One of the more fun swim events is the annual 1.4 mile Pier to Pier swim in Bournemouth where swimmers have to brave the cold English Channel from Bounemouth Pier to Boscombe Pier in aid of the British Heart Foundation . 

 

The weather was a scorcher and running into the sea at the mass start provided instant relief from the sweltering heat. 

 

The Pier to Pier is also Europe's largest open water swim and although it wasn't a serious race I still finished in the top 35 out of 1500 so still a job well done.