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!

wow 1000m in cold water is really tough, well done!

I was in last Sunday, and will be in again today at 9am. It's a 4 minute dip then quickly layer up and have some chat with the other swimmers, home to change and have a quick shower, then off to do the next thing.

Hi @BezMills the water temperature was 7.5 degrees so I may not be as tough as you imagine. The coldest I've been in was 2 degrees so this was positively balmy! 😀

@PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle 7.5 is cold enough! I think it was about that yesterday. This is probably as cold as it gets here, but it doesn't seriously warm up until the end of April. I remember last year, it was only then that I felt like it was a decent temp for a good swim.

I stayed in for 2 minutes dipping. It was quite painful at the time but I didn't really have time to get too cold. I might go in more regularly just for the lols. I do miss swimming - haven't really done any since last October.

My venues back into the 6s, but I'm not going to get chance to go this week.

Can I ask for neoprene glove recommendations please?

Also, I normally wear a silicone hat, but would I find a neoprene hat much warmer? Thanks.

Pancake race today! Only managed 50m but was exhausted after carrying a frying pan in one hand!
Did not eat the pancake 😝

@BezMills @Billybagpuss @BogRollBOGOF @Findyourneutralspace @lidolemon @Findyourneutralspace
How's it all going?
Last month now, we're nearly there.
I've managed to complete on Extreme Gold Penguin, now hoping I can make it to Antarctic by the end of the month. The cold weather will make it harder.
Let's keep going, we can do this!!

I skipped this week, but plan to dip again on Sunday. I am kind of over this cold-cold water stuff. Right now it still feels ridiculously cold!

I just want it to warm up enough that I can enjoy a decent swim.
Last year that was about 1 May!

I've not been doing much as I'm marathon training so long runs have had priority on decent weather. 4½ hours of running in grim weather is worse and more critical consideration than half an hour in a lake 😂

Hopefully it'll be nice in mid-April when I'm in recovery mode!