COLD WATER SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS- TOOTING BEK LIDO
Cold water.....well its cold isn't it....not it's not its down right freezing! In fact at times it felt more than freezing. Tell someone who does not open water swim what you are planning to do and they instantly give you 'that look' you know the one, its the one that says you are nuts. They don't get the addiction, the thrill, the exhilaration of submerging yourself in the coldest water you can find..so why on earth would you do it!
Because its fun and it makes you feel alive!
"Simples" as they say on the advert! Except its not as easy as it looks. The first time is definitely the hardest or so they say, i personally would say the first time is a baptism of fire, it shows you what cold water really feels like, subsequent swims become a physical and mental battle, you look forward to them but dread them, and at the end of them find yourself in shopping queues shaking with the down drop grinning.!
Arriving at the lake, it was sunny, i had that many layers of clothing on there was nothing of the suns warmth getting through! But still it was nice to have some sunshine....but still it was a chilly air temperature and the water....LOOKED COLD! Why in a wetsuit does it look amazing but non-wetsuit...its well its plain....COLD. It made me feel cold just looking at it, was i really going to submerge myself in its murky depths......oh yes i was...for definite. With me looking equally nervous were Vanessa Christie and Tony Robson.
Getting changed, took no time at all, but in the confines of a cold changing room, i wish it had taken longer. Delay tactics were the only method possible to put off the intended swim, you would think we were being force to do it, we weren't, we were nervous and very excited, looking forward to it and dreading it. What a mixture of emotions. Well what was the worst that could happen, having scared ourselves daft looking things up on the internet...i think we diagnosed symptoms of a million illnesses that we did not even know existed! Little did we realise just what 'cold' felt like but we would soon find out and at this point we had abandoned the wetsuit but had donned as much other clothing as we could, running tights, rash vests, gloves and socks, still has two hats, of you name it we tried to wear it on that first trip out!
Tony and I had previously swam in the cold water, broken the ice to do so, it did not hurt you see, we had neoprene on....! Today was going to be a whole new experience, i wonder if the 3 of us would still be grinning at the end of it. Who to get in first....nope not me, Vanessa was the brave one, slowly getting in, cursing loudly in protest of the sheer unadulterated pain that was assaulting her, next was my turn, on that first moment the water hit the thighs, it was as if you has rolled me in a nettle bush, even at this point the breathing was speeding up, the goosebumps had goosebumps, the senses were on alert, OK the water hits the hip area, great i can pee now...what, no instance warmth... of course not there was no neoprene! Exiting the water the 3 of us grinning so huge, it was as if our faces would split. We had done it, wow what an amazing experience, and why were we doing it, we had decided to enter a cold water race in Windermere, but the week before there where the Cold Water Swimming Championships, only held every two years. Vanessa and I wanted to enter but first we needed to make sure we would be ok. Tony swam in preparation for the Chill swim.
Time flew past in a rush of squeals, shouts and shivers (a post swim shivering session in video on my Facebook page C:\Users\geoffs\Desktop\photo.htm). We have swam in everything, snow being the best, breaking the ice, the journey has been amazing but now it was time to see how we would fare in the championships, our coldest temperature had been 0.5 degrees to date, this would stand us in good stead on the day!
Driving to Vanessa's house early on the Friday morning, i wondered if she was as nervous as me, we were to stay with her sister, who had kindly offered to put us up, ideal as she lived only 15 minutes from Tooting Bec Lido, and so on a sunny saturday morning, with little or no breeze and very blearly eyed we drove to the Lido, anxious of not knowing direction or with any knowledge of the parking in the area. We need not have worried, the sat nav took us straight there, no delays as the early morning traffic not yet in flow. Parking again easy, the car park only at that time held about 7 cars. Phew!!!
Getting out of the car, it barely seemed as if we had woken up but we soon were to as the hustle and bustle of the pool and its surrounding area hit us. Wow it was a sight to behold. The antique changing room doors stood with multi coloured pride. The brightly coloured lido was wonderful to see, people milling around, marshals, volunteers, judges, all manner of people all looking like they knew what they were doing! Oh the promised hot tubs were there awaiting their first guests...i would definitely be trying them out.
