Want to swim but find it too much of a hassle? Me too – but here’s how I cracked it

Ready, set … Leah Harper at Ironmonger Row Baths in London. Photograph: Alicia Canter/The Guardian

Mine is a familiar story: I used to hate even the idea of running. But, in 2020, when gyms closed their doors, I downloaded the Couch to 5k app, and ran approximately three times a week for the next four years, culminating in a half marathon in 2024 – and, predictably, an injury.

Physios treating my persistent hip pain didn’t tell me to stop running – but they did suggest I might want to explore other, lower impact options, such as swimming. But where to start? What’s the aquatic version of Couch to 5k or parkrun?