'We Found Love At The Lido'

Katie Kingwell, 32, explains why she believes joining a group exercise you’re passionate about is the perfect way to meet your partner

- Jo Willacy

Walking into a South London lido one cold winter morning, I could never have imagined I’d not only find an exercise I love, but also a man I love. Yet, looking back to December 2012, as I attempted my first outdoor winter swim at Brockwell Lido, that’s just what happened. I didn’t even meet my fiancé Marcus, now 51, in the water – we first said hello at the turnstiles!

I thought it was mad

Exercise has always been a big part of my life and I took up swimming and running in my twenties. I get the odd knee niggle, so swimming is a great alternative to running for those times. I used to swim indoors, but I didn’t like the atmosphere. It was always hot and crowded, and people never seemed to be enjoying themselves – just monotonously swimming length after length…

I’d had the same experience at the gym prior to that. I found I never really talked to anybody as everyone was just silently slogging away!

Living in London, I’d often seen people swimming in the Serpentine in Hyde Park in winter. I’d always thought they were crazy and used to think I’d never do anything so mad, but a desire to try something different changed all that.

I loved the feeling of outdoor winter swimming straightaway – the sense of space is wonderful and being outside means every day is different. Swimming amongst leaves, sometimes with ducks, in the sun, rain – even snow – is fun and inspiring, and immediately exercise became enjoyable rather than a chore.