Most Friday mornings I meet a couple of friends at the Stoney Cove Diving centre for an open water swim.
I’m trying to be wet suit free for as long as possible, I haven’t been in this late in the year since the kids moved in.
The water this morning was a little over 14C, I did put wetsuit socks on to take the edge off. When I told a client about my swim, he said I must be mental, which got me thinking about the number of people who now swim outdoors for mental health reasons.
There’s pretty old research on cold water immersion (you don’t have to swim) having a positive effect on mental well being from a physiological point of view; 3-8 minutes is enough. The bit they can’t agree on is what temperature is classed as cold, some say less than 15C others less than 12C.
I’m inclined to think it will be the lower figure as I swam for over 30 minutes today, I was jabbering on though which made the time fly buy.
I think there are psychological benefits that will benefit mental health at the warmer temperatures though. Mainly because of the anxiety and doubt you can have, not only while you‘re about to get in but on the drive over.
I purposely never ask the guy at the entrance how cold the water is, I can’t change it and I’ve paid to swim so I’m swimming.
I thought about swimming a shorter lap today but was so engrossed in a discussion about menopause that we went past the turning point and ended up swimming further than last week.
It’s these little wins over doubt and anxiety that I think help with the mental health side of things for me.
It’s uncomfortable when you get in but you do it anyway.
It’s one of the reasons I love training in martial arts, I’m choosing to put myself in uncomfortable situations and finding out how well I cope.
Have you given open water swimming a try? How did you find it?
Darren “shiver” Checkley
