Pending Polar Bear Swim or Hypotheria Hijinks?

January 1st is right around the corner and I've been thinking about making last year's "Polar Bear Swim" an annual thing. I don't get too much support from the home team so I'm a bit ambivalent this year. Also, I use the quotes around the title because here in Nashville, TN the chance of swimming with ice on the water is near nil. It's more like a hypothermia test. Last year's water temperature was 42 degrees. The air temp was much higher which made the water seem a lot colder. I had hoped that the air would be colder than the water but alas, no. Meanwhile I'm wondering the best approach for body core comfort - last year I was cold in my core for hours after the swim. Perhaps this year I'll drink a lot of hot beverage before going in? Or after? Or both? I read somewhere that ship wreck survivors pulled from cold water and given hot coffee can die (from the shock?). Can't say such a result will happen with me (see above temps). I just want to be comfy after my foolish endeavor. Got a few holiday invites to attend to. More later ...

Lava Loving Fish? Surely You Jest

OK, if you've read even some of my posts of late, you know I don't like hot (even warm) swimming pools. Well today I found reason to never complain again. Here's a fish that swims (ok, skips) across molten lava. Don't believe me? Check this story out.

Climate, climate, climate

I've reflected on pool water temperature before. I'm a bit obsessed about it. These cold days, I'm spending lots of time indoors. The pool I swim in is installed above an open air parking garage. As you might imagine, this creates all kinds of havoc on pool temperature control. If it gets cold out, as it did today (14 degrees F.), the pool guys set the water temp high. I'm guessing this keeps the water from getting too cold, too fast? (Usually it just breaks the heater). Anyway, the water gets hot - uhg! Then I get lethargic and can't push at all. I shouldn't complain. It's still cooler than any other pool in town. I've heard some of the other pools like to keep their air temp within two degrees of the water temp. Some new climate control thing. Imagine 84 degree water - that equates to 82 to 86 degree room temp - double uhg! On the plus side, a small relative difference makes it easy to jump in I guess. No shivering.