I suppose initially I ought to quantify what I imply by chilly water swimming. To some swimming in open water of 16 levels may be chilly, however for me chilly water swimming includes Winter Swimming or Ice Swimming, which implies the water is 5 levels C or beneath with no wetsuit.
While you dwell within the UK and if you wish to swim yr spherical then why cease swimming within the outdoor throughout the winter? I lived and labored in London for 2 years while I used to be engaged on the 2012 Olympics and was a member of the Serpentine Swimming Membership (Hyde Park, London) throughout this time. The membership has been going for over 100 years and each single day somebody has been swimming with out a wetsuit yr spherical. The blended altering room is a hut subsequent to the lake and throughout the winter sizzling teas are made for individuals who have been for a dip or swim in water.
There’s a large social side of winter swimming, the friendships you construct up throughout these chilly, darkish mornings as you stroll outdoors within the rain or snow to plunge into 3 diploma water is great. Then there may be the sensation of wellbeing you get when you come out of a chilly swim, though these skilled in chilly water don’t grasp round to speak, you have to be disciplined sufficient to get heat garments on right away to permit your physique to regularly heat up.
I’ve now taken half in three World Winter Swimming Championship occasions in London, Latvia and Finland. The races vary from 25 meters head up breaststroke, 50meters freestyle and my private favourite the ‘endurance swim’ of 450 meters. The foundations are not any diving in, no tumble turns and no wetsuits. In Finland the ‘pool’ space was reduce out of the ice, and a crew was readily available to scoop out freshly fashioned ice . The races (together with relays) go on for 3 days, with plenty of social actions within the night.
However to coach up for an occasion like this I discovered myself heading as much as the excessive mountain lakes within the Lake District, UK. Discovering lakes half lined in ice to get used to the water temp impacts on my physique. Earlier than the World Championships additionally took half in a winter swimming race in Siberia (air temp minus 15, water temp 0). This additionally included a protracted distance ice swimming occasion, the place I managed to swim 1400 meters, taking on 20 minutes in 0 levels. Winter swimming doesn’t cease while you exit the water, the sensation stays inside you for hours and excessive ice swimming can take a very long time in restoration the place you regularly warmth up the our bodies core temp (to be trustworthy for excessive swimmers this could be a painful expertise as the nice and cozy blood returns to your extremities).
However winter swimming is changing into standard as soon as once more within the UK and I arrange my very own occasion ‘The Huge Chill Swim’ in Windermere, with a weekend of races subsequent to a 4 star lodge for the night capabilities, swimmers flew in from Lativa, Finland, Russia, South Africa and Germany to participate alongside over 800 different swimmers. These are enjoyable occasions each for the swimmers and spectators.
So subsequent time you discover your pool slightly chilly when you find yourself getting in, simply bear in mind should you can break the ice, then its okay to swim in!
Disclaimer! Clearly you should bear in mind your frequent sense when winter swimming. It takes a very long time to grow to be skilled sufficient to deal with lengthy distances. Quick dips are sufficient for many and hypothermia is one thing that you simply want to concentrate on and never underestimate. Discover different winter swimmers round you and luxuriate in going for brief dips in chilly water.
Take a look at Colin Winter swimming in Pink Tarn, English Lake District
