glow

Got to the pool today, and being in no particular rush, chatted to the lifeguards about water temperature, fainting and so on. One thing that the conversation provoked in my head was the idea that there is a time to be in the water that creates a wonderful heating sensation afterwards, and beyond that you just get increasingly cold. I did just 400 yards (4 lengths) and was a nice beetroot colour when I got out. I could have done more, but didn't want to have that cold to the core feeling that I had for several hours on Tuesday. A couple of hours later I still have the wonderful endorphin feeling.

On the way out, I talked to Anne, and we discussed whether there was any regular pattern to the fainters. Aside from them all being women, they were of all ages, had been in the water for different lengths of time, were a mix of experienced and newcomers. One thought was that they'd all spent more than a short time in the showers.

shiver

It was 12 degrees on Saturday and today the sign in the lido entrance said - Water 9 degrees, Air 4 degrees and Wind Chill. A 3 degree drop in 4 days is a lot and I was a little apprehensive about doing more than a few lengths, but thought I'd do a km. I did. Felt good when I got out and sensibly only had the briefest of showers. The started to shiver. Not uncontrollably, but shivered nevertheless for the first time since March. A coffee and five minutes in the warmth of the cafe did the trick.

On the way out though, someone else fainted in one of the cubicles. And I was told that the water temperature was more like 7.5 degrees. I think I'll have to eat more cake to get some winter blubber.

carl v carl

Alex at Quick Dip has published some good pictures of Carl and I swimming on Saturday morning. A km without the sauna produced an interesting effect - I felt the endorphin kick for much longer and felt refreshed all the way to around nine at night, when gazing over the balcony at the National Theatre in the interval at FELA!

irrational decision making

The powers that be at the SLSC (the Committee) have decided to close the sauna for two weeks because people were using it to warm up after swimming in cold water! They felt people were over-extending themselves, and because ambulances have been called for four incidents, they thought that they'd close it for two weeks while we get used to cold water swimming without a sauna. This begs several questions -

1. Given that only one of the faintings, as I understand it, came after someone had been in the sauna - why aren't the showers banned?
2. Given that on a daily basis at least 60 people go swimming, why is it that 0.55% of the visits can restrict the opportunities of the remaining 99.45% of visits? (4 faintings from 720 visits over two weeks)
3. If the sauna is not for warming up, what is it for?
4. In relation to Q2 - why not suspend the membership of the irresponsible four, rather than inconvenience the vast majority?

And whilst I acknowledge that the committee is elected at the AGM, in this day of social media and emails, a consultation with the rest of us before the decision would have been more democratic and imho more fitting to the collegiate atmosphere at the club.

I guess we'll just see people shivering more.

natural swimming

Got in the pool today, and mindful of the fainting episodes, told the Aaron (one of the lifeguards) that I'd do two km. He was tranquil about this having seen me do this distance at less than 10 degrees. My first length was wonderful. Felt like I was cutting through a crust of leaves on the surface of the pool, reminding me of river swims where you're brushed by the weeds and fell twigs lightly scratch you as you go by.

Unfortunately I was asked to move to the clear side of the pool, as the other swimmers in the pool didn't want to swim through leaves. Did 2km without feeling adverse. The pool is up to 12 degrees, and while not exactly balmy, it feels a lot easier to swim in. Then spend 20 mins in the sauna chatting to people about how to spot hypothermia and how to be sensible about the lengths you swim. I kept my distances to myself.

fainting all around

The water temp is taking its toll on the swimmers. Four people have now fainted in the last few weeks after getting out of the water. Personally, it reminds me to keep a good check on my body and get out before I get hypothermic. On a more general note, it strikes me that an increase in fainters might put the access to the pool at risk and that perhaps the lifeguards should extend what they're doing at the moment and check people who have done more than a few lengths to check they are OK.

And it's not as though it's novices. Three of the four fainters have been experienced members - who imho should know better.

Anyways...met Carl today (working at home because of the tube strike) and did a leisurely km and had a good long chat afterwards.

brrr

26 lengths/2.38km. Felt fine on length 24, then started to lose feeling in hands on length 25. Could have gone on, but thought it wise to get out. 25 mins in the sauna and still didn't sweat. I must have been cold. It was a very meditative experience though.