Cold water swimming for beginners

[Vidaloca2]

I was hoping for some advice. I've been wanting to do this for years, live too far from the sea but came across a lake near me today that offers this and got very excited. Then all the doubt crept in.

• As I walked near one of the streams that runs off the lake today I saw a happy family of rats splashing in and out which stupidly put me off (doesn't help that I know about Weir's disease). What's the situation in the UK about the cleanliness of lakes and rivers? Is there data anywhere?
• If you swim in lakes and rivers in the UK, do you get sometimes get tummy troubles?
• Are there any contra indication to lake swimming while breastfeeding?
• Is the fact I am asking those questions a sign that cold water swimming isn't for me? I've loved swimming in cold water since I was a child and have swam and canyoneered in loads of places around the world but somehow having had two kids has made me so much of a wuss and risk averse. I want to find the old me back!

Any thoughts and advice welcome!

[BogRollBOGOF]

I mainly swim at a centre where water is monitored so that would deal with most of your concerns... if there's one nearby.

I occasionally river swim at a couple of spots away from urban areas. Finding local fb groups is handy as they often give tip-offs about things like pollutants. Giving the water time to settle after heavy rain is useful too.

No dodgy tummies yet...

[SewingSwimmer]

I swim in the sea but I do look at the safer seas App to monitor water pollution and know after heavy rain to not put my head in for 48hrs, after two winters not had an ill health event yet from swimmers in fact the opposite it helps me a lot.
My advice would be look for a local group probably via face book who do informal swim meet ups. The blue tits is building a community of Outdoor mainly lady swimmers. But there’s “Outdoor swimmers” on FB a big group you can search for posts about your location.

[Vidaloca2]

Brilliant thank you so much for the tips and resources, I have just checked them out and found plenty more options near me. Really excited to try it!

[SewingSwimmer]

I hope you enjoy it as it’s strangely addictive. I really wouldn’t both with a wetsuits, yes booties & gloves and a jacket in winter maybe. Plus a hat. But lots of us ditched the wetsuits within a few weeks and it was wasted £s. You only need 3mins to get the cold water effect some scientist worked out and most of my swims are 15mins max still at the moment whilst the water continues to warm up. Early October the sea tends to peak in temperature for my local spot in the SW. Hope you have fun and there’s a long running thread somewhere on here I was chatting on about cold water swimming.

[Vidaloca2]

Thank you so much @SewingSwimmer for adding me to the other thread, I'll look through all the tips!

I have a wetsuit from when I did a sprint triathlon a few years ago (used once!), it's only a cheap one but might use occasionally. Definitely need to look into getting the rest of the gear. The lake does an induction course which I think I'll sign on to as I know nothing and want to make sure I'm safe! Hoping to do my first swim in the not to distant future, I'll report back!