What better way to end the year than with a bracing, exhilarating dip in chilly open water?
Take the plunge and emerge cleansed of 2019’s baggage – ready to face a new decade with a new-found clarity and purpose.
Christmas open-water swimming is a delightfully wholesome activity that provides a welcome break from sitting on the sofa eating chocolates until you reach a constant state of nausea.
But if you never venture further than the fridge during the festive period, it can be hard to know where to start.
We asked Nike Swim’s resident expert Jane McCormick for her top tips on festive swimming – even if you’re a total beginner.
‘For many of us, the festive season can be a stressful time of the year that can leave our energy levels depleted after several days of sedentary over indulgence,’ says Jane.
‘If this is you, why not grab the chance to take part in a festive cold water dip that may be happening near you.
‘The benefits, both mental and physical, of taking an invigorating plunge into crisp, cool waters are endless.
‘When you immerse yourself in cold water, you feel a stinging sensation on your skin, which the body combats by producing our brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, endorphins. This chemical reaction improves our mood and helps to tackle stress and anxiety.
‘Not only that, when you take to the cold water, the extreme change in temperature signals the heart to pump more blood to our organs.
‘As a result, circulation is improved and toxins are more readily flushed out of our system which leads to clearer skin and a healthy glow – which is the perfect way to rid ourselves of the after effects of festive excess.
‘Another notable bonus is how the cold water improves your metabolism. When you swim outdoors, your body has to work hard just to stay warm. Consequently, you burn more calories. The colder the water, the harder your body is working converting fat to energy.’
Do you have to wear a wetsuit for outdoor swimming?
To swim in the UK waters without a wetsuit for long periods requires some acclimatisation. Particularly in the depths of December.
Jumping in to cold water when you’ve never done it before could be really dangerous – and could trigger cold water shock, which can lead to hyperventilation, hypothermia and panic attack.
Most outdoor swimming venues have temperature regulations as to whether swimmers have to wear wetsuits – for example, Swim Serpentine allows you to decide whether you want to wear a wetsuit or not if the water temp is over 15 degrees.
To avoid cold water shock, splash some cold water on your face before jumping in. Just 10-15 seconds of this helps your body get use to the lower temperature and the shock passes.
If you get in to trouble, fight the instinct to panic, lean back and float until you get control of your breathing.
Although they are fun, festive one-off dips are not advisable for people who are pregnant or who have health conditions such as asthma, other respiratory conditions or heart conditions.
It is also not advisable to swim whilst under the influence of alcohol or suffering from a hangover.
So where can I do this we hear you cry….. well, fear not, we’ve complied a top five list of festive swims that are taking place around the UK this year.
Loony Dook
Where: South Queensferry, (Firth of Forth)
When: New Year’s day, 2.15pm
Participants are encouraged to dress in fancy dress to parade through the streets of South Queensferry and then heave themselves into the icy waters of the firth of forth (which feeds into the North Sea).
The swim was originally conceived by three friends in 1986 as a light hearted suggestion to cure a hangover. Since then, it has grown in popularity and is now featured in the Edinburgh Hogmanay publicity material.
Sunderland Boxing Day Dip
Where: Seaburn, Sunderland
When: Boxing Day, 11am
A popular event for those in the North East is the Sunderland Lions boxing day dip. This will be the 46th annual Boxing Day dip for the Lions, a local club founded in 1964.
Fancy dress is encouraged with judging by the Mayor and Mayoress of Sunderland taking place at 10.45am. Following fancy dress judging, dippers join a procession to the sea at 11am.
Exmouth Christmas Day Swim
Where: Exmouth Beach
When: Christmas Day, 11am
The first traditional Exmouth Christmas Day swim took place in 1968 and, like many other traditional festive swims, it has grown in popularity ever since with numbers reaching the thousands in recent years.
Spectators are encouraged to support participants and can either watch from the Exmouth Seafront webcam or cheer on the brave souls from the seawall.
Christmas Day swimming race at Hampstead Heath Ponds
Where: Hampstead Heath Ponds
When: Christmas Day, 11am
Hampstead Heath Ponds are the UK’s only lifeguarded open water swimming facilities open to the public every day of the year and Christmas Day is no exception. The 40 yard race has become a Christmas tradition for many since it first started three decades ago.
Run by the Highgate Lifebuoys, swimmers are put in the festive spirit by a bugle rendition of ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ before diving in for their race.
Recently, the men’s and lady’s races have had to be split into various waves due to the growing number of participants.
Salford Quays New Years Day swim
Where: Dock 9, Salford Quays, Manchester
When: New Years Day, 12noon
A relatively new kid on the festive swim block is the Uswim New Year’s Day dip. Here you can swim in the waters of Manchester’s ship canal.
Each year, the organisers nominate a local charity and a proportion of your entry fee goes to support that charity.
Many of London’s Lidos open on Christmas day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day and, whilst they aren’t organised events, the also offer the chance to blow the cobwebs away in the great outdoors.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/21/a-complete-guide-to-festive-outdoor-swimming-11932099/
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