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Original poster

Pushed myself to try a new hobby-wild swimming. It was awful!!

62 replies

Shoesclues · 01/07/2023 21:13

I joined a FB group, was really nervous but pushed myself to go, thought that a lot of really great experiences have made me feel anxious before hand so I was expecting this to be great.

I arrived, everyone was friendly and said hello but obviously had their little groups and knew eachother. The swim was in a late. Water was quite warm but green, full of gnats and leaves. I bobbed about a bit feeling incredibly awkward but pretended I was loving it as everyone else clearly was.

Managed 20 minutes, got out, tried to get undressed infront of everyone but found it impossible without flashing so I just put my tracksuit on over the top of my cossie.

Drove home feeling very soggy and deflated. Do I give it another go? Really didn't enjoy it or get any kind of buzz from it but I need to get out more and be more social and there's very little around here.

OP posts:
bellac11 · 01/07/2023 21:18

You mean 'swimming'.

Well I like swimming in the sea, although have been too fat. Ive now lost some weight so would like to get back to it, the sea is just down the road

Im going to get myself a short jacket wetsuit and shorts wetsuit, and wear tshirt and leggings underneath, then Im going to take that off once Im out of the water and put one of those dry robes on to drive home

Well thats the plan anyway, havent looked into where I can buy this stuff yet.

Justmuddlingalong · 01/07/2023 21:19

You tried it and decided it wasn't for you. That's OK. Not everyone likes the same things. Is there a local Facebook page for your area? There's often posts about groups and events, even in the smallest towns and villages.

Fluffycloudsblusky · 01/07/2023 21:19

Maybe it was the wrong place to swim? You might prefer a river or somewhere with clearer water.
A beach poncho is great for getting changed with- much easier than with a towel

RequiresUpdating · 01/07/2023 21:20

Water was quite warm but green, full of gnats and leaves.
Really didn't enjoy it or get any kind of buzz from it

Which bit makes you think you should go back exactly 😂
If you like swimming, find a nice clean pool and after a while, I'm sure you'll find some regulars to chat to.

LBHSisgreat · 01/07/2023 21:20

Much nicer to swim in the sea! And yes, get a poncho thing for after. Plus swim shoes!

CaffineChaos · 01/07/2023 21:21

Any kind of activity with "wild" in the title would have me expecting to not enjoy it Grin

Seriously though, you've pushed yourself out of your comfort zone and gave something new a go so it hasn't all been shit. I feel like the common sense thing should be to give it another go if you're trying to make new friends but I'd not be able to follow my own advice and I'd never wild swim again. Sorry I'm no help

Aquamarine1029 · 01/07/2023 21:21

I think you should be really proud of yourself for trying something new! There is absolutely no shame in not enjoying it, op. You tried, it isn't your cup of tea. There are loads of other activities you can explore, and I'm sure there will be one that's a much better fit.

Cameraduck · 01/07/2023 21:22

Aldi are doing dry robes just now. As pp, I don’t much like fresh water to swim as much as the sea.

pinguins · 01/07/2023 21:23

Ah I felt like this about sailing. I was so excited to go and it was just cold and wet and actually getting the boat to behave was horrible, it kept capsizing and I was really, really bad at it all. I stuck with the group and found I enjoyed yachting, which they also did. Does your wild swimming group also do other settings that you might find more enjoyable like the sea or a river? If so I'd stick with it but if not I'd find something else to do (as a PP suggested, maybe a nice indoor pool).

Tadashi · 01/07/2023 21:24

Sounds gross (to me - I know loads of people love swimming in lakes and the sea etc).

I don't even really like swimming if I see shit like bugs or as I had yesterday a plaster 🤢floating about in there. It isn't rational, it just makes me feel really sick to share water with stuff like that.

But I love hiking and running outdoors and really love being in nature which sounds ludicrous considering what I've just said about swimming 🤣.

I think it's something about being practically naked and submerged in water and then seeing something a bit gross. When those things combine I feel sick. Try running. Definitely buzz after that and you get to see nature etc. There are running groups too for the social side.

Maybe cycling if not running

Tadashi · 01/07/2023 21:26

Sorry the plaster was in an I door pool. That wasn't very clear

Tadashi · 01/07/2023 21:26

Fgs indoor*

Nat6999 · 01/07/2023 21:28

Knowing what is being pumped in our rivers & seas, I wouldn't fancy either. Is there an outdoor pool you could try?

Original poster
Shoesclues · 01/07/2023 21:28

Thanks for all the replies and encouragement. I think I'll try again, seems a shame to have psyched myself up to do it and then quit straight away. I cant imagine it'll get any better though as it's only going to get colder!

Will have a look in aldi for a changing robe, thanks.

OP posts:
TheNinthLock · 01/07/2023 21:31

Shoesclues, whereabouts are you? If you near me I’d like to invite you along to my open water swimming group 🙂. I’m Surrey/Hampshire way.

Thereoughttobeclowns · 01/07/2023 21:33

It’s really popular in this area - lots of rivers. But also lots of sanitary pollution - high levels of faecal e-coil - so I don’t fancy it 😂. I’m amazed people do it without any consideration of what they’re ingesting.

swanling · 01/07/2023 21:35

I do admire your determination op. Are there really no other local activities you could join?

Showdogworkingdog · 01/07/2023 21:37

My friend does this. Sometimes he gets the shits afterwards, he thinks it’s from swallowing the water. Still does it though. Each to their own Confused

Riverlee · 01/07/2023 21:39

Well done on trying something new. Even if this isn’t the hobby for you, at least you gave it a go. Maybe try Aqua-aerobics in a swimming pool instead?

Original poster
Shoesclues · 01/07/2023 21:42

TheNinthLock · 01/07/2023 21:31

Shoesclues, whereabouts are you? If you near me I’d like to invite you along to my open water swimming group 🙂. I’m Surrey/Hampshire way.

Thankyou, too far unfortunately.

OP posts:
Yikesno · 01/07/2023 21:44

I love swimming in rivers and the sea but find lakes unpleasantly manky. You might want to give it another go somewhere else but if not that's ok too of course.

Oioicaptain · 01/07/2023 21:45

Don't try again. I did that wild swimming thing once before. It was grim. It sounds nice, but I went swimming in a safe river and it was creepy. Fish kept jumping out of the water around me (I didn't mind that bit), but the water was brown and muddy and it was so hard to get out of the bank, having had to battle against all the reeds at the edge of the river. It was definitely not the relaxing one with nature experience that I had envisioned. A crisp clear lake is one thing, as is the ocean, but murky water is grim.

Sunnydaysaredefhere · 01/07/2023 21:45

Well that's one less keeping me awake.. For a relaxing hobby it sure is noisey where I live. Screaming and shouts of 'oh it's cold'.. I mean surely no great surprise?

Campingsuperstar · 01/07/2023 21:46

Some groups are very unfussy about where they swim. I only use the kind of huge slightly remote reservoirs where I am not surrounded by ducks, shitting dogs or walkers. Huge bodies of water - always some flies but nothing like in the smaller places. A dry robe and the right company and it’s a delight. Your local groups will have files that give you all the info on different places - am sure you have found that already. I go less often but to nice places. I largely avoid rivers between sewage discharge and land run off. Running water isn’t always better …

Hoppinggreen · 01/07/2023 21:48

I joined a wild swimming group on FB as I love swimming in lakes and rivers. I haven’t actually been to a meet yet but I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that they are sex people

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