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Leap In cover art

Leap In

By: Alexandra Heminsley
Narrated by: Alexandra Heminsley
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Summary

It may have been because she could run. It may have been because she wanted to swim, or perhaps because she only ever did 10 minutes of breaststroke at a time. But, as she learned one day while flailing around in the sea, she really couldn't.

Believing that a life lived fully isn't one with the most money earned, the most stuff bought or the most races won but one with the most experiences experienced the most fully, she decided to conquer her fear of the water.

From the ignominy of getting into a wetsuit to the triumph of swimming from Kefalonia to Ithaca, in becoming a swimmer Alexandra learns to appreciate her body and still her mind. As it turns out, the water is never as frightening once you're in, and really, everything is better when you remember to exhale.

©2017 Alexandra Heminsley (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about Leap In

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Very entertaining

This is read by the author, who reads it entertainingly and well, I can't imagine it would be half as good read by another narrator.

The story of her adventures into outdoor swimming is as humourously and well told as her book on running, with little forays into her personal life for added interest.

I can wholeheartedly recommend both Alexandra Heminsley's audiobooks. They have also encouraged me to give running and swimming a good try! Alexandra makes them hard to resist.

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6 people found this helpful

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loved it

A very inspiring heart warming and wrenching book.

Alexandra writes in such a way that make swimming feel so much more accessible and less scary even to a reluctant swimmer like myself.

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4 people found this helpful

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Well written, inspiring and brave

An interesting read about both open swimming, with practical advice (the second section of the book) and the story of Alex’s conversion to swimming. Alex is brave in also tackling the very emotional subject of IVF and, although not what I was expecting, I admire her brutal honesty and admire her wise and courageous reflections.

So many similarly themed books - charting the highs and lows from starting training to success of some sort - are inspiring but in need of a good edit; this one however is brilliantly written.

An interesting and inspiring read from a talented writer.

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2 people found this helpful

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Recommended for outdoor swimmers

Enjoyed the recounts and the narration too. Would recommend to those who are outdoor swimmers or looking for motivation and advice before outdoor swimming for the first time.

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  • Overall
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Renewed my love of swimming

I now officially love Alexandra Heminsley. I have read her running book before this and they are both amazing. This book renewed my love of swimming. It is very inspiring. She is also a great narrator.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Worth a read if you’re thinking about starting

Quite inspirational for beginner swimmers and with some good tips, especially at the end of the book. However I found the author’s constant moaning and feeling sorry for herself a bit grating. She also seems very judgemental, for some reason especially when it comes to middle aged white men in expensive wetsuits.

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Great for those interested in taking up swimming

I could really relate to this story as I have never learnt to swim front crawl but am becoming increasingly interested in the idea of outdoor swimming.
Some great tips on where to start, books to read and swimming holidays as well as a touching insight into the authors life, I enjoyed listening to this all the way through.
Inspiring and motivating.

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    3 out of 5 stars

I did enjoy it, but not super memorable.

I do love outdoor swimming so parts were interesting, but it was a bit patchy and by they end, I felt a bit meh. The bits about her personal struggles were really pointent, but then we just left that and heard about that earplugs to buy. Jumped around in tone a little.

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Enjoyable and inspiring.

It took a little while to warm to this book but I'm glad I did. it's part memoir, part guide to swimming and 100% about how persistence pays off.

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  • Overall
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Fabulous!

As a keen open water swimmer myself, I was really looking forward to listening to this while I worked, and it didn't disappoint! I laughed, cried, empathised and felt inspired, the whole way through. I have since bought hard copies for swim friends as gifts! Brilliant!

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