Scouting for winter swimming locations

As you might have caught, if you've been reading my posts now and then, I have tried hand with winter swimming lately. By no means am I a professional, nor do I intend to do it too often. It happens so, that I have visited the cold spring pools, which have approximately 3-4 degrees Celsius water in them, with some buddies lately. I don't want to make it a weekly habit, rather when I feel like it.

The last time we were winter swimming, we decided to try to increase the distances and time spent in water, after every few times. So the first time, we alternated the hot tub with swimming across the pool, which I think was like 5-6 times. The last time, we decided, after watching other people, to bet on quality instead of quantity. Go in the pool less tmimes, but spend more time in it.

Pros say that newbies should spend a maximum of 30 seconds the first times. Well, we felt we should now swim half the length of the pool. Probably we're gonna spend a few times doing that until our bodies are trained enough for more time and more length. I mean, swimming in the pool was cold (half the length of the pool was approximately 25 meters), but getting out hurt like hell. It's not like muscle crapms, but the muscles hurt. But the real pain came when we jumped in the hot tub after a few minutes. Luckily, the pain subsides quickly.

A tip, that was given to me by some more experienced swimmers - the more you rush and flutter around in the water, the more heat you lose and the faster you lose it. So it's not about getting the length of the pool done, but rather doing it in a calm manner.

But what about the new locations? Well, as I wrote, I intend NOT to take winter swimming very seriously, although I like it very much. But rather than set myself a challenge of making it a habit, I set myself a different challenge. To swim in natural water bodies - lakes, and eventually the sea.

This, of course, comes with the scary absence of the hot tub or sauna and this is what makes it a challenge. Anyway, this is why I hit the road today, while visiting a client, and made a 12 km detour to locate a lake that some winter swimmers praise. I didn't swim today, oh no... not nearly ready for that, but perhaps soon....

There was even some mild ice on the lake, so it would probably feel like jumping into a Creme Brulee :) But there are nice spots to park your car near the lake and keep the engine running warm, to heat you up later. Or perhaps, your body warms you up and you don't need anything else than just dry yourself using a towel and hop into your winter coat?! To be seen - hopefully soon.

Daily Activity, Walking