Cold water swimmers including sea, lakes and rivers

[TriSkiRun99]

After sea swimming regularly since May I’m hoping to carry on. Is anyone else hoping to carry on open water or sea swimming through the winter? If you fancy supporting each other and sharing hints n tips come join me. I’ve just bought some socks and neoprene hat, I’m hoping to to stay in my cossie as long as possible but I do have a wet suit if I cave.

It was heaven this morning, the lake was 8.1 degrees and I could actually put my face in the water and actually swim. The last couple of weeks have been really difficult with the wind.

A couple of weeks ago we had a rare still day and I actually swam skins at 6.7 degrees.

I haven’t told anyone this, but I’m a moment of madness I’ve entered the ballot for the bantham swoosh eek 😬 so need to start some longer swims.

Stabby cold face is a perfect description of it @BogRollBOGOF

Thanks for your help after my chest infection. I’ve been in twice since. 7.1° The first time and 7.8° last Friday. Once in the rain. Once in the wind. Both blissful!! 400 metres each time and 20 minutes ish duration. Back to my happy place

Well done @LazyDoll glad you’re feeling better.

My BIL has done the swoosh - he did it both days and got the gold hat!! (I’ve done a small stretch of it but not as an organised swim!) Good Luck!!

Hmm I think it was the Dart 10km that do the gold hats actually! Too many swim events!!

@LazyDoll

Hmm I think it was the Dart 10km that do the gold hats actually! Too many swim events!!

This is huge for me, I’m not sure when the ballot results are but am going to start training anyway.

My max distance to date is probably 2.5k I’m quite hyped for it though so fingers crossed. I’m also quite a slow swimmer 😂

I managed to get to a mile in September. When I started in June, I hadn't swum at all in 15 months. Between more practice and more used to the water I should hopefully be able to go further this year.

Well done @BogRollBOGOF I’m looking forward to the temperatures warming up a bit so I can increase the distance.

I didn’t get into the swoosh 😥

Aw Billy that’s disappointing. Next time?! PS 2.5km is awesome!!

Sorry to hear you didn’t get in the swoosh my friend did it a couple of years ago and loved it. I know I can swim the same pace as her but I don’t know if I could keep it going for long enough. I’m back up-to a mile in the pool then the bloomin pool was shut for a week as lifeguards all off with covid. Did get a lovely Seaswim in yesterday it was lush as for the first time in weeks the wind had completely dropped off and it was gorgeous sitting in the sun drying off. Back to a grey damp foggy cold air & wind building up again so didn’t go today.

Beautiful blue sky 8.5° water lake swim today. Was just wonderful 💕 upped my distance to 600 metres today and in about 30 minutes (I like to take it leisurely!!)

Sounds lush!
Apparently our lake is up to 8⁰C now. Not had chance to make it down there this week.

It was definitely more enjoyable to swim it last weekend though and less of a battle to get as much out of my muscles as I could before the cold kicked in too deep!

Fab sunrise sea swim this morning my favourite time to dip as it’s calmer quieter but a few friendly folk around.

Sounds fabulous SkiRun. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s dip and shedding the gloves and bootees!

I’m having a lunch time dip today the question my friends skins or no skins? It’s getting warmer

The water is at its coldest where I am @billybagpuss I’m still in my winter jacket but bare legs. Bloomin freezing even at 9am this morning. I’ve had 3 in a row this week and plan to go Saturday morning with friends too even though the sea state is expected to get rougher as Eastly winds pick up again. It’s been so lovely the last 3d to have calm water after a week of rough.

I did skins, it was 11.83 it was glorious.

My face is glowing like I’m sunburned now does everyone else get that too?

It’s quite a bit warmer here, our coldest was 2.9 so different today.

Sounds lovely!! I shed the bootees and gloves so bikini only and 10.5° today. Bright sunshine. No wind. So beautiful! But if a change since my sub 3° just over 2 months ago. Also bikini no neoprene.

@LazyDoll

Sounds lovely!! I shed the bootees and gloves so bikini only and 10.5° today. Bright sunshine. No wind. So beautiful! But if a change since my sub 3° just over 2 months ago. Also bikini no neoprene.

You are braver than me but I haven’t worn a bikini since 1993 😂

🤣🤣🤣

Bikini 🤩yep not worn one since I was 11… well done. I made it 5 in a row this morning it’s been such a lovely sunny & calmer sea state loads and loads of women out swimming this morning. I’ve never seen it quite so busy outside the usual bank holiday makers. There really has been a boom in cold water swimming here.

Arrh yes I name changed again

SwimBike sounds lovely!! I miss the sea!! 5 in a row in the sea is my dream!!! Lol I went through a stage of wearing a tankini after my third child but then went to the beach with my mum (in her 60s) who was wearing her bikini and thought ‘sod it’ and haven’t looked back since. I do however have an obscurely long body so swim suits don’t fit me very well!

I went for the rash vest under my wetsuit again this week. The water was lovely, a nice tepid 10.5⁰C and my body stayed comfortable for 35mins. I was lasting about 20mins when it was 5⁰C.

I'm assuming with the sudden drop in temperatures there'll be some temperature loss, in the next few days, but with lengthening days and sunny spells, it should recover quite quickly now.