From Pool to Sea

There are so many more people in the sea right now. In winter months gone by there would only be a handful of people braving the waves. An amusement for folks walking on the beach, who’d take a moment to stand and watch to see if you’re actually crazy enough to get into that cold sea. They’ll wait whilst wearing zipped up coats, gloves and scarves. Some will catch you on your way out with: 

“Is it cold?”

“You’re braver than me!”

and my very favourite, “Are you doing that for charity?”

This year there’s been a huge influx of open water swimmers. Some in cossies, some in full head to toe neoprene. It doesn’t matter what folks wear to get in, as long as they’re comfortable, safe and enjoying it. 

Why are so many people doing it this year, and why might you be giving it a go? I think there are a number of factors:

1. Swimming pools have been forced to shut. In a 12-month period (2019) 14 million people in England went swimming. That’s 31% of the population! Over 10% of people swim at least twice a month.* That’s a lot of people missing their swim fix! 
2. Researchers from Cambridge University discovered cold water swimming may protect the brain from degenerative diseases like dementia. In a world first, a “cold-shock” protein has been found in the blood of regular winter swimmers at London’s Parliament Hill Lido.
3. The mental health benefits continue to be shared in the media, now more than ever. Regular swimming can lower stress levels, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve sleep patterns. 
4. Swimming in general improves heart health, lowers blood pressure, improves lung capacity, increases bone strength and reduces joint pain (low impact).
5. Regular swimming can help to reduce some long-term health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes, sometimes by up to 40%.
6. Connecting with a community and a group of like-minded people – folks who you might not come across in your normal day-to-day life – can bring a whole new, and surprisingly joyous element to your life.
7. When life feels particularly monotonous, setting a challenge is a good way to keep it interesting. Open water swimming feels a little bit crazy, a bit risky, dangerous even. It’s a shot of adrenalin every time.  
8. Open water swimming is surprisingly life affirming. The mental gymnastics required to encourage yourself into the cold water and then the reward of being surrounded by nature. It gives you a buzz. If you can do that, you can do anything! 
9. The stop. This is hard to describe, because the feeling changes. It’s like a brain rinsing: it clears out the crud. Sometimes it’s like popping a doom-laden balloon that you weren’t aware was inflating inside you. It’s an escape from life and all worries, even just for a little while. 

So what do you need to know to move from pool to sea? Here are a few thoughts: 

• You need to find a suitable swimming place. Think about access and exit,  temperature, the tides/currents, the weather conditions, potential pollution or things unseen in the water, other animals or creatures, what’s underfoot … it’s quite a big list! 
• Think about yourself. Are you fit and healthy, up for it, feeling confident? Can someone watch you or join you? Think about how long you’re going to stay in but be prepared for that to change. Switch on your intuition and listen to it. Don’t wait until you’re cold to get out, do it when you are feeling good. 
• Have you got everything to be comfortable and safe in the water? A bright swim hat, tow float, goggles, you might want a wetsuit or neoprene gloves or booties too. Ear plugs are essential for me, other people have their own essentials.
• Is everything ready for when you get out? If it’s cold you need to be super-efficient at this. Getting dressed quickly into warm dry clothes, potentially in public, takes practice. A body continues to cool so don’t hang about. Warm drinks, snacks… there’s so much advice on this and tips and tricks that’ll help. Cold water needs to be taken seriously.

And then of course there’s coaching. Let me know if you want to sign up to do a short course ‘From Pool to Sea’ later in the year by adding your email here. or dropping me a message.

For great advice on staying safe in the water and to join a wonderful community you should head to outdoorswimsociety.com.

*SwimEngland stats as of Sept 19