swimming in cold running water

[Louloubelle]

went for my first swim this year in the ponds a few days back - it was extremely cold and hurt my hands and toes so much that I could only stay in for a few minutes. Took me several attempts to get in before I eventually managed to swim

bbbbrrrrrr :eek:

took my breath away!

not nice but what an incredible natural high afterwards. I felt like my batteries had been running low for months but had now been recharged.

lovely :)


Then today I went again and the water water was still cold but it didn't hurt and I had a proper swim. So nice and cool and refreshing, really quite warm compared to a couple of days ago

Anyone else swimming in ponds / rivers for the first time this year?

:)

[zenie]

No but I really want to :o

Do they ban dogs from the swimming ponds BTW?

Where did you go? :)

[Louloubelle]

No but I really want to :o

Do they ban dogs from the swimming ponds BTW?

Where did you go? :)

yes they ban dogs :)
I go to Hampstead Heath Ladies Pond :)

google turned up these links

http://www.stonesoup.co.nz/specialknives/archives/005745.html

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/oliver.merrington/lidos/lidos1.htm#_Toc2087921

:cool:

[London_Calling]

My gym has one of those lunatic ice cold plunge whatsits that you leap into after a sauna.

Jesus Christ - one minute your nuts are round your knees the next they're a neck tie.

But sure, once your vital organs have recovered geographical familiarity there is a "natural high". Uncrossing the eyes takes a little longer.

[Boris Sprinkler]

i was in the sea a couple of weeks ago. In my boxer shorts.
the baltic sea.

[PacificOcean]

went for my first swim this year in the ponds a few days back - it was extremely cold and hurt my hands and toes so much that I could only stay in for a few minutes. Took me several attempts to get in before I eventually managed to swim

bbbbrrrrrr :eek:

took my breath away!

not nice but what an incredible natural high afterwards. I felt like my batteries had been running low for months but had now been recharged.

lovely :)


Then today I went again and the water water was still cold but it didn't hurt and I had a proper swim. So nice and cool and refreshing, really quite warm compared to a couple of days ago

Anyone else swimming in ponds / rivers for the first time this year?

:)

Why would you want to put yourself through that pain? :confused:

[Louloubelle]

Why would you want to put yourself through that pain? :confused:


because the reward you get afterwards is so nice
I suppose it's like when people who get a high from drugs take a drug that feels horrible to taste or makes them throw up of whatever, but they do it cos of how they feel afterwards. Only without all the associated problems cos it makes you more healthy not less
it gives me loads of energy and makes me feel aware of inhabiting my skin in a very stimulating and refreshing way.


went again today and the horrible bit only lasted maybe 30 seconds and after that it was just lovely swimming around , it almost feels warm cos you get used to it :)

[Orang Utan]

I like plunging into cold water too - it's very invigorating - it makes me laugh when you see people at the beach, tiptoing in and taking ages to get in the water - that is not the way to do it - just run in and dive and get it over with - it's like ripping a plaster off!

[Miss-Shelf]

i did swim in london fields lido last week. haven't made it to the ponds yet but I will...you've inspired me...:)

[gaijingirl]

I'd really like to do that golden goggles thing this year:

http://www.londonpoolscampaign.com/goldengoggles2006

will email to see if it's happening again - maybe we could get a bunch of outdoor swimming afficionados together to tour the lidos and ponds... :)

[han]

Ooh that golden goggles thing looks :cool:

Is anyone here a member of Tooting Lido, btw ? I'm veerry tempted to join. The idea of invigorating pre-work summer swims in freezing water is very very exciting!

I love jumping into freezing water. (Especially when freshly out of a boiling hot sauna. It is :cool: )

[gaijingirl]

I joined last year Han - it was about £100 for a year's membership - although after a somewhat disastrous 7am Feb wetsuit free swim I cancelled it! now would be nice though I reckon!!

[Louloubelle]

I think I'll stick to the women's pond
I don't like chlorine as it irritates my skin and makes me wheezy, I'd rather just swim in natural water
I was talking to a woman yesterday who occasionally swims in the serpentine but she said that she's not going any more as she's fed up with being ogled by men who sit around the edge and consider the female bathers as entertainment
I was at the ponds later yesterday afternoon and it was gorgeous and 12 / 55.5 degrees so, while cold enough to have a bit of bite, warm enough to have a longish swim

:)

[gaijingirl]

I was at the ponds later yesterday afternoon and it was gorgeous and 12 / 55.5 degrees so, while cold enough to have a bit of bite, warm enough to have a longish swim

:)


Jealous!! Now that Brixton's closed I had to resort to Clapham pool which I swear tastes like semen... :mad: If I had a bit more time I might come and check out the women's pool (but does it have straggly fronds that might wrap themselves around your ankle and drag you under???)

Actually a question about swimming pool water - can some be harder to swim through than others? I swear that swimming in Clapham feels like harder work than in other pools - somehow the water feels... well.. thicker???

