Swimming alfresco

I’ve always loved swimming especially in outdoor pools. The local ones opened about ten days ago. Wild water swimming is very on trend right now but my inability to tolerate coldness means that heated outdoor pools are as close as I get. I gave the pool a swerve last week due to half term. The onset of perimenopause has seen a corresponding onset of noise intolerance. This means the swimming pool/half term combo is one to be avoided.

It was cloudy when I decided to sample the pool for the first time of the season. The clouds are usually very effective crowd removers which I love as I don’t love crowds. I cycled there as I find it less stressful than worrying whether I’ll get in the car park or have problems with the ticket machine.

As I approached the outdoor area, I came face to face with a sign. It said something about ‘delicate feet may get sore from the outdoor floor.’ What? I half expected a sign in front of the pool to warn swimmers that by entering the water, they may get wet!

Anyway, I was excited to be back in the outdoor pool under the sky, the clouds and the birds. It was cold but it only took a few minutes to warm up. I love the fresh air and space of being outside. However, thirty minutes in and my body was no longer able to sustain a warm temperature. Historically I’ve been incredibly hard on myself by believing it criminal to swim indoors if the outdoor option is available. I’m practising being a little kinder so I realised after pushing on for a further fifteen minutes, goosebumps and all that I could finish my swim inside. I really like it when I remember to be nicer to myself!

Inside where it was sweatier, more enclosed and noisier, that first length felt like being in a warm bath compared to outside. I loved it! And I saw a few other swimmers in there who I had assumed to be way too hardcore to catch inside! I completed my hour and went for a shower.  Revelling in a hot shower for however long it takes to warm my system minus the worry of the cost is one of my favourite things. And it usually generates lot of inspiration and ideas for whatever I am working on.

For me, the velvety feel of the water combined by the non-joint hammering business of swimming, make it one of my favourite forms of exercise. I’ve often been asked how many lengths I swim. I don’t count lengths as I want to enjoy the swim with my mind free from number-holding to go where it wants. The whole experience is another way to strengthen the mind/body connection minus the knee pain that running now often brings.

A simple but enjoyable form of self-care.

What works for you?