Sheets of ice at Spring Lakes in Long Eaton are up to half an inch thick – but not thick enough to stop some cold-water swimming enthusiasts.
The water they’re braving here is around 4 degrees Celsius.
Swimmer Caroline Hirst said:
“I’ve been coming to Spring Lakes probably for about three years or so. I started in the summer and just really enjoyed it. And I quite like cold water, so I carried on through the winter and just, um, yeah, find it really enjoyable and like how it makes you feel afterwards.
“And I think it makes you a bit healthier as well.
Michael Smith added:
“You really do feel good after you’ve been in cold water. So there’s something about that. I think as a species we’ve become very comfortable, and I think you need to introduce a little bit of discomfort in your life. And if you can do that, what else can you do?
Simon Perkins said:
“A lot of my friends just go, ‘What are you thinking?’ But you talk to anybody here, they’ll tell you that the benefits far outweigh that little bit of discomfort, and you get used to it.”
What did you think when you saw the forecast for today? That didn’t put you off at all?
Bridget Betts answered:
“Not at all, no, not one bit. I know that sounds absolutely mad. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it is absolutely freezing, but it is so invigorating.”
As easy as they make it look, swimming in water this cold takes a lot of preparation.
But it takes training preparation and caution is required!
Simon said:
“If you’d not done it before, I wouldn’t recommend that anybody just sort of gets in there and swims. That would be irresponsible. We started cold showering, and you do feel the benefits. It does set you up for the day. You’re absolutely switched on. We do that every day.
“So getting in here, it’s not that shock. You don’t. You just get used to it.”
It’s the first time this year swimmers have had to break through ice to get into the water. But most people here are hoping it won’t be the last.
