First dip into the cold!

Well Tuesday came and went and I'd still not taken the dip into the open water and took the soft option of a pool swimming all week. Thought about it again on Thursday and still couldn't muster the interest in getting into sub 14 degree water.

I had to have a word with myself and finally made it into the water at Datchet Liquid Leisure this morning, much to the amusement and bewilderment of other swimmers teetering on the edge of the pontoon debating whether to get into the lake whilst wearing wetsuits, inoculating gloves and boots. I did feel tough as i strode towards the ladder into the lake and then proceeded to have the most uncomfortable experience since having a route canal. I've swam in the cold before but it seemed to be far worse today. I stood there thinking "I need to get out of this its just stupid" but i was buggered if i was going to climb out in front of all those people watching with my hair still bone dry.

After standing waist deep for 5 mins i took the plunge and swam a lap. It was OK once I got going and  the sting seemed to make me feel warmer than standing up with the cold wind blowing over me. After a while  I could feel my arms getting heavy had to give up after 23 mins. I tried swimming backwards and forwards along the shore line so they didn't have to come to far to fish me out but I had to give up. How those swimmers do the ice swims is a mystery to me.

Well I'm glad that's out the way and hopefully the next planned swim on Thursday wont seem so bad. Not quite sure how we're going to do the 3hrs plus at Dorney in a few weeks but hopefully the water will warm up a bit.............well hopefully warm up quite a lot if I'm honest.

I'm not up to the cold water time the others have put in but this should fend off the abuse Paul's been dishing out to me ............for about a day or two. - Alan.