You don’t have to love cold water swimming to be a ‘proper’ outdoor swimmer

A cold water convert, Simon Griffiths (reluctantly) got into winter swimming during the pandemic

The growth in popularity of winter swimming may leave you feeling that you have to embrace it to be a bona fide outdoor swimmer.

You don’t.

Just because we’re celebrating winter swimming in this issue and influencers are posting beaming pictures of their winter dips, doesn’t mean that all outdoor swimmers love the cold. Some do, some don’t, and lots are somewhere in the middle.

For many years, I felt that winter swimming wasn’t worth the effort. It involves a lot of faff for only a short time in the water. Once the temperature drops out of the teens, it’s too uncomfortable and potentially too dangerous to stay in long enough for a meaningful fitness session.

Moreover, my early attempts at cold water made me believe it wasn’t for me. It was too painful. I couldn’t understand how some people seemed to slip as easily into a cold lake as a warm pool and just start swimming.

Although I have become more of a winter swimmer in recent years, I don’t want to be a cold water evangelist. It’s enriched my life, but I see it’s not for everyone, and it’s not a requirement for identifying yourself as an outdoor swimmer.

I finally, and somewhat reluctantly, started exploring winter swimming properly when it was my only opportunity to get into the water during the pandemic. We’d swum outdoors daily all summer and decided to continue as cooler weather arrived.

I remember sometime in October saying, “this winter swimming isn’t that bad.” A more experienced swimmer overheard me and said, “I hate to break it to you, but it’s not winter yet.”

The months rolled on. The days got shorter and the water got colder. And I kept swimming. I discovered that with frequent dipping, entering the water gets easier (but never easy) and less painful. I lost my fear of the cold and started to enjoy its bite. I experienced beautiful sunrise dips and connected with a wonderful group of people who I still swim with today.

That first winter of outdoor swimming was a meaningful and significant part of my swimming journey, and perhaps one of the few good things to come out of the pandemic. It showed me that my limits were not what I thought they were and led to swimming adventures I previously would have missed. It’s also, I believe, made me a better all-round swimmer.

But, with the pandemic behind us, I have returned to doing most of my winter swimming in the pool. For me, it’s a better environment for training and fitness.

Still, I have maintained the winter swimming habit, albeit just once or twice per week rather than daily.

I wouldn’t say I love cold water swimming. I suspect some people get more of a buzz out of it than I do. It doesn’t leave me feeling high all day. But I enjoy the ritual and social side of it. I like the feeling of having done something difficult, especially when that’s a shared experience. And every now and then, I’m still blown away by a beautiful sunrise.

Cold water swimming may even be good for me, although I’m sceptical of some of the claimed benefits. Rather than exhausting me, like training might, cold water feels rejuvenating, part of the recovery process. And it makes me feel more capable.

I’d therefore encourage you to be open minded about winter swimming. Be inspired by some of the stories in this issue. Use the tips and advice to help you make the most of winter swimming if you choose to do it.

But if you discover you don’t enjoy it, that’s OK too. It’s just one aspect of outdoor swimming. For some people it’s the best part. Other people can’t stand it. And some of us are in the middle, possibly shifting back and forth depending on mood and circumstances. Wherever you stand on this cold water enjoyment spectrum is fine. There is nothing wrong with pursuing what you like in outdoor swimming and passing on the parts you enjoy less. If you want to move your swimming inside for winter, you’ll be in good company.