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It warmed up! The lake was 4 degrees instead of it's usual 2 and I swam 650m taking my total to 2200m for February. Smashing it his month 💪

It was -2 this morning but the lake was a lovely 5.2 degrees! I really didn't want to get out bed but I am so glad I did. 700m done taking my total to 2900 this month so only 100 to go 💪 I had my Shokz openswim pro on today which are amazing waterproof headphones so I can listen to music whilst I swim, such a game changer. Except I was singing in the middle of the lake, not wonder the ducks swam away 🤣. Look how pretty the lake looks 😍 Sponsored by scamp and dude The whole

Get in! I did 700m, add this to my distance on Tuesday means I have completed 1550m in the first week of February which means I'm just over half way to my target this month 😀 Water temperature was 5.1 degrees and air temperature was 6 degrees. I pushed myself today and loved it! Despite a bit of choppiness and small ripples! I know i can go further when the water is warmer! Total meters since 1st November is 9700 the equivalent to just over 6 miles. I got my first sub 10 bad

Last swim of January and had to play my joker as I didn't hit my 3000m target. I did 2150! So still a good effort. I swam 500m and it was so much better in my new wetsuit! I'll have to try so much harder to stay at penguin antartic for the remainder of the challenge and the new wetsuit should help! I just need the weather to not change too much.

First year of winter swimming and my first penguin challenge. I had to play my joker for penguin Antarctic in January thanks to a too big wetsuit not doing its job properly and a couple of swims being hampered by ice/choppy water, meant i only managed 2000m! Although my first ice breaking was quite an experience! So I was determined to get ahead for February, starting with a new wetsuit (my third since august). Swam this morning, 2 degrees in the water, and managed 850m in 2

Still smiling despite the 2 degrees water and a baggy wetsuit! I may as well have gone in just skins for all the good this wetsuit is! Water flushing all around my body instead of it being trapped in creating warmth. Westuit shopping tomorrow before the last swim of January and before I lose my mind. Otherwise, was a lovely swim and managed some distance but falling short of the 3000m aim so will be playing my joker card.

Well, I only managed 150m on this morning's swim thanks to the lake being very choppy due to storm ingrid. That 150m was tough going! I still have to do another 1650m this month so may have to play my joker card as I only have two swims planned and struggling to find somewhere else I could go to increase my distance. I really don't want to drop down to penguin gold, despite it being my initial choice, as 1000m is too easy and I have come so far! I did, however, purchase a pol

I've missed this place, not been since the 23rd of December! 2 degrees 🥶 but was lovely and calm. I managed 350m so 1250 for January so far and 1750 to go! 6 sub 10 wild swims under my belt and 9 nowca sub 10 swims. I'm absolutely loving this and wish I had done it years ago, not just for the exercise but for my mental health. https://www.justgiving.com/page/claire-carey-3?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL I'm in the water chatting and one of the ladies dived in! I prefer to ease

4 degrees today and it was glorious! No ice, so I was able to actually swim. Managed 500m before I felt the cold! There was a queue to get in the water today as well! Lots of us seeking out the dopamine high we undoubtedly get. Total distance i only 850m this month 🙈 must try harder! https://www.justgiving.com/page/claire-carey-3?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL

Headed to Staffordshire this weekend so I wasn't able to swim at the Flash as usual so I found a NOWCA venue close to where we were staying. I was not expecting it to be frozen! I arrived and one of the staff was on a paddleboard using his oar to break the ice so we could dip. The air temperature was -1.5 and the water temperature was 0.9 degrees! My first ever icy swim and wow it did not disappoint at all. Once i regulated my breathing I basically swam in a small circle a fe

First swim of 2026 and first swim of January penguin challenge. Air temperature was -1 and the water was 2.6 degrees! The coldest for me so far. Thank god I bought some thicker swim gloves! Managed 350m, before I had to get out due to it being so 🥶 Had some after shakes whilst trying to get changed and was still very cold when i got home. It took a while to get warm today! Highlight of the swim was two swans swimming across my path so had to slow down to let them pass. I've

Last swim of 2025 and a new location! Travelled nearly 2 hours to this gorgeous place in York and it didn't disappoint. It was so tranquil and very cold 🤣 Completed my 3000m for December despite illness over Christmas. I haven't 'dipped' as I listened to my body and decided it wasn't wise to do so. My skin was red after a swim due to the cold and couldn't face stripping off and getting back in. My wetsuit is too big! So baggy around the bottom half and around my knees so wat

Last swim at three sisters and it was party time! Air temperature was 8 degrees but the water was 4 degrees and very chilly. Managed 300m before my fingers were too cold! Was such a lovely swim though and the atmosphere is always amazing here. Achy this afternoon after the gym last night and a sports massage this morning so its rest time before christmas prep starts.

Another sunrise swim at the Flash! It was a cold morning, air temperature was 4 degrees! The water wasnt too bad at 6 degrees but the air temperature made it feel colder. I swam head out breaststroke so I could keep my hair dry as I was going to gullivers world straight after. Managed 550m but my fingers lost feeling again in my right hand so dodnt stay in any longer. Two more swims planned for this month and need to achieve 950m to reach my target. I can do this 💪

After smashing my November target and upgrading my penguin gold to penguin antartic, today was my first swim of December. My target is now 3000m per month! The sun was rising when I arrived at the Flash, tired, after a rough night's sleep and being awake before 6am! But I couldn't wait for my swim! The air temperature was 3 degrees and the water was 6 degrees, so lovely and fresh. I had a chat with some other swimmers, one of whom i worked with over 20 years ago! I changed my

Away for the weekend at a beautiful cottage in Marsden and we are staying right by Sparth resevoir. As I couldn't go to my usual swim spot, I decided to go 'wild' swimming which essentially means swimming in an open body of water at my own risk as there are no safety marshals and often no-one else swimming at the same time. I had a steep walk down to the water which was slippy and muddy, then had to find my way into the water treading carefully as I was unsure at which point

Once a week is not enough, I have been craving a swim since Saturday and decided to head to Three Sisters this morning for a swim to reset. Such a lovely atmosphere with the fire pit, music, and lots of amazing swimmers and dippers. I swam a leisurely 450m in 3 degrees water and it was so refreshing and calming. Total distance for the month is 2500. Another 500 and I will be automatically upgraded from penguin gold to penguin Antarctic. One more swim planned for Saturday wit

I woke up this morning and felt a bit apprehensive about swimming as the temperature this week has been as low as -3. However, I dragged myself out of bed and got into my wetsuit and drove to the lake with a determination to do this. The air temperature was 4 degrees so it has warmed up slighly and the lake was 6 degrees!! Although some swimmers recorded the temp as 5.5 degrees with their own thermometer. Either way, it was much colder than last week and I have achieved 3 out

Second swim of the day! After my first one, I put a dry costume on and dried my hair but kept my thermal leggings on, along with my long sleeved vest, joggers, top, fluffy socks and boots and my zoodie to keep warm. I ate some food to refuel and went out to an artisan market to have a toot round. We got to Sale water park ready for my session and I was in a group of 7 lovely women plus the instructor Jane who teaches the wim hof breathing method. Obviously I know how to breat

It's Saturday again! I put my big girl pants on and went for my weekly swim despite there being a storm causing rain and windy conditions. Air temperature was 8 degrees and the water was 9 degrees and very very choppy. I swallowed a fair bit thanks to the waves coming up and over my head but I kept going and managed 300m 💪which is not bad given the conditions and me being relatively new to cold water swimming in the colder months. Total for the month so far is 1650m. Zone 3