Another Snow & Ice Bath

We had some unexpected snow overnight Sunday which put sufficient of the white stuff on the ground to enable me do the snow bath thing again. As a warm-up I did a short 7k shirtless run first thing in the morning in quite slippery conditions. 

Temperature on the run was hovering around freezing point as I set out and did not move from that in the 50 minutes or so it took to run.  I stopped a couple of times to look at the snow laden trees as the sun broke through at dawn.  On the way back to home I made a detour to a clearing in the woods that I know would have a good depth of snow and stripped off to have a naked roll around in it.  Although cold on the skin the feeling of freshly fallen snow is quite difficult to describe.  Its like being caressed by dry water or soft foam. 

After my run I warmed up with a coffee and then set about filling the bath with 5 buckets full of snow and running cold water over it.  Once the bath was full I dispersed the ice, took the temp of the water (0C) and Set the timer for 10 minutes and got in.  I started to shiver a little at the 7 minute mark but that soon passed and before I knew it the timer was going off for me to get out. 

My hands and feet were very stiff as I was drying myself off but these seem to be recovering more quickly the more times I do this.  After drying and dressing warmly I made myself a cup of coffee and warmed up slowly while shivering quite a bit on the warm-up cycle for the next 30 minutes or so.  The shivering also didnt seem to last that long this time.  So maybe getting used to this cold water immersion really does help speed up your metabolism.  

Comments welcomed!

Highgate Men's Pond - Hampstead Heath

I had read a lot about Highgate Men's Pond at Hamsptead Heath and the fact that it is open year round but I have never had the opportunity to visit it until an unexpected business trip came up to London this week and I realised I would have the time to fit a short visit in to have a winter swim there. 

The approach and changing facilities at the pond are very communal and have a "retro" 1950's feel about them.  Although I took my camera I forgot about it until after I left so I am afraid you will have to look for pics on the net. There is a video here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5mF4y68Fik which gives you a fairly good impression of the place.

I got there around 10h00 and there were 2 other older guys there changing at the same time as me.   I spoke to the lifeguards (2 on duty the day I was there) just to let them know it was my first time as I went to swim.  The water was a cool 4C and I managed to stay in for around 6 minutes but coud have done quite a lot longer.  The water is quite deep so I had no opportuity to stand so was swimming the entire time.  There is a cordoned off swimming area with ropes for the winter (to limit the distance the lifeguards have to swim to rescue you?) but this is large enough to get a good distance swim in.  The other swimmers were impressed that I stayed in the water longer than they did (and they tell me they swim almost every day)!

The water was of good quality and well worth a second visit soon while the water is still cold.  If you need any pointers or more info write me a comment.