I get told I’m crazy (or sometimes superwoman!) when people see me coming out of the sea here in Scotland or running up hills in the rain. I do it because I enjoy it and I enjoy the effects quite honestly. I also hear things like ‘I’d never be able to do that’ or ‘I just get cold too easily’, as if I have some special gene that enables me to run up hills for a long time or tolerate all kinds of cold water. Well, I too feel the cold, get tired and it hurts to keep going sometimes, so I don’t think I have any superpowers!

There are definitely more similarities than differences between us crazy wild runners/swimmers and someone who doesn’t ever do those things! We’re all made of the same stuff with a human brain and so on. The main difference, personality aside, is that the runner/swimmer is used to what they’re doing. They may have been doing it for years… How often do we get to see the process of beginning, being crap, hating it, failing?  Or hear the story of very slow progress and dogged perseverance? Media rarely, if ever, really shows us how rubbish the heroic people we see images of were, or how much it cost them, at first.

The question is then, why would you bother? Here, I’d like to suggest a few good reasons for exploring your relationship with cold...

It’s easier to go through winter

Yes, you’ll find yourself suffering less in the winter months if you acclimate now to the change and allow your body to develop some tolerance. If you immediately wrap yourself up extra warm and avoid any type of exposure to cool temperatures your body will assume it doesn’t need to acclimate and therefore if you ever do find yourself outside in the cold you’ll feel it more intensely. We’re taught that cold is bad and makes us ill but actually this isn’t true (see articles linked below). Our species has tolerated freezing temperatures and we are still capable of it. We’ve super developed our lives for comfort and convenience, which is great on so many levels, but let’s admit it - we’ve also lost a lot of strength in the process.

It’s a super-charger for the immune system

Emerging science shows that a certain level of exposure to cold is beneficial for our health. As I understand it what happens is that the immune system is stimulated by the slight shock of cold water and produces more of various types of cells that form part of our immune protection and response system. There’s still work to be done in definitively proving the benefit of this but if you look at the work of Wim Hof there’s enough evidence to convince most of us! It makes sense that if we shelter ourselves too much our bodies will become weakened because they have no need to be strong. Our immune system requires constant low level challenge to remain updated and healthy; experiencing both high and low temperatures is part of this.

It’s one of the best mood-boosters out there!

At the beginning of lockdown I was also injured and couldn’t run, cycle or walk very far so I went back to the water and, in mid March began sea swimming regularly. It was very challenging at first and I was probably only in the water a couple of minutes. But I really think the waves saved my mental health - no negative emotion lasts long when you get in very cold water! It’s virtually impossible to over-think, over-analyse or brood on anything whilst in the water and when I get out I feel simultaneously superhuman and grounded. This experience is echoed by many many people (see links below) who use wild swimming as a cure for depression, chronic illness and all kinds of ailments both physical and mental. The ‘high’ is easily explained by adrenaline kicking in and a temporary spike in cortisol; it feels exciting and just a little risky! But the sense of calm and well-being? Blue/green therapy perhaps? Science hasn’t explained all the anecdotal effects, such as aiding rehab from addiction/reducing medication for depression yet, but researchers are working on it as we speak.

So what are we talking about? Ice baths? Cold Showers? Going out in the rain? Turning down the heating? Yes, any and all of the above, but my choice is wild swimming for sure. I usually finish a warm shower with cold water and I definitely advocate going out despite the rain (any nature is good nature!) but I don’t force it on myself like medicine or a duty. Once you get over the idea of cold water, swimming in a beautiful, natural place is no chore. The land or sea scapes (and today huge rainbow) plus the sense of adventure are reward enough…

It’s not hard, just go and get in! But a couple of things I find helpful:

• A flask of hot drink for when you come out and also a small bottle of warm water to pour over your feet before you dry them 

• Enough layers to put on afterwards including a windproof jacket and hat

• Just get out if you’re worried that your body temperature is dropping too much! (btw it takes at least 30 mins for an adult to get dangerously cold). There are no prizes for staying in longer than you want to

• You don’t need special gear, just get in the water and enjoy the experience!

As always - a small disclaimer. I’m not a scientist or academic, I just do my best to research as thoroughly as possible and experiment on myself before writing about anything! These links show my main sources of information.

https://www.scottcarney.com/what-doesnt-kill-us

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8925815/

https://hbr.org/2018/03/cold-showers-lead-to-fewer-sick-days

https://www.iprshealth.com/news/8-benefits-of-cold-water-swimming/

https://www.wimhofmethod.com/science

Below - articles on the virus we call ‘a cold’ and cold weather...

https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/common-cold-viral-rhinitis-a-to-z

https://www.yalescientific.org/2009/10/mythbusters-the-common-cold-a-misnamed-virus/

https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/11/30/does-cold-weather-actually-make-you-sick/

Cold Water Swimming and Therapy

https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1113/EP086283

http://www.kimswimsfilm.com/about

https://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/cold-water-therapy/