ICE BATH

I guess many of you know we have had a really cold week here in the UK with much snow and low overnight temperatures.  I went out for a shirtless run on Wednesday morning with snow all over the paths and a bit slippery underfoot (Air temp -2C).  It was a great, cold, 8.8km run.  There is nothing like running in the snow.  I was photographed on at least 2 occasions by passers-by who obviously thought I was crazy and also had a few motorists hoot their appreciation! 

Today, however, I was too lazy to get up for a run and after some reviewing of my Youtube channels and searching for new content I hit on the idea of using some of the accumulated snow outside to create my own ice bath.   So armed with a bucket and large spade I set about collecting and placing a large amount of snow into the bath and filling it up with cold water.  By the time the bath was full there was still snow floating and not melting on the top so I have to assume that temperature was at freezing or thereabouts. 

I must admit that as this was the coldest water that I have ever gotten into I was a little apprehensive.  I planned only to spend 3 minutes in the water.   On getting in it did seem to be very cold but the feeling was not as bad as i had expected it to be.  I was not even really that much out of breath when I got in.  I must be acclimatised to this by now I guess. 

It was really wierd seeind and feeling the slushy snow floating in the bath around me and when I lay back I pushed a slushy cushion of ice to the back of my neck as a makeshift pillow.  The 3 minutes slipped past so quickly that there seemed no point in stopping there.  At 5 minutes I put my head into the water until it became painful - I was surprised to see that more than 1 minute had passed by the time I sat up again. 

My skin was red when I got out (as expected) but I did not shiver at all in the water, only when I had dried off and started to warm up.  That was strange.  My toes and fingers were numb, but that was to be expected.  The rest of me was fine.  Totally invigorating!  Roll on the next time. 

I can report a new record for temperature and time now for me:

• Duration:  7 minutes
• Temperature:  0C (32F)

What are you going to do with the next snowfall?  Tell me or send me a comment on the above.

Scotland Run/Swim

I spent most of this past week up in Scotland near Stirling.  While I was there I met up for a run and a swim with an online buddy (let's call him Joe) who is a very keen cold weather runner and swimmer.  We had been discussing what we were going to do and where we were to run by e-mail in the days beforehand. We also decided that as the place would likely be deserted that we would run only in speedo swimwear (he is a barefoot runner - I ran in my Nike running shoes). 

He met me at my hotel and then I drove us out to Glen Finglas reservoir near Callander for a late afternoon start.  On the way the temperature kept dropping and was close to freezing by the time we reached the small car park that was to be our starting point.  Increasing amounts of snow also lay on the ground the closer we got to our destination.  After parking the car we stripped off to our Speedos and got ready to run.

The first part of the trail is actually a steep and winding tarmac road which then turns to gravel after about 1.5km.  After the initual climb the road winds its way down to the head of the lake away from the reservoir wall.  The road was covered in snow and quite icy in parts so hampered our speed as we needed to avoid falling. 

This is a view of the lake from one of the higher points in which you can see the gravel trail path in the foreground:

After about 35 minutes we were close to the lakeside near the far end of the picture and decided to take a short swim before heading back.  Joe's watch showed a water temp of around 4C once we got in the water. This is the coldest water I have swum in.   We swam and stood in the water for around 5 minutes before getting out and heading back the same way we came in retracing our path along the trail.  The run was close to 9km in total. 

It was definitely colder on the way back (maybe I was just colder) and because I kept my shoes on when I swam (as I knew that if i took them off I would nevere be able to re-tie the laces with my cold hands) my feet became colder and my laces froze into position on the way back.  My hands were painful too as I did not wear gloves the whole run.  It took a while to thaw out in the car but by the time we reached the hotel I felt quite normal but elated and refreshed with "tingling" skin. 

Not the coldest run air temperature wise that I have ever done but with the swim at the far point of the run it does not leave you with many options to warm your body up on the return leg except to run faster. 

Regrettably I was not able to get any more runs or swims in with Joe this time around. However, there is snow on the ground in the South of the UK today so I may get a good snow run in tomorrow morning. And there is always a next time for a trip to Scotland.

