Let it snow...let it snow...the cold never bothered me anyway

The temperature is dropping at Brockwell Lido - or should that be plummeting - but we swim on and we shall not be wearing neoprene gloves until it's below 5 degrees!

The last week has seen the temperature at our home lido at Brockwell plummet down...down and down. This has meant frosty 'beach changes', lanes and whole pools to ourselves, and a thermos of tea. The chill never quite leaves you on a cold swim day but once the shock of those first two lengths is over and the heat is back in your body it's surprisingly easy to carry on! So far this winter I'm not as cold as I was last year and the gloves are not yet on - lets see how long that lasts. However there are two new things this cold swim season - a numb bottom lip and very itchy wrists when I get out of the pool. Both are somewhat surprising and a bit odd but the swims are just glorious. Life affirming, chilly for sure, but beyond beautiful.  The cold also seems to make us swimmers more chatty with words of encouragement for those yet to swim and the joy of warming up with like minded souls after you've finished.   With one of us currently swimming in a warm lake I think next week might be a huge shock!

In the meantime everyone...keep swimming.