Or is this one of those occasions when I shouldn't actually verbalize what goes on in my head??? :confused:

[beeboo]

Jealous!! Now that Brixton's closed I had to resort to Clapham pool which I swear tastes like semen... :mad: If I had a bit more time I might come and check out the women's pool (but does it have straggly fronds that might wrap themselves around your ankle and drag you under???)

Actually a question about swimming pool water - can some be harder to swim through than others? I swear that swimming in Clapham feels like harder work than in other pools - somehow the water feels... well.. thicker???

Or is this one of those occasions when I shouldn't actually verbalize what goes on in my head??? :confused:

Brixton will be open this summer won't it? :eek: :( really looking forward to early morning lido action again.

I don't know about thicker water :D but I wonder if the depth and dimensions of the pool have a bearing, plus how many other people are in it?

[gaijingirl]

Brixton will be open this summer won't it? :eek: :( really looking forward to early morning lido action again.

I don't know about thicker water :D but I wonder if the depth and dimensions of the pool have a bearing, plus how many other people are in it?


It's the Rec that's closed atm for 3 months allegedly. The lido is also closed but would have been anyway at this time of year - as it happens it's also having refurbs done and is slated to be open this summer - keeping everything crossed!!! :)

[beeboo]

It's the Rec that's closed atm for 3 months allegedly. The lido is also closed but would have been anyway at this time of year - as it happens it's also having refurbs done and is slated to be open this summer - keeping everything crossed!!! :)

Oh I see! :)

I saw the work being done in Brockwell Park and noted that the 'scheduled to open summer 2007' sounded slightly ominously non-commital - hope it is open for the normal start of the season. :(

Can't believe after all the years living in London I only discovered lidos last year - keeping my fingers crossed for another hot, lido-tastic summer :cool:

[gaijingirl]

Oh I see! :)

I saw the work being done in Brockwell Park and noted that the 'scheduled to open summer 2007' sounded slightly ominously non-commital - hope it is open for the normal start of the season. :(

Can't believe after all the years living in London I only discovered lidos last year - keeping my fingers crossed for another hot, lido-tastic summer :cool:

The Stoke Newington Lido is open now - it's not as nice as Brockwell (IMO) but it's pretty damn good!!

[PieEye]

I was hoping Brockwell Park would open this summer too - I want us to reprise the breakfast club. If not then I'll be going to Tooting - I need to check that one out anyway - it's not far from the house.

[gaijingirl]

I think it will be open - the 70th b'day celebrations are going ahead as normal so fingers crossed! :)

[beeboo]

I was hoping Brockwell Park would open this summer too - I want us to reprise the breakfast club. If not then I'll be going to Tooting - I need to check that one out anyway - it's not far from the house.

I'm hoping to reprise my role as one-legged mystery swimmer :cool: ;) :confused:

[gaijingirl]

I'm hoping to reprise my role as one-legged mystery swimmer :cool: ;) :confused:

That poor woman with a limp last year - we (or maybe it was just me - can't remember) spent ages looking at her suspiciously wondering if it was you with a false leg.... :D

[Louloubelle]

Jealous!! Now that Brixton's closed I had to resort to Clapham pool which I swear tastes like semen... :mad: If I had a bit more time I might come and check out the women's pool (but does it have straggly fronds that might wrap themselves around your ankle and drag you under???)


There are lillies and rushes to the right of the pond, soon they'll have ikkle baby moorhens on them

http://critterimages.com/HOTCHICKS/images/moorhenchicks.jpg

You're not meant to swim too close to the reeds and the lifeguards blow a whistle if you so too near, but I've often got my arm tangled in them by going to look at the baby birds and all you do is jerk your arm and they break free, so nothing to worry about at all :)

I was there for about an hour today, the water was warmer 13 degrees, had a lovely swim, will probably go back tomorrow afternoon :)

[Tricky Skills]

Re Clap'ham pool...

Yep - it is like swimming through syrup. I think it's something to do with the wider pool - the water gets choppier.

I'm quite enjoying the switch to Clap'ham, but M-F early mornings can be a bit of a free for all with the lanes being clogged up. Plus there's often queues for the poxy three showers in the gents.

I went to the open day (http://onionbagblog.blogspot.com/2007/04/talk-talk-story-filed-by-onionbag.html) at Brixton Rec today. Nothing new from Greewich Leisure. I remain optimistic, but sceptical.

Fingers crossed for a July opening at the Lovely Lido.

[Ms Ordinary]

Fingers crossed for a July opening at the Lovely Lido.

Fingers crossed here too :) .

Meanwhile, waiting for the end of May when (AFAIK) Tooting Lido opens to casual swimmers...

[Tricky Skills]

End of May is indeed the date (ish) for Tooting. London Fields should be before then :)

LOVE Lido life :D

[beeboo]

Tooting opens on the 27th May - I've marked the date in my diary! :D