February Water's Edge

Oh! That was really cold swim on a chilly dull day. By the time February arrives any latent warmth in the Lake, left over from last autumn, has kicked up its heels and vanished. The moment of sinking down into the water with a calm mindset and controlled breath is very much more an act of will power than it was even a month ago.

More so than ever I am acutely aware of my skin’s reaction and how it instantly starts communicating with the inside of my body. There’s definitely a feeling of urgency in how quickly blood rushes to the skin surface with flickers of ‘electric’ shocks sparking off down my legs. There’s a very short period indeed for the feel-good moments after adjustment. I swim close to the pontoon, once around and back. In the last few yards before I stand up in the shallows I feel the beginnings of a heaviness in my limbs and I kick harder to circulate warmth and blood. It works spectacularly because my skin is as red as a boiled lobster’s as I gain dry ground. No numbness and no shivers and lots of energy for the rest of the day. Interesting how bodies can be trained to adapt.