Cold water swimmers - anyone doing the polar bear/penguin challenge?

[PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle]

Full details here polarbearchallenges.com/
I've just signed up as a penguin. Although I don't wear a wetsuit I couldn't swim without my boots and gloves. I'm hoping for gold standard, 250m twice a month and a total of 1000m every month.
Would be good to have some moral support!

@Billybagpuss beautiful photos!
@TheNinthLock it took me about 15 mins. But I think that is too long to be in the water now. Temperatures are dropping so I anticipate that my next swim will be about 5 mins. So 250m at best, maybe less.

Looks beautiful but cold! I've not been well and haven't been in. Now I'm a bit scared! Might just try to do one length and get out as a trial.

Went swimming this morning and water was 2 degrees. Only just managed 100m. Disappointed as I'll have to drop back down to Gold level. But would be pretty stupid, and potentially dangerous, to try to stay in the water any longer. Just have to enjoy my short swims from now on.
The experience was still beautiful 😀and I came away feeling good.
Hope everyone else is still enjoying it!

No I am not! I have a limit, and it is way too cold now. I am committed but begrudgingly dipping once a week.

I still have 250m to do this month and everywhere here is frozen solid. Schools are off on Wed until January so even if it does thaw out I won't be able to swim. Can't believe I've failed so early in the challenge. I know there is joker card but it feels like cheating.

Hello coldies!

I swam all winter in 20/21 in skins. Was down to 3 or 4 minutes at the lowest, just bibbling about near my exit slipway and in my depth. I skipped the Winter months this year, partly due to water quality also kind of wimped out when the water was cleaner. Sadly our beach gets a lot of pollution after heavy rain.

This winter I will go in on Sundays with a local group but might not do more until the water starts to warm up in April

Enjoy your cold water swimming!

I got excited with my swim on Monday when I found the water was 4 degrees! Then realised that that was a rise of only 2 degrees. Shows how desperate I am. But still loving the swimming and looking forward to my Christmas eve dip.

Lovely Boxing Day swim today. Water a tropical 5.5 degrees (last weekend was 0 and we were ice dipping 😁)
Still in skins but with boots and gloves.

Managed 500m today bringing my total for the month to 1300m so I’ll drop down to Penguin Gold but that’s fine (Originally entered Silver but catapulted up to Antarctic following clocking up some a amazing distances in November)

There was a good turnout at my local beach, but we are still up the road at the outlaws.

Happy New year swimmers!
Hope you are all managing to keep up with the swimming.
The weather is getting milder and the water temperature is rising! 7 degrees yesterday in our lake. Managed 500m for the first swim of the year.
December was difficult with the snow and ice but, thanks to annual leave, I was able to have more frequent and shorter swims and keep my Antartic status.
Let's keep swimming 🏊

wow good effort doing 500m!

Yesterday I did the loony dook down my local beach. I haven't been in since October (about 15C) and it was absolutely horrible. I got cold water hyperventilation just from having my thighs in the water. I spent less than 2 minutes total in the water, and got right out and layered up. Today I obviously decided to go for another dip, for cold-water adaptation. A minute legs only then about a minute up to my neck. Didn't bother getting my head wet, my body got the message fine without doing that!

Yesterday we had a serious incident on the beach. An experienced wing surfer snapped his ankle and needed dragged out of the water and up the beach. Luckily for him there were plenty of people about and he got layered up with dry robes and blankets with a pillow for his head. The manager of the local RNLI station was here and he got the local lifeboat to run over and we had two land-based coastguard units attending too. The first paramedic in a car didn't arrive until +1hr and gave entonox and then got a line in and filled matey up with IV ketamine. When the big ambulance arrived, they got his ankle straight and in an inflatable splint, then we finally got him off the beach and transported at +2hr. I've since heard that he's getting a pin put in to stabilise the ankle, and is otherwise OK. That was quite enough excitement for one day I can tell you!

It really made me think how serious just a silly knock can be, when you only have a short window to layer up and get warm before you start suffering severe cold-related symptoms. Another thing I noticed was that someone could very quickly become another casualty if they entered the water to help rescue someone.

