12 October 2025 I am no expert on the intersection of the British school system with elite sports performance, but I have learned enough from living here almost two years to know that Millfield Prepatory School has an impressive aquatic pedigree.  When I saw an afternoon meet pop on the Swimming England Masters calendar, the Southwest Region Open Meet, I knew I had to make the trip.   It did not disappoint.  This facility, dedicated in 1995, has a reverential air, from the v

5 October 2025 This morning’s very short 1,100 meters was so for three very good reasons. First, this leisure centre just outside of the downtown core of Southampton doesn’t start its Sunday lane swimming service until 8:30am and I have a morning train to catch back to London, with breakfast still to eat. Second, with yesterday’s 2,500 meters fast aerobic Masters workout, I had already ratcheted up my average weekly swim volume by 30%**, and I am trying to be mindful of incre

1 September 2025 I didn't see any evidence of potters anywhere at the massive Furzefield Leisure Centre in Potters Bar, the first town...

30 August 2025 My wife went to Paris for the weekend to connect with her (practically) lifelong friend, who happened to be there for a...

27 August 2025 Technically (unless I do some rounding), I didn't cross the 75% achievement hurdle on my #1001Pools goal until I swam in...

25 August 2025 Since Roman times, many people arrive in Bath, England with healing waters on their minds. I was no different when my wife...

22 August 2025 Of course, it makes sense that the city name Edmonton originated in the UK and not in Canada! However, as I have only...

9 August 2025 After I finished my first 400 LCM free of 2025, back at the K2 Crawley meet in mid-January , I wrote ... I still think I...

27 June 2025 I think more London area fitness facilities should adopt this term - “Lifestyle Club” - over the much more dominant “Leisure...

25 June 2025 I had a business lunch meeting at a Thames-side hotel in Runnymede today, so I switched up my morning swim plan from the...