Joining the queue for registration, each competitor eager to know their time of swim so they could mill around, enjoy the stands and watch the racing. The lido was filling up rapidly, competitors identifiable by the badges hung round their necks. Mine and Vanessa's collected, we headed to the stalls to have a look at all the goodies on offer. Along the way it was brilliant to meet so many people, facebook friends, twitter friends and email friends, all who had done as i had, travelled to this marvellous place to have a dip.
The stands we already flowing with a steady stream of customers, Dryrobe had mine ready for me, it was to prove a godsend at keeping me warm , Vanessa loved them so much she bought one too! It was great talking to Gabs Dickinson of Gone Swimming, she's baked some lovely goodies(Bara Brith - traditional welsh cake) which i planned to sample later! Strel swimming were there dishing out hats as a gentle reminder of our future holidays in the making. The area where the stands were is warm, and crowded, the volume of chatter rising constantly, time to head out side to get changed, and watch a few of the races before our turn came around.
Thankfully the changing rooms were close by a constant flow of females rushing in and out, getting changed the commentators steady flow of banter (and yes he really was that funny!) He kept this endless stream of patter up the whole day only stopping for a quick refreshment break, EVERY event should have a compare like this one, the competitors and the crowd were literally hanging off of his every word!
The opening ceremony led by Jo Brand was brilliant, she had given open water swimming a go, not sure its her favourite activity but she did try!
Changed and wrapped in my Dryrobe, i was now toasty warm, although the sun was shining the air temp was still a tad chilly at that time of the morning. Standing at the start line having been told the water was ranging between 0.5 and 1 degree, i was so grateful for all the times my local lake had been that cold so at least i knew i had trained for it! The lady next to me looked serious, and despite her protests she was off like a bullet...!
The rules are the race starts when your shoulders are under the water.....what a torcherous thought, it sounds painful....and it is, Vanessa and i had rehearsed ..the process was slow...we literally had a mental block at the sudden submersion into cold water...!
This was us just trying to get our toes in let alone anything else....previously we had been strolling in quite happily!!!
But rules are rules...and in we got, no howler monkey impressions this time, shoulders under and we were off, the water did not feel cold yet had taken my breath....used to lakes the lane ropes threw me totally and i became fascinated by them, although i was out in the fresh air ....i was in a box...mentally it went to pot! Pretty colours.....pretty colours.....oh my lord what was happening!!! Knickers i have touched the side, race over....well that was brief but how fab!! Loved it, can i have another go....oh theres a hot tub....dont mind if i do!
And so i did! Vanessa bless her raced after me and had my camera so i had no pictures of her but i watched her, she was fab and did not appear to be as fascinated with the colours as i was, she swam strongly and as i did came out grinning! Warm water, did we really need it...well yes ofcourse and unexpected treat and one we fully enjoyed! We found it rather amusing that when the gentlemen joined us ladies they did not know where to put their toes!!!! After the hot tub....the sauna...again heaven but rather full up! Then time to check the results...do we get dressed or stay in the robes which were doing their job and keeping us wonderfully warm...a quick check...i was in the final...oh heck...i was starving.....but now could not eat as i was due to swim again soon...right i would get dress for now then change again, my qualifying time
Dressed and watching the other races sat in the sun on the stands one could be forgiven for thinking that we were in London and that it was the 26th Jan, it felt warm! The atmosphere was electric, the commentator still going strong, it was still packed with all manner of people....some in costumes such as is the nature of the event.
Before you know it and with belly grumbling its time to swim....in the finals, chuffed to bit but now nervous....i had only enter this to see how i did, for fun,......oh pretty colours....pretty colours....please dont let me get distracted again....picking up my new registration details was secretly really pleased to get through but what next.....pretty colours...i could literally hear them calling my name.
