📍Location: Hampstead Heath Men’s Pond
🌡Water Temperature: 6.4°C
⏰️ Time in the water: ~5.3mins
The Story
Whilst paying ÂŁ4.25 to swim in a pond feels like a painfully commercialised version of wild swimming, I am lucky to live near Hampstead Heath Ponds. It is certainly not the same as swimming in the sea off the Welsh coast or in a mountain stream in Scotland, however, if you live in London it’s an excellent way to get some consistent wild swimming in. I am excited to start making this my regular spot!
This year I’ve set myself the goal of going for a cold water swim every month of the year. I’m hoping that this will be beneficial for my body and mind. On top of this, I’m hoping that the consistency will allow me to be able to better withstand the cold temperatures in preparation for longer cold water swimming or any future winter expeditions.
🏊‍♂️ The Experience
This one was hard.
I really did not want to do this swim. Having not felt that cold grip since the start of the year my motivation to return was quickly fading. Every weekend I delayed the swim, putting it down to a busy schedule. However, February was slowly ticking away and my window to continue a cold swim every month of the year was getting smaller and smaller.
Surely I couldn’t fail on month 2?!
On the last weekend in February, I forced myself back up to Hampstead Heath ponds. Over the weeks of delay and deliberation, a resistance began to grow in my head. As I prepared myself to get in the icy water I was truly doubting why on earth I had set myself this challenge. Getting in this water was the last thing I wanted to do.
The initial shock, as always, was the hardest. My breathing increased rapidly and my body screamed with the sting of the water. However, I was surprised to find that I was able to last longer than my last swim and paddled around for about 5:30 minutes. After this point, my muscles had begun to stiffen and I thought it was time to get out.
The usual feeling of post-swim Euphoria had not gone away and I felt elated that I had finally ticked off my February. dip.
The benefits of the challenge had already proved their worth. Without the deadline I had set, I can guarantee I would not have been going for a swim in February. However, I felt so much better for doing it and my reason for setting this challenge in the first place became far more cemented and clear in my mind.
Wild Swimming Diaries
If I had access to do so, I would aim to swim in the sea every day and observe how the seasons change and my body adapts. I’m certain this routine would do wonders for my mental health and day-to-day life.
However, until that time comes, I will do my best to seek out as many opportunities to submerge into the cold wild waters. The Wild Swimming Diaries intend to be a place to keep this commitment in check and hold myself accountable.
If they motivate me to enter the water more and inspire at least one other to do the same then they will have been a success.
I will be posting these diary entries as short blog posts. They will aim to contain some consistent metrics as I document my swims throughout the year and as we continue through winter.
So make sure to follow for more wild swimming content!