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Swimming
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We’re celebrating four years of the Freestyle Media podcast with some exciting news! Woking’s Julie Howe joins the podcast team as a regular presenter. Find out what she’ll bring to the show and what listeners can look forward to.
Helen is also joined by Nottingham Leander’s Alex Thurston to review the National Masters Open Water Championships at Rother Valley Country Park. Despite challenging high winds threatening the event, competitors enjoyed a fantastic day of racing.
Alex shares his experience, reflects on the performances of his teammates and other competitors, and captures the unique atmosphere of the championships.
Whether you raced this year or are thinking about giving open water a try next season, this episode is packed with practical advice, from what to wear and how to pace yourself to what makes the event such a memorable experience.
We also take a trip down memory lane, looking back on some of our favourite podcasts from the last year and celebrate the amazing Masters swimming community that has made this milestone possible.
Visit our Instagram Channel for additional content via @freestyle_media_swimming and please leave us a rating or review on your podcast player.
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"#197: National Open Water & Exciting News with Alex Thurston & Julie Howe" is an episode of Freestyle Media. Runtime 46 min. Published August 3, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.