Our race number was called....going through, the competitors had a slightly more serious air....oh my god....this would be different!!! Take your clothes off please said the commentator...we did...our names called we raised our arms and waved....in my head the voice of Batman in The Dark Knight....'why so serious'....shoulders under..was this water colder this time round, the sun was fading off of the pool and it did feel a little cooler.
We were off, 30 metres of me again mesmerised by the pretty colours and i touched the side again....asking for my time as i got out....are you serious i ask, really are you sure....i had pulled in exactly the same time.....wow, well hey ho, i have had a fab day, head over heals to be in the finals.
The whole event superbly organised, from point of contact to walking out the gate, its one that i will never forget, so glad i took part and really hope i get to do so again, such fun! Did i buy the T-shirt.....of course, will i be back again....you bet!!!! As the sign said, caution cold water may contain nuts....we might be nuts but we were having a blast!!!
Getting changed, took no time at all, but in the confines of a cold changing room, i wish it had taken longer. Delay tactics were the only method possible to put off the intended swim, you would think we were being force to do it, we weren't, we were nervous and very excited, looking forward to it and dreading it. What a mixture of emotions. Well what was the worst that could happen, having scared ourselves daft looking things up on the internet...i think we diagnosed symptoms of a million illnesses that we did not even know existed! Little did we realise just what 'cold' felt like but we would soon find out and at this point we had abandoned the wetsuit but had donned as much other clothing as we could, running tights, rash vests, gloves and socks, still has two hats, of you name it we tried to wear it on that first trip out!
Tony and I had previously swam in the cold water, broken the ice to do so, it did not hurt you see, we had neoprene on....! Today was going to be a whole new experience, i wonder if the 3 of us would still be grinning at the end of it. Who to get in first....nope not me, Vanessa was the brave one, slowly getting in, cursing loudly in protest of the sheer unadulterated pain that was assaulting her, next was my turn, on that first moment the water hit the thighs, it was as if you has rolled me in a nettle bush, even at this point the breathing was speeding up, the goosebumps had goosebumps, the senses were on alert, OK the water hits the hip area, great i can pee now...what, no instance warmth... of course not there was no neoprene! Exiting the water the 3 of us grinning so huge, it was as if our faces would split. We had done it, wow what an amazing experience, and why were we doing it, we had decided to enter a cold water race in Windermere, but the week before there where the Cold Water Swimming Championships, only held every two years. Vanessa and I wanted to enter but first we needed to make sure we would be ok. Tony swam in preparation for the Chill swim.
Time flew past in a rush of squeals, shouts and shivers (a post swim shivering session in video on my Facebook page C:\Users\geoffs\Desktop\photo.htm). We have swam in everything, snow being the best, breaking the ice, the journey has been amazing but now it was time to see how we would fare in the championships, our coldest temperature had been 0.5 degrees to date, this would stand us in good stead on the day!
Driving to Vanessa's house early on the Friday morning, i wondered if she was as nervous as me, we were to stay with her sister, who had kindly offered to put us up, ideal as she lived only 15 minutes from Tooting Bec Lido, and so on a sunny saturday morning, with little or no breeze and very blearly eyed we drove to the Lido, anxious of not knowing direction or with any knowledge of the parking in the area. We need not have worried, the sat nav took us straight there, no delays as the early morning traffic not yet in flow. Parking again easy, the car park only at that time held about 7 cars. Phew!!!
Getting out of the car, it barely seemed as if we had woken up but we soon were to as the hustle and bustle of the pool and its surrounding area hit us. Wow it was a sight to behold. The antique changing room doors stood with multi coloured pride. The brightly coloured lido was wonderful to see, people milling around, marshals, volunteers, judges, all manner of people all looking like they knew what they were doing! Oh the promised hot tubs were there awaiting their first guests...i would definitely be trying them out.