One interesting incident happened on the run: That was that we were passed by what may have been a ranger or local farmer in his Land Rover on the gravel track.  Initially he waved at us as he went past but after  a few minutes he returned and asked us if this was a "dare" or what? And if we were "OK"?  We assured him that we were fine and that we were used to doing this type of crazy thing.  With that he turned around and we never saw im again.  I bet he had a few conversations about  that encounter in the local pub or with his wife that evening!  

I took another cold bath Thursday.  Similar sort of reaction as before, except this time I managed to keep my head covered with  water (with nose and mouth out so I could breathe) for around 4 minutes of the 20 that I was in the water.  

I had gone out for a shirtless run in +2C temps just before that so was cool from the run so found that it took me a lot longer to warm up than the previous day.  I did not find it unpleasant though.  Maybe I am just getiing used to the feeling now. 

Friday I had a 5 minute cold shower instead as time was limited. 

This week I am headed to Scotland to meet up with an acquaintance that is much more experienced than I am with dealing with the cold.  We have agreed to run and swim together on at least one or 2 occasions whilst I am there.  Snow and colder weather (down to -5C) is forecast so hope that there will still be some snow on the ground when we run (probably in Speedos or thong swimwear). 

Keep watching this space.  I have my camera packed too so maybe you will get a photo or 2 as well in the coming days.

On Monday I could not sleep so went out for a run at around 05h30 in the dark on one of my normal runs using a head-torch.  It's quite a different way to run as the limited light means you need to tread a little more carefully.  As I had more time than normal for a run I decided to run to the little stream where I knew I could get a cold water dip in.  And as it was so dark once I got to the woods I decided to strip off my shorts to get maximum cold exposure and got around 10k of the 14 k run in that state.  It was not that cold (maybe 5C) but it was a little misty.

Once at the stream I took the plunge and spent around 5 minutes in the water and then carried on with my run.  I dont know what the temperature of the stream was but it did not feel much colder than the air and my body got used to the temperature quite quickly.

I warmed up a bit on the run home and then took a cold shower to wash the mud off me.  I did not shiver much on the run, swim or shower but as I was warming up afterwards I did shiver quite a lot.

I am away from home for a few days now and have been pursuing some more cold weather and cold water activities that have been interesting.  I am further north in the UK than my home town and the water  out of the tap is definitely much colder.  So today I also took a long cold bath after I woke up.

I managed around 20 minutes.  The shivering started at around 8 minutes and lasted quite a while.  I managed to keep my head under the water for a few minutes too which is an improvement over past times I have tried that.  I noticed that towards the end my heart rate had slowed a bit but did not have chance to see how much slower it was.

I shivered quite a lot afterwards while warming up but my hands and feet were OK and seemed to recover mobility quite quickly. 

The weather is due to get colder tonight so I may try and get out for a run in the morning in below freezing temps around where I am staying.  I will let you know the outcome. 

Well. Christmas and New Year have come and gone and I dont have a lot to report here.  December in the UK was wet but not that cold. I had many shirtless runs and the occasional cold shower but nothing worthy of a blog entry.

Today, however I did something I have not done for a while. I ran a cold bath and set the timer for 11 minutes (it was supposed to be 10 mins but I went over and couldnt be bothered to reset it). I dont know what temp the water was but I guess around 8C or 9C. I started the timer as I got in and then lay down to enjoy it. No cold shock, rapid breathing on getting in so I guess I am still conditioned!

Taking a bath or a swim is much different from a cold shower. The water is all encompassing and envelops the body in a cloak of cold.

I got to about 8 minutes before some shivering set in but that soon passed and at around the 10 minute mark I decided to put my head completely under the water for the last minute leaving only my nose and mouth out. In the past I have not been able to keep my head under the water but this time I managed to do it.

After the first 11 minutes were over I still felt OK so I styed in the water and set the timer going again with a resolve to stay the full 11 minutes (which I did). The shivering increased over this second session to the point I was shivering quite uncontrollably at one stage. This was not uncomfortable, and in some ways it was quite exciting and enjoyable as I have not experience this for quite a long time. As with the first time, for the last minute I kept my head under the water.

As I write this I am in warming up and having the occassional shivering session. One of my fingers is still white from the cold with little circulation but other than that I feel good and quite invigorated.

