13/09/2024
The next few months are some of my favorite times to swim. The water is gradually getting cooler, the autumn leaves are arriving, deep blue skies with round fluffy clouds drift above, and we even get to see the occasional rainbow.
This will be my fourth winter cold water swimming. And every year, I have the same routine to get my body ready for the cold, icy months ahead. I have a cold plunge at home and while I use it consistently in the summer, I still like to slowly acclimate to the cooler water temperatures of Lake Michigan. I do this by swimming, rain or shine, 3-4x a week (sometimes more), for 5-10 minutes (again, sometimes more) each time. I have found allowing my body to experience the changing of the seasons this way makes the colder months less challenging.
If you’re interested in cold plunging but not sure how to do it, I recommend this method. Start swimming in the slightly warmer months rather than waiting for the 35 degree water to arrive for your first plunge. I think you’ll find you’ll be more successful at keeping the practice going and enjoy it even more.
If you’re in Northern Michigan, I host a cold water swimming club where we come together as a community. We keep each other accountable, we keep each other safe, and there are sure to be lots of laughs. Our first meet up is on Saturday, October 5th at 9am at Bryant Park. Mark your calendars! Also, find Happy Winter Swim Club on Facebook abs follow along for updates 💙
