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

[Shoesclues]

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.

I would try again elsewhere. I've just started and we use a clean river, or reservoir

I swim in the sea. Started in January( in Scotland!) and love it. Have a towelling poncho thing to get changed under. Dont bother trying to get bra and knickers on. Just go commando until you get home. Jogging bottoms and a zip up fleecy top do the job.

Ha ha mine are nudists but not sex people😂

I'm immunocompromised so I just don't go more than neck deep
It's more of a paddle, splash about, chat for me

I suppose that merely bathing in sewage is slightly preferable to ingesting it. 😄

Don't give up. Try Flamenco dancing with Juan.

It all seems a bit of a modern fad, what’s wild about it?? People have been swimming in lakes, rivers and the sea for 1000’s of years.

if you don’t like it then find something else to try. Like fencing 🤺. However these are fab for changing in public if you don’t like flashing - but that’s life and we all have bodies but us Brits seem to have serious issues about accepting that compared to the rest of the world.
https://dryrobe.com/

I think it's just to differentiate between pool/outdoor
Like if I said oh I went swimming, most people would think pool
Aldi have dry robes apparently at the min, I haven't found one yet

I desperately wanted to join in with this hobby OP, and found a local group that use a group of old gravel ponds near the river. From a distance, the water looked really inviting but close up it was murky and had clouds of flies hovvering across it. I wouldn't have let my dogs get in, let alone want to myself. I think I've decided that I'm a sea swimmer... just sadly live about 2 hours away from it!

This might sound silly but what was the view like? I find the thing that makes wild swimming amazing rather than just cold and a bit gross is the combination of the feeling of very cold water and a beautiful environment. Well done for trying something new!

As someone who has swam in the sea all year round for years I think it's great that so many more people are just discovering the many benefits to health and well being it can bring. It's fairly obvious though that some people proclaim to be 'wild swimmers' and are fully kitted out with dry robes etc but spend about two minutes in the water shrieking and screaming - for those it's clearly going to be a 5 minute wonder

Love swimming in the river but will only lake swim in the winter - too many reeds in the summer 😄.

If it’s not for you though, don’t worry. It’s not for everyone 😄

It's not for everyone - but if you decide you need a changing robe to go again, these are an absolute bargain (mine arrived today).

https://www.onlinehomeshop.com/brentfords-adult-poncho-oversized-changing-robe-navy-blue-one-size?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnf-kBhCnARIsAFlg492P-UVYAFpCn8ERdNpQM31BWCTqrGqDB2_uCAudZvBP9UJyHPs8i4gaAi1NEALw_wcB

I love it so much I’ve gone from wearing a wetsuit to joining a ladies-only skinny dipping group!

Each to their own, though, OP. Well done for getting out of your comfort zone!

Ooh definitely.

I prefer a sea swim, OP. Try a different group quite possibly, too.

I do wild swimming and I enjoy it but I don’t find it social stop all. I never talk to anyone at the lake! And I think lots of people just go with their friends.

No shame in trying a hobby and realising it’s not for you.

Very Good point actually, like the people who go wild-camping in their vans - somewhere in a forest where they don’t have to pay site fees lol.

We’re in west wales atm and there and loads of people in the Teifi everyday ‘wild swimming’ but they seem unaware of all the slurry run off from the fields that the farmers are pumping on following the sileage season slightly further upstream that is killing the salmon, sewin and trout.

Trying open water swimming really made me appreciate my local clean(ish) warm leisure centre swimming pool. I mean there might be the odd plaster or nugget of baby poo floating around but at least it doesn't have blue-green algae and dead fish lying around the waters edge.

YOu can buy something similar to a dry robe but much cheaper on Amazon o mountain warehouse. This is a good video about how to change under one

I usually put the robe on, take my swim suit off under it and then pull on my tracksuit bottoms, step into a vest top, take the dry robe off and put on my hoodie. Forgetting about underwear is the key....

No you have to try something at least 3 times

the first time is like from an imposter/observer perspective- it’s okay to feel awkward and out of place you’ve learnt some lessons for attempt 2.

the second try is where you know what to expect so can prepare and relax- smile at people say hello and have a good go at the activity

the third attempt is where you turn up like you’ve been coming for years - you know how this all works you smile say hello and maybe even approach someone.
someone might even approach you now that they see you as a ‘regular’ it won’t be a wasted effort.

I’ve swum for the last year and I think it’s actually better when it’s cold - you get a real adrenaline high. I enjoy the summer swimming but it’s not the same. I swim at a managed lake venue which is very clean and safe. So that makes a big difference.

If after attempt 3 you hate it, you still haven’t spoken to anyone then either the activity isn’t right for you or the group isn’t find something or somewhere else

Having a dip in the sea is nice but couldn't be arsed to go in winter. Absolutely zero interest in feeling like I'm being electricuted by ice cold water.

@DonttouchthatLarry are they a good size? I'm a size 16

I stated wild swimming last summer, despite a fear of deep water (I can scare myself in the deep end of a pool!). I went over the winter and now swim every week, or near enough. I love it!

Is the group you've joined a Bluetits group, OP? I'm in our local flock and have mostly found them incredibly friendly and inclusive (and patient with me, panicking when I get too far from the bank 😆). They're also very knowledgeable, so we don't swim in the river if there has been lots of rain (flow gets fast and also water companies discharge then). We go to a lake instead, which is a really nice one. I've never swum anywhere with gnats or flies, or loads of leaves (you do get some, though).

I would say do try again, OP. I have a short-sleeved Robies robe (cheap) to change under as it allows space to manoeuvre. I also take a stretchy, non-underwire bra as easier to get on. Easy trousers and shoes to slip in make it easier, too.

Good luck! I have found wild swimming just wonderful for my mental health and swam nearly 1km today in the river and didn't panic at all and I'm so proud of myself. I sometimes can't believe I actually started this hobby!!