I will probably do this a few more times this coming week as I am off to see a fellow runner and cold water swimer in Scotland the week of 14 January. I hope to report back on at least 1 or 2 run/swim combinations while I am there. He has promised to take me to 2 of the local lochs for a swim in them. They should be at around the 5C mark by now so it will be interesting, especially as we plan to run to and from them in just our speedo swim suits.

 For the record my weight seems to be staying pretty constant at around 66Kg.

A missed opportunity?

I have to say that the expected run on Friday did not happen. However, I made up for it with a 9km run in -2C on Saturday and a longer 12 km run today also starting off in -2C temperatures. The sky was blue, the air crisp and fresh with hardly anyone around, even at 08h30 in the woods and on the trails. All in all it was a great day for a run The ground was crisp underfoot making some of the muddier sections like walking on a sharp stone pebbled beach - a little awkward and to be taken with great care to avoid twisting an ankle! It was a good shirtless run and not without people noticing me. I was hooted at twice by passing motorists and asked by a another "Are you mad?". That sort of thing seems to happen more in cold weather than in the height of summer. The man who shouted at me probably would have thought me even more mad if he had seen me take a cold shower at the end of the run. The water didnt seem that cold after the freezing run though - even kind of warm on the skin. I guess that is true in the extremes of Estonia and other places where they do ice swimming. It must be a relief to get in water close to freezing (0C) as it is warmer than the -10C to -20C that the air is on your skin. I long to have that experience. Maybe this year I will get the chance.

November Update

Well, it finally looks like the cold weather is arriving in the UK. THe temperature this morning was well below freezing with ice on the cars and a frost on the ground. Monday's run this week was the wettest and probably coldest run so far of the winter. Monday was not particularly cold (6C) but the rain and wind certainly ensured that my skin was quite red when I had finished my 10k run. I warmed up gradually and then had a cool shower to rinse the mud off. For a lot of this month I have been away (which is why you have not seen many posts)in the southern hemisphere, which does not equate to cold temperatures there. In fact, the 3 or 4 runs that I did do there were in temps that were a balmy 16C-20C followed by a dip in a swimming pool that was around 24C (and that was at 05h30 in the morning!). For some people that would be cold but for me that is probably too warm. I saw lots of other runners out on the roads but I was the only one without a shirt. No run for me today, as I am travelling in the UK and have other things to do, but hopefully I will have more to report after the weekend. I have a run planned for Friday and Saturday mornings. With a bit of luck the starting temperatures will be below freezing on both days.

As mosty regular readers of this blog know, most of my cold weather activities are centred around running as well as a few cold water showers and baths. I have been running shirtless through the past 2 years now, I can only think of one time when I actually wore a shirt to run in and that day it started out at -14C. I did take off my shirt half-way round the 11km route that I was doing that day and finished the run shirtless. The weather in the UK has warmed up a little since my last post so it was a warm 11C at the start of the run (although it is supposed to be getting colder later this week). Just over three quarters of the way around the route there was a farmer out with his dogs in the field and he echoed and probably the most often spoken comment that I hear: "You're brave!" To be perfectly honest, I don't feel brave at all - it's what I do every time I run. I feel normal. I am sure it's the same for the winter swimmers when they are seen in the ice covered rivers and lakes. I am sure they feel "normal" and not some kind of freak as they do it all the time. The fact that the person that is observing you does not do that activity or would ever consider doing what we do themselves somehow means that they need to comment. A normal "hello!" or "what a great morning!" would be a much better greeting and would invite a normal conversation. Instead I often feel I have to justify why I am running the way I do. Unfortuately, I am rarely able to think of a witty or smart comment as a put-down to the person relating the comment. What kind of comments do you get when people see you doing something unusual and how do you react? Let me knowl

2012/2013 Winter Season

I think it's about time to fire this blog up again for the winter season. The temperatures have started to drop here in the UK and the rain is becoming more persistent and cold too as we head into the latter part of October. There has not been a morning where the temerature has been below freezing yet, but I am sure that one is not too far away. I have been running throughout the summer, shirtless as usual, and now that the water temperature out of the taps is cooling down to a point where it feels a little colder on the skin I have started to step up the cold water showers in the morning again. A nice fresh start to the day. If you are still around and reading this drop me a comment or two to let me know you are out there. Also would welcome any stories you have to share. All the best.

