming - which carries on long after race day’s done.

General tips for preparing well

Getting ready for the Great North Swim isn’t just about swimming more. It’s about preparing smart so you turn up on race day feeling calm & confident.

Get open water ready: Your first outdoor swim shouldn’t be on race day. Get in a lake, river or the sea before June. Pool practice helps, but it’s no substitute for the real thing.

Focus on technique first: Swimming is technical, but small tweaks to your head, body position & breathing can transform your efficiency. Layer up small changes over time - that’s exactly what we help swimmers do at Catch.

Don’t cram: Last-minute training works for uni essays, not lake swims. Build fitness gradually. Consistency beats panic every time.

Have a plan: Guesswork kills confidence. A plan removes the “what should I do today?” stress & gives every swim a purpose.

Keep it flexible: Illness, holidays, work… life happens. Build in wiggle room so missed swims don’t stress you out. Progress, not perfection, is what counts.

Practise with your kit: Don’t test new gear on race day. Try your wetsuit, goggles & snacks early so any issues are ironed out by June.

What is Catch?

Catch makes it easy to improve your front crawl, build swim fitness & feel confident for the Great North Swim. Each week you’ll get a personalised training plan & a video lesson that show you exactly what to focus on.

With Catch, you’ll get:

Who's it for?

Busy swimmers who want structure, flexibility & confidence. As long as you can swim 50m of front crawl, Catch will meet you where you’re at - whether you’re training for your first open water event or pushing for a 10k.

What you'll get

Training that fits your life, technique that actually improves, & a plan that makes swimming more enjoyable every week.

What are the results?

Whether you’re brushing up on basics or mastering advanced techniques, this plan is designed to transform your open water swimming & help you feel the difference:

Varied & effective training to build strength, stamina & skills

Personalised plans that fit your busy life, so you can train when & where you like

Faster progress & less stress, so you can focus on the fun & freedom of open water