There is real safety in numbers! Enjoy your dips and swims with swim buddies and/or land supervision, and stay safe.

I felt the afterdrop kick in after my last swim in early December. I like neoprene for staying in the water long enough to justify the drive and fee for the supervised lake, but it does slow down the getting dry and stabilising your temperature. I was interupted in stripping by school calling about DS being ill.

I river dip in the summer, but not in the winter and there's a lack of appropriate open water in the area.

I need school to go back before getting my swimming gear out again. Another week to go...

I didn't get afterdrop yesterday but I did get that feeling as the cold blood comes back into the core. It feels like cold water running down my back.

I will dip as often as I can just for the cold water lols and to stimulate adaptation. Maybe I will feel like swimming a little, after a few dips, let's see.

I did 250m on NYD. I did the same swim in skins last year but wimped out this year because I haven’t been able to swim much in December owing to the temperatures and work commitments. Still felt proud of myself for doing it in a wetsuit and got the buzz.
Struggled with body temp for the rest of the day but it turned out I was brewing this vomiting bug everyone’s been getting.
Slept on and off for 24 hours and feel like I’m out the other side now, so I’m not going to let that put me off, but did have to miss the Jan 2 swim Id booked.

How's everyone doing in Jan? The weather has been mild, which has helped but the forecast is predicting a sudden drop this week. Thankfully I've managed to complete my distance for Antartic Penguin so am really chuffed!
I still aim to continue swimming twice a week even if it's only a quick dip.
I envy those living by the sea, but having seen the photos from the last couple of weeks with Gale force winds I've got respect for anyone attempting this.
@BezMills that's quite a story!

@PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle I've heard via town gossip that the gentleman had surgery and is, other than the injury, doing ok. He said he was tripping his balls off had some interesting ketamine experiences. He passed on gratitude to the mob who kept him warm and safe on the beach. I have to say he was an absolute champ about it.

I haven't been in since the 2nd. The water quality is poor with the storm tides, runoff etc. Just not worth it rn

I've not made it back yet. Last week revolved around doing a marathon training long run and recovering, not helped by the DCs straddling a 3 week Christmas break.
I'll have to keep an eye on the weather. I hate strong winds for both the swimming and the running.

Yes @BogRollBOGOF there is something dispiriting about running in the high wind, I find. It's like "I am out here trying toget some exercise and the bladdy planet is effing with me"

Burns celebrations started early at the Serpentine! A piper on the jetty, poetry, whiskey, haggis and shortbread after.
I don't like whiskey or haggis 😝

That is amazing @PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle !

How are you all doing?
It was a challenge getting in yesterday with frost on the ground. But such a beautiful morning with the sun rising through the mist. I never regret a swim but I sit at my desk after with coat and hat on and a blanket on my knees.
Still hoping for Antartic Penguin but will be on holiday for a week so it's going to be a tough month!
Keep going guys, we can do this 🏊

Still mostly enjoying it! I’ve switched from the reservoir to the sea in late Jan, so this is the warmest month for people since Nov! Still feels cold though. Am off to London next week and excited to have a swim in a lido - no getting sand everywhere and waiting to check Strava to see how much I’ve swum!

I got in last Sunday and it was horribly cold. Feb is as cold as it gets here. I didn't even swim, just spent a minute up to my muddle trying not to swear and then got my torso in for a minute or so. Total time 3 minutes.

I've made it back this week for the first time since early December. The water was just under 5⁰C, but the sunshine has its glow back. I was well neoprened up and stayed in 25 mins. The lifeguard checked up on me. I was swimming back in the shallows and still comfortable. I didn't get post-swim chills either.

So tranquil compared to last week's lanes session! Totally calm water and just me and the wildlife!

Wasn't sure that I could maintain my Antartic status in Feb due to spending a week on holiday, skiing. Got back on Friday and found mild weather here. Raced to the lido early on Saturday and managed 1000m which I've not done since last Sept. Really pleased with myself. The bacon roll and tea after were also much appreciated!I
Only need to do another 350m this month so should easily manage it.
Hope the rest of you are enjoying your swims.