First Sea Swim of the year

Hi All

Managed to get a few days away at the coast this past weekend. Also managed to get a couple of 10k runs in first thing in the morning which I followed up with a swim in the sea to cool off.

The sea temp was around +9C and the air temperature just a little cooler than that at around +7C. I got a few stares from passing folk and at least two people say "you're brave" (why is that the phrase that more people use than any other?) as I ran past them.

A great weekend away but not nice to come back from the great outdoors and have to work in a stuffy office. Here's looking to the next time I can get away.

You forgot about me didn't you?

I know it's been a long time since I posted anything here. But there is some good news! I have been exploring my local area some more and finally found a place where I can get immersed in relatively clean river water on one of my local runs. I have tried it out twice on my early morning runs over the past 3 weeks and it is great. A little exposed for a naked swim for my liking but OK as long as there are not too many people around (I nearly got caught out this morning!).

I hope to take some pictures next time I get out there for you all to see.

We have been having some great sunny weather in the South of the UK recently. Hot, sunny days but cool and clear nights whcih makes for some great contrasts in temperature. For my runs the past 2 days I have left home in 5C temps and then passed through valleys with frost on the grass and a noticeable chill in the air. Half way through this morning's run I swam in the stream for around 4 minutes. I estimate the water temp to have been around 6C. It was certainly a lot colder than the cold water (10C) bath I took for 13 minutes at home last week.

I think we are headed for some colder weather in the coming weeks - so keep watching.

I have been updating my youtube account with the best of this winter's cold water swimming vids (Eeven more cold water swimming videos) so pleas drop by and take a look: http://www.youtube.com/user/tremendimouse

Leave a comment here or on Youtube if you like what you see.

Till next time.

Snow Run

The first snowfall of winter started overnight last night and it was still lightly falling when I set off for my normal morning run today. Temperature was around freezing with a light westerly wind, so not too cold compared to some mornings. Great to get out and feel the snow on my shirtless body. Just a pity you cant run naked!

Winter arrived today

Its been a long time coming but today was the first time this winter that we had a really cold start to a day. For some of you -3C is not so cold, but for the south of the UK -3C is pretty chilly. The temeperature did not stop me from getting up early to run with my mates though - shirtless of course (the only one as usual). It was a great run, not too fast not too slow - 10km in around 55 minutes. Temp at finish -1C. so a complete sub-zero run, the first one of that sort for the season.

It was a clear sky, moon still out in the dawn light to be replaced by an orange sun a few minutes later. Great to see the frost glistening on the hedges, trees, fences and grass as the sun came ever higher in the sky along with the mist hanging low and burning off in the valleys.

I really like running in winter, the scenery is great. Even saw a deer running away from us across one of the fields. The hot coffee afterwards was also a great way to warm up and get some feeling back into my fingers!

Till next time........

Winter is Coming

As the weather is cooling down here in the UK now, I think it is about time to get back to the origins of my blog - my experiences of cold water. There has been a relatively dramatic drop in temperature in the UK over the past 2 weeks. From basking in >20C sunshine to the first hard frost of the winter last weekend (1C) has barely taken 10 days!

To give you all an update on the running. I have continued to run shirtless through the summer and will continue to do so through the winter this year if at all possible. I have run all my races this year shirtless (often being the only person in the race to do so) and although I have put in a personal best (PB)time in a 10km run early this season I have not been able to improve on my half marathon PB. I did improve upon my time for one of the half-marathons that I did the previous year by around 5 minutes, so my training can't all have been in vain. I still weigh around 67kg so not much fluctuation there either.

With the weather cooling down, so has the water temperature out of the tap too. I am starting to take cold showers again after a summer break (2 with only cold water this week). I find that in summer the water is tepid and not as enjoyable as either really cold or really hot. So I tend to mix it up a bit depending on my mood in the summer. I am looking forward to the water temperatures getting down into single digits again (i.e. below 10C/50F). Also planning to take some cold water baths again to get used to full immersion. I am still looking for a good place to swim outdoors in the winter. If I find a place I will take some pics and post them here.

That's all for now. Drop me a mail or leave a comment as to what you are goin to be doing this winter.