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Natalie Hood

@natalieswimsandstuff

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Founder, Natalie Hood & Associates. Talking Pools Myth Buster. Marathon Open Water Swimmer. Swim advocate for @everychildaswimmer. Forever Student

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He always knows how to keep a smile on my face 🤣

BTW WE ARE OFFICIALLY UNDER 3 WEEKS BABY! LETS GO!!!

#everychildaswimmer #openwaterswimming #watersafety #swim #marathon by @natalieswimsandstuff

Had an adventurous hike this morning! We visited House Mountain National area today. Was a bit tricky to navigate but we did it and had fun doing it lol. The girls ask ALLLL the questions lol but we made up and back down 🥰

#hike #family #girldad #moutiains #outdoors by @natalieswimsandstuff

Join us this Wednesday at 7pm for WaterWatcher Wednesdays with Natalie Hood!

Natalie learned to swim from her mom and has spent her life in the water as a competitive swimmer, lifeguard, swim instructor, coach, and 25-year aquatics industry leader. Now a mom of two little girls, she’s taking on the Tennessee Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, three marathon swims covering more than 21 miles, to raise funds for Every Child A Swimmer. With two swims behind her and Swim the Suck in Chattanooga coming up, we’ll talk about her journey, what open water has taught her, and why every child deserves the chance to learn to swim.

Until Every Child Swims™ by @natalieswimsandstuff

From the first swim to today. 💙

A few weeks ago I was standing on the riverbank in Knoxville wondering if my shoulder would hold up to these long miles ahead of me. Now I’m five days out from my last swim of the campaign. Taped up, trained up, and still swimming for the same reason.

These are the moments in between: Bridges to Bluffs 10K, Hobbs Island against the current, early mornings in the pool, long training sessions in open water, and the people who remind me exactly who this is for.

None of this happens without my sponsors. Thank you for believing in this campaign and for believing in me.
@hasapoolinc @revdapp1 @h2flow_controls @4tenjam @talkingpoolspodcast @only_pools_ @aquacomfortwatergroup

And a special thank you to @revdapp1 for donating 100% of the net proceeds from the She Swims So They Can apparel back to @everychildaswimmer. 💙

Saturday, October 3, is Swim the Suck. A total of 10.36 miles. One more start line. One more finish line. Every stroke, every mile, every catfish encounter for @everychildaswimmer, so more kids get the opportunity to learn to swim and be safer in the water.

If you’ve been meaning to donate or grab the apparel, this is the week. Links in bio. LETS GO! 💪

#Swim #EveryChildASwimmer #openwaterswimming #marathonswim #poolpro by @natalieswimsandstuff

It’s been a full few weeks between open water swims and podcast episodes, with one more swim ahead of me on October 3rd, and in the middle of it all, I realized I haven’t talked much about what I actually do day to day.

At Natalie Hood & Associates, I help aquatic organizations navigate regulatory and certification challenges, plan and run large-scale events, and train the next generation of aquatics professionals. After 25+ years in this industry, it’s become less about any one skill and more about being someone people can call when things get complicated.

And with the season winding down and travel starting to ramp up, you might be feeling a little stretched thin, whether that’s running your own events or figuring out which ones are actually worth your team’s time and budget. If any of that sounds familiar, I’m always happy to talk it through.

And since it’s about that time of year: is there a myth you keep hearing on repeat this season, whether it’s about closing procedures, off-season maintenance, or anything else? Drop it below or send me a DM, who knows, we might end up busting it together on an upcoming episode.
Link in Bio 💙
#poolpro #poolindustry #podcast #eventplanning #myth by @natalieswimsandstuff

Hobbs Island Swim is complete, and can I just say swimming upriver against current is NO JOKE. The flow turned out to be 17,000 kcfs, which was not as bad but let me tell you, I felt it. Probably didn’t help that early wake up required allll the coffee and an energy drink.

Overall I had a great swim and saw a few familiar faces from my Knoxville swim, which was pretty cool.

My best time was 1:08 per 100 yards, my slowest was 1:51. At one point I stopped to adjust my goggles and may have turned myself completely around, but luckily the kayaker caught it and got me pointed the right way again.

I wouldn’t quite say I made a friend, but I definitely encountered a very large fish, may I even say a catfish, that slithered down my thigh and down to my ankle...

I was also pleasantly surprised to find out I got first in my age group, 30-39, by 7.24 minutes.

These swims have never been about how fast I can swim or how far I can go. They’re about raising awareness and raising funds for @everychildaswimmer 💙

HUGE shout out to my sponsors who are with me for every swim and support me all the way through. 🏆
@hasapoolinc
@revdapp1
@4tenjam
@h2flow_controls
@talkingpoolspodcast
@only_pools_
@aquacomfortwatergroup

And a massive shout out to @revdapp1 for donating 100% of net proceeds to ECAS and for these beautiful apparel designs. My mom has not taken her shirt off since she got into town. Link in bio to get yours today!