Joining the queue for registration, each competitor eager to know their time of swim so they could mill around, enjoy the stands and watch the racing. The lido was filling up rapidly, competitors identifiable by the badges hung round their necks. Mine and Vanessa's collected, we headed to the stalls to have a look at all the goodies on offer. Along the way it was brilliant to meet so many people, facebook friends, twitter friends and email friends, all who had done as i had, travelled to this marvellous place to have a dip.
The stands we already flowing with a steady stream of customers, Dryrobe had mine ready for me, it was to prove a godsend at keeping me warm , Vanessa loved them so much she bought one too! It was great talking to Gabs Dickinson of Gone Swimming, she's baked some lovely goodies(Bara Brith - traditional welsh cake) which i planned to sample later! Strel swimming were there dishing out hats as a gentle reminder of our future holidays in the making. The area where the stands were is warm, and crowded, the volume of chatter rising constantly, time to head out side to get changed, and watch a few of the races before our turn came around.
Thankfully the changing rooms were close by a constant flow of females rushing in and out, getting changed the commentators steady flow of banter (and yes he really was that funny!) He kept this endless stream of patter up the whole day only stopping for a quick refreshment break, EVERY event should have a compare like this one, the competitors and the crowd were literally hanging off of his every word!
The opening ceremony led by Jo Brand was brilliant, she had given open water swimming a go, not sure its her favourite activity but she did try!
Changed and wrapped in my Dryrobe, i was now toasty warm, although the sun was shining the air temp was still a tad chilly at that time of the morning. Standing at the start line having been told the water was ranging between 0.5 and 1 degree, i was so grateful for all the times my local lake had been that cold so at least i knew i had trained for it! The lady next to me looked serious, and despite her protests she was off like a bullet...!
The rules are the race starts when your shoulders are under the water.....what a torcherous thought, it sounds painful....and it is, Vanessa and i had rehearsed ..the process was slow...we literally had a mental block at the sudden submersion into cold water...!
This was us just trying to get our toes in let alone anything else....previously we had been strolling in quite happily!!!
But rules are rules...and in we got, no howler monkey impressions this time, shoulders under and we were off, the water did not feel cold yet had taken my breath....used to lakes the lane ropes threw me totally and i became fascinated by them, although i was out in the fresh air ....i was in a box...mentally it went to pot! Pretty colours.....pretty colours.....oh my lord what was happening!!! Knickers i have touched the side, race over....well that was brief but how fab!! Loved it, can i have another go....oh theres a hot tub....dont mind if i do!
And so i did! Vanessa bless her raced after me and had my camera so i had no pictures of her but i watched her, she was fab and did not appear to be as fascinated with the colours as i was, she swam strongly and as i did came out grinning! Warm water, did we really need it...well yes ofcourse and unexpected treat and one we fully enjoyed! We found it rather amusing that when the gentlemen joined us ladies they did not know where to put their toes!!!! After the hot tub....the sauna...again heaven but rather full up! Then time to check the results...do we get dressed or stay in the robes which were doing their job and keeping us wonderfully warm...a quick check...i was in the final...oh heck...i was starving.....but now could not eat as i was due to swim again soon...right i would get dress for now then change again, my qualifying time
Before you know it and with belly grumbling its time to swim....in the finals, chuffed to bit but now nervous....i had only enter this to see how i did, for fun,......oh pretty colours....pretty colours....please dont let me get distracted again....picking up my new registration details was secretly really pleased to get through but what next.....pretty colours...i could literally hear them calling my name.
Our race number was called....going through, the competitors had a slightly more serious air....oh my god....this would be different!!! Take your clothes off please said the commentator...we did...our names called we raised our arms and waved....in my head the voice of Batman in The Dark Knight....'why so serious'....shoulders under..was this water colder this time round, the sun was fading off of the pool and it did feel a little cooler.
The whole event superbly organised, from point of contact to walking out the gate, its one that i will never forget, so glad i took part and really hope i get to do so again, such fun! Did i buy the T-shirt.....of course, will i be back again....you bet!!!! As the sign said, caution cold water may contain nuts....we might be nuts but we were having a blast!!!
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