tldr

Date: February 1st
Time in water: 57:10
Water Temp: 54°F
Air Temp: 55°F
Where: Alcatraz Island!!!

I signed up for this swim quite a while ago; I recall thinking that if I’m flying all the way down to San Francisco for the 24 hour relay, I should try to get in as much swimming as possible. My nervousness grew throughout the week–about the water temperatures (low 50’s), my fitness, and the weather (high winds and rain predicted), and I seriously questioned my decision to do the Alcatraz swim the day before the relay.

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Date: January 27th
Time in water: 10:37
Water Temp: 39°F
Air Temp: 43°F
Where: Broughton Beach

Well this went way better than the week before, although I almost didn’t get in. I put my feet in the water and holy shit. They just straight up hurt. I backed out, which I have never done. “I don’t think I can do this today,” I said, as most of the others swam away.

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Date: January 20th
Time in water: 5:35
Water Temp: 40°F
Air Temp: 50°F (this is what Garmin says, I do not believe it)
Where: Broughton Beach

Yes, I know. It’s been a month! I was sick, a swim was canceled, etc. Anyway.

I have been getting nervous about my lack of cold water swimming, with a 24 hour relay coming up in 2 short weeks, so I was happy to work the kinks out. My goal? Get in the water and swim. At first I was thinking 10 minutes, but when I heard someone else say 5, I thought “5, 5 sounds good”.

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What will I remember when I look back on the last year?

Not much because my long term memory is basically no longer functional.

I want my focus for 2019 to be living an intentional life. For me, that means giving myself time and empty space to think and reflect, which I hope will improve my memory and help me clarify where I am and where I want to go.

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Date: December 27th
Time in water: 1:35 (yes, a minute and thirty seconds)
Water Temp: 36.5°F
Air Temp: 45°F
Where: Huntington Beach, Lake Erie, Ohio

My brother lives a short 10 minute drive to a gigantic lake, so clearly I needed to get some swimming in while on a holiday visit. The forecast calls for rain tonight, so it was today or not at all.

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Someone asked me today about these super short cold water swims, feeling like she wasn’t getting “exercise”. I told her I don’t think of this as exercise at all (although you do burn a bunch of calories rewarming). It’s a physical and mental challenge, it’s social hour, it’s a refreshing ice bath, but no it’s not exercise. That seemed to switch a light on for her, in the way she was framing the whole activity. It can feel like a huge waste of time; we meet at 10:30am, get ready for maybe 20-30 minutes, swim for 10-15 minutes, and sit around shivering for another 40-60 minutes. So basically I’m gone for for 2.5-3 hours for a 10 minute activity.

Yeah if you’re trying to have an efficient work out, this ain’t it.

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