We are two swims down and one more to go. My longest swim is still ahead of me. October 3, I’ll swim 10 miles downstream. It’ll be the longest swim I’ve ever done, and I’m ready.
#openwaterswimming #swim #marathon #swimming #marathontraining by @natalieswimsandstuff

Big news!! I officially launched Natalie Hood & Associates, LLC and @poolmagazinedotcom has the story.

After 25+ years in this industry, from lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons to leading certification and education work at some of the biggest names in aquatics, I kept seeing the same thing. Organizations have great ideas, but turning those ideas into real programs, certifications, or events takes expertise across a lot of moving pieces.

That is what I built this company to do. I help organizations take an idea and get it across the finish line.

Grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way. Stay tuned, exciting things are coming.

If your organization has an idea that needs the right expertise to bring it to life, let’s talk.

Full story in bio

#consulting #womeninbusiness #pool #education #aquatics by @natalieswimsandstuff

Bridges to Bluffs 10k is complete. Now onto Swim Hobbs Island this Sunday, September 20.

This swim is upstream and the current is expected to be running strong at 23 kcfs. My bags are packed and my shoulder tape will be ready to go. Lots of rest and red light therapy in between swims.

Every mile, share, comment, like, click, and donation is in support of @everychildaswimmer so more children have the chance to learn to swim and be safer in the water.

Huge thank you to my sponsors, and to everyone following along and cheering me on I appreciate your continued support.
@hasapoolinc  @revdapp1  @talkingpoolspodcast  @h2flow_controls  @4tenjam  @aquacomfortwatergroup  @only_pools_

A special thank you to Revdup Apparel, who is donating 100% of the net proceeds from campaign apparel back to ECAS.

Purchase She Swims So They Can apparel or Donate directly to the campaign. - LINKS IN BIO

Let’s go! 💪

#marathon #swim #swimming #openwater #marathontraining by @natalieswimsandstuff

Natalie Hood brings more than 25 years of aquatics experience to the microphone as an educator, consultant, program developer, fitness professional, and unapologetic myth-buster. Before making waves in aquatics, she spent a decade as an Irish dancer, hula dancer, and dance instructor. She was also a Girl Scout and later became a certified personal trainer, teaching fitness at Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and Schriever Space Force Base. Natalie’s is quick-witted, energetic, and just intimidating enough to keep the Pros on their toes. But she is still the same girl who dressed her dogs in doll clothes and painted their nails.

#NatalieHood #TalkingPoolsPodcast #PoolIndustry #AquaticsProfessional #WomenInAquatics #PoolProfessionals #PodcastHost #MythBusting #IndustryLeadership #AquaticsEducation by @natalieswimsandstuff

Bridges to Bluffs 10k is complete. 💪

I had a great swim with even better people. Met some amazing folks and made a few new friends along the way.

The numbers: fastest pace was :47/100, slowest was 1:50/100. My shoulder had other plans toward the end and the mental game got real, but overall I felt strong. Surprisingly soreness is not bad, just a tired body. Lots of rest, rehydration and refueling is on the agenda.

None of this happens without my support team. Thank you to my sponsors:
@hasapoolinc @revdapp1 @h2flow_controls @4tenjam @talkingpoolspodcast @only_pools_ @aquacomfortwatergroup

Huge thank you to my pilot for keeping me fueled and hydrated on time and for helping me stay positive. She reminded me to stop and actually enjoy the view, and that made all the difference.

To everyone who sent messages before and after, I appreciated it. I am nothing without you all. 🫶🏻

It is an honor to represent @everychildaswimmer in the water. Every mile is for every child to get the chance to learn to swim and be safe. That is what She Swims So They Can is all about.

Professional photos are coming soon. For now, enjoying this footage hubby caught of me in the water.

Next up: 5 days until Swim Hobbs Island. Let’s go! #openwaterswimming #swim #marathonswimming #watersafety #swimming by @natalieswimsandstuff

It’s almost time!!!

This Sunday, I’ll take on the first swim of my She Swims So They Can campaign, Bridges to Bluffs, a 10K open water swim right here in Knoxville, TN.

This campaign is about so much more than the miles. Every swim is raising awareness and funds for @everychildaswimmer , helping give more children access to lifesaving swim education.

To my sponsors, thank you for believing in this campaign and supporting the mission behind every mile:
• @hasapoolinc  • @revdapp1  • @talkingpoolspodcast  • @h2flow_controls  • @4tenjam  • @aquacomfortwatergroup  • @only_pools_

A special thank you to RevdUp Apparel, who is donating 100% of the proceeds from campaign apparel back to ECAS.

And to everyone who has donated, shared a post, purchased apparel, or simply helped spread the word, thank you. If donating isn’t possible, sharing this campaign is just as impactful. Every share helps this mission reach someone new.

Purchase She Swims So They Can apparel (link in Bio)
OR Donate directly to the campaign
(link in Bio)

Stay tuned! The first 10K starts this Sunday in Knoxville, and the following Sunday we’re off to Alabama for the next open water challenge.

#SheSwimsSoTheyCan #swim #marathon #watersafety #swimming by @natalieswimsandstuff

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